Celebrating Irish Cinema: Conversations with Mary Robinson & Eva Birthistle
For the 2nd year in a row, Irish Stew hosts Maedhbh Mc Cullagh, the director of the Capital Irish Film Festival, who discusses the festival's offerings, the audience's response, and the challenges and rewards of organizing such an event in Washington, D.C.
Eva Birthistle joins John Lee and Martin Nutty to discuss her directorial debut, Kathleen Is Here, a gripping psychological thriller. The conversation explores the ideas behind the film, along with Eva's move to the other side of the camera.
The episode continues with Mary Robinson, former President of Ireland and United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. Mary Robinson's story is brought to life in Mrs Robinson and will be the feature presentation on the first night of the film festival. Martin explores the former president's early background and her current efforts to address the climate crisis through Project Dandelion.
Film Links
- 19th Capital Irish Film Festival - (Feb 27 - Mar 2, 2025)
- Mrs Robinson
- Kathleen Is Here Preview
Mary Robinson Links
Eva Birthistle Links
Episode Details: Season 7, Episode 4; Total Episode Count: 107
00:00 - Introduction
02:03 - Maedhbh Mc Cullagh: Festival Lessons
03:12 - Mary Robinson at the Capitol Ireland Film Festival
05:49 - The Tension of Kathleen Is Here
07:38 - A Deeper Look at the Capitol Irish Film Festival
14:23 - Eva Birththistle Origins
19:15 - Outsider Viewpoint and Kathleen Is Here
22:38 - Surprises From the Director Experience
24:51 - The Tonal Imagery of Kathleen Is Here
28:14 - Kahleen Is Here as s Universal Story
37:40 - Mary Robinson Introduction
39:58 - Thoughts on Showing Mrs Robinson in Washington DC
42:17 - Coming to the Climate Crisis
44:08 - Climate Tipping Points
47:11 - Reasons for Optimism
49:40 - Recap
50:49 - Credits
Maedhbh Mc Cullagh
Director of Capital Irish Film Festival
Maedhbh is a multidisciplinary cultural producer, arts programmer, and creative consultant from Ireland. For more than two decades she has been producing and managing artistic programs, presentations, productions, and special events for international festivals and cultural organizations, in Europe and the US, including appointments as the Associate Director of Irish Screen America, Managing Director of the contemporary interdisciplinary Abrons Arts Center, independent freelance producer at The Trailblazery, The Civilians Theater Company, Performance Space NY, The Foundry Theatre, the Alliance of Resident Theatres NY, Program Manager of the international Dublin Fringe Festival and Associate Producer of the award-winning Aurora Nova international program of physical theatre, dance and cross-disciplinary performance at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
Mary Robinson
First Female President of Ireland
Mary Robinson is an Irish diplomat, politician, and lawyer who served as the seventh President of Ireland from 1990 to 1997. Born in Ballina, County Mayo, she became the first woman to hold the office. Prior to her presidency, Robinson built a distinguished legal career focusing on human rights and constitutional law. She was also a prominent member of the Irish Senate, where she championed social justice issues, including women's rights and civil liberties.
Following her term as president, Robinson served as the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights from 1997 to 2002. In this role, she was a vocal advocate for the protection and promotion of human rights globally. She has since continued her work in human rights and climate justice through various organizations and initiatives, including Project Dandelion
Robinson's enduring legacy is marked by her commitment to equality, justice, and advocacy for the most vulnerable populations around the world.
Eva Birthistle
Director and Actor
Eva Birthistle is a director, actor, and writer known for her compelling performances in both film and television. Born in Bray, County Wicklow, Ireland, she has become a prominent figure in the entertainment industry. Eva gained widespread recognition for her role in "Ae Fond Kiss" (2004), earning her the London Film Critics Circle Award for British Actress of the Year. She has starred in television series such as "The Last Kingdom" and "Bad Sisters," showcasing her versatile acting talent. Now, with the release of Kathleen Is Here, Eva has announced her presence as a significant directorial talent.
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