Éamon de Buitléar was particularly noted since 1962 as an independent film-maker and author specialising in wildlife and environmental matters. A promoter of the Irish language in his many television programmes, he was a member of Seanad Éireann in the 1980s. He also served on the Board of ITMA.

Éamon was also a musician, on button accordion, mouth organ and bodhran, and was active in traditional music. With Seán Ó Riada and other musicians he was a founder-member of Ceoltóirí Chualann about 1960 and is to be heard on recordings of the group. After the death of Ó Riada he founded Ceoltóirí Laighean on the same model about 1972. The group issued two LPs The Crooked Road/ An Bóthar Cam (1973) agus The Star of Munster (1975); in 2010 they were reissued as a double CD Cnuas (Gael Linn CEFCD190). Amongst his music recordings is a film on the uilleann piper Séamus Ennis, Miles and Miles of Music (1975).

Bhí cáil air go háirithe ó 1962 mar scannánóir neamhspleách agus mar údar leabhar ar chúrsaí fiadhúlra agus comhshaoil. Chuir sé an Ghaeilge chun cinn ina chláracha iomadúla teilifíse, agus ba bhall de Sheanad Éireann é ins na 1980í. Freisin, chaith sé tamall ar Bord an Taisce.

Ceoltóir ab ea Éamon leis, a sheinn ar an mbosca ceoil, ar an orgán béil agus ar an mbodhrán, agus bhí sé gníomhach i gcúrsaí ceoil traidisiúnta. Ghlac sé páirt le Seán Ó Riada agus ceoltóirí eile i mbunú Cheoltóirí Chualann thart timpeall ar 1960, agus tá sé le clos ar roinnt d’fhadcheirníní an ghrúpa. Tar éis bhás an Riadaigh chuir sé an grúpa Ceoltóirí Laighean ar bun ar an múnla céanna timpeall ar 1972. D’eisigh siadsan dhá fhadcheirnín The Crooked Road/ An Bóthar Cam (1973) agus The Star of Munster (1975); i 2010 ath-eisíodh iad mar CD dúbailte Cnuas (Gael Linn CEFCD190). I measc na dtaifeadtaí ceoil a rinne sé, bhí scannán faoin bpíobaire uilleann Séamus Ennis, Miles and Miles of Music (1975).