DIED RECENTLY
We record the death of Mrs Ida May Wells, Grove and Kent, England, who died on November 11th. A memorial service will be held in Holy Trinity Church of Ireland at 3pm on Wednesday 13th November. Interment will take place in England at a later date. Our sympathy to the Ponsonby Family, Grove House.
FETHARD ATHLETIC CLUB
Fourteen young Fethard athletes competed in the county ‘B’ cross-country championships held in Moyne last Sunday. Fethard’s sole representative in the girls under-10 race was Fiona O’Connor who ran very well to finish in 20th place. Boys under-10 were next to run and Jim Moloney was the first Fethard boy home with an excellent 4th placing, followed by Louis Rice in 10th place and Ciarán O’Connor and Noel O’Brien running well in a supporting role.
In the girls under-12 race, Aisling Dwyer built on her recent good form by finishing in an impressive 12th place, followed by Sarah McManus, Siobhán O’Brien and Laura Rice who all had fine races.
Both Michael Costello and Ryan Laslett put in workman-like performances in the boys under-12 race, while the girls under-14 event saw Bernadette Costello and Kate O’Brien in action. Both girls can be proud of their effort in what was a very competitive race.
The best wine was certainly saved until last as Wayne Laslett ran an excellent race to win the boys under-14 title in fine style.
The clubs next competition is in the Munster even age cross-country championships due to be held in the famed Spancil Hill, Co. Clare, next Sunday 17th November.
Fethard qualifiers are as follows:
Boys Under-10: Gregory Henry
Girls Under-12: Ciara O’Connor and Hannah Trehy
Boys Under-12: Darragh Dwyer, John Lalor, Ben Walsh, Conor Prendergast, Kevin Quigley and Owen Healy.
Girls Under-14: Mary Gleeson, Elaine Kennedy, Aoife O’Gorman, Aoife O’Connor and Aimee Moloney.
Boys Under-14: Shane Gorey and Wayne Laslett.
Boys Under-18: David Sullivan.
PRIMARY SCHOOLS CROSS COUNTRY
Over 900 children participated in the above event which was held at Marlfield GAA Field on Wednesday 6th November. The competition was organised by Niall O’Sullivan, Clonmel Athletic Club, with the cooperation of Carrick A.C. and Fethard A.C.
Fethard and Moyglass schools were well represented and indeed commanded both the large and medium schools categories. First into action were the Fethard 3rd and 4th class boys in the large schools race. Owen Healy led the team home with a marvellous 2nd placing, followed by Damien Morrissey running strongly to finish 4th, with Louis Rice (10th) and Padraig O’Shea (11th) in support. This team were Division 1 champions. Fethard also won Division 2. Team was: Dean Sharpe (18th), Kieran O’Connell (15th), Jamie Walsh (30th) and Brian Delahunty (31st).
Division 3 bronze medallists were: Noel O’Brien, Gareth Lawrence, Tony Myler and Ted Barrett. This was a hard act to follow for the 5th and 6th class boys in their large schools race, but they proved themselves equal to the task. Darragh Dwyer captained this team with a great win, and team-mate John Lalor was next across the line in 2nd place. Ben Walsh and Michael Costello captured 8th and 12th placings respectively to win Division 1 gold medals for Fethard.
Division 2 winners were: Andy Walsh, James Kelly, Jonathon Fleming and Adam Lyons. Division 3 bronze medallists were: Christopher McGrath, Dick Walsh, Kevin Hayes and Darren Prout. These combined results meant that St. Patricks Boys School Fethard were declared winners of the perpetual large schools boys shield.
In the medium schools category, Moyglass had a formidable reputation to defend and they did so with style. In the 3rd and 4th class girls race, their team was led home by Aisling O’Connor who had a great race to take the individual silver medal, followed closely by her cousin Roisín Trehy who took bronze. With her sister Fiona O’Connor finishing in 6th place, it was a great performance from the Ballyvaden girls.
