WHEN Frankie Boyle stepped onstage at the Feile an Phobail, suited and relaxed, we wondered how he'd open.

As he walked onstage, he said: "I apologise for dividing your usually very united country." First goal to Mr Boyle.

Feelings had been running high over the booking, although on a sunny Friday night in Falls Park, there were no demonstrations and the nearly two thousand fans weren't bothered.

Daniel (17) said as he walked in: "I like comedy, even sick comedy, I just think Frankie Boyle is really funny."

Since Feile an Phobail began 27 years ago, it's had its fair share of disputes.

But none has attracted the coverage of the booking of star Scottish comedian and Sun columnist Frankie Boyle for last night's sell-out gig.

Boyle's appearance at the Feile must have seemed a really clever booking.

He has loads of name recognition even to non-stand up fans and is the ultimate Marmite celebrity, having been a regular on Mock the Week until 2009.

Of course it is worth remembering Irish author Jonathan Swift penned A Modest Proposal about eating babies which laid into the conditions around poverty in this country. Comedy and satire need to be edgy.

However, views from the stalls varied. Tony Kelly (70), a west Belfast man, said that he was happy to attend with his son.

He said: "I think Frankie Boyle is honest, although he may come up with stupid sayings like the Down's Syndrome gag. But if you don't want to hear about handicapped children, you don't have to come."

He added that The Vatican News had run an item on the event, disapproving of the tone of the comedian.

In 2010, Boyle was criticized for making remarks about the haircuts of Down's syndrome kids and one local mother, Jill Moffat, said she
was upset by his stance.

Yet this was the fastest selling ticket at the Feile.

There was indeed a storm in a teacup, but Boyle thrives on putting up some people's blood pressure, indeed it's his unique selling point.

Like Bill Hicks and Lenny Bruce, two US comics who redefined bad taste, but placed it in context, Boyle relishes grilling sacred cows on his barbecue of gags.

As my neighbour on the blue plastic chair Paul Lavery said: "Round here they beat you over the head with a Bible, people are repressed.

But it's freedom of speech."

It's said that Mr Boyle invented this dislikeable persona years ago when starting as a stand-up. Well, he hides it well.

Having said that, Frankie Boyle is funny, end of story. And if you didn't like it, you didn't have to come.