COMMUNITY PLAYGROUP VACANCIES
Fethard Community Playgroup have vacancies for two childcare assistants (five mornings per week). Interested persons should have completed Level 1 or Level 2 NCVA equivalent. The closing date for receipt of applications is Friday 21st February (shortlisting may apply).
Please forward applications to: The Chairperson, Communiuty Playschool, Health Centre, Rocklow Road, Fethard.

FETHARD JUVENILE GAA
Fethard Juvenile Club will hold their Annual AGM on Monday, 10th February 2003 at 8pm sharp in the Tirry Centre. All are most welcome to attend and it would be encouraging to see a large turnout. The Juvenile Club would also like to thank all those that donated so generously to their Church Gate Collection.

CULCHIE FESTIVAL PHOTOGRAPHS

The photographs taken at last year's Culchie Festival in Fethard are now up on their website CLICK HERE TO VIEW

DIED RECENTLY
The death has occurred in England of Mr James ‘Jim’ Walsh, formerly of Coolenure.

ROBBERIES
Both Fethard Parish Church and Killusty National School were both broken into during last week. The thieves got nothing of any value in either robbery. They did, however, cause considerable damage to both the Parish Church sacristy and to the school premises. Coupled with the recent robberies at Moyglass and Mullinahone churches, we can but wonder at the degeneration in modern society. Time was not too long ago when church property was considered sacred and anything untoward carried out there was considered sacrilegious, apparently not any more! The Ireland of those days has gone down the road consumerism. We must have and we must get, whatever the cost. We appear to be trying to create a society in which there will be no religion, no discipline and no respect. One has only to read the headlines daily in the national newspapers, or listen to the radio news to realise the terrible price we are paying for such an outlook.
Man cannot cope without some belief, respect, discipline and guidelines.

PRESENTATION PATRICIAN SECONDARY SCHOOL
Excellent achievement for past pupils was noted recently with David Kennedy, currently attending C.I.T., receiving the gold medal in 1st year of his national certificate course for Applied Physics and Instrumentation; and Gráinne Lennon receiving the gold medal in National Diploma in Science for Cell and Molecular Biology. We would like to congratulate both on their achievement and also our current third year student, Richard Gorey, who was chosen to represent his country in judo at international events held in England and Scotland.
Our fifth years paid a well worth visit to the Abbey Theatre, Dublin, to a stage production of “The Plough and the Stars”. Our fifth and sixth years also travelled to Dublin to attend the FÁS Opportunities Exhibition held in the R.D.S.
Our transition years, after having successfully staged the annual show “T.Y. Tops Ten”, are about to commence two weeks work experience.

VINCENT'S BODY FOUND

We record the death of Vincent Breen, Burke Street, Fethard. Vincent's body was found at Ferrybank, Waterford, on Thursday 30th January. The Breen family would like to express their thanks to the Carrick River Rescue Group who are a voluntary organisation and have worked tirelessly every day searching for Vincent since he was first reported missing last December.

Remains arrived at Holy Trinity Parish Church, Fethard, at 7pm on Sunday 2nd February. Burial took place in Calvary Cemetery following 11am Mass on Monday. The family have asked that people make a donation to the Carrick River Rescue Group instead of flowers.

IRELAND’S OPERA ENSEMBLE FOR ABYMILL
The Abymill Theatre Fethard presents Ireland’s Opera Theatre Company Baroque Ensemble, conducted by David Adams and featuring soprano Lynda Lee, in the Abymill Theatre, Fethard, on Valentine’s Night, Friday, 14 February at 8:15pm. Tickets are €15 each and can be booked at O’Flynn’s Menswear, Fethard, Tel: 052-31254. Proceeds of the concert are in aid of Br Paul’s Patrician Brothers New School in Kenya.
Bro Paul taught in Fethard for many years and was instrumental in Fethard Patrician Brothers school team winning the Kinane Cup back in 1963. Bro Paul left Ireland in 1978 when he volunteered for the Kenyan Patrician apostolate. He went on to be involved very actively with the very first Patrician Primary School in Africa and is now the Coordinator of the new Patrician Primary School and Dispensary at Kabongo, Eldoret. This project will be completed in Spring 2003.

HUNTING NOTE
Ballylusky White Heather Harriers will meet at Fethard on this Sunday 2nd February for Rocklow / Rathvin.

YOGA CLASSES
Yoga classes will commence on Thursday 6th February in the I.C.A. Hall on Rocklow Road. There will be two sessions, one at 7pm and one at 8.30pm. All are welcome to participate.

JUDO NEWS
Congratulations to Richard Gorey on bringing home a bronze medal from the under-16s international judo championships held in Wales last weekend. Well done Richard.