The Division 1 gold medals were secured by a fine run from Charlotte Blackmore who finished in 9th place. Fifth and sixth class girls equalled that performance when Elaine Kennedy finished 2nd in her race, despite running on an injury. Ciara O’Connor captured the bronze medals with a fine run, with Hannah Trehy (4th) and Michelle Ryall (7th) in support. The team were clear winners of the Division 1 category. Remarkably, Moyglass also won the Division 1 bronze medals. Aoife O’Connor captained this team in 8th position, with great support from Nicola Henry, Elizabeth Kennedy, Fiona Walsh, Ella Prendergast and Aisling Browne. The combined effort of the girls insured that the medium schools girls shield was on its way to Moyglass.
The 3rd and 4th class boys team were next in action as Gregory Henry produced another fine run to win individual silver. Gregory was followed closely by Jack O’Connell in 4th place and the team silver medals were won when Conor Kavanagh, Thomas Keavney and Aidan Brophy all finished in the top 20. Fifth and sixth class boys went one better by winning the Division 1 gold medals with a convincing performance. The team was captioned by Lolo Trehy who won his first cross-country race with an impressive display of evenly paced running. The next Moyglass boy home was Andrew Yeats with a fine 4th placing, while Shane Kavanagh (10th) and Conor Prendergast (14th) provided the necessary back up to insure victory. Division 2 silver medallists were Ryan Laslett, Seamie O’Keeffe, Gavin Strappe and Josh Halley.
In the girls 5th and 6th class large schools race, the Nano Nagle girls were in action. This race was certainly worth waiting for as Fethard’s Bernadette Costello won individual gold with an impressive display of front running. The talented Siobhán O’Brien was next across the finish line to win silver, while Aisling Dwyer gave 100% to gain a 5th placing. Sarah McManus, Laura Rice and Kate O’Brien all gave great performances to help win Division 1 silver medals for their school.
Congratulations to all competitors, teachers, helpers and organisers who cooperated to make this such a successful enjoyable event.
FETHARD ICA
Internationally published author, Rita Emmett, talks about Conquering Procrastination in the I.C.A. Hall on Sunday 17th November at 3pm. Admission is €3. Rita has published such books as, “The Procrastinator's Handbook: Mastering the Art of Doing It Now” — Do you put off until tomorrow what you should really do today? Do you leave urgent matters to one side, thinking "I'll do that later"? Do you find you never have enough time to do everything that you want? If the answers are yes, then you are not alone. Almost everyone procrastinates, whether at home or at work. This book, drawn from the author's own triumph over procrastination and from people she has met at her seminars, could enable you to break your old habits and turn your life around. Find out how to identify the patterns you use for putting things off; apply proven anti-procrastination tips and techniques; develop strategies to move forward when stuck or in danger of reverting to old procrastination patterns; and design personal action plans. Filled with useful suggestions and real-life stories from people who have overcome procrastination, this work is as entertaining as it is rewarding. Signed copies of Rita’s books are available on the night or at Clonmel Bookshop. All are welcome.
DR. TADHG O’KEEFFE
Dr Tadhg O'Keeffe who compiled the 'Archaeological and Historical Survey of Fethard' for the National Heritage Council, will return to give a talk in Fethard on Monday night 25th November, at 8.30pm. The title of his talk is ‘Fethard in the Eighteenth Century: a look at the famous estate maps’. The talk is organised by Fethard Historical Society and admission is €3 for members and €4 for non-members. Tadhg has presently completed the first draft of the Fethard Historical Atlas for the Royal Irish Academy. This comprehensive study is due to be published in 2003.
CHRISTMAS LIGHTS
Photographed above, on Monday 11th November, are members of Fethard & Killusty Community Council and those involved in arranging the planting of a Christmas Tree on The Square.
L to R: Gráinne Murphy (SAP Nurseries), Jimmy Connolly, Christy Fitzgerald (Coolmore), Gerard Manton, Jonathan Cooney (South Tipperary County Council) and Thomas Fitzgerald (South Tipperary County Council).
Fethard & Killusty Community Council are currently in negotiations with suppliers of seasonal street lighting to supply and erect same in Fethard this year. The costs will well exceed €12,000 and a fundraising drive will be organised later this month to help fund the project. A meeting took place on Monday morning, 11th November, to decide on the planting of a Christmas Tree on The Square. It was decided to proceed immediately with the County Council preparing the site before Sap Nurseries plant the tree. At the meeting were: Christy Fitzgerald, tree specialist with Coolmore Stud Farm who are kindly supplying the tree; Jonathan Cooney, South Tipperary County Council engineer; Thomas Fitzgerald, foreman with South Tipperary County Council; Gráinne Murphy, manager SAP Nurseries who will plant the tree; and Jimmy Connolly, Gerard Manton and Joe Kenny representing the Fethard & Killusty Community Council.
