One day in December 2008, the life of a sixteen-year-old girl called Georgia Lillis suddenly changed.
Georgia's father is Eamon Lillis and he was convicted of killing his wife Celine Cawley at their home in Howth, Co. Dublin. Now Georgia is a thirty-year-old woman. She has overcome much trauma - with the help of her beloved horses.
I started recording with Georgia last summer – just after she had received the devastating news that the landlord from whom she rented her fields needed his land back.
Georgia was in a state of panic at that stage. She had thirteen horses in the fields and she was running a business, offering therapeutic riding classes to young people with disabilities and neuro-divergent issues.
Not only that, but in the five years that she had been running her business in Rush in north county Dublin, she had built up a close-knit community around her stables. The group of girls and young women that volunteer and work at the stables are a close bunch. When you visit the stables, there are always a few of them there - riding, looking after horses, helping out – but also mostly laughing and having fun.
They all say that the thing they love about the stables is that it is a place where everyone can just be themselves. There’s no judgement and it is a supportive place for everyone. When they found out that the stables were in jeopardy, they were all devastated.
Chloe Grogan-Browne is one of those girls. She rides two of the ponies at the stables – Pablo and Penny – and she narrates this documentary with me.
It’s maybe not a surprise that this yard 'family’ is so important to Georgia. In 2008, her own family was ripped apart when her father Eamon Lillis killed her mother Celine Cawley.
Georgia is an only child but she has always had the company of animals. Dogs and horses have been a constant presence in her life, and they have been by her side through the worst trauma that she could imagine.
When you talk to Georgia Lillis, the subject of her mother comes up a lot. Though she lost her sixteen years ago, and she is navigating her predicament today, she draws on the memories of her mother a lot.
One of the days that she will never forget is the day before Celine died. They had gone together to try out a new pony for Georgia. After Celine was killed, Georgia’s extended family tried to keep things as normal as possible for her and Georgia ended up getting that pony – Bella her ‘heart horse’.
"I don’t think I’ll ever fulfil my gratitude to horses"
[insert pic of Georgia and Bella in field]
Sixteen years later, Bella still has a very special place in Georgia’s heart. At her loneliest times, she has had Bella by her side.
Over the course of the winter of 2023, Georgia managed to secure a new field - she was able to bring her ponies to their new forever home and all the children who need her services can continue their therapy. And she found a place where she feels secure and can finally allow herself to feel happy. Heart and Soul Horses is Georgia’s story.
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