February screening for ‘My Grandfather was Innocent’

THERE was always a strong and unwavering conviction in these parts that the unfortunate John Twiss was completely innocent of what became infamous as The Glenlara Murder.

This was the beating to death of a bailiff, James Donovan, in that part of North Cork on April 21, 1894.

The trial and eventual hanging of John Twiss in January and February of 1895 were surrounded by some of the worst examples of skulduggery and miscarriages of justice ever seen in Ireland.

There is a fair presumption of innocence for poor old John Twiss in the title of the recently filmed documentary on his life and death.

The film was shot in locations in Castleisland, Cordal and in relevant parts of Cork by the independent Chalkboard Television Production Company for the BBC.

It is believed that the ‘Twiss programme’ will be aired next month as part of a series titled ‘My Grandfather Was Innocent’ and it is sure to generate a renewed interest in the age old story.

Twiss, it seems, was unfortunate on several grounds.

Mostly in that several ‘Moonlighter trials’ had collapsed around that time and that there was obviously those intent on nailing him because of his strong Moonlighter stance.

The crew filmed in Browne’s Bar in Castleisland and at Hughes’ Bar in Cordal, and featured Eamon Breen and Johnnie Roche along with relatives of John Twiss: Helen O’Connor, Firies; and Denis Sayers, Kilflynn.

Reconstructions were filmed in the company’s studios in the UK. The story of John Twiss was picked up in the UK from the recently launched and Castleisland-based Michael O’Donohoe Memorial Heritage Project website.

Photo by John Reidy. Pictured during the filming for the John Twiss documentary at Hughes’ Bar in Cordal were: Seán Hughes, proprietor; Helen O’Connor, Firies; Johnnie Roche, Castleisland; Tim Fairclough, production runner and Denis Sayers, Kilflynn.