PREMISES AT BURKE STREET FETHARD

South Tipperary County Council has for sale a derelict house (the late Jack Kenrick's barber's shop photographed above), comprising of 0.22 acres at Burke Street, Fethard.
Sealed tenders marked, "Tenders for derelict house at Burke Street, Fethard" should be sent to the undersigned not later than 4pm on Wednesday 5th February, 2003, together with details of proposed plans for development of this property.
Signed: Sinead Carr, Director of Services, South Tipperary County Council, Emmet Street, Clonmel, Co. Tipperary.

LONDON REUNION REVIVAL
The following message was sent by Paul Looby in Surrey, England, in connection with reviving the Fethard / London Emigrants' Reunion.

I'm one of those people for whom travel back to Fethard during the summer is not always practical and miss the London Reunions that used to be held in October.
As Event Management forms part of what I now do, I wouldn't mind co-ordinating it at this end.
I am sticking a toe in the water here to see if there would be any interest in re-introducing the London "leg" of the Reunion.
This is my email address (plooby@ntlworld.com) and would welcome any feedback/comments, etc. A few questions to get the ball rolling:
Would Camden still be a suitable area to aim for as a venue?
Would south of the river be better? Or East/West London? I have strong links with London Irish Rugby Club, would Sunbury be a good choice? We should be able to get a good rate for a private booking.
Would the preference be for live music (this would get my vote) or a disco with Irish music?
I used to like the informal nature of the event and would vote to keep it that way rather than any form of dinner dance but again will await feedback. If you know anybody not on the net or email, my tel. no. is +44 (0)1276 509926
It would be great to hear from you.

FETHARD & KILLUSTY COMMUNITY LOTTO
The numbers drawn in the Fethard and Killusty Community Lotto on Tuesday 28th January were: 2, 23, 30 and 31. There was no Jackpot Winner and no 'Match 3' winners. Five 'Lucky Dip' winners were draw and each received €30:
C.E.S. Tirry Centre, Fethard
Jim O'Meara, St. Patricks Place, Fethard
Michael Kenrick, Burke St. , Fethard
Anne Connolly, Main St., Fethard
P.J. Lonergan, The Square, Fethard
The Jackpot remains at €10,000.
The three ‘Lucky Dip’ winners of €50 were:
Margaret Walshe, Barrack St., Fethard
Sarah Mullins, St. Patricks Place, Fethard
Joan Ryan, Ladyswell, Cashel
Next weeks Jackpot sellers prize is €815.

FETHARD BRIDGE CLUB
Results for Wednesday 22nd January.
1st Gross: Kay St. John and Rita Kane
2nd Gross: Brigid Gorey and Betty Walsh
1st Nett: Mike Burke and Suzanne Opray
2nd Nett: Nell Broderick and Moira McInerney
Anyone looking for a partner contact Annie O’Brien 31862.

LUCKY ESCAPE
A young Fethard lady had a rather frightening experience during the bush fires raging out of control in Australia. Sarah Ryan, Rocksprings, Fethard, now resident in Canberra, was given notice with her friends to pack and leave the house in which she resided as it was in danger of being engulfed by the flames. Very fortunately, within 15 minutes of their departure deadline, the strong wind fanning the flames changed direction and the danger was averted. Sarah has been in touch with her parents, Willie and Catherine Ryan, and is none the worse of her adventure.

ANCESTORS
The unending search by decedents of Fethard emigrants for information on their Fethard ancestors is ever ongoing. Mrs Rosmarie Burns – Gutterbarn, 115 Euston Road, Garden City, New York 11530, says, during the course of a recent letter, that we are the last resort! Her great-grandfather, John Strappe, was born in Fethard c.1845-1846. Date of emigration is unknown but Rosmarie’s grandmother was born in 1876. John Strapp(e) was a carpenter by trade. She seems most anxious to trace her Fethard roots and would be most grateful for any information.

SIR ANDREW TO THE RESCUE
Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber, Britain’s most successful theatre impresario is engaged in talks that could result in him being cast as saviour of the Royal Shakespeare Company. Sir Andrew, who maintains Kiltinan Castle as a stud farm and a holiday retreat, has made the generous gesture of offering his 1,100 seater showpiece theatre, for 21 years the home of ‘Cats’, as a permanent new home for the company.

