Introducing the Hardy Bucks

The Hardy Bucks have proved to be one of the most popular attractions here on JOE.ie. Since their success in the RTE Storyland competition in 2009, they have amassed a huge following on YouTube and thousands of fans on Facebook.

Given that the Castletown lads are already a huge hit, there are those of you who will know all about Eddie, Buzz, the Viper and company. For those of you who don't, here's a little introduction. You'll be able to follow the latest escapades of the lads in a series of videos exclusively here on JOE.ie.

Castletown

Welcome to Castletown, the home of the Hardy Bucks, a gang of plucky souls from Mayo united by their friendship and their mutual love of drinkin’, shmokin’, fightin’ and shit talk, for which they were once awarded the prestigious Siamsa Sráide award for outstanding achievements in that particular field.

The bucks are led by Eddie and Buzz, two best friends who dream of a better life in the ‘big shmoke’, (Galway not Dublin) but are repeatedly thwarted in that particular ambition by the trials and tribulations of their day to day Castletown lives, which has seen them attempt to find love through speed dating, fail the safe pass course, get kicked off a building site and hold epic indoor foam parties fuelled by Buckfast and the best cheap brew the local offie can provide them with.

A taste of Castletown

Eddie and Buzz are joined in their adventures by kindred spirits such as ‘The Boo’ and 'French Toast', who perhaps best summed up the lads’ charmed life in Castletown when he said, "Some people say the best thing about Castletown is the road out of it. But ya have to use that road to get back into it as well."

The boys’ plans are frequently messed up by their arch nemesis, 'the Viper', who constantly spreads false rumours about the lads, has stolen their mushrooms, foiled their foam party and tried to meddle in a relationship between Buzz and a female companion, known only as the Ladybird.

The lads’ latest adventures

Recently, the boys have been seen out of their Castletown comfort zone and have been mixing up with a who’s who of Irish social circles, exchanging legal stories with Gerald Kean and hob knobbing with the gorgeous Claire Tully like they had been part of that scene for years. Check it out for yourself here.

And we've a behind the scenes interview with Eddie Durkan as he gets followed around by an RTÉ film crew here.

The Hardy Bucks...exclusively on JOE.ie.