comerford was born in 1947 in dublin, ireland, graduating from the national college of art and design in the 1960s. in the 1970s, he began working for rte, ireland's national broadcaster, where he learned camera operating and general studio production. two years later, he left rte to make independent films. in 1969, he made "swan alley". his first public short, "emtigon" (1971) was followed by "withdrawal" (1973) and "down the corner" (1977).