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CHRISTMAS LIGHTS
The newly erected Christmas Lights on Main Street and the Christmas Tree on the Square have been the source of much favourable comment from both locals and visitors. The Christmas Tree, kindly supplied by Coolmore Stud, is a growing permanent fixture. A special type of Norwegian Fir, there is actually only one other tree of this type in Ireland and that one is in Belfast. This year’s lighting project was a very expensive with a total cost on €19,000. Fethard and Killusty Community Council, who spearheaded the project, would appreciate donations to help defray the huge cost and maintain an ongoing seasonal lighting programme for the town. Donations may be made to AIB Fethard or through one of the special ‘Lighting Boxes’ available in local shops.
TOWN WALL LIGHTS
The lights by the Town Wall have been switched on again on Monday 16th December after an absence of many years. The Community Council would like to thank the County Council for undertaking the maintenance costs of running the lights and their help in installing the new lights. We would also like to thank Andy Kerwick and John Bolger from the ESB for their help and co-operation in getting them switched back on again.
ANNUAL EMIGRANTS NEWSLETTER
The Annual Emigrants Newsletter will be on sale in local shops this weekend. The price remains the same as last year, €7, which will help defray the cost of printing and posting over 1,100 copies free of charge to our emigrants throughout the world. Change of addresses and new addresses should be handed in immediately to Joe Kenny as all returned newsletters will have their address deleted from our mailing list.
DIED RECENTLY
The death has occurred of Con McCormack, Shanakyle, Drangan, who died on Sunday 15th December. Interment took place in Drangan.
The death has occurred of Sr. Imelda O’Connor, Long Island, New York, and formerly of Ballyvaden, Fethard. A memorial Mass will be held in Moyglass on Thursday 19th December at 7pm.
COUNTRY CHRISTMAS MARKET
Fethard Country Markets will hold their Christmas Market from 8am to 11am on Friday December 20th. Fethard Country Markets, established 1947, is the longest established Country Market in the country. Mrs Hannie Leahy, a founder member, is we are glad to report, still very actively involved in the weekly operation. The usual Christmas fare of holly, cakes, puddings, etc will be on offer, so come along early!
WHERE IS KILMURRY
We received the following information from Margaret Doyle, Ballyneale, in reply to our article ‘Where is Kilmurry’ last week. "The prize-winning Kilmurray graveyard is in the parish of Ballyneale and Grangemockler, about half a mile at the Ballydine side of Ballyneale church." Thanks Margaret.
HUNTING
The Ballylusky White Heather Harriers enjoyed the best day of the season following their meet at Golden on Thursday. The hounds had an excellent forty minutes on an outlying stag which they found near the radio mast. The hounds meet at Ballingarry on Sunday next December and in Drangan on Thursday 26th (St Stephens Day) Drangan. All meets at 12 noon.
Sincere sympathy to our esteemed clubman, Mr Tom McCormack, on the recent death of his brother Mr Con McCormack, Shanakyle.
CAROL SERVICE
The annual Christmas Carol Service will be held in Holy Trinity Church of Ireland, Main Street on Sunday 22nd December at 8pm. All are invited and welcome to come along and sing. Refreshments will be served afterwards.
MARY COUGHLAN FOR ABYMILL
Fethard and Tipperary blues fans are in for a rare treat on Saturday night 21st December when Ms Mary Coughlan performs in the Abymill Theatre. Mary Coughlan is recognised as one of Europe’s leading lady singers of the blues. She will be supported on Saturday night by local singer Jewel Burke, an excellent artiste in her own right. Tickets can now be booked at O’Flynn’s Menswear, Burke Street, Fethard. Tel: 052 31254.
CAROL SINGING ON THE STREET
This year’s Carol Singing on the streets of Fethard will take place on this Thursday night, 19th December at 7.45pm, starting from outside the Town Hall. All proceeds will go towards the Annual Santa Bear Appeal in aid of the Central Remedial Clinic in Dublin. Bears at €2 each will be on sale on the night.
CHRISTMAS DRAW RESULTS
The results of the Patrician Presentation Parents Association Christmas Draw are as follows:
First prize, Hamper (value €100): Sally Argrave, Coolbawn, Fethard.
Second prize, Fuel voucher (value €60): Danny Donovan, Jossestown, Fethard.
Third prize, Hamper (value €50): Tommy Hennessey, Chadwicks, Clonmel.
Fourth prize, Christmas Cake (homemade): Richie Corcoran, Railstown, Fethard.
Fifth prize, Set of novels: Joey Fogarty, Congress Terrace, Fethard.
