SINEAD'S KILLER CHARGED

Sinead Healy (26) and her killer, Kenneth Lynch (33).

Kenneth Lynch, who murdered his girlfriend, pretty Sinead Healy formerly from Fethard, after a furious row at her London home was jailed for life on Wednesday 17th July. Lynch attacked Sinead on October 18, 2000. At the time of the killing he was on a four-day period of home leave from Springhill Prison in England where he was serving a sentence for handling stolen computers.
(Read Report taken from the Daily Mirror, 18 July 2002, by Tim Doyle)

COOLMORE FAMILY DAY
This year's Coolmore Family Day photographs can be viewed at the following address www.coolmorefamilyday.com

STEVIE'S TRIP ON HORSEBACK

Steven O'Connor, formerly from Kiltinan, set off from Andalucia in southern Spain, in the middle of May, 2002, on a marathon solo, horse-back ride. His intent is to travel through Spain, Portugal and France to England and Wales and finally, if all goes well, back to Ireland in September. This trip is a lifelong ambition of Steven.

THE CARNIVAL IS OVER
A cutting from a mid-July Nationalist of 1943 will remind many of free-travel age, of the glories of the widely known and supported Annual Fethard Carnival of that era. Definitely Fethard’s biggest day of the year in these modern times, it is almost impossible to recall the significance. The Carnival provided a programme of events which in reality, could each provide an afternoons entertainment on their own. The Fancy Dress Parade was recognised as one of the best in Ireland. A gymkhana, seven-a-side football tournament, sporting programme of cycling and athletics, a complete Irish dancing competition, choir and solo singing competitions, a dance platform, and a very wide selection of stalls, mineral bar, catering marquee, gives some idea of the attractions available. There were also 2 classes, one for 12 to 14 hands, and one for over 14 hands, for the best turned out pony and trap. In addition, there was always a top class band in attendance on the day and a special train from Waterford, travelling via Carrick and Clonmel, usually brought 400-600 passengers to Fethard for the Carnival.
Amongst the prizewinners in the various events were: Paddy and Michael Stokes, P.J. Holohan and Dick McCarthy in the gymkhana; Marie McCarthy as ‘Spotted’, Eva and Mossie McCarthy, Declan Mulligan, Johnny Leahy, Mamie Matthews, Goldie Newport, Mary Lynch, Peg and Barney O’Byrne in the Fancy Dress Parade. Goldie Newport also won the individual singing competition and choirs from Presentation Convent Fethard, Drangan and Clonmel were winners in the choir singing competition. Winner of the 100 yards under/15 sprint was Jackie O’Gorman, Clonmel, who incidentally, went on in later years to win a national titles in the N.A.C.A. sprint and long jump. Tommy Conway, Coleman, was 2nd and Sean Hogan won the 100 yards confined to Fethard parish race.
Many will be surprised to learn that Fethard had some top class track cyclists competing at that time. John O’Donovan won the 2 mile race and Jack ‘Lovely Johnny’ Power was second in the mile race. Other well-known Fethard cyclists of the time were Tom Fogarty and Tom O’Brien, Ballinard, — probably the best know of the bunch.
Belated birthday greetings to Tom O’Brien, who quiet recently celebrated his 90th birthday in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, England. We are glad to report that he is in excellent form. John O’Donovan told us he bought a top range racing bike, second-hand at that time for £12. All top-class riders in Carrick and Clonmel now ride bikes which cost over £1,200, and that's not even converted to Euro. How times have changed!
Mrs La Terrier, with her great trotting pony, ‘Brilliant’, won the best turned out pony and trap event. Mullinahone won the seven-a-side football and their team would have included such players as Waltie Scott, Mick O’Sullivan, Mick Quirke, Paddy Dreen and perhaps some very young Cahill brothers.
Possible the following story indicates what became of the famous Fethard Carnivals. As the Fancy Dress Parade was passing by Main Street, a young boy walking on the pavement was asked, “Are you not going to watch the parade?” His reply was, “I am I'm sure, I'm going home to watch a video!”
This change of attitude amongst our young people sums up the demise of the times and joys that are yore. Once again we quote the mantra of Dick ‘Gurdy’ Cummins from The Valley, “Times change, they certainly do!”

