DALI

Hailing from Thomastown DALI are now Sean and Deirdre Doyle, Micky Cullen and Brian Dempsey. The band have been together as a four-piece band since November 2005.

Deirdre, 27, has only been playing guitar for six or seven years, a late starter by most standards. Having grown up in a family with musicians on one side and artists on the other, it was only natural that Deirdre would try her hand at writing songs. Whilst in college abroad for the last few years Deirdre has, in her spare time, been writing and performing her songs at numerous open mic nights, drawing on her influences and inspirations with her own unique style. From the summer of 2004 Deirdre has used her holidays to record and develop her songs at Station Rd. Studios, Thomastown with local engineer Cathal O’Sullivan and brother Sean.

Sean, a year older, has been playing the guitar from an early age. He played his first gig as a first year at the St. Kierans college talent show, only losing out to who later became Kerbdog. Sean continued to venture and play with different bands throughout school, doing gigs in Kilkenny and New Ross. In the summer of ’96 Sean headed to Dublin to study Sound Engineering and Music Technology at the Sound Training Centre (STC), Temple Bar. With the club scene thriving at the time, Sean began DJ’ing and producing House and Techno. Using what he had learnt at STC Sean produced numerous live sets at weekly club nights in The Kitchen and The Pod in Dublin. From there he went on to DJ around Ireland with stars such as John Digweed, Billy Nasty, Tony De Vit, Cut le Roc and Bentley Rhythm Ace as well as a maintaining a string of residencies including a stint the Zoo in Kilkenny in 2002.

Now based in Thomastown, Deirdre and Sean spent the summer of 2005 putting together a modest set with just two acoustic guitars and vocals. They debuted their set supporting the excellent Hybrasil at the Sunday Session after the infamous Snow Patrol gig in Murphy’s bar, Thomastown, on the 24rd of July last year. A series of low key acoustic performances at the likes of Cleere’s, Kilkenny and the Sunday Roast Acoustic Sessions at the Bia Bar in Dublin followed. A slot supporting Eleanor Shanely and Ronnie Drew to a packed beer garden at Carrolls Bar, Thomastown, was to be the final set of the summer and indeed the year, which had proven to be a successful learning curve for the pair.

Encouraged by the reactions to the songs and the buzz of playing live Deirdre and Sean began scheming immediately and are delighted to have recruited the well known and respected talents of Micky Cullen on bass and Brian Dempsey on Drums. Formerly of Candystorm, Micky and Brian both 28 and from Thomastown have been playing together for years. Their experiences have seen them gig from Thomastown to Kilkenny and Dublin including a memorable slot supporting Snow Patrol last summer. Brian, no stranger to the turntables himself, has also DJ’d in Dublin at clubs Republica and The Temple Theatre. No harm is done by the fact that Brian and Sean have worked together before, in a different guise, with Brians congo percussionism accompanying Seans Deep House sets at Club Bizou in Dublin in 01/02!! Together, Micky, brother of Myp Et Jeep lead singer Stevie, and Brian form the perfect rhythm section to complete the new sound for DALI.