Pupils track animal movements for Biodiversity Project
Fifth and Sixth Class pupils at Holy Trinity National School were very lucky recently to have a visit from Denise O’Meara, Mammal Ecologist, at Waterford Institute of Technology. This talk was part of the pupils’ biodiversity project ‘All Things Bright and Beautiful’, which will be presented at the ‘Challenge to Change’ seminar in Kilkenny on May 12.

The pupils were enthralled with Denise’s vast and in-depth knowledge of Irish mammals, which she conveyed with the aid of video footage, shot on numerous different research forays into the woods around Co. Waterford. Denise made reference to numerous mammals including the red squirrel which is still doing quite well in South Tipperary, the otter, the Irish Hare, bats, badgers and the pine marten.

She outlined the procedures involved in this research, displayed equipment used and set up research stations in our school grounds to the delight of the pupils.

Denise returned within the week to collect animal droppings and the camera which hopefully would have caught some of the wild-life who prowl the school grounds in our absence. We are currently awaiting DNA results from the lab with great interest.

Denise O’Meara is currently working on Interreg 4A Programme - Mammals in a Sustainable Environment.  This programme is led by Dr. Catherine O’Reilly and Dr. Peter Turner. Thanks to all three for giving us this opportunity to experience the excitement, fun and challenge of their work.

Spring Fayre at Clonacody blessed with great weather 
Last weekend’s Clonacody Spring Fayre, was a great success blessed with fantastic weather; pigs, sheep, goats, and hens for sale together with seed growers showing their wares, vegetable and fruit plants for sale, accompanied by all the tools you would need to dig and plant your garden. The event, organised by Lily de Sylva from Silverwood Events, was the perfect showcase for all ‘Grow it Yourself’ enthusiasts and much more.

Clive Clarke showed how to cure bacon, cut it and make homemade sausages. He also cooked meats on the stand and offered them for sale. Teas and coffees were served out on the lawn and terrace at the back Clonacody House where Veronica Molloy of Crossogue Jams and Preserves, Kate’s Cookie Jar and Brian Rafferty of Tipperary Showcase had their wares for sale.

Families soaked up the sun and relaxed with their picnics on the lawn while children played on the bouncy castle. As you can imagine with the beautiful weather, views and panoramic setting, the atmosphere was ideal for a very entertaining family day out.

Clonacody House will host the next Summer Fayre on Saturday, June 25, where they expect to have more of the same and a lot more food stalls. Mark it in your diary!

Bealtaine Film Tour
As part of the 2011 Tipperary Bealtaine Festival – celebrating creativity in older age – a film ‘Julie & Julie’ will be shown at Fethard Youth Centre this Wednesday, May 4, at 2.30pm. This is open to the public and for booking and further information contact the Fethard Community Office at (052) 6131000.

The Irish Film Institute’s film ‘Julie & Julia’ is a comedy-drama film written and directed by Nora Ephron, staring Meryl Streep, Stanley Tucci, Amy Adams, and Chris Messina. The film contrasts the life of chef Julia Child in the early years of her culinary career with the life of young New Yorker Julie Powell, who aspires to cook all 524 recipes in Child’s cookbook in 365 days, a challenge she described on her popular blog that would make her a published author.

Toolbox lost
A toolbox was lost from a truck between Fethard and Coolmoyne last week. The owner would love to have any information leading to its recovery and can be contacted at Tel: 087 9237315.

The late Sr. Philomena O’Brien
The death has occurred on April 25, in Blue Point, New York, of Sr. Philomena O'Brien OSU, a daughter of the late Paddy and Katie O’Brien, formerly from The Green, Fethard.

In 1935, seventeen-year-old Philomena O’Brien boarded a ship and left her home on The Green, Fethard, for a distant, tiny place, called Blue Point.  The voyage, she later recalled, was her answer to divine guidance.

On September 3, 1988, Sr. Philomena celebrated her Golden Jubilee as an Ursuline Sister at Blue Point, Long Island, New York.  As a teacher she fulfilled a variety of rolls including eighteen years in ‘Our Lady of Grace’ Grammar School in Howard Beach, Queens, six years as principal in Stamford, Connecticut and ten years as Provincial of the Ursuline Order. During this time she travelled extensively, lecturing at Ursuline Convents within the United States and attending international meetings in Belgium, England, Holland, Rome, Germany, and a variety of other locations.  In 1982 Sr. Philomena was appointed as Retreat Director at the Sr. Ursuline Centre in Blue Point. Sr. Philomena was one of fifteen girls from the Fethard area to leave Ireland and join the Ursuline order in New York.

