FETHARD GAA NOTES
UNDER 17 COUNTY LEAGUE
We started our campaign in Fethard with the first game of the millennium against a strong Cahir fifteen who came out in top 2-5 (2-3) to 0-6 (0-3). The team on the day were: Ronan Maher, David Kelly, John O'Meara, Peter Carroll, Paul Hackett, Ronan Allen, Ian Kenrick, Glen Burke (0-3), John Hanrahan, Owen Doyle, Brian Coen (0-1), Patrick Looby, Diarmuid Burke, John Noonan (0-2), John Needham. Subs used: Paul Morrissey for Ronan Allen, Nicky Noonan for John Needham, Paddy Cooney and Tom Halpin.
Our next game is scheduled for 12 noon on Sunday next in Roscrea, against Roscrea. Leaving the GAA Park at 11am.
SENIOR
Our seniors are back in action in the Munster league this weekend, away to Ahada in Cork.
CLUB CONVENTION
Officers elected at the Club Convention are: Chairman Gussy Fitzgerald; Secretary/PRO Noel Byrne; Treasurer Nicky O'Shea; Assistant Secretary Paula Gahan; Assistant Treasurer Michael Fitzgerald; Development Officer Denis O'Meara.

SPORTING SCENE
Congratulations to the committee and members of Fethard Open Coursing Club on the excellent and efficient running of the J. F. O'Sullivan Cup and Stakes. Run on the Coolmore preserves, a supply of top class hares came readily to hand. The courses were run off on the first heat at Guiry's and then transferring to the racecourse side. The days programme was finished in record time.
A season to remember for promising local rider Mark Grant. Mark rode a double for his boss David Wachman at Lisgoold, Co. Cork, Point-to-Point on Sunday , winning the Mares Maiden Race on 'Warrior Princess' and 'Escondido' in the Gelding's Maiden Race.

SILVER WEDDING
Congratulations and best wishes to Jim and Marie McGrath, Sparagoleith, who celebrated their Silver Wedding Anniversary on January 1st.

HUNTING
The Ballylusky White Heathers will meet at 12 noon in Golden on January 9th and in Moyglass on January 16th.

DIED RECENTLY
Sincere sympathy is extended to the relatives of the following who died recently: Mrs Margaret Burke, Crampscastle; Jim O'Connell, Mogorban; Michael Smith, Coolbawn, and Josephine Costigan, Springhill.

CHRISTMAS IN FETHARD
Canon James Power P.P. and Fr. Ben O'Brien OSA, Prior, complimented Fethard and Killusty parishioners on their excellent attendance at the church services during the Christmas period. The Carol services in Holy Trinity Church of Ireland also attracted a full congregation. The weather over the holiday period was quite good. Unfortunately the Children's' Meet of the Tipperary Foxhounds at Grove coincided with high wind and rain which, we might add, did not mar in any way the enthusiasm and enjoyment of the 102 mounted juvenile followers of all ages.
The Fethard & Killusty Community Council started the Millennium celebrations on Wednesday night 29th December, outside the illuminated Town Hall with live music from the Pheasant Pluckers and lots of free goodies distributed to the children present by two beautifully dressed 'millennium clowns'. It was a lovely party atmosphere and thanks to Liam Daly for the use of his lorry for the occasion.
The Millennium Eve celebrations went off literally with a bang! The most impressive fireworks display ever seen in Fethard lit up the night sky for an hour following the pealing of the local churches bells at midnight. The crowd attending enjoyed the festivities in a most orderly manner with no undue shouting or disturbance.
However, you always have a few cowboys no matter what you do. What a pity that three youths had been observed wrecking the Christmas Tree and lights on the Square at approximately 3am on New Years Day. If anyone else spotted this incident or was in the area at the time, please pass on the information to the local Garda.

THE CONVENTION
The Annual General Meeting of Fethard GAA Club took place in the Abymill Theatre on Sunday, 2nd January. The AGM gives the regular supporters and members the opportunity to voice their opinion, and did they avail of it!. Selectors, officials, officers and committee all came in for more than their share of flack. Miceál McCormack, outgoing secretary, was beaten in a vote for the position this year. Noel Byrne is the new honorary secretary. The following selection committees were elected. Minor: Austin Godfrey, John Hurley and Tommy Gahan. Junior: Tommy Gahan, Michael 'Chas' Keane and Jim Williams. Under 21: Tommy Sheehan, Pat Sheehan and Tom Anglim.
The intermediate and senior selection committees will be selected and the question of appointing a trainer from outside the parish will be discussed at the adjourned convention.
The expense of running a club such as Fethard has now become quite a serious issue. The cost of administration for the 1999 season came to £43,000. The balance showed a deficit of £2,000.
The large number of juvenile teams catered for by the club are looked after by an excellent juvenile committee. We hate to think what the deficit would be if the cost of juvenile administration had to be borne by the parent club.

FETHARD & KILLUSTY COMMUNITY COUNCIL
The committee would like to thank all who helped in their Christmas Lights project especially to Coolmore Stud and the Friends of Fethard. Next year, hopefully, the ESB cables will be underground which will allow for easier erection of street lights.
The next meeting will take place on Tuesday January 18th in the Tirry Centre at 8.30pm.

TIME TO REFLECT
An octogenarian follower of Fethard GAA affairs, who has seen all the Fethard senior teams of the past seventy years plus has submitted what he considers the best team from Fethard in that period: Tony Newport (goalie), Tommy Hogan (right full back), Ned O'Shea (full back), Mick Byrne (left full back), Liam Connolly (right half back), Mick Gunne (center half back), Jim O'Gorman (left half back), Dick Allen (centerfield), Brian Burke (centerfield), Gus Danaher (right half forward), Tom Tubridy (center forward), Dan Mullins (left half forward), Ned Cummins (right forward), Jim Noonan (full forward) and Gus McCarthy (left forward).
Our selector states he could only pick fifteen and found it very difficult not to include the following whose selection, in his opinion, would not have made the team weaker: Frank 'Scout' Butler (goalie), Ned Connolly (back), Ger Phelan (back), John Keane (back), Cly Mullins (forward), Mikie O'Connor (forward), Dick Hayes (forward), Jack Gunne (forward), and Jack Delaney (centerfield).
Some young and not so young will wonder who were many of the players selected. Half the team came from the 1915-'29 era when Fethard almost owned the county senior football championship. Their dominance may be best gauged from the record of Dan Mullins who won nine senior football championship medals in that period. This selection we have requested to record is only one person's opinion. Can you do better?

TIPPERARIANA BOOK FAIR
Fethard Historical Society will hold their annual Book Fair in the Ballroom on Sunday 13th February. The committee would welcome any unwanted books which can be sold on their own stall. For further information contact: Terry Cunningham, Grangebeg, Fethard, Tel: 052 23402, or Dóirín Saurus, Crampscastle, Fethard, Tel: 052 31936.

LEARNING FOR LIFE — NIGHT CLASSES
The Patrician Presentation Secondary School will offer night classes in Computers, Woodwork, Cookery, Arts & Maths early in the New Year. Classes will be held on Tuesdays at 7.30pm for 6 to 8 weeks. Enrolments will take place at the school on 17th and 18th January, 2000. All are welcome.