Chief of north Longford tourism centre to head up TG4 documentary

Déirdre Orme who manages county Longford’s flagship heritage project, Knights and Conquests Heritage Centre, is a graduate of TV Production and has a long list of film and TV credits to her name.

'Jim of the Mill' is a documentary film 'as gaeilge'.

The documentary film is set in Upperchurch near Thurles, Co Tipperary and centres around a farming family - The Ryans.
Jim and Kae open their home, with it's flag-stoned kitchen, parlour and bar to the public once a week. Locals and many more from further afield fill the idyllic rural house for a mighty musical session each Thursday evening.

In the film Déirdre captures the olden ways of country living, the essence and craic of the unique music gatherings with lively interviews with Jim, his talented musical daughters & visitors to their home.

The film premiered at the Celtic Media Award Festival to great acclaim and it continued on the film festival circuit.

The Jim of the Mill Production topped of it's circuit run, with Déirdre accepting the title of Best Irish Language Film at an awards ceremony in Fingal Castle.

Déirdre has also produced, filmed and edited a short documentary 'Uisneach'. Capturing the magic of the mystical midlands it also was selected for screening at the Celtic Media Award Festival.

Déirdre has worked as camera operative with TG4 Laochra Gael series and motion graphic designer with Nemeton TV working on the ever-popular GAA and Rugbaí Beo weekend programmes.

Combining her love of the outdoors, heritage and capturing people's stories, Déirdre continued work with Sherwin Media as Production Assistant on Tracks and Trails. A rich and varied TV Production working life seen her taking roles with Anitidote Productions and Tyrone Productions.

The aforementioned allowing Déirdre to work on ground-breaking advertising campaigns with a multi-national company and the later which seen Déirdre return to Croke Park but this time as Artist Liaison working with world renowned performing artists.

Hollywood perhaps beckoned but Déirdre had her sights firmly on returning home.

Her grá for storytelling continued, working with the OPW as a National Tour Guide at Newgrange, Brú na Bóinne and Loughcrew before returning to Mullingar to work with Fáilte Ireland.

That allowed for some acting work, which led to Ashford Studios and the set of Vikings where Déirdre was transported back in time to become a Viking woman of Kattegat.

2022 seen the release of epic historical thriller ‘The Northman’. Déirdre also joined the ensemble cast including Nicole Kidman, Ethan Hawke, Skarsgard, Anya Taylor-Joy and Bjork on this Robert Eggers film, which was spectacularly shot on Torr Head, Co. Antrim.

Possessing a passion for people & place Déirdre returned home and now focuses her creativity and dedication on delivering a top-class community-based tourism & heritage project for our area.

Knights and Conquests Heritage Centre is certainly flourishing.

And 2023 begins on a most positive note with the tender of Phase one complete which in turn opens the way for the start of development on site of the Living Heritage Village.

'Jim of the Mill' will broadcast on TG4 this coming Sunday evening, January 8 at 7pm.