In 1962, Fiachra was awarded first prize for an original composition at the Feis Ceoil and he continued his music studies at the Universities of Georgia and Cincinnati where he received a Masters degree.

On an Arts Council of Ireland Macaulay Fellowship awarded in 1967, he studied at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London. He has had a number of orchestral works publicly performed which include MM: ‘Symphonic Movement’, ‘Overture for Brass’ and ‘Percussion and Summer Suite’ (Five Pastiches for Orchestra).

From 1969 until 1991, Fiachra worked in London as a composer, arranger, musical director, keyboard player and record producer. In 1991, he returned to live in Ireland and now works in both London and Dublin.

His work spans all of the audio-visual media: Music for television includes ‘Dear Sarah’, ‘Outside Edge’, ‘People’s Century’, ‘Alan Bleasdale Presents’, ‘Dispatches: The Khartoum Connection’. He has composed, orchestrated and directed the scores to the feature films ‘Bogwoman’, ‘Moondance’, ‘A Love Divided’ and the ‘Boys from County Clare’. He has also composed the music for commercials, including ‘Woolwich’, ‘American Express’ and ‘Renault’.

Fiachra’s record credits include arrangements for Van Morrison, Wet Wet Wet, Elvis Costello, Kate Bush, The Corrs and The Chieftains.