Sr. Philomena’s funeral Mass, on April 28, was presided by Msgr. John Rowan, followed by burial at St. Ursula Center Cemetery. Rest in Peace Sr. Philomena.

Fethard ICA Guild outing
Fethard ICA visit to Glanbia Garden Centre will take place on this Thursday, May 5, from 7pm to 9pm. Please note time. So ladies, this is the time to have all your gardening queries ready for the horticulturist Dan, who will do his best to solve our problems and give us lots of advice for summer colour, etc., in our gardens. Raffle will take place on the night.

Fethard & Killusty Community Lotto
The numbers drawn on April 27 were: 8, 18, 22 and 32. We had no Jackpot winner and no ‘Match Three’ winner so the following drawn tickets won €50 each: Nick Stokes, c/o D. Stokes; Phil Tobin, Fr. Tirry Park, Fethard; and Mary Looby, St. Patricks Place, Fethard.
The three following ‘Lucky Dip’ winners also won €50 each: Eileen Ryan, Friarsgrange, Fethard; Patsy Lawrence, Woodvale Walk, Fethard; and Denis O'Meara, c/o Arthur Daly.

Remember you can purchase your lotto ticket online at www.fethard.com. Buy seven weekly tickets and get one free! Check on the website for lots of special offers including a chance to win a full set of jerseys for your sport’s club. Next week’s Jackpot commences at €2,150 and the Jackpot sellers prize is €215. All proceeds go towards community work in Fethard.

Fethard and Killusty Community Games Swimming
The following competitors will represent the area at the county finals of the Community Games Swimming, which will take place in Clonmel Pool this coming weekend.

All boys’ events are on Saturday May 7. Competitors as follows: Cory Carroll, Kilknockin View; Thomas and David Morgan, Grangebeg.
All girls’ events are on Sunday May 8, where we have: Hannah Dolan, Coolmore; Abigail Maher, Tinakelly; Aisling Gorey, Monroe; Zoe and Caroline Stokes, Ballybough. Championships will commence at 2.30pm sharp on both days. Entry fee is €2 per person. Best of luck to all.

Fethard Ladies Football 
Fethard U10s and U8s had a good morning of football against St Patricks last Saturday morning in Cloneen. Well done to all involved and training continues for this age group every Saturday at 11am in the GAA field. New girls welcome.

Our U16s continued their great start to the championship win a great win away to Lattin Cullen last Tuesday night winning on the scoreline Fethard 7-11, Lattin 1-09. Well done girls and best of luck in the remainder of the championship.

Our junior girls had two games in the space of four days. First up was Templemore on Wednesday in Fethard when we were beaten on the scoreline of Templemore 4-10 Fethard 2-08. Then last Saturday night with a bare fifteen players, including two 13 year olds, we took on Moyne Templetuohy in Templetuohy and following a fantastic performance we emerged victorious on the scoreline of Moyne 2-07, Fethard 3-11. This result now puts us in a semi-final spot which is a great achievement in our first year in Junior B. Well done to all involved.

This Sunday all roads lead to Cahir for the U14 Ladies Munster Final where Tipp take on Waterford in a 1pm throw-in. This is a very special day for Fethard ladies football club as we have three girls on the Tipp squad namely, Ciara Tillyer, Jessie McCarthy and Katie Butler. We also have Tom McCarthy as a selector on the team. This is a tremendous honour for our club as it shows we are a club on the up and it would be a fitting tribute to the work that has gone into the club in recent years to see three Munster medals brought back to the town on Sunday evening.

On behalf of the club we wish the three girls and Tom all the best on Sunday, as ye are all a credit to the club, your families and the town. Fiodh-Ard Abu!

Fethard U13 rugby team complete double  
Fethard U13 completed the double with a magnificent performance to beat Waterpark in the cup final on Friday last in Clonmel. This young Fethard team had already secured the league when they were unbeaten at this level.

