Entertainment
TG4 film on US boxing legend with Irish roots
A new documentary being screened on TG4 next Wednesday, March 19, tells the epic story story of Johnny Kilbane, the longest reigning World Featherweight champion of all time.
Croí Trodach – A Fighting Heart by Galway-based film-maker, Des Kilbane, tells the story of Johnny Kilbane’s life, a rags-to-riches story that began on Achill Island, from where his ancestors originated, and finished in Cleveland Ohio, where Johnny Kilbane both entertained and served his community until his untimely death in 1957. The film had its world premiere at the prestigious Cleveland International Film Festival in April, where it sold out seven screenings over three nights.
Its director Des Kilbane, who is originally from Achill is a a distant relation of Johnny’s. His film tells of the boxer’s tough early life growing up in The Angle on Cleveland’s Westside, the rough side of town, his love of vaudeville, his chance discovery as a boxer and his elevation to World Boxing Champion in 1912. It goes on to trace Johnny’s role in the US Army during the World War I and his impressive boxing career of 142 fights before finally losing the crown to his French opponent in 1923.
Des Kilbane got the inspiration for this documentary in the late 1980s when he read a copy of The Book of Lists, where celebrities picked their favourites in their chosen fields. “Mike Tyson was the world champ at the time and he picked Johnny at number seven, which really amazed me,” says the director. “But it wasn’t until I found Kevin OToole’s website on Johnny (Kevin’s great grandfather) that it came to fruition.”
Des struck gold when he managed to source rare archive footage of some of Johnny’s fights, particularly the 1912 Kilbane V Atell world title fight.
“The 100-year old volatile nitrate film was in a fragile state when discovered in a Cleveland attic and had to be painstakingly restored,” he explains. “This footage was deemed to be lost forever but most of it was in good condition and will seen for the first time in the film. It also includes very rare footage of Johnny at home with his family.”
In addition, the film features a specially commissioned original soundtrack by Portland musician and award-winning writer Willy Vlautin, founder of the band Richmond Fontaine.
A Fighting Heart also explores the theme of Irish emigration to the US, the role of Irish workers on the construction of the Erie Canal and, more specifically the cultural, social and historical links between the communities of Achill Island and Cleveland, Ohio, that still exist today.
Croí Trodach – A Fighting Heart, directed by Des Kilbane and produced by Mike Keane is a co-production between Midas Productions and DK films for TG4 with the support of the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland. It will be screened on Wednesday next at 9.30pm on TG4.
Folk duo Niall Teague and Pádraic Joyce are launching their new album What Will We Be, a blend of folk, Americana and acoustic music, this Friday, May 19, at 8pm in An Taibhdhearc.
The success of their well-received 2020 release Taobh le Taobh, as well as recent successes at the Pan Celtic and Oireachtas Song Contests, spurred the duo on to record this new album which represents many years of collaboration and musical development.
It features Niall and Pádraic on vocals, harmonies, and acoustic guitars, Maidhc Ó hÉanaigh on double bass and Neil Fitzgibbon on fiddle. The catchy title track, What Will We Be, features contributions from percussionist Jim Higgins (The Stunning, Christy Moore, Paul Brady) and haunting, driving melodies on vocals, guitar, and fiddle.
Themes of love and hope are woven through Come Away with Me which features interplay between piano and fiddle as well as rich vocal harmonies.
People, places, and broken dreams are celebrated and lamented on Martin and Tom, Guitar Gold, Memories of You and Achill Island. The influence of David Henry Thoreau’s novel Walden features on the tracks Simple and Wise and Walden, with the beauty of nature, escape and simple pleasures at their core.
The album moves from minimalistic folk ballads such as Galway Ghost to swirling, string-laden arrangements on the song Neptune, both of which are influenced by maritime tales from Galway. Much of the work on this album was supported by the Arts Council, including work with musical arranger Eoin Corcoran and the string ensemble Treo.
The album will be launched this Friday, May 19, at 8pm in an Taibhdhearc. Tickets €22, plus booking fee at Eventbrite.ie.
Dunmore is the place to be this weekend for lovers of traditional music, as the Galway County Fleadh will take place there from this Friday, May 19, to Sunday, May 23.
It is 10 years since Dunmore last hosted a fleadh and the local Comhaltas branch, which has re-formed since Covid, is looking forward to facilitating this gathering of music, song, dance and craic.
The official Opening Concert will take place in Dunmore Town Hall this Friday at 8pm with the acclaimed Mulcahy family from Limerick. Mick, Louise and Michelle are well known throughout the country, thanks to their live performances, television appearances and numerous CDs. They were the winners of the TG4 Gradam Ceoil Grúpa Ceoil Award for 2023. Tickets for their concert can be purchased on the door and a great night of music is promised.
Two days of competitions will kick off this Saturday at the town’s Community School, with more than 1,500 competitors taking part. Participants will be hoping to qualify for the Connacht Fleadh 2023, which will be held in Ballina, County Mayo, from June 23 to July 2.
Competitions for those aged Under 10, Under 12 and Under 15 will be held in a large variety of instruments on Saturday, as well as in singing and Comhrá Gaeilge. Sunday’s competitions will be for the Under 18 and Over 18 ages groups, as well as in dancing.
On both days a large entry is expected for Grúpaí Cheoil and Céilí Band competitions across all age groups.
Seventeen Comhaltas branches from across Galway will have participants in this weekend’s competitions, which will result in a large number of visitors to the Dunmore area.
Members of the public are welcome to attend the competitions, which offer a great opportunity to hear and see the talent on display. There will be sessions in local pubs over the weekend as well and everybody is welcome to attend these.
For more information on the County Fleadh, go to www.galwaycomhaltas.ie.
Music for Galway’s concert with renowned Swiss pianist Cédric Pescia which had been due to take place on April 27 but which had to be deferred, will now take place next Tuesday, May 23, at 8pm, in the Emily Anderson Concert Hall at the University of Galway.
This concert of German classics with Bach at its core, will brings the Bach element of Music for Galway’s 41st season to an end.
This world-class pianist who won the famous Gina Bachauer International Artists Piano Competition, has a repertoire that spans many eras from baroque to contemporary and he is widely known for his elaborate programmes. Cédric Pescia describes music as ‘language and movement at the same time’.
Audiences will have a chance to experience his soft, clear touch as he performs a programme for solo piano that will include classics such as Schumann’s popular Waldszenen (Forest Scenes), a suite of nine short pieces, and the penultimate of Beethoven’s piano sonatas, No. 31. These pieces will be interspersed with French Suites by Bach.
■ Ticket for Cédric Pescia’s concert are available at www.musicforgalway.ie, or by phone 091 705962 and on the door on the night. They cost €20/€18. The price for fulltime students of all ages is €6 while MfG Friends can avail of the friends’ rate of €16.
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