JOHNNY KILBANE, the Irish-American boxer who remains the longest reigning World Featherweight Champion of all time, is the subject of a film to be shown on TG4.
Croí Trodach - A Fighting Heart, directed by Des Kilbane, a relative of Johnny, will be screened on TG4 on Wednesday March 19 at 9.30pm. The documentary has also been shortlisted for Best Sports Documentary at the Celtic Media Festival in Cornwall in April.
Johnny was born in Cleveland, Ohio, but his people were originally from Achill Island. The film traces his discovery as a boxer; his elevation to World Boxing Champion in 1912; his role in the US army during World War I; and his impressive boxing career of 142 winning fights before finally losing the crown in 1923.
Croí Trodach includes rare archive footage of some of Johnny’s fights, particularly the Kilbane v Atell 1913 World Title Fight, which was in a fragile state and had to be painstakingly restored.
The soundtrack was composed by the Willy Vlautin, leader of the acclaimed country-rock band Richmond Fontaine.
