Born in Dublin in 1981, Bairéad grew up speaking English and Irish at home.

[1][2][3] The Quiet Girl (Irish: An Cailín Ciúin), Bairéad's first feature film, premiered at the 72nd Berlinale in 2022 and has received critical acclaim.

[1][2][4] He adapted the film's mostly Irish-language screenplay from the 2010 short story "Foster" by Claire Keegan.

Directors and critics both give their 10 favorite films of all time for the poll; Bairéad picked Ikiru (1952), Citizen Kane (1941), The Life of Oharu (1952), 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968), In the Mood for Love (2000), Ivan's Childhood (1962), Salvatore Giuliano (1962), The Spirit of the Beehive (1973), Goodfellas (1990), and Camera Buff (1979).

[7] Bairéad is married to Cleona Ní Chrualaoí, who produced The Quiet Girl.