This is Serious Stuff!
“There’s none of your buckjumpin or mad arsin around the place that ye call dancin’ at these events . . . this is serious stuff!”, I was informed by one of the committee that run Fethard Ballroom, “People travel from all over Ireland, North and South to these dances”. I was invited to go and take a look for myself.

A few months later, on a dark, dreary, miserable Sunday afternoon, I noticed that the car park was full of cars, but devoid of people. As the ballroom doors were open, I looked in. Two of the committee were inside. They told me to pop in the side door for a look at the competition. The contrast between the drab conditions outside and the colourful spectacle inside couldn’t have been greater. A number of dancing partners were twirling around the floor. The ladies cut a colourful dash in dresses of pink, yellow, orange and black with sequins flashing in the bright light of the hall. Their shoes matched their dresses. Perfectly. This indeed was serious stuff.

The men were equally diligent in their attire. They all wore black suits with tails, stiff white collars, bow ties and patent leather shoes so shiny, you could fix your hair looking at the reflection in them. I was informed that a number of the men kept a bottle of water handy to give their shoes a quick shine before they took to the floor for each dance. Appearance is obviously very important in these competitions.

The music started and the dancers hit the floor. Well-orchestrated couples strutted their stuff in front of a panel who sat behind a desk on the stage, plus some judges around the hall who closely scrutinised the dancers. The male dancers wore numbers on their backs to identify each couple. The four men behind the desk on the stage overlooking the proceedings were obviously the head honchos in this branch of the dancing world. A banner on a table at the front of the stage, which was lined with trophies, announced that the event was organised by the Munster Dancesport Branch.

My only contact with the world of Ballroom Dancing prior to this event was in the cinema watching “Strictly Ballroom”. This hilarious film portrayed a world of ballroom dancers where the top prizes were highly coveted and all the stops were pulled out to achieve them, which involved intrigue, cheating, lying, bitching and a spot of dancing too.

There didn’t seen to be the same amount of drama in the local ballroom as there was on the silver screen, but I was informed in hushed tones that the crowd used to be three times as big as the current one when the event first came to Fethard, but that there were a few splits in the dancing scene.  So there was hidden politics in this circle as well as most organisations. I was getting to like the scene already.

The prize giving ceremony at the end of the evening rewarded the dancers for their efforts. As the winners of the various categories were announced, joyful couples stood out onto the floor, where the gentleman took the hand of the lady before she took off in a triple pirouette victory roll across the dance floor, before claiming the trophy. As many of the dancers stood for a picture with their prizes before trooping off into the night, I couldn’t help but notice the safety sign hanging over a door behind them. It said, ‘MIND YOUR STEP’. These couples with their prizes had been minding them all day.

Christmas Greetings
Sophie and Kate send Christmas Greetings to their granny, Teresa Cummins, Burke Street.  “Wishing you all and everybody in Burke Street a very Merry Xmas: Granny, Vincent, Margaret and Frank and all the Coffey club - Peter and Bernadette and my favourite sweets, Anthony and Jane, Emma and Sarah, Paul and Niamh and all on the Cashel Road - that's you Sally and Jimmy and further afield; and to all my cousins in Moyglass or Knockinglass. Love, Sophie and Kate”

St Vincent de Paul Society
The committee would like to thank all who supported our again, record breaking church gate collection last weekend.  A total of €2,534.34 was collected in the parish which is tremendous encouraging support from the people of Fethard and Killusty.

If anyone who has made an application for Christmas funding and hasn’t heard from us by Saturday 18th December, please contact one of our committee members.

Time Out — Women’s Group
Fethard Ladies Group meet every Monday morning, at the Abymill 10.30am, they are a small group, and have nearly finished their first year together. For those not able to attend in the daytime, an evening meeting time was suggested and both groups have been facilitated by Veronica Crowe, South Tipperary VEC.

The first evening session was held in September in the Abymill and the group has attracted about 20 members of varying ages who meet on Monday evenings. The aim of the group is to enable women to have a little time for themselves away from the demands of home and work and to enjoy the company of other women in an educational but light-hearted environment.