CHRISTMAS HAT PARTY
The Christmas ‘Hat Party’ in aid of the Central Remedial Clinics ‘Santa Bear Appeal’ was held at the Bridge Bar on Saturday night 14th December and was a great success. As always, this was a very popular and successful evening and thanks to all those who entered, donated, sponsored prizes or helped in any way. This year the entrants were asked to “make, wear and name their Christmas hat.” The winning entry was ‘Mistletoe and Wine’, wonderfully created and worn by Brendan Morrissey. In second place was Maureen Maher’s ‘Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!’ Third place went to John Shortall’s hat, ‘Think Different’, with Alfie O’Flynn’s effort being highly commended. The ‘Best Named Hat’ was won by Edwina Newport with her most aptly named hat “Holly Head”. In second place was Philomena Shee with her hat, “Tied to the Christmas Sink.” Some of the other great hat titles included: “I couldn’t catch the Turkey”, “The Unfinished Hat”, “Christmas Hat Trick”, “Christmas Air”, “Ho, Ho, Ho”, “Feathered Friend”, “Only Here for the Beer”, “What’s left under the Christmas Tree”, “Bowler Christmas”, “Chef de Party”, “Little Bo Beep” and the very popular “Present Time”.
We would also like to thank those who couldn’t attend on the night but sent donations. A special thanks to the Bridge Bar for sponsorship and the great food on the night. It was a ‘Big Gun’ evening and already we are looking forward to next year when we plan hold a newer and different challenge.
COMMUNITY LOTTO CHRISTMAS EXTRA
For the weeks leading up to Christmas, Fethard & Killusty Community Lotto will have six extra free draws every week for 3 x Christmas Hams and 3 x Christmas Turkeys. This is in addition to the €10,000 Jackpot, €150 ‘Match Three’ prize and 3 x €50 Lucky Dip Draws every week. The Sellers Prize for the winning jackpot ticket is now €740.
The numbers drawn on Tuesday 10th December were 1, 18, 27 and 29. There was no Jackpot Winner and one "Match 3" winner who received €150.
Helen O'Connell, c/o Macks, Clonmel.
The three €50 Free Draw winners were:
Nellie Ryan, 56 St. Patricks Place, Fethard.
Tommy Bulfin, The Valley.
Brian McCluskey, Mountain Road, Clonmel.
Turkey winners were:
Paul Fanning, c/o Carrolls Bar, Parnell St. Clonmel
Frank Mullins, St. Patricks Place, Fethard
Kenneth Sheehan, Derryluskin, Fethard
Ham winners were:
Ann Cooney, The Square, Fethard.
Angela Keavney, c/o Tess Maher, Coolenure, Fethard.
Jim O'Meara, St. Patricks Place, Fethard
FETHARD ATHLETIC CLUB
The club’s last cross-country of the year took place last weekend when Fethard’s juveniles competed in the county cross-country relays. In the under-10 race Fethard fielded two teams with our first team of Roisín Trehy, Louis Rice, Fiona O’Connor and Gregory Henry finishing in fourth place. Our team of Noel O’Brien, Aisling Dwyer, Sarah McManus and Brendan Gleeson finished in eight position.
The under-12 event saw three teams competing from Fethard. Our first team of Hannah Trehy, John Lalor, Ciara O’Connor and Darragh Dwyer ran an excellent race to win the silver medals. Athletes, Ben Walsh, Michael Costello, Michelle Ryall, Aisling O’Connor, Damien Morrissey, Ryan Laslett, Siobhán O’Brien and Laura Rice all competed keenly on the second and third teams.
Things continue to go from good to better as Fethard completely dominated the opposition in the under-14 race. Shane Gorey, Mary Gleeson, Aoife O’Connor and Wayne Laslett combined superbly to win the 4 x 400m race by a margin of almost 200m. Our second team of Aoife O’Connor, Nicola Henry, Natasha Corballis and Lolo Trehy competed gamely to finish in eight place.
Most unfortunately, due to the chaotic nature of cross-country relay, two of our most dedicated athletes, Kate O’Brien and Bernadette Costello, missed their under-14 race. Both girls deserve better and the club offer its sincerest apologies.
CAMOGIE INFORMATION NEEDED
The following request for information was received from Michelle O'Meara, Year 1 Student, BA HONS Hospitality and Tourism Management QMUC:
(email: hs2omea@student.qmuc.ac.uk)
I am currently a student from Tipperary, studying in Edinburgh, in the process of setting up a Camogie club. I've written a statement of the main aims and objectives of the club in order to receive assistance with fundraising from Queen Margaret University, which is where I am studying at the moment. In addition to this funding, sponsorship is also required which I am also in the process of doing. I am now looking for a main source of equipment, which will also include kits for the new members of the club. I am looking to provide for 30 females and would appreciate any feedback for assistance, as I am having no luck what so ever. Sponsorship is currently an issue also and I will welcome any support or advice with the matter. Awaiting your reply. Kind regards Michelle O'Meara.
