CHRISTMAS AT THE ABBEY
Community Penance Service takes place on Saturday 20th December at 7.30pm Mass. Confessions on Monday 22nd, Tuesday 23rd, Wednesday 24th, from 12 noon to 12.30 and from 3pm to3.30pm. Mass on Christmas Eve at 9pm. Masses on Christmas Day at 9.30am and 11.30am.
Our Novena of Masses for the Christmas Card intentions will begin on Christmas Day at 11.30am Mass.
CHRISTMAS IN THE PARISH
Mass in the Parish Church on Christmas Eve at 8pm; Masses on Christmas Day at 8.30am and 11am.
KILLUSTY MASSES
Christmas Eve Mass in Killusty takes place at 9.30pm. Mass on Christmas Day takes place at 10am.
PENITENTIAL SERVICES
A special Penitential Service in preparation for Christmas will takes place in the Parish Church on Monday 22nd December at 8pm.
There will be a penitential service in Killusty on Tuesday 23rd December at 8pm. The penitential service in the Abbey will take place at the 7.30pm Mass on Saturday 20th December.
FETHARD JUVENILE GAA CLUB
The season closed on a low note for the Juveniles this year with the under/11's coming in 4th place in the recent Floodlit Cup held in Clonmel Commercials grounds. The standard of the football played throughout was exceptional, congratulations to the winners.
The football and hurling training is now over for the year and will resume again shortly after the New Year, players will be notified.
The Juvenile Club would like to wish all their members a Merry Xmas and Happy New Year and look forward to seeing them in fighting form when training starts up again.
A big "Get Well Soon" is sent Noelle O'Dwyer and wishes for a speedy recovery from the Juvenile Club
Our draw will take place on Thursday 18th December and the Club would like to thank all those people that bought tickets, tickets are still available from any committee member
ENGAGEMENT
Congratulations to P.J. Colville and Grainne Feighery who announced their engagement last week. Plans have been made for a romantic Autumn Wedding.
CHRISTMAS HAT PARTY
This year’s Annual Christmas Hat Party will take place in the Bridge Bar on Saturday 27th December. This is the first time it will be held after Christmas, which will give our visitors a chance to join in the fun. All proceeds go to the CRC Santa Bear Appeal. More details later!
WELL RUN NEILLIE
Congratulations to Neillie Hall, who raised over €800 for South Tipperary Hospice by runnung in the recent Dublin City Marathon. This is Neillie’s ninth time participating in the event..
MAPPING HISTORIC FETHARD
Photographed at the launch of 'Irish Historic Towns Atlas, no. 13, Fethard', in Dublin on Monday 15th December are L to R: Anngret Simms (editor, Irish Historic Towns Atlas), Tadhg O'Keeffe (author), Senator Martin Mansergh, and Michael Ryan (President, Royal Irish Academy).
Fethard is the thirteenth town to be produced as part of the prestigious Irish Historic Towns Atlas (IHTA), series, a Royal Irish Academy publication and research project. This atlas was launched this week on Monday 15 December 2003, by Senator Martin Mansergh (read his speech) in the Academy House, 19 Dawson Street, Dublin 2. The publication will be launched locally in the Abymill Theatre, Fethard, on 7th February 2004.
L to R: Sarah Gearty (Cartographic Editor), Tadhg O'Keeffe (author), and Angela Murphy (Editorial Assistant).
The IHTA series will eventually cover some forty towns/cities for the whole country. Quality reproductions of old maps and views are one of the unique features of the series. The growth of Fethard from its origins to 1900 is described in a lengthy essay. Streets, churches, mills, schools, tanneries, smithies and wells are among over 380 features of the town whose histories have been compiled by the author, archaeologist Dr Tadhg O’Keeffe, who is based in University College Dublin and has carried out much work on Fethard over the years.
Dr Michael Ryan, President of the Royal Irish Academy, welcomed the publication of as ‘a major contribution on a local, national and international level that places Fethard alongside over 370 other European towns that have been studied following similar guidelines’. Senator Mansergh commented that the atlas ‘highlights and may lead all concerned to appreciate the value of historic Fethard, and the need to conserve it, whilst encouraging positive development in harmony with it’.
