The Cateran Ecomuseum is delighted to announce the launch of the film Becoming Cailleach. The powerful new work brings a multifaceted creative project inspired by the newly uncovered history of the landscape of Strathmore to life.

Combining poetry, film, and music

Combining poetry, film, and music, Becoming Cailleach delves deep into Scotland’s rich folklore. Furthermore the film reimagines the ancient figure of the Cailleach – a divine hag revered across Gaelic traditions. The Cailleach is the shaper of the land, guardian of wildlife, and harbinger of winter. Rooted in Scottish Gaelic, Irish, and Manx mythology, the Cailleach embodies the cyclical nature of life: creation and destruction, death and renewal. Through this lens, the film invites viewers to reflect on the raw power of nature. And it reminds us of our collective responsibility to care for it.

As our world grapples with the effects of climate change and biodiversity loss, Becoming Cailleach draws on ancestral stories to explore how we might reimagine our relationship with the natural world. Additionally it explores how we can foster resilience in our communities.

Poems weave together ancient mythology

At the heart of the project are four long-form poems written by Jim Mackintosh, the Cateran Ecomuseum’s Makar. These poems weave together ancient mythology with contemporary reflections. They guide you through a transformative journey rooted in place and purpose.

“Becoming Cailleach may be rooted in folklore, anchored in mythology,” says Jim Mackintosh, “yet the concept of the Cailleach—the wise woman, creator of our landscapes, goddess of ancestors—is entirely relevant to our responsibilities to safeguard our world for future generations. As I end the poem, ‘let the bairns find nourishment in the anchoring of words. Only in knowledge of what has been lived through can the influence of common wealth be shared equally and the wisdom of our earth be cherished.’”

Markus Stitz, co-director of the Cateran Ecomuseum, adaptated Becoming Cailleach as a film. Furthermore, the film features a hauntingly evocative original score by composer David MacFarlane. Both pictures and music enhance the emotional depth and immersive power of the poetry and the land.

“Filming for Becoming Cailleach allowed me to dive deeper into the heritage of the Cateran Ecomuseum and its surrounding landscapes,” says Markus Stitz. “As we captured the beauty and essence of the land, I gained a new understanding of the connection between place, folklore, and community. The Cailleach’s story is more than myth—it’s a lens through which we can reflect on our own role in the natural world, and it’s been an incredible privilege to bring that vision to life through this project.”

The production of Becoming Cailleach was generously supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund, thanks to National Lottery players, as part of the Ecomuseum’s Museum of Rapid Transition Programme.

Are you interested in more? You can find additional information about the Cateran Ecomuseum on Facebook @cateranecomuseum or Instagram @cateraneco.