Fan CastingInto the Sea: The Finbarr Donnelly Story

Into the Sea is an electrifying, visceral biopic that tells the untold story of Finbarr Donnelly, a wildly talented and enigmatic figure who reshaped the sound and spirit of Irish music in the 1980s. Finbarr, the charismatic frontman of the cult post-punk band Five Go Down to the Sea?, was a man who defied norms and embraced the absurd, blending surrealism with raw emotion in his songwriting. His bold lyrics and striking stage presence made him a living legend, yet his life was as tumultuous and unpredictable as the music he created. Born in Northern Ireland and raised in Cork, Finbarr’s journey into music was shaped by his unique perspective on life—one that embraced chaos, creativity, and deep introspection. As the frontman of Five Go Down to the Sea?, previously known as Nun Attax and later Beethoven Fing Beethoven, Finbarr became a symbol of youthful rebellion, a voice of a generation. His absurd, often darkly comic lyrics and theatrical performances captivated audiences and influenced the trajectory of Cork’s underground music scene.