FETHARD GAA CLUB
The Annual General Meeting of the Fethard Club takes place on Sunday next in the Abymill Theatre at 2 pm. All are welcome to attend.
Our lotto jackpot of €2000 was not won. We had four ‘match three’ winners who received €35 each: Davy Lawless, Jim O’Meara (snr), Dick Fitzgerald, and Stephen O’Donnell. Lucky Dip for €50 was Moira Morrissey (Tullamaine).
Our deepest sympathy at this time is with the families of Stephen O’Brien (England) and Grace Maher (Abbeyville) on their recent bereavements. Go ndeanai dia trocaire uirthi.

FETHARD YOUTH CLUB
A very enjoyable night was had by all our members and leaders at our club’s New Year’s Party night. The night began with a club table quiz, followed by a photo session for the Nationalist and then the presentation of a cheque to our club by Liam Browne, Director Regional Youth Services. Refreshments and hot food was provided on the night for all present and to finish the night we had a Karoke session at which everybody took part, including the leaders. To sum up the night in a few words, “we had a ball”.
The club is on every Saturday night from 7.30pm to 9.30 pm and the weekly fee to cover expenses is €2. New leaders are always required to help out with this busy club. Please contact any leader or call to the club on Saturday night and have a look for yourselves.

FETHARD RUGBY CLUB
Fethard juvenile rugby club travelled to Mitchelstown on Sunday 13 January. We were able to field three teams at under-10, under-11 and under-12. Our under-12 team went down by 3-0 in tries against a very experienced Mitchelstown who are unbeaten so far this season. Fethard showed great spirit and determination and the final score didn't reflect how close the game really was. Stephen Healan got the 'man of the match' award for his work in attack at a strong Mitchelstown pack. The team was: J. P. McGrath, D. Gorey, S. Healan, D. Hall, D. Kelly, C. Thompson, D. Kelly, D. O'Dwyer, Jam. Kelly, R. Lalor, C. Blackmore and W. Grassick.
Fethard fielded an under-11 team for the first time. Some of the players played for the under-12 team in the previous game. The experience showed and Fethard scored quickly through Andrew Yates breaking just outside his own 22 line to score and Shane Kavanagh scoring another almost identical try within minutes. Joe Kelly came on as a replacement and got a brace of tries for his hard work. Dick Walsh, having his first full game, made some very determined runs and tackles. Robert Ahearne also played well. Both players will benefit from the experience of the game. The 'man of the match' award was shared between Joe Kelly and Dick Walsh. Team: J.P. McGrath, D. Gorey, D. Hall, S. Healan, D. Walsh, R. Ahearn, J. Hally, A. Yates, S. Kavanagh, W. Grassick and D. O'Dwyer.
Fethard under-10 team ran out comprehensive winners after a tough game also against Mitchelstown. Fethard applied the pressure from the start with some great kicking by Sam Manton and Mark Ronan which was rewarded by the speedy Johnny Grassick getting two tries. However, Mitchelstown fought back strongly and only due to the strong tackling of centres Jack O'Connell and Andrew Kelly, Fethard would have been in arrears at half time. Fethard introduced some fresh legs at this stage as conditions were very heavy and some fine running by Jessica Kenny, Tim O'Hagan and Andrew Walsh set up tries for Seamie O'Keeffe, Johnny Lalor and Daniel Hickey. So Fethard under-10's recorded another fine win and are to be congratulated on their progress in this, their first season.
Training continues on Saturday morning at 11am for under-8, under-10 and under-12. New members are most welcome. Contact number: 087 9661315.

COMMUNITY LOTTO
The numbers drawn on Tuesday night, January 15, were 3, 13, 18 and 21. We had no jackpot winner and three 'match 3' winners receiving €50 each:
Thérèse Murphy, c/o O'Donovan's, Burke Street, Fethard.
Anna Cooke, St. Patrick's Place, Fethard.
Eddie O'Brien, The Square, Fethard.
The second winner in the new €50 euro 'Free Draw' for players was Margaret Smith, Cashel Road, Fethard. Next week's jackpot is €7,300. Tickets now cost €2.