Irish Historic Towns Atlas, no. 13, Fethard: five pages of coloured maps and plates 410 mm x 305 mm; seven pages of black-and-white maps and plates and twelve pages of text 410 mm x 305 mm; in a folder 410 mm x 305 mm, is available from local booksellers or directly from the Royal Irish Academy,19 Dawson Street, Dublin 2. Phone (01) 6762570; Fax (01) 6762346; email publications@ria.ie.
L to R: Dr Tadhg O'Keeffe, photographed above at the launch with his wife Margaret and their son Evan
FETHARD JUVENILE GAA CLUB
The season closed on a low note for the Juveniles this year with the under/11's coming in 4th place in the recent Floodlit Cup held in Clonmel Commercials grounds. The standard of the football played throughout was exceptional, congratulations to the winners.
The football and hurling training is now over for the year and will resume again shortly after the New Year, players will be notified.
The Juvenile Club would like to wish all their members a Merry Xmas and Happy New Year and look forward to seeing them in fighting form when training starts up again.
A big "Get Well Soon" is sent Noelle O'Dwyer and wishes for a speedy recovery from the Juvenile Club
Our draw will take place on Thursday 18th December and the Club would like to thank all those people that bought tickets. For those who haven't, tickets are still available from any committee member
ENGAGEMENT
Congratulations to P.J. Colville and Gráinne Feighery who announced their engagement last week. Plans have been made for a romantic Autumn Wedding.
DIED RECENTLY
We record the death of Nellie (O'Dwyer) Maher, Cloneen, who died on Thursday 11th December. Remains left O'Donoghue's Funeral Parlour at 7.30pm on Friday for the Church of the Resurrection, Clonmel. Requiem Mass at 10.30am on Saturday followed by burial in Cloneen Cemetery.
PATRICIAN PRESENTATION SECONDARY SCHOOL
It’s show time again for Transition year who will stage ‘Buddy's Song’ in the Abymill Theatre on December 16th, 18th and 19th, starting at 8.15pm. Tickets will be on sale in the school from the week of Dec 9th 2003 at €8. This year's show is one with a difference and is a play loosely based on Buddy Holly and his music. This will be the 11th Transition year Show.
On the sporting front, our senior volleyball boys’ team just missed out on an All-Ireland qualifier, playing in Loughrea, Co Galway. In the Cidona South Tipperary Schools Cross Country competition, athletics David Sullivan of 5th year won his event, Darragh Dwyer of 1st year came second, and Bernadette Costello of 1st year came 4th. Michael Costello, Robert Maher and Kate O’Brien also participated. Well done to all and our thanks to Fintan Rice who accompanied the team with our P.E. teacher Ms Bernie O’Connor.
PARENTS’ ASSOCIATION DRAW
The Parents Association Christmas Draw has now been launched and lines are on sale at €2 per line. The prizes are excellent and the draw will take place in the school on Tuesday December 16th.
ABBEY GREETINGS
Sincere greetings for a happy and Holy Christmas from the Augustinians in the Abbey. We welcome all who will be returning home for the feast and wish them a pleasant stay. May the Prince of Peace, whose birth we celebrate, fill our hearts, homes, parish and country with peace, love and joy during the Christmas season and into the New Year. We are very grateful, as always, for the continued kindness and support of Fr Tom Breen P.P., Canon Jim Power and the people of Fethard. A Novena of Masses will be offered in the Abbey during the Christmas Season and your special intentions will be included in the Novena.
PANTOMIME TIME
The annual treat is in store for local theatre goers, when Slievenamon Musical Society presents their annual pantomime from Thursday 18th December- Sunday 21st at 8 pm. This year’s production in Cloneen has something for all ages. The Children’s chorus are photographed above at rehearsal. Booking at 052 32240 (5-7pm) and 052 31201 (8-9pm). Tickets €10 (adults) and €7 (children).
DEGREE CONFERRED
Congratulations to Marcella Lonergan of grove road Fethard who was conferred with a Bachelor of Arts degree in accounting from Waterford institute of Technology on November 27th.
Congratulations to Elaine Purcell Burke Street on her graduation from C.T.I Waterford in Nursing Studies.
