Film, featuring voiceover by actress Mary McEvoy

A documentary film, The Forest Midwife follows  writer and social entrepreneur Catherine Cleary and her work over the last year to transform a piece of land in Roscommon into a forest and nature reserve. The documentary by filmmaker and photographer Beta Bajgart, was inspired by last year’s piece in the Irish Times magazine about the project. After Beta read the piece she approached Catherine, who she knows through the local neighbourhood in Dublin.

The film includes interviews with family, friends and Catherine’s new neighbours. It explores the motivations, challenges and debate about afforestation in rural Ireland. The film also includes a specially commissioned written work by poet and author Kerri ni Dochartaigh, to bring to life the voice of a large ash tree, one of the oldest existing trees on the farm. The piece is voiced in the film by actor Mary McEvoy. As a filmmaker Beta believes the Arts have a very important role to play in engaging people on the climate and biodiversity debate.

The farm, in Corry, near Hillstreet, was bought by Catherine and her family and she has now planted a native woodland of more than 27,000 trees. 

Filmaker Beta Bajgart said:  "The story of the documentary centres on Catherine’s work on the farm in Roscommon, but it’s more than a documentary promoting planting trees. Ultimately, it is a story about a woman who listens to her midlife calling, and about a relationship between humans and trees. It touches on a sensitive topic of farming and land ownership in Ireland and honours the hardship of working the land."

Actor Mary McEvoy, who grew up in a farming family in Co Westmeath, said:“I don’t usually do voiceovers for documentaries but this one was particularly close to my heart because I feel very much for trees and for the environment. It was aligned with my values, I found it extremely welcome and it was an honour to work on this."

"I thought the script was absolutely beautiful, it’s so poetic and very moving. And I felt it really expressed well the relationship between trees and man. I think we have to start thinking about art for humanity’s sake which automatically includes the environment, rather than art for art’s sake. From what I know about living in farming and rural areas, I think more effort has to be made not to go over peoples’ heads."

Award winning author Kerry Ní Dochartaigh, who spent lockdown living in rural North Westmeath said: “This was an absolute dream commission, and one I thoroughly enjoyed. I have been writing about trees, their voices, and hearts, and souls for some time, but to be working with Beta and the team exploring these ideas through the tree herself was very special indeed…"