During the few weeks that the group has been in existence, the members have undertaken courses in personal development and assertiveness. There will be a demonstration on flower arrangements for the festive season on the last meeting before Christmas and the group will finish off the year by enjoying a Christmas dinner night out together.

In the New Year, it is hoped to arrange a beginner's computer course, discuss health topics and learn some new arts and crafts. A cup of tea, a chat and pleasant company; what a nice way to spend Monday evenings! Please feel free to contact us if you would like to join its great fun. Contact phone number: 052-26269.

And Kilometres to go before I sleep
It looks like the kilometre will never catch on in Ireland, despite the best efforts of the government. We just don’t use them. All of our main roads are now signposted in kilometres, Ks or klicks, our speedometers in cars are in both the mile and the kilometre, but I’ve yet to hear anybody giving directions in anything other than miles.

This was brought to my attention when looking at the new road signs which are being introduced around the County. Slowly but surely the old cast iron signs, which were in miles and fractions of miles, and often twisted to point in the wrong direction, are being replaced by metal ones in kilometres. The old ones are now becoming collector’s items and are increasingly turning up in Irish bars around the world. A sign saying, ‘Fethard 1 Mile’, has been spotted in Kitty O’Shea’s bar in Sydney, Australia.

Like many facets of Irish life, we won’t miss them ‘till they’re gone, and all we’ll have left is the kilometre. But enough of this whinging, I have promises to keep, and kilometres to go before I sleep.

Community Lotto Results
The numbers drawn in the Fethard & Killusty Community Lotto on Tuesday 7th December were 25, 27, 30 and 32. There was no Jackpot winner and three 'Match 3' winner who received €50 each:

Thelma Griffith, Crampscastle, Fethard,

Kitty Boles, Jossestown, Fethard,

Esther Breen, Barrack Street, Fethard.

The three €50 Lucky Dip winners were:

J. Connolly, Rocks Road, Mullinahone,

Audrey Hackman, 9 Carrageen Estate, Clonmel,

Liam O'Sullivan, Perryville.

Next weeks Jackpot remains at €10,000 and the Jackpot sellers prize is now €1,000.

Penitential Services for Christmas
The penitential service in preparation for Christmas will take place in the Parish Church on Monday 20th December at 8pm. There will be a penitential service in Killusty on Tuesday 21st December at 8pm. The penitential service in the Abbey will take place during the 7.30pm Mass on Saturday 18th December.

Put Christ back into Christmas!
The final nights preparation for Christmas at the Presentation Convent will take place on Tuesday 21st December.  All are welcome to praise, pray and prepare for the birth of Jesus. Put Christ back into Christmas by spending an hour in this pleasant prayerful environment. We would love to see as many as possible attend all age groups welcome. Please contact Sr. Winnie at the Presentation Convent if you need more information

Emigrants’ Addresses
Please hand in your change of addresses or new addresses to be added to the mailing list for this year’s Emigrants Newsletter as soon as possible to Joe Kenny, Rocklow Road.

Fethard Judo Club News
Fethard Judo Club participated in the Munster Closed on Sunday the 12th December, in Killorglin, Co. Kerry. There was a very high attendance from Munster.

Results were as follows:

Roy Gorey – U66 Seniors, Gold.

Richard Gorey – Upr Kyu, Gold; U73's Seniors, Silver; U73's Youths, Gold.

Martin O’Donnell – Upr Kyu, Bronze; U66 Senior, Silver; U60's Youths, Gold.

Padraig O'Shea – U37's Junior, Silver.

Aobh O'Shea – U27's Junior, Silver.

Niall O'Donnell – U37's Junior, Gold.

Cathal Gorey – U65's Junior, Gold; U66's Youth, Gold.

Samantha Feery – U52's Junior, Gold; U52's Youths, Silver.

Orla O'Donnell – U52's Youths, Gold.

Natalie Coyle – U33's Junior, Silver.

