Emigrants Newsletter
The Fethard & Killusty Emigrant’s Newsletter has now been posted free of charge to our emigrants living throughout the world. We take this opportunity to thank all those who have made donations and who have helped in the packaging and distribution process, especially to the late Marion O’Connor who had helped, and has e very year, with the posting and packing of this year’s newsletter a week before she died suddenly. Our sympathy is extended to her family and friends.

We would also like to thank all who contributed articles and photographs for this year’s issue. As time moves on it also very important that we have new contributors. It is often hard to realise how fast time slips by . . . so if members of your family or friends are living abroad it is definitely time to consider putting pen to paper and sharing a few memories with those, who for various reasons, cannot be with us and really love to read about home.

Convent Hall Project
Fethard & Killusty Community Council is currently awaiting planning permission to commence with the Convent Hall Youth Project. The committee has also been in contact with youth agencies in the region to prepare a funding application for a much needed Youth Officer for the area.

Fethard GAA Club News
The adjourned AGM of Fethard GAA Club will take place on Saturday, 2nd February, in the Abymill at 8pm. The county leagues are also starting on this coming weekend with both our senior and minor football teams both taking part.

Last week’s lotto numbers drawn were. 8, 18, 22 and 25. We had no match three winner so the following tickets drawn won €30 each: John Phelan (Butlerstown, Ballyneale), Cora McGarry (9 Barrack Street, Fethard), Cinta O Flynn (Abbey Street, Fethard), Denis O’Meara (51 St. Patrick’s Place Fethard), Rita Doyle (Woodvale Walk, Fethard). The €50 Lucky Dip was won by Rita Doyle (Woodvale Walk, Fethard).

This week’s lotto jackpot of €8,300 was not won. The numbers drawn were 4, 11, 19 and 26. The three €50 ‘Match Three’ tickets drawn were won by, Vera O’Connell (Cattaganstown, Moyglass), Donal McAndrew (Mullinahone), Tom Purcell (Burke Street, Fethard). The €50 Lucky Dip was won by John McAndrew (Mullinahone). All tickets were kindly sponsored by Fethard Wholesale Electrical Ltd.

Our condolences are at this time are with the O’Connor (nee McCarthy) family, St. Patrick’s Place, on the untimely passing of Marion. Go ndeana Dia trocaire orthu.

Fethard Juvenile GAA Club
Fethard Juvenile GAA Club will hold their annual general meeting on Thursday, 24th January 2008, in the Tirry Community Centre at 7.30pm.  All parents of juvenile members are invited to attend this AGM, so please come along and support your club.

Patrician Bicentenary on 30th January
On Wednesday, 30th January, the Patrician Presentation Secondary School will host a ceremony to celebrate the Bi-centenary of the Patrician Brothers 1808- 2008.

The Patrician Order was founded on 2nd February, 1808, by Daniel Delaney in Tullow, Co. Carlow. Then, in 1873, three Patrician Brothers: Br. Augustine Holton, Br. Vincent Riordan and Br. Arsenious Fitzpatrick established a monastery in Fethard on the site of the old Presentation laundry. Thus for one hundred and twenty years the Patrician Brothers together with the Presentation Sisters provided education for the people of Fethard and made an enormous contribution to the cultural formation of the town.

The people of Fethard and the surrounding areas are cordially invited to join in the Patrician celebrations on Wednesday, 30th January. The celebrations will begin with a wreath-laying ceremony at the Patrician plot in the grounds of the Holy Trinity Parish Church followed by a concelebrated Mass at 11am in the adjoining church. Afterwards at 12.30pm you are welcome to partake of light refreshments in the Secondary School.

Open Night at Patrician Presentation Secondary School
Patrician Presentation Secondary School will hold an open night for prospective incoming pupils and their parents on Monday night 28th January at 8pm. All enquiries to the school office Tel: (052) 31572.

Bro Paul’s update from Eldoret 18th January
Good morning or evening to all my family and friends around the world . . . How I wish that I could report peace and calm here in this part of Kenya which has been extremely badly hit by very violent clashes, sporadically since 31 December up to today at least. Alas, it is not so!

I understand that many of you have been tuned into radio and especially TV over the past three weeks following events here. I also realize that sometimes TV tends to exaggerate the problems for the sake of getting something like a 'scoop' on the news. However, no matter how graphically it has been portrayed, please believe me, it has been very bad here on the ground.

