The Rafters

John Carney (born 1972) is an Irish film and TV writer-director who specialises in low-budget indie films. He is best known for his award-winning dramas exploring the life-affirming power of music in the context of the everyday struggles of ordinary people, such as "Once" (2007), "Sing Street" (2016) and "Flora and Son" (2023). He is also co-creator of the Irish TV drama series "Bachelors Walk" (2001-06). In the early 1990s, Carney was the bass player in Irish indie rock band The Frames, for whom he also directed music videos.