National: Irish comedian warns fans they'll be 'kicked out' of show for using smartphones

Tommy Tiernan has warned fans that are attending his upcoming comedy gigs will be kicked out for using their phones and smartwatches during the show.

Comedian Tiernan is currently on tour in the west coast of the US with his stand-up show Tomfoolery.

Strict guidelines are already in place with organisers of the event announcing all gigs are a "phone free experience" and are using individual bags/pouches for every member of the audience to seal their phone away for the duration of the show.

In the announcement, event organisers stated:

"Guests maintain possession of their devices at all times and can access them throughout the event only in designated Phone Use Areas within the venue. All devices will be re-secured in Yondr pouches before returning to the performance space."

Yondr bags have been used regularly by performers with Tiernan being the first Irish comedian to use the patented phone pouch at Vicar street earlier in the year, after he was inspired by how well it worked at a Bob Dylan concert in the 3Arena.

"It was fantastic. What happens is, say Vicar Street there was 1,100 people there, so we have somewhere between 1,100 and 1,300 bags and it's a patented thing", he said. 

Yondr pouches are now being trialled in some Irish schools to keep students off their phones during classes.

Tiernan will continue his tour of the US west coast until the end of the month.