UP MULLINAHONE
Congratulations and a very special well-done to players and all concerned with Mullinahone senior hurling team in their magnificent win in the Tipperary Senior Hurling Championship final in Thurles on Sunday last. Mullinahone club was one of Tipperary’s football strongholds for decades, their achievement in rising from a junior hurling club to County Senior Hurling Champions within a decade, must rank as one of the greatest ever success stories in Tipperary GAA. To beat clubs like Toomevara and Thurles Sarsfields on their victory trail certainly makes their victory all the more meritorious.
TOWN WALL LIGHTS
Confirmation that South Tipperary County Council will cover the energy costs of flood lighting Fethard Town Wall was received by John Bolger, ESB. We expect no further delay in connecting the new lights to the town supply and switching them back on as soon as possible.
The Town Wall lights were first installed by the Friends of Fethard and switched on by President Mary Robinson on Saturday 24 July 1993. Due to high running costs and the disbandment of the Friends of Fethard, the lights were switched off some years later.
The late Cllr John Holohan was promised that The Town Wall lights would be switched on again thanks to a motion agreeing to take over the running costs of the Wall's lighting was carried by Tipperary S.R. County Council at their meeting on Monday 5th October 1998. It has been a long wait!
VINCENT DE PAUL
Anyone needing our assistance for Christmas please find an application form at the back of both local churches. Complete and return same to any member of the Fethard Conference before November 30th.
DIED RECENTLY
The death has occurred in England of Mrs Catherine Casey (nee Delaney), Redcity, and Newmarket, England. Remains will leave McCarthy's Funeral Parlour at 6.45pm on Wednesday 13th November for Holy Trinity Church Fethard. Burial in Calvary Cemetery following 11am Mass on Thursday.
NOVEMBER ROSARIES
The Rosary will be recited at Rathcoole Cemetery at 3pm on Sunday next 17th November and at Redcity Cemetery at 3.30pm. All are welcome to come and pray.
TIDY TOWNS AGM
The Annual General Meeting of Fethard Tidy Towns will take place on Tuesday 19th November at 8pm in the Tirry Community Centre. All are welcome to attend.
TEACHER RETIRES
Mr Danny Kane retires this Friday, 15th November, from Killusty National School. Danny has taught at Killusty National School for 35 years, most of which he served as principal. His many past-pupils, friends in the Fethard area, and associates in Tipperary GAA and greyhound racing circles will join in wishing Danny many happy and healthy years in retirement.
FETHARD BALLROOM AGM
The seventh Annual General Meeting of Fethard Ballroom Company Limited will be held on Tuesday 26th November at 8pm. The meeting takes place in the Ballroom and all are welcome. The reputation of Fethard Ballroom as an outstanding venue for dancing for dancers from 25 to 85 is now acknowledged all over Munster and beyond. Next Sunday night music is provided by ‘Kieran Fogarty’, dancing from 9pm to 12 midnight.
DALY FUELS FETHARD
Roger Daly, photographed above in his new home heating oil truck, has now expanded their solid fuel and gas delivery service to include agri-diesel and home heating oil. Roger can be contacted by phone on Tel: 087 9896709 or 052 31896. We wish him well in his new venture.
FETHARD VISITORS
Eugene Mullins, photographed above in McCarthy's Bar on Friday night 8th November while on holiday in Fethard. Eugene left Fethard over 22 years ago and now lives in Stoke, England. L to R: Stephanie Pagliaccio, Donal Mullins, Eugene and Margaret Mullins.
CELEBRATED AUTHOR
Mr Pete McCarthy, number one best selling author, pays a visit to the Abymill on Friday 29th November. Mr McCarthy’s latest book ‘The Road to McCarthy’ includes a chapter on McCarthy’s Hotel, Main Street, Fethard. He is also renowned as a brilliant and very witty speaker and his visit to the Abymill is one of his two only appearances on his current tour. Tickets at €20 each may be obtained at Clonmel Book Shop or McCarthy’s Hotel Fethard. Admission includes a cheese an wine reception and book signing after the performance.
