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 and violence.  

Orlagh Heverin’s successful application is two-fold: 

Through Creative Ireland funding, Ms Heverin will orchestrate workshops with Mayo-based artist, Catherine Gannon and Mayo Rape Crisis Centre (MRCC) Clientele.  Female survivors of sexual trauma and violence will have the opportunity to create their own words on underwear through embroidery.  These workshops will be stand-alone but will also inform Ms. Heverin’s eventual film where the underwear will be used as props. 

The second element is that Ms. Heverin will collaborate with Mayo-based musician, Patrick Dexter, to create 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.  The eventual film will be shot in Mayo.

Ms. Heverin completed a MA in Creative Practice at ATU Galway in 2021.  Her studies led her to researching Poetry Films, the outcome of which was making a poetry film.  Through an Arts Council Agility Award 2022, Ms. Heverin worked with poet Anne Walsh Donnelly, where she researched and scripted "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.