FETHARD & KILLUSTY COMMUNITY LOTTO
The numbers drawn on Tuesday 16th July were 11, 12, 25 and 31. We had no Jackpot Winner and one "Match 3" winner, who received €150:
Tom Freyne, Fethard.
We had three Free Draws this week for €50 and the winners were:
Crissie Cummins, St. Patricks Place, Fethard.
Tess Lawrence, Fr. Tirry park, Fethard.
Carol Kenny, The Green, Fethard.
This week's Jackpot remains at €10,000 and the Sellers Prize for the winning jackpot ticket is €440.

FETHARD COMMUNITY AWARENESS GROUP
The second meeting of the newly formed Fethard Awareness Group took place on Monday night 15th July, attended by over 30 members of the community. The group was formed to take action against the recent spate of vandalism in the town.

FLOWERS IN BLOOM

The flowers beds on The Square (photographed Wednesday 17th July) are now in full bloom and great credit is due to the local County Council workers who spent many days planting and tending to the flower beds.

Thanks also is due to Council Supervisor, Tomás Fitzgerald for organising the erection of the remaining Fethard Medieval Trail finger-signs at Watergate and Main Street.

THE WELL GOLF SOCIETY
The Well Golf Society have organised an outing for Tipperary Golf Club on Sunday 21st July. Tee-off time is 11am.

FETHARD ICA
Fethard ICA Guild would like to thank all who contributed to the recent Heart Foundation Collection. The amount collected was €580 for which the Foundation are very grateful.

HOSPICE CHURCH GATE COLLECTION
The organisers would like to thank all who supported the annual Church Gate Collection in aid of South Tipperary Hospice that took place in Fethard, Killusty and Moyglass last weekend. A total of €1,506 was collected for which there are most grateful.

FETHARD GAA CLUB NOTES
In the intermediate county hurling league we had our first defeat on Tuesday 9th July, in Fethard, on a scoreline of Fethard 2-9 (0-4), Kilsheelan 2-12 (1-6). The team was, Owen Doyle, Shay Ryan, Stephen O’Donnell, David Flanagan, Kevin O’Donnell, Tomas Keane, William Delaney, Michael Quinlan, Cian Maher, Jamie McCormack 0-1, Colin Allen 2-5 (3f), Aiden Fitzgerald 0-1, Ciaran Treacy 0-1, Michael Ryan 0-1, and Brian Coen. Subs used were: Philly Croke, Shane Walsh and Alan Burke. We await our next fixture.
In the junior (b) hurling championship league played last Friday 12th July, we lost to Kilsheelan in Ned Hall Park on a scoreline Fethard 1-4 (0-3), Kilsheelan 1-6 (1-2). The team was: Stephen McCormack, Ian Kenrick, Peter Nolan, Philly Croke, Alan Phelan, John Hurley, Karl Gahan, Garreth Byrne, Kenneth Byrne, John Noonan, Liam Treacy 0-2f, Brendan Doyle, Ronan Maher 1-2, Miceál Sean McCormack and Alan O’Meara. Subs used were: Gabriel Horan, Kenneth Sheehan, John Hanrahan and John Fitzgerald.
We will report next week on the senior football county league game against Aherlow due to be played in Fethard on Tuesday 16th July.
The junior football (b) championship commences on Wednesday 17th July against St. Martins in Cloneen at 8pm.
Lotto jackpot €4,500 was not won and we had no ‘match threes’. The numbers drawn on were 3, 7, 15 and 23. The €50 lucky dip winner was Josie Fitzgerald (Kiltinan). The following won €30: Noelle Doyle (St Patricks Place), Seamus Dorney (Woodvale Walk), Catriona Williams (Killusty), Stewart Looby (The Valley), and Martin Power (Moyglass).
The very best of luck to Damien Byrne, Willie Morrissey and Miceál Spillane in the replay of the Munster senior football final on Sunday 21st July in Cork.

