Mayo to feature prominently at Headford film screenings

THREE powerful short films, where Mayo features prominently, will be screened in Headford on Sunday, October 5, as part of the town’s community arts festival, Something In The Water.

The shorts - Muck, Where The Old Man Lives, and Headaches - will be shown in The Angler’s Rest Hotel in Headford on Sunday evening, October 5 at 8 p.m., followed by a Q&A session with the filmmakers.

Filmed in March 2025 at Ballycurrin House in Co. Mayo, Muck is a dark folk horror piece. It tells the story of 16-year-old Ciara, who discovers the secret of her family's merfolk hunting past.

An unconventional take on folk-horror, Muck challenges the typical lens of the genre by contrasting aesthetic expectations of the native and indigenous with the violent and exploitative legacy of colonialism.

Muck was written and directed by Galway’s Barra Convery, and was produced by Carnacon-native Ruaidhrí Hallinan, who now lives in Glencorrib. It enjoyed its world premiere in the Town Hall Theatre at this year’s Galway Film Fleadh and featured in the festival’s Best of the West selection. It has also recently been selected for Kerry International Film Festival and will be screened there on Saturday, October 18.

Where The Old Man Lives, meanwhile, explores themes of rural isolation, resilience, and the profound impact of losing one’s sense of security. The film was shot in and around Gort and was inspired by true events, including the well-documented Padraic Nally story in Cross.

Written and produced by Ruaidhrí Hallinan and Kilmaine’s Eamonn Keane, it was directed by Sonya O’Donoghue and stars Michael Harding, Ruth McCabe and Michael Patric. The film has already picked up several international awards at a host of film festivals.

The third short in the line-up is somewhat different from the others. Headaches is a short film that was created for the recent Galway 48-hour Film Challenge, run by the Little Film Club. Almost 20 teams from across the country took part, and were each given a prop, a line of dialogue, a shot, and a theme. They then had 48 hours to write, shoot and edit a five-minute story.

There were four writers involved in Headaches - Cian Conachy (also director), Emma Whelan (also director), Saibh Malcolm (also producer and composer), and Mia Donnelly (also assistant director). On a location scout, they found their story on the backroads of Owerbeg, the causeway to Inishquin, and the ruins of Ross Errily Friary in Headford. The locations worked perfectly in their favour, setting an atmosphere of isolation, and abandonment.

The group went on to win the ‘Best Use of Shot’ Award at the Film Challenge screening.

For writer and producer Ruaidhrí Hallinan, this won’t be his first time to feature in the festival line-up. In 2024, Hallinan’s short film Remote Strutting, shot in Westport, was screened in Campbell’s Tavern in Cloughanover, Headford, as part of the festival. In August this year, the short went on to be aired on RTÉ television and is also available on the RTÉ Player.

Speaking ahead of the October 5 screenings, Hallinian said the teams behind the three films are delighted to be bringing the shorts to Headford.

“I got some really great feedback from the festival last year and it’s brilliant to be returning with three new films that are very different, but equally powerful.

“The organisers of Something In The Water are doing a fantastic job in bringing such a varied and exciting line-up to Headford again this year. The community arts festival runs from October 1 to 5 and there’s so much to suit all ages and interests,” he said.

A spokesperson for the festival said the committee is thrilled to be able to celebrate the very best in local talent. “To us, short films are astounding. To be able to tell a story, often one that's overlooked or unheard, evoke powerful emotions, and bring it all to a satisfying conclusion, within the confines of a small budget, and in a matter of minutes, takes talent and tenacity. The strong local connections with all three films makes it even more exciting.”

The screenings in The Angler’s Rest Hotel on Sunday evening will be followed by a Q&A session with the filmmakers. Screenwriter and producer Ruaidhrí Hallinan, writer-director Barra Convery, and Headford’s Saibh Malcolm, who was writer-producer-composer on Headaches, will speak about the inspiration behind the films and the process involved in bringing their visions to life. The Q&A will be led by MC Cróna Esler, from Claremorris, author of Unless By Invitation: Crimes That Shocked Ireland.

Tickets are €10 and are available to purchase in advance here, or at the door. Booking is advised.