Desmond FitzMaurice

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Desmond FitzMaurice

Desmond FitzMaurice (born 28 September 1980) is a British musician of Irish origin, and founder of British folk band Draioicht na hOiche.

Also known as Desmond Morris (legally), he grew up singing with the choir at the First Unitarian Church of Dublin. He was briefly involved with a band called Security Blanket, which performed rock versions of traditional Irish folk songs. In his early years as a musician, he composed a number of songs and music etudes for piano. At the age of twenty-one, he substituted the piano with a guitar and started writing classics like "Amadea" and "Princes, Friends, and Lovers", which his current band DNO still perform occasionally.

Draioicht na hOiche (correct Irish spelling Draíoicht na hOíche), meaning 'Magic of the Night' was formed on May 1, 2002, as a successor of the previously University-supported group The Leprechauns. In the beginning of April 2002, Desmond and his old friend Elisabeth McCarran whom he knew from the UCL sessions and musical festivals, decided to begin a new project separatedly from the University College of London cultural program. In a week Linda Andrews joined DNO after seeing the three musicians (together with Mic Mahoney) perform at Cavendish Square in London. Linda soon brought her best friend Guinevere Hughes and Mic contacted Harry Staunton, who in his turn recommended Sean Power as the best piper he knew. In the end of May 2002, the two final members of the troupe joined too, Ellen Butler from Glasgow and Anita Phelan, of mixed Icelandic and Irish descent, expanding the number of band members to nine, and Desmond's girlfriend Mary Vaughan joining last in the end of 2004.

Des FM, as he is better known among his fans, has also been spending time developing a solo act and has performed on three shows, including the DNO participation at the Ghostwood series of shows.