Album Launch – “Buíoch”

Venue: Lucas Bar, Ennis

Date & Time: Sat 11th of Nov 2023, 4.30pm

Buíoch is an Irish Traditional Music band stemming from the Midlands of Ireland. Buíoch compose and arrange all their own melodies, which gives the band a traditional yet progressive sound that is unique and energetic. Buíoch is the Irish word for ‘Thankful’. This group typifies the meaning behind their name, they are deeply grateful and humbled to play music and perform. Their debut album “Buíoch” released on 09/08/2023. Beidh tú Buíoch iad a chloisteáil and feidhmiú!

Buíoch is an Irish traditional music band stemming from the Midlands of Ireland. All four member’s, Ruaidhrí Tierney (Button Accordion) David Harte (Double Bass), Kurt Dinneen Carroll (Tin Whistle and Uilleann Pipes) and Dale Mckay (Guitar) call Co. Laois in the heart of Ireland, their home. The band first formed when Dale approached Ruaidhrí to compose music for a project called ‘Laois Local live performance’. This initiative tasked musicians with creating original music during the covid pandemic when musicians really felt the hard reality of not being able to do what we love due to lockdown. David joined the band at this time and coined our name ‘Buíoch’. Buíoch is the Irish word for ‘Thankful’ and we are very grateful to be creating and playing music together. Kurt joined the band in 2022, contributing enormously to Buíoch’s music and overall sound. Buíoch composes and arranges all their own melodies, which gives the band a traditional yet progressive sound that is unique and energetic.

Dale Mckay – Dale is a Music Educator in Music Generation Laois where he teaches over 300 students weekly as part of the Stampede Drumming Program. Dale teaches students from the age of 5 – 18 weekly. During the summer months Dale travels from Festivals such Scoil Ácla to teach Bodhrán to all ages. Dale also hosts a Bodhrán adult class in Kilkenny City every Wednesday night. Dale is also an active programmer of festivals, his latest achievement is curating the ‘Forest Fleadh Stage’ at this years Forest Fest Emo and also organising Portlaoise’s first ever fully fledged Irish Traditional Music Festival ‘Portlaoise Tradfest’. Dale is also a gigging musician. Dale has released a handpan album with his band Harpanno entitled ‘Finding Calm’ and later this year Dale is releasing an album with Buíoch on which he plays guitar and bodhrán. 

Ruaidhrí Tierney – Ruaidhrí 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 a programmer also. Ruaidhrí is a programmer and he 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. In Buíoch’s short journey, the band has performed at Forest Fest in Emo, Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann in Mullingar and the Electric Picnic in 2022.

Kurt Dinneen Carroll – Kurt 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. Patrick’s 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.

David Harte – 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 a residency 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. In his role as Musician Educator with Music Generation Laois, David teaches bass Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Ukulele and mentors up and coming bands through Music Generation Laois Rock and Pop programme. David is a member of the prestigious Music Generation Laois Trad Orchestra. He also works with three Mens Shed groups in County Laois providing Ukulele and singing lessons. As a Double Bassist, David recorded and released an album of original material with his band Buioch which was released in 2023.