In The Forest Midwife, filmmaker Beta Bajgart follows writer and social entrepreneur Catherine Cleary on her extraordinary journey to transform 30 acres of neglected farmland in Roscommon into a thriving native woodland. What begins as one woman's midlife calling becomes a poetic story about renewal, courage, mothering, and our fragile relationship with the land. Through the film we hear the voice of an ancient speaking ash tree, written by Kerri Ni Dochartaigh and voiced by Mary McEvoy, weaving intimate interviews with Catherine, her family, neighbours and local farmers and revealing the tensions, hopes and humour within Ireland's afforestation debate. Blending documentary realism with lyrical storytelling, The Forest Midwife reflects on what it means to root oneself in nature, to listen to the earth, and to plant for generations yet to come. Following the screening, Catherine will be interviewed by Roz Purcell about her journey and passion for trees and the natural world, followed by a Q&A.
Catherine Cleary is a journalist and nature activist, and the author of five books on topics ranging from crime to food to homelessness and nature activism. She spent a decade writing about food for The Irish Times and has hosted several podcasts. Catherine began working with trees and urban communities in 2020 when she co-founded Pocket Forests with Ashe Conrad-Jones. In 2023, she helped plant more than 6,000 trees to establish a native woodland of over 24,000 trees in Co. Roscommon. Through her writing and hands-on work, Catherine advocates for a deeper cultural and emotional connection to nature, encouraging practical action in response to climate and biodiversity challenges.
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