‘It's all very high-tech now’ - Longford funnyman Jimmy Jests on Christmas in Edgeworthstown

Longford's own viral internet sensation 'Jimmy Jests' is gearing up for Christmas in his home town of Edgeworthstown.

Jimmy Connell, who currently has 100,000 followers on Facebook and TikTok combined, and over 10,000 fans between Instagram and YouTube, remembers the early years of festive celebrations in the small town.

"I've been involved with the Christmas lights in Edgeworthstown probably 10 years now," said Jimmy, who will be MC at the event.

"The lights weren't a thing when I was a young fella, I was lucky to have a Christmas tree back then - it's all gone very high-tech now!"

Jimmy Jests got up and running in 2018, and it was on the bog when the idea for his online persona formed in his mind.

"I was footing turf and I made a funny video to try and make the job a little bit easier," he said.

"I put it up on my own Facebook page and it got a lot of good feedback. After that, I said I'd put my toe in the water and tried to create a few more videos. That's how the Jimmy Jests page came about in September of that year.

"It has gone from strength to strength since then," he added.

"Whenever I think of something appropriate or funny I make a video about it. All the videos are very spontaneous, I never really plan in advance. Something might come up on the news or social media and I work off that. There will be plenty of videos coming over Christmas, the decorations will be coming down out of the attic!"

Thinking back to his first viral video, he was quick to remember the exact moment in time.

"The first post that blew up was about a hangover after going on a session - I made the video the day after a county hurling final so it was from a real-life experience!" he laughed.

"People can relate to the reality moments so usually they are the videos that get the most interaction."

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Jimmy posts his videos on all the popular social media apps, including TikTok, saying: "I have joined TikTok in the last couple of years and that is a different beast altogether.

"It is so addictive and I even find myself on it while I'm drinking a cup of tea. You don't feel 15 or 20 minutes go by. The phone is in the pocket all the time ready to be picked up. That's the way life is with how popular media is now."

The month and Christmas ahead will be a quiet one, remarked Jimmy. He performed a stand-up tour last Autumn where he staged 14 shows, an experience which was a learning curve for the Longford funnyman.

"It is a tough game out there, it is not easy doing your own stand-up shows. It took a lot out of me so I'll just be doing a little bit of amateur drama while being involved in a theatre course in college. I have a few different bits and pieces that I'm currently doing, including a podcasting course, in the background so hopefully this will advance some more ideas in the new year."

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Jimmy thanks the people from his county and across Ireland for the support he receives and hopes he can continue to make people laugh.

"I get noticed everywhere," he said.

"I was in Maynooth last weekend and a woman came up to me out of the blue and said thanks for making the videos. I also brought the car into the NCT and the guy behind the counter recognised me - I don't know whether it helped or hindered me!"

Jimmy will be in attendance at the Edgeworthstown Christmas lights switch-on this December 3.

Keep an eye out for more comedy clips on Jimmy Jests' social media pages.

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