Mayo filmmaker and artist, Orlagh Heverin is working towards making her experimental poetry film, The Secret Tree.  This short film will explore female sexual trauma.  

Through Creative Ireland funding, Ms Heverin forged a relationship with Mayo Rape Crisis Centre (MRCC) and worked in a collaborative manner with Mayo-based artist Catherine Gannon. Heverin orchestrated workshops with Ms. Gannon and MRCC Clientele. 2024 sees MRCC celebrate 30 years of service. Clients from the Centre tried their hands at embroidery and created some beautiful pieces under the tutelage of Ms Gannon.  One client described the workshops as “life-changing”. These workshops are stand-alone, however the energy and deep underlying connection from the workshops will always stay with the filmmaker and inform her future work.

The second element is that Ms. Heverin is collaborating with Mayo-based musician, Patrick Dexter, to start creating a soundscape for The Secret Tree.  Both Ms. Heverin and Dexter share an interest in the power of locations and how their energies can be transferred to screen.  

Ms. Heverin completed a MA in Creative Practice at ATU Galway in 2021.  Her studies led her to researching Poetry Films.  Through an Arts Council Agility Award 2022, Ms. Heverin worked with poet Anne Walsh Donnelly, where she researched and scripted her Experimental Poetry Film The Secret Tree.  Ms. Heverin has worked closely with MRCC throughout her research and will continue to do so.

Please note that the details of events listed above are provided by the relevant Local Authorities.