Éamon de Buitléar (Irish pronunciation: [ˈeːmˠən̪ˠ dʲɛ bˠətʲˈlʲeːɾˠ]; 22 January 1930 – 27 January 2013) was an Irish writer, musician and film maker.[1] He was managing director of Éamon de Buitléar Ltd., a company which specialises in wildlife filming and television documentaries.[2][3]

The son of aide-de-camp to the then President of Ireland, Douglas Hyde, he grew up in a house of Irish language speakers in Wicklow.[4] He began his working career in Garnett and Keegan's and Helys, selling fishing gear and shotguns. It was there where he first met Seán Ó Riada.[4]

A 4 km circular walk Slí de Buitléar or The De Buitléar Way on Bray Head commemorates his life and work, calling out notable flora and fauna in the area.[5] It was inaugurated in May 2014 by his wife Lailí.[6]

Film career

For many years in the 1960s he was the only independent film producer, with Gerrit van Gelderen, making wildlife programmes, notably the series Amuigh Faoin Spéir (English: "Out Under the Sky") for the Irish television channel, Telefís Éireann. In 1986, his programme, Cois Farraige leis an Madra Uisce, won him a Jacob's Award. His work includes directing films based on his books, and he received commissions from RTÉ, BBC and other stations.[7]

In 1987, he was nominated by the Taoiseach, Charles Haughey to the 18th Seanad.[8] He was appointed to the Central Fisheries Board in 2005.[9]

Musical career

De Buitléar was involved^[vague] in Irish traditional music with Seán Ó Riada and was later involved^[vague] in the establishment of the traditional music groups Ceoltóirí Chualann (1960–1969) and Ceoltóirí Laighean.^{[citation needed]}

Books

• Wildlife. TownHouse. 1985. ISBN 0-946172-04-8.
• Ireland's Wild Countryside. Boxtree. 1993. ISBN 1-85283-401-3.
• A Life in the Wild. Gill & Macmillan, Ltd. (Ireland). 2004. ISBN 0-7171-3615-9. - Reviewed by the Irish Independent[4]
• Irish Rivers. Town House. 1985. ISBN 9780946172054.

Filmography

• Amuigh Faoin Spéir – television series (RTÉ);
• The Natural World and The Living Isles (BBC);
• Exploring the Landscape – television series (RTÉ);
• Ireland's Wild Countryside – television series (RTÉ);
• A Life in the Wild – television series (RTÉ);
• Wild Islands (RTÉ, S4C and STV);
• Nature Watch (ITV);
• Éiníní and Ainimhithe na hÉireann (TG4).

References

External links

• Éamon de Buitléar at IMDb