Darren is part of the traditional group Lasta, that comprises of three very good friends and talented musicians, which includes Darren (button accordion and keys), Orla Leavy (fiddle) and Jordan Lively (vocals and guitar). The group formed after a week's festivities at Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann last year and are currently working on their debut album, expected to be released later this year. 

Darren is undertaking research on the button accordion in Ulster. He has recently published in the bulletins for the Society for Ethnomusicology in the USA and Spéis, the newsletter for the Irish affiliate of the International Council for Traditional Music. This year he has presented his research at the British Forum for Ethnomusicology Postgraduate Conference in Newcastle University and the joint SMI/ICTM Ireland Postgraduate Conference at University College Dublin.

As part of their winning set, Lasta performed the tune 'Midnight Rambles to the Moon' composed by DkIT lecturer Dr Daithí Kearney. It featured on the album A Louth Lilt, recorded at DkIT with Dr Adèle Commins.