TAKE CARE
The following message was received from Carl Askew, a Fethard Fan from Australia, (email: csa02@optusnet.com.au)
Hi there, it's Carl Askew from Sydney Australia. I would just like to tell you how much I appreciate your great community there in Fethard. Sydney is like any big world city these days, too fast and just too impersonal. Outsiders are coming into this lovely country and just not mixing and bringing our standards down. Take care of your beautiful part of the world and thanks for your representation of it to us via www.
YOUTH CLUB TABLE QUIZ
Fethard Youth Club would like to remind people that we will be holding our annual Table Quiz on Friday, 20th December 2002 in Joe Ahearns pub at 8pm. Please come along and support this very worthy cause. A table of four will cost €20. We will also have spot prizes and a raffle. We look forward to seeing you there on the night.
GRAVE HUMOUR
There is no doubt that there is nothing to beat the wit of the Irish as the following exchange between two great exponents of the quick reply will indicate. Sean Hanrahan, one of our senior citizens and a great man for the joke and craic, was in hospital for a slight operation recently. Sean, on his return was greeted by local gravedigger Tom Purcell as follows, “Sean I thought you would be the last man to let me down, especially coming up to Christmas, you didn’t die!” Sean replied, “Tom, it’s a lot better for me to let you down, than for you to let me down!”
The many friends of this very popular local personality will be glad to learn he has made a full recovery from his operation and no doubt over the Christmas period and for many Christmases to come, he will give a few spiritual renderings of ‘Spancil Hill.”
FETHARD RUGBY CLUB
We travelled to Shannon Rugby Football Club on Sunday morning and played five very competitive games Our under eights were narrowly beaten by 7 tries to 6, but they really performed well despite been short some regulars. James Holohan, Cian O’Connell, Luke Keating, Eoin Walsh, Tommy Anglim and Joss Murray had tremendous games and were unlucky not to have at least gained a draw.
The under nines played a very close and emerged with a win when Robert Meagher, in his first game, scored a great try just before the final whistle to win by 3 tries to 2. Other big performers on the day were Andrew Kelly, Conor Kavanagh, Johnny Grassick and Philip Maher. The forwards scrummed and nicked very well and this laid the foundation for this victory, they were Colin Meagher, Shane Power and Stephen Tierney.
Our under tens ended up on level terms even after playing extra time, the forwards of Mark Ronan, Matt O’Sullivan and Michael John Murphy worked well as a unit and gave good ball back to scrum half Tim O’Hagan, this led to tries for Jack O’Connell, Daniel Hickey and William Power.
The under elevens played very well and ran out easy winners by 6 tries to 1. Shannon had no answer to the elusive running of William Grassick, Shane Kavanagh and the brilliant tackling of Josh Halley. This, along with great forwards drives by the powerful Sam Manton and Seamie O’Keefe, saw Fethard in control.
The under twelves played there best game of the season and were unlucky to be beaten by 1 try to 0. The Shannon coach remarked that it the best game they had all year. Great defensive skills were shown by the Fethard backs of James Kelly, J.P. O’Donovan, Pat Holohan and the new Robert Joy. These players tackled everything. The forwards were unlucky not to score on numerous occasions, when powerful drives by Joe Kelly and Colin Blackmore were stopped just on the line. This was a great display and this team is improving with every game. We thank Shannon for there hospitality and look forward to them coming to Fethard in the New Year.
The Committee of Fethard R F C would like to wish all players, friends and supporters a merry Christmas and health and happiness for the New Year.
SANTA CLAUS IS COMING TO TOWN
Children of all ages from 4 to 84 will be glad to hear that Santa pays his annual much awaited visit to Fethard Car Boot Sale at Fethard Folk Farm on this Sunday 22nd December.
THE BRICKYARD
We have had quite a few enquiries recently regarding the 60ft high red brick chimney that stands sentinel at the border of Drumdeel / Kiltinan townlands border. Apparently a businessman of the mid-nineteen century decided to erect a brick building industry at the site. The huge kiln and chimney were erected but the best laid plans went wrong. The story goes that the Great Southern Railway refused to provide a cutting from the nearby Clonmel / Thurles railway line as promised, to transport the raw material to the kiln, and the finished product to Waterford Quay. The owner had a change of heart and shut up shop.
The kiln and the well-known landmark, the chimney, became a white elephant so to speak. There it stands to the present day, the kiln that never baked a brick and the chimney that never beheld a cloud of smoke. Known to generations of Fethard people as the Brickyard, we would appreciate any further information on the project and the name of the would be entrepreneur who started the venture.
HAPPY CHRISTMAS
Once again it’s that time of year when we take the opportunity to wish all readers of the Fethard Notes column, at home and especially those overseas, a very Happy Christmas and all the best for 2003.
A special thank you to all club secretaries and PROs who supplied news items throughout the year. A very special thank you to Joe, through whose co-operation we have gone international through the Fethard website (www.fethard.com). Thanks also to the many from overseas who called when home on holiday to say the column kept them in touch with the comings and goings in their native town. Beannacht Dé oraibh go léir.
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