Eamon de Buitlear dies aged 83

The Irish wildlife film-maker died last night at his home in Degeny, Co. Wicklow. Mr de Buitlear was one of Irelands first independent film-makers. From the 1960's onwards he made many documentaries about Ireland's wildlife.

He filmed and co-produced the Amuigh Faoin Speir series (Out under the Sky) with Dutch artist Gerrit Van Gelderen.  In 1986, his television programme, Cois Farraige leis an Madra Uisce, won a Jacob Award and in 1987 he was appointed by the government to the Seanad. The programmes had a major impact on the Irish publics attitudes to the environment.

Pictured with Charles Haughey at an Coillte event at the Shelbourne Hotel in September 1990.

He was an accomplished musician, playing the mouth organ and button accordion and authored  several books including schoolbooks on Ireland's natural history.  In November 2012, de Buitlear donated his personal archive to NUI Galway.

Purchase Prints @ Irish Photo Archive