GAA CLUB NOTES
SENIOR
On Sunday 23rd April we played Cahir in the South Championship in Clonmel and won on a scoreline of 1–13 to 1–5. That gives us two wins from two games. Scorers: Kevin O'Donnell 1–1; Damien Byrne and Aiden Fitzgerald 0–2 each; Brian Burke, Kenneth Byrne, Jimmy O'Meara and Willie Morrissey 0–1 each; Conor McCarthy 0–4. On next Saturday 29th April, we play Moyle Rovers in Kilsheelan in the next round of the Championship. On Tuesday 2nd May, we play Moyle Rovers again, this time in Fethard at 7.30pm, in the final game of the County League.
INTERMEDIATE
On Wednesday 18th April, we played Killenaule in the South League and won on a scoreline 2–7 to 0–8. Team: Miceál Sean McCormack, Philip Croke, Michael Burke, Ken Hackett, Michael Costello, Jason Nevin, Kevin O'Donnell, P.J. Ahearn, Garreth Byrne, Brendan Brett (0–2), Michael O'Riordan (1–0), Eugene Walsh (1–1), Peter Nolan, John Hurley, Colin Allen (0–2). Subs used: P. Carroll for K. O'Donnell, Brian Coen (0–2) for P. Nolan. This gives us 6 points out of a possible 8 with our final game of the league against St. Patrick' to be rearranged. We have no details yet of our Munster Junior semifinal fixture against Austin Stacks (Tralee).
UNDER 21
Well done to all in getting to the under 21 County Final which is not yet fixed. On Saturday 22nd we beat Galtee Rovers on a scoreline 4–10 (3–3) to 1–15 (1–8) in what was described as an excellent game of football displayed by both teams (report on sports page). Scorers: J. P. Looby (1–2), Conor McCarthy (0–6), Kenneth O'Donnell (2–0), David Morrissey (1–0), Glen Burke and Kenneth Byrne (0–1 each). We can look forward to our county final against either Kildangan or Moyne / Templetouhy who played a draw last week.
UNDER 18
On Monday 24th we travelled to Cork and played an excellent challenge game. Our next outing is against Newcastle (check sports page for time and venue).
HURLING
The Intermediate Hurling County League kicked off on Tuesday last in Fethard when we played Ballybacon Grange (report next week). Our next game is on Tuesday May 9th in Fethard against Templederry.
JUNIOR LEAGUE
On Thursday 29th we play Killenaule in the final game of the South League (report next week).
JUVENILE
A great display of football was seen from our under 12 footballers on their last outing against Cahir. Final score Fethard 3–16, Cahir 0–3. To date, Fethard have played three games and won them all. Our next game is away to Commercials on Thursday 27th at 7pm in Clonmel.
The under 10 Community Games match was played on Saturday 22nd, against Drangan, winning easily on a scoreline 6–4 to 0-1. The game was played in very muddy conditions in Cloneen. This very young team showed that size and strength counts for very little when you have good footballers. Team: Edmund Sheehan, Darren Prout, Philip Doyle, Rod Bamor, Ben Walsh, James Kelly (2–2), Kieran Ryan (1–0), Adrian Lawrence (1–0), Daniel Hickey, Alan Lawrence (1–0), Glen Maher (1–1), Tommy Sheehan (0–1), Ronan Fitzgerald, Adam Lyons, David Walsh, Owen Prout. Subs: Aaron Conran and Andrew Maher.
On Thursday 4th May our under 14's begin with a game against Moyle Rovers at 7pm in Fethard. On Bank Holiday Monday our under 16's play Clonmel Óg in Fethard at 7.30pm.
We would like to thank all those who supported our Irish Grand National Sweep. Congratulations to Frankie Coffey, Damien Byrne, Michael Byrne and Martina Morrissey who had the first four houses home. Our GAA Lotto jackpot of £500 was not won in the first week. Tickets may be had from any player. Thank you for your continued support. The weekly draw will rotate in the town. Last week it was Fethard Arms.

VISITORS FROM ST. DAVID'S WALES
We would like to welcome our visitors from St. David's in Wales who are visiting Fethard this weekend as part of WICC Project exchange trip on Sustainable Rural Communities. The Fethard & Killusty Community Council had ten representatives from Fethard travel to St. David's on the first stage of the exchange at the beginning of April. The follow up workshops will take place in the Tirry Community Centre on Saturday 29th April.

WELL GOLF SOCIETY
The well golf society held its outing to Carrick-on-Suir golf club on Saturday 15th April. The following were the results.
Category 1: 1st Paddy Clancy, 2nd Sean Aylward and 3rd David Lawton.
Category 2: 1st Jimmy Butler, 2nd Pat Smyth and 3rd Michael Hayde.
On last Sunday night we held our annual Easter Draw in the Well Bar. There was great music with spot prizes galore.

