Éamon de Buitléar
Éamon de Buitléar ([ˈɛːmˠən̪ˠ 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 for Irish television Telefís Éireann. In 1986, his TV programme, Cois Farraige leis an Madra Uisce, won de Buitléar a Jacob's Award. De Buitléar's film work includes directing films based on his books, and he had received commissions from RTÉ, BBC and other stations.[7]
In 1987, he was nominated by the Taoiseach, Charles Haughey to the 18th Seanad Éireann.[8] He was appointed to the Central Fisheries Board in 2005.[9]
Musical career
De Buitléar was involved in Irish traditional music with Seán Ó Riada and was later involved in the establishment of the traditional music groups Ceoltóirí Chualann (1960–1969) and Ceoltóirí Laighean.
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
- 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
- "Filmmaker Eamon de Buitlear dies at 83". RTÉ News and Current Affairs. Retrieved 28 January 2013.
- "An outstanding figure of modern Ireland': tributes paid to Eamon de Buitlear". Irish Independent. 28 January 2013. Retrieved 29 January 2013.
- "Éamon de Buitléar: 1930-2013". iftn.ie. 28 January 2013. Retrieved 29 January 2013.
- Kennedy, Joe. "Eamon's walk on the (slightly) wild side". Irish Independent. Retrieved 28 January 2013.
- "Bray Head Walk".
- "The De Buitléar Way opens". Irish Independent.
- "Éamon de Buitléar profile". Irish Film and Television Network. Retrieved 8 June 2006.
- "Éamon de Buitléar". Oireachtas Members Database. Retrieved 10 January 2020.
- "New post for De Buitléar". Bray people. 4 August 2005. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 8 June 2006.