ORGANIC FARM IN FETHARD TO BE USED AS DEMO MODEL
(The Nationalist February 21st 2004)
A Fethard farm has been chosen as one of seven from around the country to be used as organic demonstration farms.

The approval of the farms was announced last week by the Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture and Food, Noel Treacy, in line with a recommendation from the National Steering Group for the Organic Sector.

Among those included is the farm of Fintan and Valerie Rice at Everardsgrange in Fethard, when a total of over 60 applicants was whittled down to seven.

The farms are being established initially on a pilot basis for one year and have been selected to demonstrate a variety of organic farming methods.

"This is a positive development for the organic sector as these farms will provide an opportunity for both existing and potential organic operators to visit first-class facilities and see production and management techniques at first hand", said Minister Treacy. "There is a steady and growing demand for organic food, and with decoupling around the corner the organic sector offers an opportunity that some farmers will want to take up. These demonstration farms will give them a valuable means of finding out more about organic farming in a very practical way."

The approval of demonstration farms is in response to a recommendation contained in the report of the Organic Development Committee, presented to the Minister in April of 2002. The selected farmers will get an annual payment for facilitating a number of focus visits/farm walks, in 2004. They will also participate in the Teagasc National Farm Survey and the Teagasc Monitor Farm Network, thus providing valuable financial and practical production data for the ongoing development of the sector.

"It is important that the necessary arrangements are put in place without delay and the details publicised as widely as possible", added the Minister. "I hope that existing organic farmers will use this facility to develop their skills further, and that many conventional farmers will take this opportunity to find out more about the sector."

HONORARY DEGREE FOR HOMELESS CAMPAIGNER
(The Nationalist February 21st 2004)

Alice Leahy photographed recently with her brothers and sisters. L to R: Eileen, Martin, Alice, Donal and Mary.

Fethard woman and long serving campaigner for the homeless in Dublin, Alice Leahy, is to receive an honorary degree from the National University of Ireland.

The news has been welcomed by Trust, the organisation which Alice Leahy co-founded and now directs, as meaningful recognition of the value of outsiders in Irish society.

It's now almost 30 years since the Fethard native set up Trust to provide a health and social service to people who are homeless. Through an active public education programme, Trust also seeks to make society aware of why people sleep rough on the streets and what needs to be done to tackle the crisis.

"Defending the outsider has meant we have had to become outsiders ourselves as our work continues to highlight the failure of public policy", Alice Leahy herself has said.

Now based in Dublin, Alice is a frequent visitor to her home town and county and has many family members and friends in the area, while fundraising events for Trust have also been held locally.

"Many of the people we meet every day are outsiders and we are at times the only real human contact many of them have", she observed. "Society can be insensitive, daunting and intimidating to people who are vulnerable - some so fearful of the intrusions of modern life that they prefer to risk life on the streets than fit in and avail of services. Repeatedly making this point, based on our first hand experience, has also meant that we in Trust have found ourselves being treated as outsiders by those meant to be running our social services as our work inevitably highlights the continuing failure of policy in this area."

She underlined the point that this award from the National University of Ireland is seen by her as real recognition for the work of Trust - and everyone involved - which is all about valuing the outsider and those in our midst who are different.

A former Ward Sister and Night Sister, Alice has also become a writer, commentator, broadcaster, and lecturer in pursuit of Trust's commitment to public awareness. Her second book With Trust in Place Writing from the Outside was published by Townhouse just before Christmas.

FERGUS GIRLS VISIT FETHARD

Ronnie (Fergus) Green, home from New York, visited Fethard with her two sisters this week. They are photographed above in McCarthy's Hotel with school friends. The Fergus family lived on the Cashel Road in the first of the two adjoining cottages occupied at that time by Guard Fergus and Guard Cassells. L to R: Ann Healy, Ronnie (Fergus) Green, Joan (Fergus) Dooley, Helen Fergus and Concepta (Healy) Hurley.

FETHARD GAA CLUB
The county senior football league started on last Sunday for our team and we had a very nice game under first class conditions in Fethard. We were victorious on the day with a scoreline, Fethard 3-12 (1-5), to Arravale Rovers 0-4 (0-4). Our team, consisting of a large number of youths, performed very well with the senior players available for the game. The team lineout was: Tommy Gahan, Michael Aherne, Ian Kenrick, Paul Hackett, Tomas Keane, Eoin Doyle, Emmet Burke, Kenneth Byrne, Michael Dillon 0-1, Michael Quinlan 1-0, Stephen O’Donnell 0-2, Brendan Brett 0-5 (3f), John Hanrahan, K O’Donnell 1-1, Darren O’Meara. Subs used were: Tom Anglim, D Burke 0-1, Miceál Spillane 1-2, William Harrington and Shane Walsh. Our next game takes place in Monroe against Moyle Rovers this weekend. Check sports page for time and date.
Our Lotto Jackpot €3,000 was not won. The draw was made in Lonergans on Tuesday 10th February and we had one match three winner: O’Shea Family (Woodvale Walk), who received €150. The €50 Lucky Dip winner was Paul Kenny (Woodvale Walk).
Our sympathies are at this time with the Godfrey family on the death of their sister Mrs Doyle. Go nDeanai Trocaire Orthu.

TABLE QUIZ
Fethard Judo Club will hold a table quiz in Grants Bar on Tuesday 24th February, starting at 9pm. We ask for your support.

IS FETHARD ABOUT TO LOOSE A LANDMARK?

It looks like the wood in Red City is in the process of being clear felled. Not sure how much of the wood they intend felling, but here's a few pictures of what has been done so far. Being a Coilte owned wood, it will, no doubt, be replanted but, it will still be strange to drive out the Cahir road with no wood!
Photograph from just inside the Gate

The source of the trouble the "Timberjack Forest Harvestor".

HUNTING NEWS
Tipperary Foxhounds had one of the best hunts of the season from their meet at Barne on February 9th. Finding in the fort at O’Gorman’s, close to the Poulmucka road junction, hounds ran to the Lavally road where the fox was headed by passing traffic. Turning left handed, he crossed the Poulmucka road and ran to Woodroffe.

Swerving right-handed here, the pack fairly flew through Moorestown by the old castle before crossing the Poulmucka-Cahir road close to the old Ballingeary School. They then ran towards Knockfee wood, but turning right, hunted this good fox through Whitelands almost to New Inn. There, with the hounds in close pursuit, he did a u-turn back to Whitelands where he went to ground in a foil on Mr Lonergans farm.

This was an excellent run with a five-mile point, probable closer to seven miles as hounds ran in just under one hour. A feature of this run was the fact that hounds had scarcely a check and were untouched by huntsman Pat O’Brien throughout.

Pat O’Brien had a rather bad fall on the road from the Darcy’s Cross meet on Saturday. Pat very courageously finished the day. His knee injury necessitated his removal to Ardkeen Hospital on Saturday evening. Pat is now making satisfactory progress we are glad to report, following an operation on the injured knee on Sunday. His many friends in hunting circles in Tipperary and surrounding counties will wish him a very speedy recovery and return to the saddle.

FETHARD HISTORICAL SOCIETY
The next meeting of Fethard Historical Society will take place on Tuesday night, 24th February at 8.30pm in the Abymill Theatre.

FETHARD BRIDGE CLUB
On Wednesday 11th February 2004 we played for prizes sponsored by the Oriental Gardens Restaurant, Fethard, and the results were:
1st Gross: Brigid Gorey and Betty Walsh
2nd Gross: Suzanne Opray and Ellen Rochford
1st Nett: Tony Hanrahan and David O’Meara
2nd Nett: Mary and Pattie Tobin
Next Wednesday, 25th February, the second round of the ‘Player of the Year’ competition will take place, for which you pick your own change of partner.
Anyone looking for a partner can contact, Annie O’Brien Tel: 052 31862.

DIED RECENTLY
The death has occurred on Sunday 15th February, of Nora Doyle, Clonmel, formerly Nora Godfrey, Barrettsgrange, Fethard. Interment took place at Calvary Cemetery.