COMMUNITY COUNCIL
The next meeting of Fethard and Killusty Community Council will take place on Tuesday 20th January 2004. We would like to wish all our voluntary workers, staff and members of the community a very Happy Christmas.
FETHARD TOWN HALL
Following preliminary meetings between, Fethard and Killusty Community Council and Stephen Fallon, Conservation Officer with South Tipperary County Council, a report on Fethard Town Hall, which includes an architectural inventory and photographic assessment, has now been completed by Dublin Civic Trust - a copy of which was supplied to the Fethard & Killusty Community Council by Michael Fitzgerald, Director of Services with South Tipperary County Council.
The report was carried out following a preliminary conditional report by James A. O’Connor architects, and makes very interesting reading.
The historical aspects of the report, as well as showing what archaeological treasure Fethard Town Hall is, should make all Fethard people value this important building. A charter of 1608 warranted the building of a common hall or Tholsel within the town, to be called the Tholsel of Fethard. The building has served the people of Fethard through many and various uses up to the present day, which, makes it the oldest building in Ireland in continuous uses since its construction. Down the years it has been an almshouse, market place, seat of Fethard Corporation, subsequently Fethard Town Commissioners, and Fethard Court House. From the 20th century onwards it has been used as a theatre for local and travelling shows public meetings, dance hall, sports and games such as martial arts and badminton, loan office, pre credit union and library. Fethard meals on wheels operated from the Town Hall when first started, and the fire station. The Town Hall is currently in weekly use by Fethard Country Markets, and by Mr Tom Smith Tipperary County Council for the collection of rates and rent. One part is used as a store by O’Sullivan’s Pharmacy. The question remains unanswered, as to why in proportion to its size, Fethard was granted so many charters from English kings and given the small scale of the town why there was a need for such a vast town hall. It supersedes in scale many other examples around the country including those of Clonmel and Kilkenny.
The report does show, however, that the building is very badly in need of some urgent restoration work. This of course takes time and money. The restoration work recently carried out on Clonmel’s Main Guard shows what can be done. Let us hope that something similar will be done with Fethard Town Hall in the not to distant future and thus preserve this very historic building and its history for many generations of Fethard people to come.
HUNTING NEWS
Ballylusky White Heather Harriers meet next Sunday at Golden at 12 o’clock.
FETHARD & KILLUSTY COMMUNITY LOTTO
The numbers drawn on Tuesday 9th December were: 1, 3, 21, 31 and the bonus number 17. There was no jackpot winner and no 'Match Three' winners so five tickets were drawn and each receives €30:
Edwina Newport, Main St., Fethard
Gillian Fitzpatrick, c/o Avilla, Rocklow Rd. Fethard
Stephanie Moore, AIB, Fethard
David Coady, 50 Springfields, Clonmel
Martin O'Connor, 44 St. Patrick's Place, Fethard
The three 'Lucky Dip' winners of €50 each were:
Mary Morrissey, 22 St. Patricks Place, Fethard
Marie Butler, Garrinch, Fethard
Frances Holohan, c/o Tom Purcell
Next week's Jackpot is €3,750 and the sellers prize €225. The weekly 'Bonus Number' draw for €1,000 Holiday Break will also continue until further notice.
FETHARD ATHLETIC CLUB
Last weekend Fethard A.C. had three representatives competing in the Munster Juvenile B Cross Country Championships held in Limerick Junction. In the girls U/11 race Roisín Trehy gave her performance of the season by winning the bronze medal in impressive style. Wayne Laslett and Lolo Trehy both ran well in the boys U/15 event to finish in 23rd and 24th places respectively. This competition brings the 2003 juvenile cross-country season to a close.
Congratulations to Pat Heffernan who was a scoring member of the Irish M40 team who were silver medallists at the recent International Cross Country meet which was held in Wales. On the County scene Fethard A.C. will host the Senior and Junior Cross Country Championships on the 21st December. The venue for this event is Rice’s Farm Everardsgrange.
