The Girls of the Sacred Heart is a cross‑island creative development led by Prime Cut Productions in partnership with playwright Sarah McKenna Dunne, Dublin City Arts Office, and an ensemble of artists from Cavan, Dublin, Monaghan, Sligo and Belfast. Rooted in the forgotten 1943 Cavan Orphanage Fire, the project uses theatre to confront hidden histories, amplify marginalised voices, and foster collective cultural reflection.

This development phase will transform McKenna Dunne’s extensively researched script, which draws on survivor accounts, into an innovative, multi‑artform theatrical experience incorporating immersive sound, AV, and contemporary dramaturgy. The work places the artist’s journey alongside the historical narrative, inviting audiences to question how stories are told, who tells them, and why some histories are buried.

This development contributes to cultural wellbeing by creating space for communities to safely explore difficult aspects of Ireland’s past, encouraging dialogue, empathy, and shared understanding across generations and geographies. It is a first stage development of a collaborative project between Prime Cut Productions and Dublin City Council, building on the relationship initiated through our Shared Island collaborations over the past 3 years. 

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