Gerard Gorey – U34's Junior, Bronze.

Lorraine Feery – U43's,Gold.

Stephanie Lawrence – +63's Youths, +Juniors, Gold.

Gary Bradshaw – U28's Junior, Gold.

Donal O'Donnell – U 21's Junior, Bronze.

Tom Woodlock – U 60's Junior, Bronze.

Alan Brannigan – U 50's Junior, Gold.

Jake Walsh – U 50's Junior, Sliver.

Alan Sutcliffe – U 50's Junior, Bronze.

Cormac Britton – U 50's Junior, Bronze.

Daniel Binchy – +71's Junior, Bronze.

James Fanning – +71's Junior, Bronze.

Well done to Anthony Curran who competed and fought very well. Well done to all competitors and to coach Eric O'Donnell, coach Josephine O'Donnell and coach Roy Gorey who keeps turning them out.

Killusty Soccer Club
Killusty 2, Clonmel Celtic 0.

The first half of this contest was high on endeavour but low in excitement, in fairness, Celtic had the best chances but failed to make them count. The second half started much the same and it wasn't until the 65th minute that Killusty took the lead, after a defensive slip up, Philly Croke was on hand to hook the ball home. Celtic were still applying the most pressure and only a brilliant point blank save from Ronan Maher prevented Celtic from drawing level. To sum up the kind of day Celtic were having, a Celtic defender, in the final minute of the game, misdirected a long hopeful ball from Shane Aylward was into his own net.

This was as they all are, a valuable win for Killusty a win which keeps us in third place in the league. Manager Chris Coen can feel rightly proud of his young charges who we hope will all come back fighting fit after their Christmas break.

Hunting news
Next Sunday’s Ballylusky White Heather Harriers could be classified as ‘Toms Meet”. The meet is being held especially in Ballylusky to mark the occasion of the 90th birthday of the Ballylusky White Heather Harriers chairman Tom McCormack.

Tom has been a lifelong follower and supporter serving in his younger days as huntsman. His daughter Lucy, and son Michael, currently hon. secretary and hon. treasurer to the White Heathers, are carrying on the great McCormack family hunting tradition.

Tom, in the era when the pack was trencher fed, kept up to four or five couple of hounds on the McCormack farm at Magoury.

The McCormack family and the hunt committee would like especially to see as many supporters as wish to come, especially any old time followers, in Magoury on Sunday. The meet will be held at McCormacks at 11.15am for move off at 12. The special birthday cake will be cut in the Archway bar, Drangan, at the conclusion of the days hunting.

Fethard GAA Club
Fethard GAA Club’s annual general meeting is fixed for Sunday 9th January in the Abymill Theatre at 2pm. Members please come and air your views on the past year and offer your solutions for next year.
On weekending 7th December we had no jackpot winner and two match three winners who received €75 each, Jess Gleeson (Ballyvaden) and Dick Burke (Main Street). The €50 Lucky Dip winner was Fr Tom Breen (Rocklow Road). Numbers Drawn in McCarthys Hotel were 3, 7, 18 and 22.

On weekending 14th December our Lotto Jackpot €2000 was not won. We had two match three winners who received €75 each: Vera O’Connell (c/o Nicky O’Shea, Tullow) and Tossie Lawton (5 St Patricks Place). The €50 Lucky Dip was won by John Phelan (Butlerstown). The numbers drawn at The Castle were 3, 10, 16 and 23.
We wish all our members, workers, players, supporters a very Happy Christmas and a prosperous New Year.

Scully Information
Walt MacDermid from Silver Spring, MD, USA (E-Mail: waltmacd92@hotmail.com) is looking for information of Scullys: “I'm interested in learning more about my Grandmother, Mary Scully and her brother Tom who lived in Lough Capple from 1886 and 1884, respectively, and later in Clonmel until about 1915.”