RUBY WEDDING
Best wishes and congratulations to Jim and Mary Mulcahy, Orchardstown, who recently celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary. Their many friends in Fethard, Mary’s home town, will join in wishing Jim and Mary many more years of happiness and health.
HUNTING
The Ballylusky White Heather Harriers meet for November are Ballingarry (Sunday 17th November) and Coolbawn (Sunday 24th November). All meets at 12 noon.
FETHARD & KILLUSTY COMMUNITY LOTTO
The numbers drawn on Tuesday 5th November were 2, 18, 22 and 31. There was no Jackpot Winner and no "Match 3" winner. Five €30 'Lucky Dip' winners were drawn:
Stephen Nagle, Coolmoyne
Tom Purcell, Burke Street
Padraic O'Donnell, Kilconnell
Barbara Ann Ahearne, Monroe
Brud Roche, Woodvale Walk
The three €50 Free Draw winners were:
Marty Burke, Tullamaine
Kevin Murphy, Cashel Road
Dermot D'arcy, 30 St. Patricks Place, Fethard.
This week's Jackpot remains at €10,000 and the Sellers Prize for the winning jackpot ticket is now €665.
KIND THOUGHT
Well done to the captain and members of Fethard intermediate hurling team who brought the South Tipperary Intermediate Hurling Championship Cup when they visited Dick Wall in Mocklershill Nursing Home. Dick, a patient in Mocklershill, gave over forty years service to local GAA teams. He will be especially remembered for his many sterling displays with many Coolmoyne hurling teams of former years. A line from the local ballad, ‘The Hurlers of Coolmoyne’, says that, “German tanks could not shake Dick Wall from Tullamaine.”
Jimmy Hickey, the former St. Patricks and Tipperary star footballer, now also a patient in Mocklershill was also very pleased to welcome the visitors. He recalled that he won a minor football championship medal with Fethard as a 15 year old, exactly 70 years ago in 1932.
FETHARD BRIDGE CLUB
Bridge results for 30th October are:
1st Gross: Carol Kenny and Gemma Burke
2ndGross: David O’Meara and Tony Hanrahan
1st Nett: Rita Holohan and Mary Delaney
2ndNett: Fr. John Meagher and Mary Quirke
On Wednesday next, 13th November, we will be playing for sponsored prizes. Anyone looking for a partner contact Annie O’Brien. Tel:052 31862.
FETHARD ATHLETIC CLUB
Nineteen Fethard athletes made the trip to Dungarvan last weekend to compete in the AAI Munster uneven age cross-country championships. With medals on offer for the first twelve across the line, competition was keen and the racing was of a very high standard. Nonetheless, Fethard Athletic Club can count this outing as one of their most successful to date at this level. The top performer on the day was yet again, John Lalor, who had an excellent race to finish in third place in the boys under-11 event. This was John’s third Munster bronze medal in as many years, a truly remarkable achievement.
In the boys under-13 race, the Fethard team put in a marvellous display of pack running to capture the bronze medals. The team was captained by the ever dependable Shane Gorey who finished in 11th place, followed by the in-form Darragh Dwyer in 15th place, and with Lolo Trehy (45th), Kevin Quigley (52nd), Conor Prendergast (59th) and Ben Walsh (60th) in support, the team bronze medals were secured.
In the county competition, Tipperary were victors with Shane Gorey and Darragh Dwyer adding county gold to their team bronze medals. Other medal winners with Tipperary were, John Lalor (under-11), Mary Gleeson and Ciara O’Connor who won bronze in the girls under-13 race. Top twelve individual medal winners were: Gregory Henry (7th in boys under-9), Mary Gleeson (9th in girls under-13), Shane Gorey (11th in boys under-13), and David Sullivan (11th in boys under-17).
Brendan Gleeson, Owen Healy, Aoife O’Gorman, Hannah Trehy, Aoife O’Connor, Aimee Moloney, Aisling O’Connor and Wayne Laslett can consider themselves unfortunate to be out of the medals, but stronger for having the experience of a top-class race.
