Macdara is regularly seen as Tadhg Ó Direáin in the Irish language drama ROS NA RÚN on TG4.
He spent two years with an acting school at the Abbey Theatre and subsequently over twenty years with the Abbey company from 1972 to 1996; while there, he acted in plays by John B. Keane, Brian Friel, Tom Murphy, Shakespeare, and Chekov.
In 1995 Macdara adapted the seminal novel CRÉ NA CILLE for the stage and later wrote the screenplay for the film version.
Irish language screen credits include NA CLOIGNE, directed by Robert Quinn (ROSG), ÚDAR (Eo Teilifís), AN TEANGA (ROSG), CORP & ANAM created by Darach Mac Con Iomaire for Magamedia, MAC AN ATHAR directed by Colm Bairéad, AN GOBÁN SAOR (Ilanna Teo) and COSA NITE directed by Dearbhla Walsh.
Film and television credits include Older Joe in SONG OF GRANITE, directed by Pat Collins for Road Entertainment, THE CLINIC (Parallel), PROOF, directed by Thaddeus O’Sullivan and Ciaran Donnelly (Subotica), BALLYKISSANGEL created by Kieran Prendiville for the BBC, JACK TAYLOR directed by Stuart Orme (Magma Films), VAL FALVEY TD by Arthur Mathews, SCHOOL RUN directed by Neasa Hardiman (Grand Pictures), THE IRISH R.M. (BBC) and FAIR CITY, GLENROE, NO TEARS all with RTÉ.
Other screen credits include FAR AND AWAY, directed by Ron Howard (Universal Pictures), LOVE AND SAVAGERY (Morag Loves Company), LEAP YEAR for Spyglass Entertainment and THE BUTCHER BOY, directed by Neil Jordan. SHOWBANDS, directed by Ian Fitzgibbon, LA FALCON DE LE DIRE (Cinétévé/Fastnet), LOVERS OF THE LAKE (Channel 4), SINNERS directed by Aisling Walsh (Laurel Films), THE BLACKWATER LIGHTSHIP starring Jessica Lansbury and DURANGO by John B. Keane for Hallmark.
Macdara narrated the Irish Civil War documentary AN LÉIGEAR 1922 (THE SIEGE 1922) and the television movie TROID FHUILTEACH (A BLOODY CANVAS), directed by Andrew Gallimore for Fastnet Films.
Early screen credits include the title role of Brian opposite Marie Hastings in CÚIRT AN MHEÁN OÍCHE (THE MIDNIGHT COURT), directed by Micheál O’Gairbhaigh, THE BURKE ENIGMA created by Michael Feeney Callan for RTÉ Studios, PLAY FOR TODAY directed by Barry Davis (BBC), POITÍN with Cyril Cusack, Donal McCann and Niall Tóibín, TEANGABHÁIL and Christy Mahon in THE HEART’S A WONDER with Radio Telefís Éireann Films.