HIGH ROLLERS
Fethard footballers recorded an excellent score of four goals and ten points in defeating Galtee Rovers in the under 21 county football semifinal played at New Inn on Saturday evening last. The game was certainly no push over as Galtee scored 1–15, a score that would win many GAA games. Fethard's scoring record so far in this competition is 3–15, 0–11, 3–20 and 4–10. They also registered 5–10 in a challenge game. Surely this record must make them the most prolific scoring team ever to represent the club.

EASTER CEREMONIES
Large congregations attended the Holy Week ceremonies at both the Parish and Augustinian Abbey churches. The congregation at the afternoon ceremonies in Fethard Parish Church were highly complementary of the excellent standard of the readings carried out by the confirmation class girls of the Nano Nagle Primary School. The young readers, Susan Gorey, Kate Holohan, Kate Hanrahan, Sarah May Ahearn, Emma Walsh and their teacher Sister Mary were warmly complimented and congratulated after the ceremony.
The Stations of the Cross were held on Good Friday afternoon in the Convent Garden. At the conclusion of the Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday night, Fr. Sean Ryan c.c., who was chief celebrant during the week, thanked the choir and organist, the readers, the sacristan, altar servers and altar society. He also complimented the parishioners on their attendance and participation during the week.

OUT OF AFRICA
Dr Gerry Hayes and his wife Ina Zimbabue are just one of the many white couples affected by the current political unrest and ensuing violence in Africa. A native of Rathcoole, Fethard, Dr Hayes said in a recent interview that he and wife, following initial disappointment after the results of the 1980 election, were re-assured somewhat by newly elected President Robert Mugabwe’s address to the nation.
Twenty years later, Dr Hayes (now retired) and his wife, after 46 years in Africa, are hoping to start a new life in Australia where two of their children reside.

A BRIDGE TO FAR
Superficial damage to the truck and slight structural damage to the bridge was the only harm caused when the famed 'Kylevalla Bridge' collapsed on Wednesday evening last under the weight of a fully laden truck which failed to cross the Anner over the historic bridge.

FISHING
Fethard and Killusty Anglers will hold their first competition of the season on this Sunday April the 30th. The annual Spring Cup Competition usually attracts a large entry. Prospects of good catches are not very promising this year as an angler who has fished the water for over 50 years says he has never seen the river so low in the month of April. Competing anglers on Sunday are requested to meet at Loughcopple Bridge at 11am.

THANK YOU
Dr Mattie Corcoran, having taken up an appointment with the South Eastern Health Board, has relinquished his practice at Main Street, Fethard. His many patients will join in offering a very sincere thank you to Dr Mattie for his devoted service during his term as G.P. in Fethard. We welcome Dr Molly Owen, Ardsallagh, who has taken over Dr Corcoran's practice. Dr Owen will hold her surgery at the clinic on Rocklow Road.

RARE BIRD
A partly coloured blackbird with white head and neck feathers has been attracting much attention in upper St. Patrick’s Place. The bird has been a regular visitor to front and rear garden in the area in recent weeks.

LOT OF LOTTO
Local lotto punters are now certainly not spoiled for variety. Three weekly Lotto draws, Killusty Soccer Club, Fethard & Killusty Community Lotto and Fethard GAA weekly draws are now up and running. So as the man said “You pays your money and you takes your choice”.

DUTCH MASS
A recent visitor to Holland was more than a little surprised when attending Sunday Mass while there. A lady lay minister, accompanied by the congregation, read the Ordinar of the Mass prayers. There was no consecration and at communion, the lady lay minister distributed communion from a ciborium of pre-consecrated hosts.
Scarcity of priests was the reason given for the unusual, by Irish standards, ceremony.
Surely, is it not possible that in the 'maybe not to distant future' we will see the same situation arising in what used to be the 'Island of Saints and Scholars'.

JUDO CLUB
A large contingent from the Fethard Judo Club travelled to contest the Waterford Championships last weekend and, true to form, enjoyed a great deal of success.
Gold medals were won by:
Richard Gorey under 37 kg youths
D. J. Gorey under 41 kg. junior.
Roy Gorey under 60 kg youths.
Eric O'Donnell under 66 kg senior.
(Eric is also club coach and squad manager and this was a fine victory.
Silver medals were won by:
Grace Maher under 36 kg jnr.
Stephanie Lawrence under 48 kg.
Liam Halley under 66 kg.
Tony Gorey under 66 kg.”
Roy Gorey under 66 kg senior.
Bronze medals were won by:
Liam Halley under 66 kg youths
Cathal Gorey under 34 kg junior
Others members who all gave a very good account of themselves were:- Damien Morrissey, Daniel Hickey, Michael Costello, Bernadette Costello, Samantha Feery, Michelle Bradshaw, Seamus O'Keeffe, Greg Pollard & Philip Halley.

The Community Games Judo Co. Finals will take place in Town Hall, Fethard, on Saturday.2Oth May at 11am.Coordinator Valerie Colville.