The club’s next race is the County ‘B’ Championships to be held in Moyne on next Sunday 10th November. The following athletes are eligible to compete:
Boys Under-10: Noel O’Brien, Ciarán O’Connor, Brendan Gleeson, Jim Moloney, Aidan Brophy and Louis Rice.
Girls Under-12: Fiona O’Connor
Boys Under-12: Michael Costello, Ryan Laslett and Owen Healy.
Girls Under-12: Aisling Dwyer, Siobhán O’Brien, Laura Rice and Sarah McManus.
Boys Under-14: Wayne Laslett
Girls Under-14: Bernadette Costello, Aisling Browne, Nicola Henry and Kate O’Brien.
Parents are reminded that the entry fee for all races is €1. Payment of these fees is appreciated as it helps to defray the day-to-day running costs of the club.
HALLOWEEN
Halloween celebrations in Fethard passed in great style. The teenagers, plus, who attended the three bon-fires in the town deserve to be complimented on their excellent behaviour. Great fun was had by all with a few fireworks just to liven up proceedings, and no messing whatsoever. Well done to those who built the bonfires and those who enjoyed the night.
The young children, accompanied by a parent or older brother/sister, were out on their ‘trick or treat’ rounds, but there did not seem to be quite as many this year.
Do the present day children play the old fashioned Halloween games as in former years? Has snap-apple, coins in the basin of water or flour to be retrieved by your teeth, tail the donkey while blindfolded etc., disappeared never to return?
The traditional Halloween Brack, with pea for poverty, bean for health, stick to beat life partner, sixpence for wealth, ring for marriage within twelve months, has also gone down the road of no return.
While we all enjoy the games and pastimes, we must not forget that November 1st is a most important date in the church’s calendar. November 1st, and indeed the month of November, is the time when we remember our dear departed. Let us also remember on November 11th, the men of Fethard area who fell in both world wars, over 40 in the 1914-18 conflict.
FETHARD ICA
The Fethard ICA Guild will hold its next meeting on Wednesday 13th November (please note change of date). Mrs Kathleen Sheedy of Thurles Flower Club, will give a demonstration on Christmas Floral Arrangements in the ICA Hall at 8.30pm. Everyone is welcome to come along.
FETHARD & KILLUSTY COMMUNITY COUNCIL
The next meeting of Fethard and Killusty Community Council will take place on Tuesday 12th November at 8.30pm in the Tirry Community Centre.
Following the recent Annual General Meeting, the board of directors appointed for the coming year are: Joe Kenny (chairman), Edwina Newport (secretary), Jimmy Connolly (treasurer), Joan O’Donohoe (assistant treasurer), Marie Murphy (public relations), Peter Grant (FÁS Scheme coordinator). Board members: Brian Sheehy, Thelma Griffith, Diana Stokes, Fr. Tom Breen, John Barrett, Jimmy Lawrence, Gerard Manton and Liam Hayes.
The loan acquired to purchase the Convent Hall for community use has now been paid off. A total of over €68,000 has been raised and repaid since the hall was purchased in 2001. This achievement and the building of the extension to the Day Care Centre was made possible by your continuous support for the Fethard & Killusty Community Lotto, for which we would like to thank you most sincerely. The current Jackpot is €10,000 and tickets are on sale locally at €2 each.
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 next week's 'Pic of the Past'
The following photographs were taken in the Barrack Field Fethard in the 1960's. L to R: Billy Cummins, Mocklershill, Michael Bowes, Kilconnell, Dan Cummins, Gerry (O') Donoghue, Bothermilóg, and Christy Bowes.
LAST CALL FOR ARTICLES
Outstanding articles for inclusion in this years issue of the Fethard & Killusty Emigrants Newsletter are requested his week. Change of addresses and new addresses for the Newsletter mailing list should be handed in to Joe Kenny, Rocklow Road, Fethard.
FETHARD HISTORICAL SOCIETY
On Monday night 18th November, Marie Taylor will give a talk to the society on ‘Continuity and Change in the Parish of Fethard 1185 –1665’. The talk will begin at 8.30pm and is open to all. Members €3 and Non-members €4. Light refreshments served.
