How did I find myself in the Village Greengrocer and Food Hall in Castlemartyr at 3pm one afternoon last week? The sign outside says “serving the finest-quality homemade food using traditional recipes, eat in or take out!” I left school at lunch time. Diarmuid was making his film debut. He attends a drama class run by Cope Foundation every Tuesday evening under the umbrella of Suisha Inclusive Arts. It is a community-based arts initiative and they do all sorts of magic things in the artistic world.

Over the last two years they have been making a short film and Diarmuid has one of the leading roles. The group came up with the story and completed the project under the guidance of director Allison O’Flynn and producer Paul Sherlock.

The film was accepted into the Youghal Film Festival. The 10th Youth Film Festival, First Cut was running over three days. It started out in 2009 as a short day of screenings in Cork County Hall. Over 10 years, the festival has grown to a four-day event packed with beautiful short films. I’m told by the locals that the reason for its extraordinary success is the dogged determination and drive of the festival director, Mary McGrath.

The film festival is designed to give young people the opportunity to explore the medium of film.

A short nap

It was a beautiful sunny evening. As usual traffic was very heavy in Castlemartyr. I could feel sleep overwhelming me. As I approached the traffic lights, I spotted a parking space and knew I had plenty of time, so I pulled in for a nap. I set the alarm on my phone for 15 minutes and was out like a light.

Next thing I knew, there was a woman in the car with me. Through the fog of sleep, I could hear a woman calling “Hello, are you OK?” while another voice was shouting “Is she breathing?” Oh, my God, the mortification was profound as I tried to explain myself.

“I was just taking a nap!” As I tried to gather myself, I could just imagine them peeping in to see if I was dead! Ursula, the lady who had awoken me works in the Food Hall. “You need a coffee!” she said. I pulled off hiding my blushes.

Still the kindness of the ladies didn’t leave me. I could have been having a stroke or something else and getting help in time could have made all the difference.

Ursula was on my mind as I settled in among a lot of young people to view the short films in the impressive Mall Arts Centre. It has a massive glass front facing onto the sea. The seagulls circled, the glass glistened and the place has a real artistic feel about it.

Film rolls

The films began, and truthfully they portrayed young people’s real issues of isolation, loneliness, abuse situations, societal pressures, mobile phone culture and so on. It was like being inside their heads and it wasn’t a comfortable place.

Films were made by school groups and youth groups. Then it was time to watch Sunflower Crush by Suisha Inclusive Arts. I saw the familiar movements of my eldest son. I saw him excel in his roll. At one point he has to be taken away by the Garda van. I was so proud! So many years of work on his behalf was finally coming to fruition.

It had profound messages and I won’t ruin the story for anyone who might get to see this production that has got through to the best in cork category in the FASTNET Film festival in May. It shows that dreams can become a reality. Seeing Diarmuid’s name coming up first on the cast list was very special for him. Needless to say I was thrilled for him and so grateful to all the people who support Diarmuid to be the best that he can be.

Funding for the film festival comes from several sources including Cork County Council. Ian McDoanagh Arts Officer from the council said that film making embraces all of the arts and included many life skills including planning, time management and execution of the project.

On the way home, I popped into Ursula for that coffee and to say thank you for her kindness.