MUNSTER COMMUNITY GAMES
Thirty-one competitors from Fethard/Killusty Area made the trip to the University of Limerick on Saturday last to contest the ESB Munster Community Games finals. The Judo Club came up trumps as usual with members winning in seven categories. Winners from the area were Michael Costello, Cathal, D.J. and Richard Gorey. Judo Club members representing other areas were Stephanie Lawrence, Clerihan; Tom Woodlock. Powerstown/Lisronagh; and Niall O’Donnell Cahir. Runners up were: Bernadette Costello, Samantha Feery and Padraig O’Shea from Fethard, and Michelle Brannigan, Clonmel and Martin O’Donnell, Cahir. The team manager was Roy Gorey.
In volleyball, the under/16 girls had an excellent match against Skibbereen, Co. Cork, which went to the third match to decide the winner. The girls lost by just 2 points in a match which could have gone either way. The team consisted of Ashley McCormack, Helen Frewen, Suzanne Gorey, Sarah Mai Ahearne, Mary Gorey, Kelly Anne Nevin, Margaret Smith, Evelyn Fogarty, Emma Walsh, Stephanie Fitzgerald, Jillian O’Connell and Susan Harvey. The team manager was Denis Burke, assisted by Ailish O'Connell, Coolmoyne.
The under/11 rugby competitors were Seamus O’Keeffe (capt), Sam Manton, Mark Ronan, Michael John Murphy, John Lalor, Johnny Grassick, Stephen Maguire, Matt O’Sullivan, Tim O’Hagan, Daniel Hickey, Eoin Healy and Jerome Ahearne. These boys had a great game scoring six tries. They were defeated by Tralee who scored 10 tries. Seamus O’Keeffe certainly played a captains part scoring three tries. The first try of the match was scored by John Lalor. Daniel Hickey scored a try and Mark Ronan also scored a try before becoming a casualty injuring his ankle. All the boys played their part in becoming runners-up in the prestigious Munster Final and will benefit from the experience for next year. The team coaches were Sean Devaney, Paul Kavanagh and Valerie Colville. It was great to see the amount of parental support present on the rugby pitch and in the Judo gym. Well done to all concerned. Participation is what it is all about. Thanks to the team managers of all competitors for all their work and dedication.
The four winners in the Judo event will contest the ESB National Finals along with Christopher Taylor in under/16 Art on weekending 16–19th August. Athletes David Sullivan and Joey Feery will take part on the weekend 23–26th August.
Our Community Games church gate collection will be taken up weekending 27/28th July. The Judo Club collection will take place this coming weekend 20/21st July.

FETHARD SITE NEWS
Due to the welcome increase in traffic to the Fethard site, we've had to divide the available online 'information' between two sites to avoid exceeding our allowed server's 'bandwidth', and as a result, being automatically cut off.
The Fethard site is now accessible at both of the following addresses: www.fethard.com or www.fethardonline.com (from now on, if one doesn't work, try the other!)
We hope this should solve the recent disruption to service problems you may have been experiencing.

FETHARD MAN IS ROTARY CLUB PRESIDENT

Clonmel Rotary Club members photographed at the election of their new president, Jimmy Trehy, Donoughmore, Lisronagh, and formerly from Fethard. L to R: Michael Lavin, John O’Donoghue, incoming president Jim Trehy, Con Moroney, Angus Grant (treasurer), Rev George Knowd (incoming vice-president), Noel O’Gorman and Noel McNamara.

