Charming Tipperary short film 'First Bloom' tells story of betrayal and sweet revenge

'First Bloom', a new short film set in rural Tipperary, tells a story of love, betrayal, and the quiet satisfaction of revenge.

Written by Caroline Brady and directed by Patrick Fogarty, it is a compact slice of life that balances humour and pathos with a light, knowing touch.

READ MORE: Resonance festival moves to February in Ballina-Killaloe with star-studded line-up

At the centre is a kindly country woman who sets her heart on a neighbouring farmer. What begins as innocent love turns complicated when she uncovers long-held secrets. The film navigates this terrain with subtle wit: revenge is served not with bitterness but with quiet delight.

Beneath the romantic entanglements lies the heart of the story—the strained relationship between mother and daughter. Geraldine Plunkett and Josie Walsh deliver performances that are both tender and unflinching. 

Plunkett embodies a mother shaped by disappointment but not defeated, while Walsh conveys the fragile optimism of a daughter still hoping for a brighter future. Their scenes resonate with unspoken truths.

Joe Rooney and Olivia Phoenix provide additional depth, bringing humour and warmth without tipping into caricature. Rooney, in particular, handles his character’s secrets with understated skill, revealing complexity through silence and subtle gestures. 

Visually, the film is a love letter to Tipperary. Much to the credit and creative eye of Director of Photography Jaro Waldeck who structured the cinematography around the main location, a farmhouse in Borrisokane. 

Speaking to the Tipperary Star Jaro stated, “we had to be clever about using production design to differentiate between the two households,” Jaro explained.

Despite a tight three-day schedule and a skeleton crew, careful planning and collaboration allowed the team to achieve a polished and expressive visual style. Martin Nee’s colour grading preserves the naturalism, while Nathan Campion’s editing gives the story room to breathe.

Screenwriter Caroline Brady explained that the inspiration behind 'First Bloom' came from a simple kernel of an idea: somebody being jilted. “So many people have been heartbroken, and I wanted to write about this,” she said.

The story originally emerged as a short prose piece penned by Caroline, which notably won a place in a national competition run by TV3, before evolving considerably into the film version, gaining new layers of character, setting, and emotional nuance.

Director of this film Patrick Fogarty began his creative journey studying Theatre and Irish in Galway, but has since transitioned into filmmaking, quietly building an impressive directing reel.

He is known for  If I Should Fall from Grace with God (2023), Dairy Babes (2025), and now First Bloom (2026), demonstrating a talent for intimate, character-driven stories rooted in Irish life.

Producer Paulina Kiewesz helped shepherd the project with evident care. The result is a film that is technically accomplished, emotionally resonant, and deeply rooted in place.

Kiewesz began her creative journey in theatre as a teenager before transitioning to filmmaking, studying TV and Film Production, and has developed a keen eye for projects that balance storytelling and craft.

The film’s journey to the silver screen was itself a minor triumph. Developed through the Engine Shorts Scheme, 'First Bloom' was shortlisted from over 100 applicants.

Twelve teams pitched before the judges; six were selected for production, including two from Tipperary. In an industry often centred on Dublin, this recognition signals the growing strength and ambition of regional Irish filmmaking.

When asked what can be done to turn Tipperary into a more film-friendly county for productions, Patrick Fogarty states: “You can’t manufacture a Tipperary film scene, it needs to come organically."

He added, "It is difficult to make a film but it is worth putting your time into. You just have to go out there and make a film of your own volition.” It is advice that should resonate not only for young filmmakers but for people of all ages in Tipperary who have a creative story inside them burning to tell.

In that spirit, 'First Bloom' stands as a testament to what can be achieved when talent, determination, team work and a love for place converge.

With Brady’s heartfelt writing, Fogarty’s assured direction, and Kiewesz’s careful production guidance, the film not only captures the charm and complexity of rural Tipperary but also signals the county’s potential as a nurturing ground for stories that are both local and universal.

This creative team is just getting started and represents a small blossom, hinting at a vibrant independent cinema yet to bloom in Tipperary.

READ MORE: 'Annals of Arra' marks milestone with seventh volume launch in Reidy's of Newtown