It was then on to the cup. We had great wins over Galbally and a much bigger Nenagh side and Waterpark had come through wins over Cashel, Kilfeacle and Dungarvan. The scene set for a cup final showdown in Clonmel, both teams were exceptionally well prepared and Waterpark were the much bigger side, but this young Fethard team were never going to be beaten easily.

The game began and Fethard overcame early pressure and settled into the game, with constant pressure and recycling. They got into the Waterpark 22, they were awarded a penalty which Paudie Feehan took quickly and crashed over for a fine try which he also converted himself. Gary Kavanagh, Richie Ivors, Killian O’Dwyer and Matthew Lynch were impassable in defence while Mark Collins and Gearóid Fahey cleaned up in the lineouts.

At half-time Fethard led 7-0, but we knew we had to up our performance in the second half as Waterpark had a strong breeze. Every ball Waterpark kicked at us, Keith Cleere the Fethard full back gave it back with interest. The Fethard front row of Bill Phelan, Tommy Murphy and ‘man of the match’ Micheál Gaynor carried ball after ball in the second half. It was Gaynor who crashed over for Fethard’s second try with Gary Kavanagh narrowly missed the conversion.

Waterpark they never gave up and scored a fine try which led to a nail biting final fifteen minutes. The big Waterpark number eight picked many ball from the back of the scrum but never succeeded in passing the Fethard flankers Liam Meagher and Andrew Phelan. Waterpark piled on the pressure for the final ten minutes but this Fethard team gave 110% to defend their line. Larry Gleeson and Eoin Barry tackling everything as did all the Fethard team.

Fethard held out to win 12 points to 7 and created history for this young club in what was a great game of rugby enjoyed by a large attendance. We thank Clonmel for the use of their facilities and Mark Small for his refereeing.

Fethard Panel on the night were: Bill Phelan, Micheál Gaynor, Tommy Murphy, Gearóid Fahey, Mark Collins, Andrew Phelan, Liam Meagher, Paudie Feehan, Matthew Lynch, Gary Kavanagh, Killian O’Dwyer, Richie Ivors, Eoin Barry, Larry Gleeson, Keith Cleere, Luke Grant, John Clancy, Griffin Ivors, Philip Fogarty and Connie Coen. We also thank The Village Inn, Moyglass, for preparing refreshments for the team and their families after the game.

Fethard J2s play the Casey Cup final next weekend.

The annual general meeting of Fethard and District Rugby Club will take place on Thursday, May 12, at 8pm in the Abymill theatre. All are welcome.

Fethard GAA Club News
While the scoreboard was not in our favour at the end of our Intermediate Hurling fixture against Fr. Sheehys on Sunday, May 1, we have to consider that we were a bare panel of 17, with some players having to leave important commitments at short notice to play and other players unable to attend due to illness. Those that did play, played with pride, determination and a will to win. Fr. Sheehys were the stronger on this occasion winning on a score: Fethard 0-06, Fr. Sheehys 1-17.

In the U14 B game against Ardfinnan on Monday, May 2, our Fethard blues played really well but we were not strong enough for this older Ardfinnan side. Scoreline at finish was Fethard 0-07, Ardfinnan 4-13.
Tipperary Coaching and Games, in association with Croke Park, will organise Super Camps during the months of July and August. This is a new venture and will compliment the already very successful Cúl Camps. These camps are aimed at 13 to 16 year-old boys and girls and will take place at one venue in each division on a trial basis for 2011, after which we will determine future progress. Application forms will be available to clubs in early April and will be distributed by your GDA (Games Development Administrator).

We ask clubs to put the word out at local level and to gauge feedback in relation to interest and prospective numbers. Camp details are as follows and teenagers between 13 and 16 years of age may apply; camps are open to boys and girls and the duration will be 10am to 2pm daily for three days. The cost of camp will be €40 per head and each participant will receive a county coloured jersey. All coaching policy and standards as applied to the VHI GAA Cúl Camps will also apply here. The proposed venues (provisional) and dates are as follows: Mid Tipperary in Dr Morris Park on August 2; South Tipp in Duneske Cahir on July 13; West Tipp in Golden on July 13; and North Tipp in Kilcolman on August 2.

An official ‘Young Whistler’ course takes place on Thursday, May 5, in Lár na Páirce, clubs with Transition Year students should encourage them to do the course to help referee juvenile games.