Progressive 25 Results
Progressive 25 Results for game played on 10th December. Joint winners on 10 games: Vincent and Esther Phelan, Willie Kennedy and Lory Byrne. Table prize: Bob Gleeson and Tom Phelan. Tickets: Seamus Maher, Nora Lee, David Brabazon, Jackie Devitt. Rubber finals: Sean Callaghan and Michael O’Brien, Hannie Leahy and Michael Phelan, Willie Maher and David Brabazon. Next game takes place in Fethard Ballroom on Fri 17th December at 8.30 sharp.

Sympathy from London
Bridget Mann (nee Sheehan, Killusty) sent the following message, “To Steve and all the McCormack's, we send our deepest sympathy to you and all the McCormacks on the death of your father, Paddy. From all the Sheehan's the McCarthys and their families in London.

Open Mind Rewarded
A local man with a lifelong passion for gaelic games and soccer has recently been converted to the joys of the game played by men, and some women too, with a strange shaped ball.

This man was offered some tickets to go and see Ireland play South Africa. He went and returned home with a new game to enjoy watching. A few weeks later he travelled to Thomond Park in Limerick to join the Red Brigade shouting the Munster team to victory against Castres. He was lucky enough to have enjoyed two very exiting spectacles in his first outings.

A wag in a local bar, hearing of the man’s good luck, said, “it was comparable to going on a blind date and ending up with a supermodel”.

Biography of Dr Edward Barron
A new biography of Dr Edward Barron has just been published by Paraclete Press. Dr Barron was born in Waterford in 1801 and became a missionary bishop. His mother was Mary Anne Winston from Fethard and there are details about her and her family in this biography. Her father features in the Barton family records which are now in the National Library. Dr Barron died of yellow fever in America in 1854. Readers from Fethard may be interested to read about Dr Barron's family and about his travels. For further details contact Caroline Mullan (e-mail archives@blackrockcollege.com).

Fethard Athletic Club
This Christmas the club has hired Carrick Swimming Pool for our annual party. This event will take place next Monday December 20th and bus will leave from the Community Sports Field at 5pm sharp. To help defray the cost of this trip each child will be asked to pay €5.

Training has now drawn to a close and will resume next February. Parents and adult members are asked to support the Community Field Committee’s fund raising efforts by helping to raise sponsorship and by selling tickets for the upcoming ‘Dog Night’. Many thanks to all who contributed to our recent church gate collection, the sum raised was €720.

Family Information Wanted
Bryan Strapp (email: strong_angel41@yahoo.com)

Hi everyone, I’m looking for any Strapp genealogy in your area. My father Rev. Jackson Wright Strapp passed away on July 19, 2003 in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. Service was held in the Sault and then at the family cottage.

Stephen Mockler (email: stargazerm51@hotmail.com)

I’m looking for the descendants of Mrs Kate Meagher lived during the time period of 1900 thru 1945 approx. Her maiden name may have been Mockler, address was Tinnakelly Fethard Tipperary Eire at that time.

One Day Left
You have got exactly one day left if you want to view the Helnwein exhibition of Irish landscapes in the South Tipperary Art Gallery, opposite the Courthouse, in Clonmel. The full exhibition was on view in the Crawford Gallery in Cork, but only a part of the exhibition is in Clonmel, probably due to the size of the exhibits. Two of the exhibits are almost twenty feet long.

One of the paintings is called ‘Sky Tullamaine Castle’, which should be of interest to Fethard patrons as the view is from the roof of the castle. The other large canvas, on display courtesy of its owner, Hollywood actor Jason Lee, is a panoramic view of the Comeragh mountains in Co Waterford. A third canvas, belonging to the collection of Andrew Lloyd Webber, not included in this exhibition, but which is featured in the accompanying brochure is called ‘Kiltinane’ and looks south from the castle towards Slievenamon.

It doesn’t matter if you like or dislike art or whether you would normally set foot in an art gallery. These paintings are so visually stunning that it would be a shame if they were not viewed before they disappear off into collections all over the world. The two ladies staffing the exhibition said that the reaction to the works has been very enthusiastic, especially among the younger generation who have been visiting it in droves. It finishes on Friday so get there if you can.