SHOP CLOSES
Local customers and friends of Paula Kelly were most disappointed to learn she has been obliged to close her beautifully appointed shop 'Lily White Flowers' on Main Street. Paula, however, will still offer her excellent services supplying funeral wreaths, wedding flowers, gifts or flowers for special occasions from her home and will deliver. Paula can be contacted at tel: 052 56862 or 086 1037338

CAR PARK
South Tipperary County Council have now almost completed their work on the redesigning and resurfacing of the car park adjacent to Fethard GAA Park. When completed the park will contain parking bays for 37 cars. Perhaps when completed it will help solve the double parking on the street at peak periods. This would mean that motorists would have to make the supreme effort to walk a few hundred yards to the shops, bank, post office etc. This is something that few are prepared to do in Fethard but will willingly pay parking meter fees for the privilege in Clonmel.

COMMUNITY SPORTS FIELD


The proposed plans for the Community Sports Field on the Killenaule Road are printed above. The field will be available to all members of the community interested in using the facilities. It will need your support and a great community effort to now raise the necessary funds to complete the project. At the moment, the field (pictured below) is used for training by the Rugby Club.

FETHARD RUGBY CLUB
The rugby teams travelled to Clonmel on Saturday last for their matches. The u-8s lost 2-1 in a poor game of rugby. Passing and tackling need improvement. Philip Maher had a great game and Gregory Henry scored our only try. The team was: Thomas Anglim, Keith Bergin, Cian O’Connell, Gavin Delaney, Jack Devaney, Gregory Henry, James Holohan, Luke Keating, James Mackey, Philip Maher, Colin Meagher, Joss Murray, Shane Power and Steven Tierney.
The u-l0s played well and won their match 4-1 with tries coming from Jack O’Connell (2) and Kevin Hayes (2). Mark Ronan, Johnny Grassick Joseph O’Brien and David Bergin played very well. The team was: David Bergin, Johnny Grassick. Conor Kavanagh, Kevin Hayes, Andrew Kelly, Daniel Hickey, Robert Maher, Luke Mulcahy, Michael-John Murphy, Joseph O’Brien, Jack O’Connell, Tim O’Hagan, Matt O’Sullivan, Mark Ronan and Paul Tierney.
The u-12s resulted in a three all draw. Tries came from Andrew Yates, Seamie O’Keeffe and James Kelly. Mike O’Hagan played very and was narrowly stopped at the try line a few times. The team was: Colin Blackmore, Dave Gorey, David Hall, Josh Hally, Shane Kavanagh, David Kelly, Joe Kelly, James Kelly, Sam Manton, Mike O’Hagan, Seamie O’Keeffe, Jack O’Sullivan, William Power and Andrew Yates.
Training as usual at 11am on Saturday in the new community field.

FETHARD GAA CLUB
Our lotto jackpot of €7,100 was not won. The numbers drawn were: 5, 18, 21 and 24. We had three ‘match 3’ winners who received €50 each: Tom Ryan (46 St Patricks Place), John & N. Whelan, c/o Nicky O’Shea (Tullow), and Goldie, c/o Nicky O’Shea (Tullow). Our lucky dip winner of €50 was: Seamus Dorney (72 Woodvale Walk).
Club membership for the coming year is: adults €15 and juveniles €10. Fees are now due and can be given to Noel Byrne or Nicky O’Shea.
Our annual dinner dance is fast approaching and tickets at €25 each can be had from any of our dance committee. Date to remember is 1st March and the venue, Cahir House Hotel.
Congratulations to Damien Byrne, Aiden and Paul Fitzgerald, and John Paul Looby, on their McGrath cup success with Tipperary senior footballers, in the final played last Sunday in Miltown Malbay, Co. Clare. The final score after extra time was: Tipperary 1-9, Clare 1-8. Tipperary’s last success was in 1993 . Best of luck in the National League which commences this Sunday against Clare in Ardfinnan.
Our sympathies are with Darcy Family (Borrisokane) on the death of Mick who, for a number of years, was the official driver of Tipperary footballers al over the county. Go ndeanai Di trocaire orthu.

DIED RECENTLY
Jacinta Jackson has informed us that her father, Michael John Coffey, formerly of Clonmel and born in Fethard, died peacefully in Leeds England on January 16th 2003.

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'

This photograph of a Fethard Rugby Team was taken in the Barrack Field and supplied by Bob O'Shea. Maybe somebody can provide names ?

This photograph was taken in March 1979 of a group leaving Larkins Hotel, Clonmel, by minibus for the three-day national hunt festival at Cheltenham. Included are: Mrs and Mrs Donal O'Sullivan, Mr and Mrs Jackie White, Miss Mary White, Mr and Mrs Eddie Holohan, Tom Purcell, Derek Wall, Joe Hayes, John Burke (Lisronagh), Sean Henehan, Margaret O'Brien, proprietor of Corrig Travel, Carrick-on-Suir and Laurence O'Donoghue (Clonmel) who drove the group.