I must also stress that we Europeans and Americans, Missionaries, and other non-citizens like us, have not been directly been caught up in the mayhem except to say that our ordinary way of life has been completely disrupted and many in the affected areas, like myself, have been virtually house-bound since the New Year. That may explain all the emails that have been emanating from my office here near Eldoret!  One should also stress that there are vast areas of Kenya that are completely at peace and carrying on with their lives normally or as normally as possible. You may be aware that other countries to the west of Kenya (Uganda, Burundi, Rwanda, the Sudan, and The Congo) rely heavily on the Kenya port at Mombasa for all their major imports. These neighbours are being badly affected in terms of trade etc. as the main trans-Africa highway runs from Mombasa through Eldoret to places west.

The other way we have been affected is that we are generally working with poor people and it is the poor people who have been affected most of all. An African proverb says that when two elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers! So it is in the present crisis where the poorest are the grass. It is not pleasant to see what has happened and that is an understatement.

In spite of the fact that more mass action rallies are being planned for today (Friday) in Nairobi and major towns including Eldoret, there is still some hope on the horizon as Kofi Annan along with two other eminent people are coming to mediate in the dispute. We pray that their efforts will bring peace and genuine reconciliation to our country's leaders.

I would like to thank all of you who have been sending messages of support to us here at this very troubling time. The world is such a small place now and more than ever we can say that 'no man is an island'.

There is so much more we could add but . . .

May God Bless all of you and may He also spare a blessing for Kenya and her people.
— 
Paul D. Brennan (Bro.) Eldoret and Kabongo.

Senior Citizen’s Raffle Results
The winners of prizes in the Senior Citizens Christmas raffle are as follows:

1st Prize: Aaron Hammond, c/o Rita Kelly;
2nd Prize: John Breen, The Buildings, Grange, Barna near Thurles;

3rd Prize: Emma Guiry, Dublin;
4th Prize: Noreen Cleary, c/o Costcutters, Friar Street, Thurles;

5th Prize: L. Doyle, Mountain View, Rosegreen, Cashel.
The committee would like to thank everyone who helped make this raffle such a success.

Fethard Bridge Club Results
On Wednesday 16th January we played for prizes sponsored by Annie O’Brien and Marie Delaney. The results are as follows:

1st Nett: Nell Broderick and David O’Meara (and also winners of the sponsored prizes);
2nd Nett: Betty Walsh and Brigid Gorey;

1st Gross: Bernie O’Meara and Anna Cooke;
2nd Gross: Alice Quinn and Berney Myles.

On Wednesday 6th February we play the first round of the Club Championship. Anyone looking for a partner please contact Berney Myles at 32038.

Hunting News
Following a stirrup cup and refreshments, Tipperary Foxhounds moved off from their lawn meet at Coolmore on Monday 14th January.  Finding immediately in the grove adjoining the meet the fox got to ground very quickly.  Bolting from a very strong mark he found a safer refuge within a hundred yards. Moving on to Peppardstown a brace were quickly on foot under Peppardstown House. Running down to the fort at O’Donnell’s he crossed the road and to ground in Parson’s Hill. A fox from St. Johnstown quarry provided a fine run. Running down to the Bawnbrack road he wheeled right handed over the hill.  Turning left short of the Ballyluskey road hounds hunted very quickly towards Shanakyle. Left-handed here, on Lyons’ hill, hounds fairly raced back towards St. Johnstown marking this good fox to ground in Gorey’s. Next draw, the fort at Coolbawn Cross, also held a brace. Hunting down to the river at St. Johnstown they ran through Guiry’s and Blackmore’s past the cattle sheds. Wheeling left here they ran to the Fethard / Killenaule road which they crossed near the entrance to Blackmore’s.  Through the covert at Lismortagh they ran back towards Coolbawn and to ground near Thomand O’Meara’s gallops.  Moving on to Niko Quigley’s they ran back through Mortlestown and to ground in the fort near Lismortagh Stud.  As horses and riders had more than enough of the very heavy going, home was blown at 3.15pm. An excellent days hunting concluded with sumptuous hunting tea at Ginny Hutton’s, Knockelly.

From Rossmore on Wednesday hounds were hunting strongly all day. Starting from the bridge over the Multeen near the old creamery they were away straight away. While the hunting may not have been the best for point or distance hounds were hunting continuously in the miles rather than acres of woods and forests. These extend along the hillside right up by Rossmore and Stouke to Turraheen.

The day concluded with a short hunt from Dromwood. As a mark of respect to the Slattery family Thursday’s meet at Barne was cancelled.

From Rosegreen on Saturday the Tipps had another good day. Following a nice circle from Lyonstown to Ballyfowloo and back they had a good run from Tullamaine in the afternoon. Running to Kilbragh and right through Martley’s and Slattery’s and back to the covert. Finding again on a hedgerow they hunted back by Tullamaine Castle through the motte and to ground by Tipperary Raceway.

