Darach O laoire

daracholaoire

Born and raised in Dublin, Ireland Darach O’ Laoire began playing the violin as a child. He studied classical music formally while also being steeped in the Irish traditional music tradition. He switched to guitar in his early teens. While studying classical guitar he became attracted to Jazz and American folk music. He studied Jazz guitar with Mike Nielsen and began to play concerts with various Irish Jazz musicians such as fellow Irish guitarist John Moriarty. In 1998 he won a national scholarship award to study at the prestigious Skidmore Jazz institute in New York. There he studied with such luminaries as guitarist Pat Martino and drummer Ed Shaughnessy. This was followed by studies at Berklee college of music in Boston, Massachusetts and a move to Manhattan, New York. During four years spent in New York he had the opportunity to perform and record in various settings. Upon returning to Dublin he continued to perform in local clubs while also making return stints to the United States to study at New York University with Bruce Arnold and the great Mark Whitfield.

In 2010 he joined the renowned Irish group Republic of Loose. He has had the opportunity to record and tour extensively with them, playing just about every venue in Ireland as well as tours in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. Currently he is a PhD research candidate at Technological University Dublin studying Jazz guitar of the early 20th century.