THIS WEEK'S - 'PIC OF THE PAST'
If you have an old photograph of interest to our readers why not email it to us and we will include it on our Saturday 'Pic of the Past'

One of Fethard's 'Bonny Babies' chosen by Tom Hickey (Benjy Riordan) at Fethard Festival Baby Show in the late 1960's. Tom Hickey (right) is photographed above congratulating the proud mum, Anne Connolly and her son Barry, who won second place. Also in the photograph is Anne's mother, Peggy O'Neill (centre).
Incidentally, the winning 'Bonny Baby' on the day was Vinny Murphy, McCarthy's Hotel. There must have been no girls born that year!

FETHARD ATHLETIC CLUB
The Clubs 2002 track and field season came to a conclusion at the County ‘A’ Championships in Tullamore last weekend. Over 16 children from Fethard competed and succeeded in winning an impressive array of medals. Our top performer on the day was Damien Morrissey who collected no less than five medals in the under/10 category. Hannah Trehy, John Lalor, Wayne Laslett, Lolo Trehy and Roisín Trehy all performed splendidly to win four individual medals. The complete result sheet is as follows: Jerome Ahearne, Adam Lyons, John Lalor and Ryan Laslett came 3rd in the boys under/12 relay; Sarah McManus and Aisling O’Connor, 2nd in the girls under/11 relay; Stephen Walsh, 3rd under/14 long jump and 2nd in the shot; Damien Morrissey, 1st under/10 boys 80m, 1st 200m, 2nd ball-throw, 2nd relay; Aisling Dwyer, 3rd girls under/11 relay; Roisín Trehy, 2nd girls under/10 long jump, 2nd 200m, 3rd relay, 3rd 60m; Ryan Laslett, 2nd boys under/12 ball-throw; Laura Rice, 3rd girls under/12 relay; Lolo Trehy, 1st boys under/13 600m, 1st long jump, 2nd 80m, 2nd relay; John Lalor, 1st boys under/11 300m, 2nd 80m, 3rd long jump; Hannah Trehy, 1st girls under.11 300m, 1st 80m, 2nd long jump, 1st relay; Ben Walsh, 3rd boys under/12 600m; Wayne Laslett, 1st boys long jump, 1st shot, 1st 800m, 2nd 80m.
Many thanks to all who supported our recent sponsored walk which raised over €1,500 to help finance the day to day running of our busy club. Seventy children took part in the walk around Ballybough, ending with snacks and drinks in the boys school field. We hope to see our athletes return for training after the summer school holidays.

COOLMORE LADIES RAISE €25,000 FOR HOSPICE

The Coolmore ladies team entered the Dublin Ladies Mini Marathon on 3rd June for the purpose of raising €25,000 to purchase a Pal Care Computer for the South Tipperary Hospice. This goal was achieved thanks to the sponsorship from many companies who deal with Coolmore and very many individual sponsors. This was the single largest donation that the South Tipperary Hospice have received to date. Photographed above is Pauline Walsh making the presentation to Brendan O’Keeffe, chairperson South Tipperary Hospice.
Back L to R: Mary O’Rahilly, Maria O’Sullivan, Selina Gleeson, Mary Lynch, Noll O’Brien, Jim Bond, treasurer South Tipperary Hospice, Helen Carroll, Heather Bailey, Aneta Maguire, Peggy Sullivan, Anne Moloney. Front L to R: Mary Dempsey, team leader South Tipperary Hospice, Pauline Walsh, Brendan O’Keeffe, chairperson South Tipperary Hospice; and Deirdre Lanigan. Other team members missing from photo are Bridget O’Donnell, Jane Lanigan, Trish Donnelly, Wendy Normile and Melissa Stokes.

PILGRIMAGE TO KNOCK
The Augustinian Abbey will hold their annual pilgrimage to Knock on 20th July, leaving Fethard at 8am. For further information, contact the Abbey at 052 31273.

GOLF CLASSIC
A Golf Classic in aid of the new extension to Fethard and District Day Care Centre will be held in Slievenamon Golf Club at the end of August. Local golfers interested in helping out are asked to contact any member of Fethard & Killusty Community Council or Brendan Kenny at Slievenamon Golf Club, Tel (052) 32213.