The Divine Comedy

The Divine Comedy are set to headline Dublin’s biggest ever New Years Festival.

The band will take to the stage on the first night of the festival, which is being held on Southsea Common in Portsmouth from August 25-27.

THIS year got off to a sad start for Divine Comedy leader Neil Hannon: his father, the Rt Rev Brian Hannon, passed away last month at the age of 85 following a long battle with Alzheimer's.

The Northern Irish musician is celebrating three decades in music.

Today Melanie C feat Sink The Pink – The Limelight, Belfast Beats & Pieces Big Band – The Black Box, Belfast George Ogilvie – The Duke of York, Belfast The LaFontaines – Voodoo, Belfast Amy Montgomery – McHugh's, Belfast Native Harrow – Portico, Portaferry Anthony Toner, Conor Scott, Belfast Ukulele Jam – Duncairn Arts Centre, Belfast Saturday September 28 Inhaler – Voodoo, Belfast Wynona Bleach, Mask – Love & Death, Belfast Aslan – The Empire, Belfast Post Punk Podge & The Technohippies, Mob Wife – McHugh's, Belfast Adam Grant & The Open Doors – The American, Belfast Dermot Kennedy – The Limelight, Belfast Emma Langford, Hatchlings – Duncairn Arts Centre, Belfast Cian Finn – The Atlantic, Portrush Eleanor McEvoy – Flowerfield Arts Centre, Portstewart The Unholy Gospel Choir – Skylite Room, Warrenpoint Joshua Burnside, Runabay – Braid Arts Centre, Ballymena Sunday September 29 Malojian – The American, Belfast, 2pm Wednesday October 2 Tom Baxter – The Empire, Belfast Toy Girl, Post-Party – McHugh's, Belfast Thursday October 3 Volbeat, Baroness, Danko Jones – The Ulster Hall, Belfast Paper Tigers, Sit Tight, Cloakroom Q etc – The Empire, Belfast Scullion – Duncairn Arts Centre, Belfast Friday October 4 Ali Barter – McHugh's, Belfast Damien O'Kane, Ron Block – Duncairn Arts Centre, Belfast Trish Clowes – The Black Box, Belfast Search Party – Voodoo, Belfast The Hillbilly Moon Explosion – Ardhowen, Enniskillen Saturday October 5 Good Cop Bad Cop – Voodoo, Belfast The Sherlocks – Oh Yeah, Belfast The Hillbilly Moon Explosion – The Black Box, Belfast The Academic – The Guildhall, Derry John Power (Cast) – Skylite Room, Warrenpoint Sunday October 6 Little Mix – SSE Arena, Belfast Wookalily – Ulster Sports Club, Belfast Monday October 7 Little Mix – SSE Arena, Belfast The Divine Comedy – The Ulster Hall, Belfast Wednesday October 9 Judith Owen – The Black Box, Belfast The Academic – The Empire, Belfast Thursday October 10 Jake Clemons – The Empire, Belfast Eric Bell – The Black Box, Belfast Lonesome George – Duncairn Arts Centre, Belfast Le Boom – The Duke of York, Belfast Friday October 11 Lazy Day – McHugh's, Belfast .

The Divine Comedy star Neil Hannon said Graham Linehan and Arthur Matthews were back on working terms.

The Divine Comedy Office Politics NO-ONE writes a song quite like Neil Hannon.

HE TOLD us we'd be sick of him by the end of the year, and now Neil Hannon looks set to make good on this threat with a string of Divine Comedy Irish dates this December.

GIVEN that The Divine Comedy's biggest hit is their jaunty ode to coach travel, National Express, it seems entirely appropriate that bandleader Neil Hannon should now be in contention to become the official 'face' of an actual piece of public transport.