LISTEN: David Rooney releases new single 'Moondust'

Hot Press illustrator David Rooney has taken his versatility up yet another gear, releasing his new single 'Moondust', as well as directing the music video.

The video – which is well worth checking out – was made possible by the help of a number of very talented people who got on board to make it, including Director of Photography Trevor Hart and Editor/Post Production whiz David Blake, of Run Robot.

The gestation of this project began much earlier, going back all the way to David Rooney’s childhood, when he and actor Malcolm Adams were best friends in primary school in Midleton, Co. Cork. Rooney elaborates: "We both invented imaginary worlds to cope with what was, for me at any rate, a brutal environment in that Christian Brother’s school. I think our creativity was forged and tested there to the full."

A move from Midleton, aged 10, saw the parting of a close friendship – which was rekindled just a few years ago. Rooney explains: "I met the actor Mikel Murfi at an event –who in passing mentioned a fellow actor Malcolm Adams… Could it be the same person? It was. We met up and just picked up where we left off 40 years ago." On filming 'Moondust', he said, "It was great fun again to play with Malcolm! We were also blessed in that Trevor Hart had a talent such as Grace Kelley Fitzgerald up his sleeve to play the Moon woman. They were a perfect match."

'Moondust' is being launched as part of The Birr Vintage and Arts festival, which starts on Aug 4th – that's today, folks! – and will be screened there for the next week, as part of the Open Submission Group Show, which David Rooney has curated. By no coincidence, Birr is home to the ‘Great Telescope’ at Birr Castle. From its creation in the 1840s, for 70 years it remained the largest telescope in the world.

David Rooney and his band have just recorded a full band session with Arena on RTE1 radio, which will be broadcast next Wed, Aug 9th.

Watch the video for 'Moondust' here: