At 8 years of age, Fergus O'Farrell sat and listened to a doctor tell his mother he'd be dead by 20. But music gave him a talent for life. Fergus O'Farrell was a singer, songwriter, musician, and a force of nature. His music is the soundtrack to a film about a life sustained by friendship and love, and this film became his ultimate performance.

Directed by Michael McCormack, Breaking Out tells the story of Fergus, his wife Meng, and the music and lives that he shaped before he sadly passed away in February 2016.

Click the link below to watch the trailer and donate to the making of this documentary:

In his Director's Notes, Michael makes this statement: "I was doing backline at a charity gig in 1986 in Dublin Ireland when I first saw the band Interference play. There was a confidence there that you didn’t normally get with Irish bands, and the music could match that confidence. But it was the charismatic lead singer with the golden voice that completely captivated.

"The 15 year old me thought Fergus O’Farrell hung onto the mic the way he did because he was a rock star. But after the gig when he got into his wheelchair I discovered he had muscular dystrophy and the mic had been holding him up. Over the next few years I was ever present at their gigs and mourned with a generation of musicians when they split up.

"Years later when they reformed I was there again. Fergus’ condition had progressed. He could no longer play the guitar, and his piano playing was limited, but the voice was still as powerful as ever. I approached him about making a documentary, something that I saw as a niche film for music fans. But when I spent a weekend with him in his home in West Cork I knew that this was a film with so much more to tell.

"I discovered over the years that he collected people like me. He needed people to function and we needed him to know what mattered. I have spent twenty years telling stories as a Producer/ Director for RTE, Ireland's national broadcaster. Whenever I could I traveled to film with Fergus. In all my years of telling stories this is the best and most important one I will ever tell.

"Now I’m asking you to become part of this campaign to bring this film to completion.

"For over ten years I filmed with Fergus O'Farrell because I believed in Breaking Out's potential to tell a unique and powerful story. Apart from the time spent in those ten years I also took the majority of the last two years and am full-time on Breaking Out until it is completed.That it is the level of commitment I bring to this project. I have managed budgets for many productions over the years and pride myself on the fact that I have always brought them to completion with the highest production values.

"Your money will be put towards a number of essential elements that will help to complete this film and tell Fergus’ story the way it should be told. It will be put towards the framework of filming needed to flesh out our story including interviews with his contemporaries in the music business and famous fans.

"Editing, postproduction sound and grading on a feature documentary filmed over this length of time needs time and money. This will be achieved to the highest standards with your help.

"Please share this campaign with friends and family through e-mail and social media using the indiegogo share tools. Breaking Out will be completed this year with your help and I’m proud to offer you these very personal rewards to say thank you for joining me on this journey."