Training for juveniles has now ceased as the club takes a well earned mid-winter break. Preparation for the 2004 track season will commence at further notice in February. The club’s Christmas party takes place in Fethard Ballroom on Wednesday the 17th December at 8pm. This year’s format will be the same as last year’s with members participating in a fun table quiz (3 children and 1 adult per table). All who took part or helped in training and competition during the year are most welcome to come along and enjoy what promises to be a great night’s entertainment. Please don’t forget to support the carol singing in Fethard the following night Thursday 18th as all proceeds go to the Central Remedial Clinic.
LEGION NEWS
The Legionaries of Mary wish to express gratitude to all who joined them for the Rosaries in Fethard and Killusty during October. Many made sacrifices to come out during the cold weather. It was also wonderful to have so many pray the Rosary in the Parish cemeteries for the Holy Souls. More members are needed so we invite anyone interested to consider coming to our meetings, which are held on Monday evenings, at 7pm.
DIED RECENTLY
O’Shea (nee Hyland) Cloran, Cloneen, Clonmel, Co Tipperary on 9th December at South Tipperary General Hospital, Sheila (relict of the late Victor), deeply regretted by her loving family, Florence, Clare, Lilian, Robert, Tom, Victor, her sister Eileen, sons in law, daughters in law, Rosemary & Joanne, grandchildren & great grand daughter, Ciara Rose & all her relatives & friends. RIP. Removal of remains from McCarthy’s Funeral Home at 7.00pm this Wednesday to Cloneen Church. Requiem Mass at 11.00am Thursday. Burial immediately afterwards in the adjoining cemetery.
STATS FOR NOVEMBER
We are happy to report that the number of visitors to the Fethard site is still growing as you can see by the statistics for November 2003.
For those interested in where are visitors are coming from, the chart below will give you a rough idea.
KILLUSTY NOTES
Happy Birthday Cathal
Happy birthday to Cathal Ryan who celebrated his first birthday on Saturday last, and best wishes to his parents Paul and Catherine.
Well Done Ladies
Well done to all the ladies who walked around Cloran on the Sponsored Walk recently. What a great effort!
New Recycling Bins
Walsh Waste Management have delivered the new recycling bins. So no more excuses, it's time to do our bit for mother nature and separate our rubbish. And just so we wouldn't get confused; the new 'green' bins are red! Makes sense, doesn't it? Walsh Waste Management will let us know when the collection day will be in about 2 weeks time.
Christmas Lights
It's nearly the season to be jolly again and I'm sure we're all looking forward to I seeing the lights go up in and around the village. Before you know it we will all be gathered around mulled wine and Christmas cake in a friendly local! Paul Duggan will make his rounds soon to collect for the village lights.
Skipathon
Congratulations and well done to everybody who raised funds through a sponsored walk and Children's Skipathon for Killusty National School. It was a great success.Big Rovers win keeps the pressure on Clonmel sides
Soccer Youths Lose Again — Rock Rovers 6-1 Killusty
The three points here were a must for both sides if they were to catch up to Clonmel Town and Clonmel Celtic. Killusty, who are new to first division football this year, have not being performing as well as might been have expected. Rovers dominated the game playing their hearts out and not letting much slip. They scored their first goal after twenty five minutes when James Hawkins received a great ball from Paul Ryan. Goal number two came right on the half hour mark, clever thinking from David Smith in centre field set up Richie McGrath, 2-0 at half time and Rovers looked to be home. Ten minutes into the second half Paul Ryan scored. Rovers third to leave it 3-0. Killusty just had no answer to all of the Rovers attack and neither had they an answer to the Rovers defence of Alan Rocket and Eoin Ryan who on numerous occasions throughout the game, saved their team from a Killusty comeback. Goal number four was scored ten minutes later, this time by Richie McGrath. Davis Smith got the goal of the day when he broke from centre field and blasted the ball into the back of the net. Rovers' final goal was scored twelve minutes from time by Paul Ryan to leave it 6-0. Shane Aylward capitalised on an error in the Rovers defence, but it was a case of too little too late as the score after ninety minutes was 6-1 to the home side.
league division one O'Riordan brace gets St Nicholas back to winning ways
First League Defeat for Juniors — St Nicholas 2 Killusty 1
The Saints got back on the winning trail here but were made to work for it by a tenacious Killusty team. In fact if the visitors had taken their chances in the first half this could have been a different game. The home team were in front after just 15 minutes when Aidan O'Riordan pounced on a ball that had been blocked to rifle it to the net. Killusty really came into the game after this and but for good goalkeeping they could have been in front. They got hack on level terms on 40 minutes, Owen Aylward turning up at the far post to head home from a good cross and it was 1-1 at the break.