Died Recently
The death has occurred on Monday 14th January of Mrs Marion (McCarthy) O'Connor, 44 St. Patrick's Place, Fethard. Interment took place in Calvary Cemetery.

Our sympathy to her husband Martin, daughter Evelyn, sons Ian and Alan, sisters Angela, Margaret, Teresa, brothers, Tony, Don and Michael (twin).

With the White Heathers
Finding in Mr. Morgan’s from Loughcopple on Sunday they enjoyed an excellent run.  Running to the Kiltinan Road at Mr. Quirke’s, Charlie decided not to cross but did a U-turn.  Back through Morgan’s they ran deep into Carroll’s, Grangebeg.  Turning here, back through Mr. Slattery’s they crossed the Annesfort Road at Rathcanty.  Crossing the flooded river they hunted down the old railway line where their fox once again crossed the river to Annsfort where they lost him in just under an hour.  The railway line up to Monroe was blank.  Moving to Quinlan’s Glen hounds marked a fox in the ivy on the ancient Church ruin in Baptistgrange Graveyard.  Charlie took a lot of persuading to leave his lofty perch.  Jumping down eventually he ran straight into the Glen.  Scent was good on Sunday and hounds hunted well here.  Their fox eventually left, did a right-handed circle and back to the Glen.  They pushed him out once again.   This time he crossed the Tailor’s Boreen and ran down to the Tipperary Point-to-Point Course.  Turning here he retraced his steps once again to Quinlan’s Glen where he was given best.  Donie and his staff had just about enough after a very long and busy day in very heavy going.  This included emptying the water from their full rubber boots at least three times.  Latest reports say they’ll survive.  The Ballyluskey White Heather Harriers meet next Sunday, January 27th, at Clonacody.

Senior Day at Fethard & District Day Care Centre
The Fethard & District Day Care Centre will hold a ‘Senior Day’ on Friday 25th January from 11am. The chiropodist will be available at a cost of €10 and the district nurse will also be in attendance. A hot meal will also be provided at a cost of €5.

Fethard & Killusty Community Lotto Results
The numbers drawn on Wednesday 16th January were: 12, 14, 20 and28. We had no Jackpot winner and two ‘Match 3’ winners €75 each: Eleanor Wynne, Carrick Street, Mullinahone, and Mark Barrett, Market Hill, Fethard.

The three €50 Lucky Dip winners were:
Dermot Darcy, St. Patricks Place, Fethard;
Olwyn Wall, Chapel Lane, Fethard;
Mary Woodlock, Rathdrum, Fethard.

Next week’s Jackpot continues at €10,000 and the Jackpot sellers prize is €1000.

The Parish of Kilconnell
The following information is taken directly from the O'Donovan Letters containing information relative to the antiquities of County Tipperary collected during the progress of the Ordnance Survey in 1840.

The Parish of Kilconnell is in three separate divisions, all in the Barony of Middlethird. The larger portion of it and which contains the old Parish Church is bounded on the southwest and west by the Parishes of Railestown and St. Patrick's Rock; on the north by the Parish of Brickendown; on the northeast and east by the Parishes of Magorban and Rathcoole, and on the south by the Parish of Tullamaine.

The name of this Parish is of ecclesiastical origin being compounded of Cill, a church or cell, and Chonaill, the genitive case of Conall, the name of a Saint.

Of the old Church of this Parish there remains but a fragment of the south wall attached to southwest corner. It is only nine feet in length arid eight feet in height. The thickness of this wall is three feet and its masonry would indicate it to be of modern date. It can be ascertained from the foundations of the other walls that this Church was forty feet in length and eight feet in breadth.

At the distance of twenty-eight paces from the site of this Church to the north there is a small burial place not enclosed by any wall or rampart, in the middle of a meadow. There is an old ash tree growing at the north side of it but it is of no interest to the antiquarian.

About two hundred and fifty paces to the southeast of this old Church stands on a rising ground the Castle of Kilconnell. It is a square structure in good preservation and measures on the outside thirty-six feet from east to west and thirty-two feet from north to south. Its walls are built of limestone and well grouted; they are six feat six inches thick and not less than seventy feet in height. This castle had six floors, the second of which rested on a strong arch; the others were of wood. The windows are some rectangular and some pointed. (See sketch by George Du Noyer, c.1840 available from the Royal Society of Antiquities of Ireland).

Tradition avers that this castle belonged to the MacCarthys but this cannot be true as the MacCarthys were driven out of their original territory of Eóganacht Chaisil long before It was erected. (The antiquities of this Parish were examined by Mr. A. Curry and his notes transcribed by me, John O'Donovan, Cashel, Sept. 17th 1840.)