Premiere of Mayo produced film exploring endometriosis and women's health

A Mayo-based filmmaker has produced a narrative short film exploring endometriosis, women’s health and the experience of not being heard.

Entitled Macha, Croía McDermott's work blends a contemporary story with the mythology of the Irish goddess Macha.

Macha is having its worldwide premiere at Galway Film Fleadh 2026.

It is screening on Thursday, July 9, at 9:30 a.m.

Murrisk-based Croía explained: "In Ireland, people face an average nine year delay in diagnosis of endometriosis, leading to mistreatment, organ loss, and needing to travel for care.

"Macha questions why so many continue to suffer in silence.

"The film serves as a testament to the strength and resilience of individuals and their loved ones who are battling this condition."

The film tell the story of Ana in the aftermath of a diagnostic surgery for endometriosis.

She endures a painful post-op consultation where her surgeon dismisses her symptoms, leaving her vulnerable and without answers.

Unable to accept being ignored, Ana takes her search for answers into her own hands, researching her condition and returning to the hospital determined to force the system to listen.

As Ana’s pain continues to isolate her from daily life, her father Fionn struggles to reconcile his helplessness with his desire to protect her.

While quietly defending her against the ignorance of others, he begins to understand that the only way he can help is not by fixing her suffering, but by standing beside her as she fights to be heard.

Endometriosis is a common chronic inflammatory condition where tissue, similar to but not the same as the endometrium grows elsewhere in the body.

Often thought as only impacting reproductive organs, endometriosis is a whole body disease that has been found in every organ in the body.

It can occur without a uterus present and despite misinformation there is currently no cure.