Meet The Band

Kurt Dinneen Carroll – is a Uilleann Piper, Whistle player, Bodhrán player and Composer from County Laois. Kurt was an original member of Portlaoise Comhaltas and has taught Whistle and Pipes there. Kurt was also involved in a programme teaching Tin Whistle to disadvantaged children from Portlaoise.

Kurt has been an ardent member of the Music Generation Laois Trad Orchestra since 2015. He has played at several events in Ireland including the Ireland Funds Gala, the St. Patricks weekend celebration in Dublin, the National Ploughing Championships, The Ireland Funds, which had both Prince Albert of Monaco and Michael Flatley in attendance, in Dublin Castle during Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s visit to Ireland and Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann. The Trad Orchestra has also worked with many professional musicians. The group has also given performances abroad at Creative Connexions festival in Sitges, Spain, in 2019 and the Breizh Pan Celtic Festival in Brittany in 2022.

Kurt played the uilleann pipes and whistle on the Ray D’Arcy Show on RTÉ with the band Tlen Huicani in 2019. Kurt was also a member of the LIFE Laois International Folk Ensemble where he played international music on Television. Kurt was featured on an original album written by a Banjo player in May of 2022. Kurt, along with his band Buíoch, recorded and released an album of all original music in which he wrote many tunes.

Ruaidhrí Tierney - is a Button Accordionist, Music Teacher and Composer from County Laois. Ruaidhrí started teaching the Button accordion at the age of Fourteen and is a Tutor with Ratheniska Comhaltas.

Ruaidhrí has been an avid member of the Music Generation Laois Trad Orchestra since 2018. The trad orchestra has collaborated with many professional musicians and has performed at numerous occasions across Ireland such as the Ireland Funds Gala, the St. Patrick’s weekend festival in Dublin, the National Ploughing Championships, The Ireland Funds and Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann. The ensemble has also performed internationally at Creative Connexions festival in Sitges, Spain, in 2019 and the Breizh Pan Celtic Festival in Brittany in 2022. Ruaidhrí was also a member of LIFE, Laoise International Folk Ensemble, directed by Áine McGeeney from the band Goitse.

Ruaidhrí is also an active programmer. Ruaidhrí is has worked closely  with the Dunamaise Arts Centre, Portlaoise and Downtown Portlaoise as a young curator from 2020-2022. He programmed street entertainment in Portlaoise and ran Lasta festival in association with the NASC network of theatre venues, a diverse online festival for young people. Ruaidhrí also helped programme the first Portlaoise Tradfest which took place on the May Bank Holiday weekend 2023.

In 2023, Ruaidhrí recorded and released an album of original music with his band Buíoch.

Dale Mckay – is a multi instrumentalist from Portlaoise Co.Laois and has been playing music from an early age. Dale first began playing drum kit at the age of 11 but soon found his love for the bodhrán at age 14. Since picking up the bodhrán, Dale has gone on to win numerous Fleadh medals and in 2014 he won the Senior All Ireland Bodhrán Championship. In 2017 Dale completed his BA in Irish Traditional Music studies at the University of Limerick. Since then Dale has gone on to tour all around the world playing music in China, Russia, all around Europe and South America with shows such as Celtic Legends and Rhythm Of The Dance. Dale has also worked very closely with the Kristyn Fontanella Dance Company in the creation of two brand new productions entitled “InLimbo” and “The Competition”, both contemporary dance shows that explore Irish traditional dance and contemporary dance.

“Dale is always striving to be unique and creative and fresh with his bodhran playing” Darren Roche from Moxie says. “When Dale performs, you pay attention; his ideas are brilliant, unique and need to be heard”.

In 2017 Dale discovered the Handpan, a newly invented instrument which draws inspiration from the Caribbean Steal Drums. He soon fell in love with it and began composing music for his brand new band Harpanno. In 2022, Harpanno released their debut album ‘Finding Calm’.

Dale also works as active programmer of festivals. In 2022 Dale curated the ‘Forest Fleadh Stage’ at this Forest Fest Emo which see’s international world renowned acts travel to perform in Co.Laois. In 2023 Dale establisehed Portlaoise’s first ever fully fledged Irish Traditional Music Festival ‘PortlaoiseTradfest’.

Currently Dale is now working as full-time Music Educator with Music Generation Laois, plays drums with emerging Irish/Folk band Bog Bodies, play’s guitar and songs with Buíoch and compose’s Handpan music his band Harpanno.

David Harte – is a Bassist, multi instrumentalist and music teacher from Portlaoise. He began playing the Guitar at age 12, taking up the Bass Guitar soon after. He is currently a Musician Educator with Music Generation Laois and completed a Bachelor of Music Degree from Maynooth University to further his teaching skills, graduating in 2023.

As a performer, David has played gigs across Ireland, Europe and The United States, including aresidency as the house Bassist in Raglan Road Orlando, located in Disney World and a three-month tour of North America with Dublin Irish Dance as a Bassist and backing vocalist.

He has also played bass with country artist Lisa McHugh and Eurovision finalist Ryan O’Shaugnesssey and is currently the Bassist with emerging Irish folk/rock band Bog Bodies.