Connolly steals the march in Belfast

Billy Connolly and his wife Pamela Stephenson

The Big Yin, Billy Connolly, is back in Belfast for six sell-out shows at the Waterfront Hall.

BBC News Online's Paul Rocks was there for the opening night.

"Great day to start school in Belfast then."

Billy Connolly starts as he means to go on, making reference to a sectarian dispute over access to a Catholic school in the north of the city.

This was not going to be a politically correct show but only the Glaswegian storyteller can get away with it.

Dr Billy Connolly - the last time I was at the university I was delivering coal

Billy Connolly

He was sporting his familiar beard and "Celtic hair", along with a pair of black trousers with purple flowers. I laughed just looking at him.

There were references to some familiar themes throughout the show but these were peppered with remarks about local issues which made the show appear tailor-made.

'DNA link'

The opening comment won the crowd over straight away before he informed us that he now had a "direct DNA link" to Northern Ireland.

His daughter, who was "living in sin" in Glasgow had made him a grandfather earlier this year and "her partner is from here".

"Well you know what that means," he screamed.

Off he went marching across the stage with a flute in his mouth, whistling the contentious Protestant Orange Order anthem, The Sash My Father Wore.

I glanced around the hall but no-one seemed to take offence in a city where people can go out of their way to take offence.

'Delivering coal'

Instead, there were roars of laughter as the former Clyde shipbuilder told us that he had once wanted to work in the Belfast shipyard Harland and Wolff, famous in the past for building the Titanic and employing very few Catholics.

"They wouldn't take me on. I wonder why?" he said kicking his left foot out.

You need to be from Northern Ireland or Glasgow to get this one!

The audience was told of the years of hard work his wife, Dr Pamela Stephenson, put in to earn her title.

"Can you imagine her face when Glasgow University just gave me one," he roared.

Sold out

"Dr Billy Connolly. The last time I was at the university I was delivering coal."

The laughter was non-stop as Connolly ranted through more than two hours of stories and observations.

It was the first time I had seen the man in the flesh and it was everything I hoped it would be, and then some.

No wonder the tickets for all six nights sold out in a couple of hours.