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Irish comedian Mick Thomas has come a long way since he first dreamed of making people laugh.
Originally from Wexford, Ireland, Thomas now calls Long Island home. At 46 years old, he has established himself as a rising star in the New York comedy scene, hosting the popular “Cheaper than Therapy” podcast and having well over 100,000 combined followers on his social media pages.
Thomas’ journey to the U.S. began when he met a woman from Long Island at a bar in Dublin 20 years ago. “Next thing I know, I’m talking to [Greater Long Island] for an interview,” he said with a laugh. He and the woman began dating, got married, and settled in East Patchogue.
While Thomas had wanted to be a comedian since the age of 5, he found it difficult to break into the industry in Ireland, especially coming from a small town.
Moving to the U.S. presented a fresh opportunity for Thomas. “America, I think, embraces the art form … more than, ‘This guy is just funny,'” he said. He mostly worked in banking, but when a friend of his wife suggested he try stand-up comedy, he decided to give it a go.
It was 16 years ago, the year his daughter was born, when his professional comedy career officially began.
“I didn’t want to tell my daughter, ‘You can be anything you want to be,’ but have her turn around and ask me if I always wanted to work in a bank. I really wanted to take a shot at it, as an example of going after what you want to do.”
So Thomas signed up for a comedy class at Governor’s Comedy Club in Levittown, a class he still does every Tuesday night. He remembers his first show there as a turning point in his career. “I stood out as a guy with a different accent, and different point-of-view,” he said.
It snowballed from there.
Thomas went on to perform at venues like NYCB Theater At Westbury, Carnegie Hall, and Carter Family Fold, the stage where Johnny Cash last performed. He’s traveled across the U.S. and had jokes go viral on social media, some totaling over a million views.
This joke on a conspiracy theory made a big splash.
Despite his success, Thomas remains humble and focused on his craft. “I love the art form of writing jokes. I like learning. How to move words around to get it to work,” he said.
He also emphasized the importance of hard work and perseverance in the entertainment industry. “Bust your ass. Lick your wounds. Be ready for your next moment,” he advised.
For Thomas, Long Island has been an important part of his journey as a comedian.
“Long Island people are a breed of their own. They are passionate about everything, and they will tell you what they are passionate about,” he said. He considers Governor’s Comedy Club his “home club,” and enjoys spending time with his family in the community of Patchogue.
His favorite spot in town is Pinball Long Island, the new retro arcade on Main Street. “My son and I go there and hours pass by and we have a blast,” he said.
To follow along, check out Thomas’s Instagram at @mickthomascomedy.
Top: Mick Thomas. (Credit: Facebook)