FETHARD DAY CARE CENTRE
Thank-you to everyone who contributed in making our Christmas Bazaar held on the 28th November a huge success. Again, it is an amazing event and everyone connected with the Day Care Centre really enjoyed the bustle and craic of the day. Our Christmas Party will be held on Friday 19th December and then we close for two weeks, opening again on Monday 5th January 2004. We would like to wish everyone a very merry Christmas and a happy New Year.
CHRISTMAS HAT PARTY
This year’s Annual Christmas Hat Party will take place in the Bridge Bar on Saturday 27th December. This is the first time it will be held after Christmas, which will give our visitors a chance to join in the fun. All proceeds go to the CRC Santa Bear Appeal. More details later!
ST. VINCENT DE PAUL
The annual collection for our society takes place at all masses this coming weekend. We ask people to be as generous as they can to enable us to continue our work in 2004. In the current year we have spent the following amounts. All of which came form local donations.
Christmas help †2,200, education projects †3,387, Fuel, †1,800, cash assistance usually for debts, bills etc. †2,160, holiday for senior citizens †3,720. This collection is our only public fundraising of the year and it is the community judgement of our work. That judgement has always been positive and we hope that this year will be the same.
Anybody who needs our help at any time of the year can contact any member of the conference in complete confidentiality.
If any person who applied for Christmas assistance has not heard form us by December 18th please feel free to contact any member of the conference as soon as possible in case we inadvertently missed you.
FETHARD GAA CLUB
The County Junior A Football Final was played on Sunday 7th in Templemore and we certainly had to give way to a young Ballina team who played very good football on the day and won on a scoreline, Ballina 2-10 (1-6), Fethard 2-3 (0-1). The match report is on the sports page. This ended our year on the playing field and I would like to thank all those who helped to make Sunday last such an enjoyable day — Coolmore, The Bridge Bar, Grants Bar, The Well, South East Scaffolding, Munster Joinery, and Coen’s Shop. To the team, selectors and back room staff, we are very grateful for the enjoyment during the year.
Congratulations to Dick Cummins (life president), Miceál McCormack (vice chairman), Noel Byrne (fixtures committee), Joe Ahearne (appeals committee), all having been elected for 2004 at the South Board Convention last Sunday.
Our Lotto Jackpot €2,100 was not won. We had five who matched three, receiving €30 each: Eddie & Mary Sheehan (67 St Patricks Place), Nuala McCormack (c/o Cambells Soup, Thurles), Laura Lyons (71 Woodvale Walk), Michael Ryan (46 St Patricks Place), David Maher (8 Barrack Street). The €50 Lucky Dip winner was: Thomas Purcell (Jnr), Burke St).
Ballybacon/Grange gain sweet revenge on 12-man Fethard
Ballybacon/Grange 3-8; Fethard 1-9
Ballybacon/Grange, who were chasing five titles in-a-row last year when they fell to Fethard, got back on the winning trail when they came with a late surge to score 2-2 against opponents who were then down to twelve men in this competitive South Tipperary Martins Fruit and Veg intermediate hurling championship final replay at Clonmel Sportsfield on Sunday 30th November. READ MATCH REPORT
CAROL SINGING
The Pheasant Pluckers will go carol singing on Thursday night 18th December at 8pm, leaving from the Town Hall. Please make sure children are supervised if they wish to come along. Proceeds are in aid of the Central Remedial Clinic’s Santa Bear Appeal.
CHRISTMAS CAROL SERVICE
The annual Christmas Carol Service will take place in Holy Trinity Church of Ireland on Sunday 21st December at 8pm. All are welcome.
RESTORATION WORK AT HOLY TRINITY CHURCH
Restoration work in progress at Holy Trinity Church of Ireland.
