Fir a Bhata by Declan de Barra

Location: Kincora

Here is another film by Declan de Barra, a beautiful art film with a lot of feeling and meaning.

Irish Community Video

Declan de Barra was born in Waterford, Ireland and has been working as an independent musician since the age of 18.

Forced to emigrate to Australia during the bleak 80's, Declan quickly entered the Australian Music and Arts scene, touring the country for a number of years with his group "Non Intentional Lifeform" on Dutch label Roadrunner Records.

In 1999 he formed the musical group Clann Zú featuring various musicians from Melbourne's Classical, punk and electronic scenes. Clann Zú became critically acclaimed internationally, releasing two albums on Canadian political label G7 Welcoming Committee, home to writers Noam Chomsky and Howard Zinn as well as acclaimed groups Propaghandi and International Noise Conspiracy. The albums "Rua" and "Black Coats and Bandages" made the top ten critics choices in various overseas press for 2002 and 2004.

Following Declan's return to Ireland in 2002 he quickly became part of the Irish music and film scene. Continuing to perform with Clann Zú on their final tour throughout 2004 in Canada and Australia, Declan also found the time to perform as a solo artist in Ireland.

Filmmaking has always been the natural progression of Declan's musical pieces and songs. Having received numerous accolades for his animations his works have featured in numerous national and international film festivals.

A troubadour, de Barra lives the music; "There is no choice...I have to sing and write...it's like a sickness, a beautiful sickness I am in love with.

Song of A Thousand Birds was done with what ever I could beg borrow or steal, I ploughed what little money I had into buying microphones and the like, food rent and sleep were secondary issues. I was really lucky that so many great musicians liked the songs and helped me out. This album is all I've eaten, drank and slept for the past few years."

Fortunately things have progressed rapidly for de Barra with Song of a Thousand Birds" receiving rave reviews all over Europe and Declan touring and playing festivals from Germany to Spain. Declan's live show can only be described as intense. After years of touring the world in various cult bands Declan broke free of the constraints imposed by working as part of a band "I wanted to be free, free to say yes to shows anywhere, free to hop on a plane, train, boat, and play to new people every night in the most direct and intimate way. I didn't want to hide behind anything or anyone anymore; every note and every word must live or die on its own merits. Honesty and simplicity can be like a punch in the face and that's what I wanted, these songs had to live and survive on their own"

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Fir a Bhata by Declan de Barra

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