A new Irish film, commissioned by a Clare based nature restoration charity explores culture, community, and climate resilience.
Directed by by João Tudella, who is also based in the county, the film follows Hometree’s ‘Dinnseanchas’ Project.
Dinnseanchas describes the topography of a place through its stories, myths, and inhabitants. The project – funded by Creative Ireland’s Creative Climate Action fund – embraces this ancient way of seeing the land, using it as a lens to explore Ireland’s western uplands in a time of profound change.
During the project, artists were embedded in six coastal communities to listen deeply to their experience of navigating climate change, depopulation, and the complex web of socio-economic and agricultural policies. Dinnseanchas weaves together personal and collective narratives that reveal the resilience, wisdom, and creativity rooted in these places.
The resulting film is both a reflection and a celebration of community, brought vividly to life on screen. Commissioned by Hometree and directed by João Tudella (both based in Co. Clare) and filmed along the rugged west coast of Ireland from Kerry to Donegal, this film offers a rich tapestry of voices – from farmers and artists to community members – woven together in a quiet act of cultural resistance.
Artists included in the project were Heather Griffin – Lyreacrompane, Co. Kerry, Patrick Mulvihill – Lyreacrompane, Co. Kerry, Peadar-Tom Mercier – Maam Valley, Co. Galway, Róisín de Buitléar – Glenveagh, Co. Donegal, Síomha Brock – Uíbh Ráthach, Co. Kerry, William Bock – Beara Peninsula, Co. Cork, Zoë Rush – Corca Dhuibhne, Co. Kerry.
As climate pressures intensify, Dinnseanchas explores how traditional knowledge, storytelling, and a deep connection to place can shape local responses to ecological change. It’s not just a film, it’s a tribute to the wisdom held in the land and the people who steward it.
Director João Tudella explains: “The film explores how traditional knowledge and community memory shape responses to climate pressures and ecological change.”
Dinnseanchas will be showcased at IMMA’s Earth Rising Festival (Dulin – September 12-14th) and in a talk at the Strandhill Film & Folk Festival (Sligo – August 30th), ahead of festival premieres.
Dinnseanchas began as a chance to listen to the land, to those who live with it, and to the quiet layers of memory that shape a place. João became drawn to stories that emerged slowly, through presence and attention, and he says this project offered space for that kind of listening.
João says: “It was a real privilege to spend time in the uplands and to join some of the artists during their days of residency. Being welcomed into those moments, conversations, walks, and shared silences gave me a deeper appreciation for the connection between people and place and helped guide the tone and rhythm of the film.”
Ray Ó Foghlú from Hometree said: “For us, Dinnseanchas was a huge opportunity to go to the uplands and listen to the concerns that exist within these communities, but also the hopes and dreams about what the future might bring.”
Hometree is a nature restoration charity based in the west of Ireland which began in a small community garden project in the winter of 2014, where they saw how important it was for people to connect with nature. Hometree has planted pioneer trees – like Scots pine, Willow and Alder – among other native Irish trees. They have worked alongside volunteers, landowners, farmers and communities who have contributed time and resources to the vision of incorporating more trees into the Irish landscape, bringing all the benefits that woodlands create.
João Tudella is the Director and Producer of Dinnseanchas. João runs Sea Water Media in Lahinch, Co. Clare. Sea Water Media is a small production studio focused on place-based storytelling and creative collaboration. His cinematography has appeared in films, campaigns, and short-form series across Europe and North America.
João Tudella is a filmmaker and cinematographer originally from Lisbon, Portugal, now based along the Atlantic coast in Lahinch. His work spans documentary, branded content, and artist-led projects, often shaped by a quiet, observational approach and a sensitivity to landscape and sound. For more, see www.seawatermedia.ie