ENQUIRY ABOUT LATHAM FAMILY
We had the following request from Mary Ann Geiger (email: tedibear@isrv.com ) through the Fethard Website (www.fethard.com):
“My mother's grandfather was Hamlim Latham, from Ballysheehan/Killenaule, who married Catherine Cudahy. Supposedly she was the caretakers daughter and he got disinherited.... when he married her. They moved to Canada and later to Windsor Ontario and thence to Detroit Michigan. My Grandfather Tom O'Neil courted Annie Latham and she moved to Detroit! On the back of a photo I have are the words Brook Hill and Maugary Estate, Crumps Castle. I assume the family owned these properties!
I know my Great Uncle Frank Latham went to Ireland to do something about the ownership of the Abbey of Fethard, and as my mother said, giving the Abbey back to the monks? When this was done I do not know because my grandmother died in 1911 and she was the one who insisted uncle Frank do this. So it must have been before that!
Also I remember my mother saying something about a title in the family. Lord Haywood or Harwood, and the motto, the eagle devouring the dove. The words Killenaule and Ballysheehan are also on the back of the photos. One lady in a photo is named Eliza I believe. It has been many years since I really looked at the photos so I may not be perfectly correct.
Where might I look online for some Latham family info? I ordered some film from the Mormon family history library and got nowhere! Can anyone please direct me a little to more info. I would greatly appreciate it. Are there any Latham families still living in the area? Your site is the first I've really seen of Fethard and the surrounding area. I was really pleased to see it.”

FETHARD COUNTRY MARKETS
Fethard’s weekly Country Market on Friday mornings still continues to grow apace. Established over 50 years ago, it was the flagship and forerunner of the Country Market movement nationwide. Fethard Market, founded by Mrs Olivia Hughes, has been used as a working example by many of the national Country Markets of the present time. Mrs Hannie Leahy, Annsgift, one of the Fethard founder members, is still going strong and in regular attendance each Friday morning at Fethard Town Hall. The group will hold their Annual General Meeting on Friday 1st February at 10.30am in the Town Hall.

NO CENT(S)
The Euro and Cent is now well up and running after two weeks in circulation. Opinions locally on the new currency are certainly many and varied. Some say, “no problem whatsoever”, while others say “I’ll never get used to it.” One thing is certain, however, the one cent and two cent coins have been given the thumbs down sign, big time.
“What did they bother minting those for?”, “They’re only a nuisance!”, “Keep the change or put it in the mission box!”, are some of the opinions being expressed, even from juveniles. The smaller coins are definitely not being spent.
Retailers find that once they give them out in change, they simply disappear and are never seen again. The wearing quality of the new 5 Euro note is also being questioned and a number of these have already been re-claimed by the banks.
One final reminder, you have just two weeks left to spend your old decimal coinage and punts. After February 9th, the notes will still be honoured by the banks, the coins can be placed amongst your souvenirs!

DIED RECENTLY
The death has occurred of Mrs Grace Maher, Abbeyville, Fethard. Interment took place at Calvary Cemetery.

HUNTING
The Ballylusky White Heathers enjoyed another good day from Loughcopple on Sunday. The meet will be at Clonacody Cross on this coming Sunday, January 27, and at Coolbawn Cross on Sunday February 3rd at 12 noon.

LIFE LONG LEARNING PROGRAMME
Fethard Patrician Presentation Secondary School will run the following as part of their Spring 20002 Life Long Learning Programme:
E.C.D.L. (modules 1-3), suitable for those with basic computing skills, a 12 week course costing 132 Euro. A follow up programme covering modules 4-7 will be offered in September.
Exercise to Music, an eight week course costing 35 Euro.
Both programmes will commence on Tuesday February 5th at 7pm. Enrolment at school during office hours on or before Tuesday January 29th. Further details Tel: 052 31572.

MESSAGES FROM THE WEB
Marie Thomson (email: racingmatamata@xtra.co.nz )
“I came across your web page when looking for information about Kiltinan Stud where my friend has gone to work for six months. She starts work there on Tuesday, your time. (She is Irish and comes from Co Cork but has been in New Zealand for six years)
I have actually been to Fethard in 2000, and visited Coolmore and drank in McCarthy's pub. Great pubs you have in Ireland! Even tasted a ‘small’ of Guinness! Something I was told I must do.
Could you please give me some info about Kiltinan Castle, where the stud is situated, as I was very interested to read that at one stage it was owned by Andrew Lloyd Webber. Pictures on the web were excellent. Thanking you in anticipation”

Katie Nott (email: knott@bigpond.net.au )
“Absolutely delighted to pick your website up on this side of the world (Australia). I can’t believe the changes that have taken place in Fethard. My family are from Fethard, Thurles, Templemore etc. I have cousins living at Rathvin, Ryans and Kellys, but never seem to have time to keep in touch. We know the Newports, Whytes, McCarthys. Is the shop still on Rocklow Road? We knew the Ryan family who owned that house very well before it was taken and turned into the shop. We are planning a trip to Fethard this year. Please put us on your Emigrants Newsletter mailing list.”

TIPPERARIANA BOOK FAIR
Fethard Historical Society are presently planning for this year’s annual book fair which will be held on the second Sunday in February (10th). If you have any unwanted books, please contact any of the committee who will arrange to have them collected and sold at the Historical Society’s second-hand book stall (proceeds to Historical Society). If you wish to sell your books, please contact Terry Cunningham, Grangebeg, Fethard, Tel: 052 23402, to book a stall. Stalls are sold at a first come, first served basis, so don’t delay!