'Cillian Murphy wasn't the only Cork connection': Praise for film producer honoured at Baftas

Thu, 22 Feb, 2024 - 12:01

Rachel Lysaght

Film producer Shirley O’Connor, whose father originally hails from Shandon Street in Cork, was among a number of Irish hopefuls honoured last weekend at the Bafta Film Awards in London.

Ms O’Connor, who was raised in Wexford before moving to London to pursue a career in film, won the award for debut writer, producer, or director for her role in the production of Earth Mama.

“I’m absolutely thrilled,” she told The Echo.

Speaking on the process of making Earth Mama, Ms O’Connor described the immense effort that was put in by her and her colleagues. “It was just one of those projects that people really believed in and anyone who we brought on really put everything into it.

“Nobody got on board the project thinking that something like this would happen.”

Following its premiere at the prestigious Sundance Film Festival in Salt Lake City, Utah, last year, where the title was well received, Earth Mama made its way to London Film Festival for a bespoke ‘boutique release’ in September, where it grew further momentum, garnering the attention that fuelled its success last Sunday.

Alongside fellow Irish producer Medb Riordan and British director Savannah Leaf, Shirley described attending the Bafta Film Awards with cast and crew as an incredible experience, where they were “happy to even be nominated, never mind winning”.

When asked what we can expect from her in terms of future projects, Ms O’Connor said she is working on a number of films in the “early stages” of production. She said it is expected shooting will start soon, with the screenings in late 2025 and early 2026.

Ms O’Connor’s father, John B O’Connor, a retired GP, was raised on Shandon Street alongside his brother, Shirley’s uncle, Terence O’Connor, from O’Connor Brothers Funeral Homes, who said of his niece’s big win: “We’re all very proud of her. Cillian Murphy wasn’t the only Cork connection at the Baftas this year!”