Under the Hawthorn Tree (1998)
Ireland, 1845, and the potato crop has failed, bringing terrible hunger and plague. Everywhere people are dying or emigrating. The family of young Eily, Michael and Peggy, around whom this story revolves, does not escape. Their baby sister dies and is buried under a hawthorn tree. Their mother leaves them alone to go in search of their father. The children are determined to avoid certain death in the workhouse, where the poor are sent. So they set off on the dangerous journey across Ireland to find their great-aunts, Nano and Lena, whom they have only heard about in their mother’s stories.
Directors: Bronagh Murphy, Siobhan Lyons.
![]() |
Liane Murphy as Eily O'Driscoll |
![]() |
Chris Bollard as Michael O'Driscoll |
![]() |
Doireann Lawlor as Peggy O'Driscoll |
![]() |
Ger Cody as Dan Collins |
![]() |
Collette Browne as Kitty Collins |
![]() |
Brendan Corcoran as John O'Driscoll |
![]() |
Richie Burke as Patsy Murphy |
![]() |
John Cleere as School Master |
![]() |
Mary Craddock as Mary Kate Conway |
![]() |
Liam Conway as British Officer |
![]() |
Lorcan Brennan as British Child (1) |
![]() |
Aine Brennan as British Child (2) |
![]() |
Oisin Bourke as Young Man at riot |
![]() |
Patrick Cushin as Cart Driver |
![]() |
Ray Doran as British Soldier |
![]() |
Paula Drohan as Woman at house |
![]() |
Kevin Hanrahan as British Soldier |
![]() |
Carmel Hennessey as Dying Woman |
![]() |
Conor Jenkinson as Boy at house |
![]() |
Alison Kelly as Aoife |
| Directing | Bronagh Murphy | Director |
| Directing | Siobhan Lyons | Director |
| Writing | Marita Conlon-McKenna | Writer |
| Writing | Mike Kelly | Writer |
| Writing | Gabriel Murray | Writer |
| Sound | Gregory Magee | Music |