PROGRESSIVE 25 RESULTS
Results for Progressive 25 game played on 6th February 2004. Winners on 12 games: Jackie Devitt and Chas Keane. Runners up on 11 games: Chris Colville and Sean Walsh,
Chris Maher and Bob Gleeson. Rubber finals: Chas Keane and Pat O’Dwyer, Mick Holohan and Paddy McCormack, Nora Lee and Nora O’Donnell.
Results for Progressive 25 game played on 13th February 2004. Winners on 13 games: Teresa Cummins and Alice Quinn. Runners up on 11 games: Denny O’Donnell and David Curran. Rubber finals: Jim and Mary Garrett, Chris Maher and Sean Spillane. Table prize: Jim Phelan and Phyllis Murray. Tickets: Paddy Butler, John St. John, Tom Phelan and Chris Coleville.
Next game takes place in Fethard Ballroom on Friday 20th February at 8.30pm sharp

COMMUNITY GAMES
The Annual General Meeting of Fethard & Killusty Community Games recently took place and the following officers were elected: Joe Keane (chairman), Bernard Feery (secretary), Joe Keane and Peggy Colville (joint treasurers). Committee members: Fintan Rice, Sean Devaney, Helena O’Shea and Rosie Gorey. The committee plan to hold a Table Quiz in Fethard Ballroom on Saturday, February 28th at 8pm. Teams of four consisting of 1 adult and 3 children. This is an open quiz we hope to get support from outside the parish and age of 31st of July will not apply. Further details next week.

ART & MODEL MAKING
Local finals of Art & Model Making will take place on March 15th. All entries will be collected at schools on this day and must be accompanied by an entry fee of €2. If you reside in the parish but go to school elsewhere please hand in your entry to Helena O’Shea, The Valley, Tel: 052 31008 or to the Community Games Office, Grove Road, Tel: 052 31906. The County Finals of both of these events will take place in Fethard Ballroom on Saturday, April 3rd. Entrants must be under the age specified on the 31st of July for these events, which are part of the National Community Games Programme. All entries must have a community games theme.

TIPPERARIANA BOOK FAIR

Photographed at the Tipperariana Book Fair in Fethard are L to R: Margaret Doocey, Vincent Doocey and Pat Looby from Fethard. CLICK HERE TO SEE MORE PHOTOGRAPHS

BALLYLUSKY WHITE HEATHER HARRIERS
The Ballylusky White Heather harriers will meet in Ballingarry on Sunday next 22nd February at 12 noon.

LADIES FOOTBALL
Fethard Ladies Football Club will hold their annual general meeting in Bob Grant’s Bar, Main Street, on this Friday night, 20th February at 8pm.

FISHING NEWS
Another sure sign that spring has arrived is the start of the fishing season on local rivers on March 17th. The Fethard and Killusty Anglers Club will hold their AGM in the Tirry centre on this Friday night 20th February at 8pm.

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 Killusty Soccer Team was taken in the 1980's. Lots of familiar faces and I think we have most of the names correct, if not, drop us a line and tell us! Back L to R: Davy Williams, Donal Murphy, Paddy Kenrick, Pat Phelan, Noel Sharpe, Frank Fogarty, Louis Coen. Front L to R: Sean Aylward, Tom Halpin, Philip O'Connell, Eddie Sheehan, Kevin Ryan and Joe Keane.

These two photographs of young Killusty Soccer Teams were also taken in the 198os, at the final of a seven-a-side competition. We need help with the names this time?

THE WAY WE WERE
Nostalgic memories were brought back to many dancers of yesteryear by the wonderful performance of the Premier Swing Band in the Abymill on Friday night last. The seventeen piece band, featuring five saxophones, four trombones, five trumpets, keyboard, bass guitar and drums went through a wide repertoire of many of the big American and cross-channel bands of the big-band era, not forgetting a special tribute to our own Mick Delahunty.
Vocalist Irene Malone gave a great performance being particularly outstanding on Ella Fitzgerald and Frank Sinatra numbers. Ten of the talented seventeen musicians in the orchestra took solo spots during the performance. These included two young musicians with strong Fethard connections. Nial Fahey on tenor sax, whose mother was formerly Betty Bradshaw, Drumdeel, and Paul Lyttleton on drums. Drummers in modern groups are a rarity. What a delight to hear a drummer of Paul’s capabilities in full flow. Paul is a son of John Lyttleton, Mockler’s Terrace. Mr Danny Carroll was arranger and conductor, and Mr Denis O’Sullivan of Tipp FM Radio was a most capable compere.
The next outstanding attraction in the Abymill is the visit of the Brewery Lane Dramatic Society from Carrick-on-Suir on Wednesday 23rd February. The nationally acclaimed Carrick theatre group present ‘The Beauty Queen of Leenane’. Booking is at Austin O’Flynn’s Burke Street. Tel: 052 31254.

ABBEY 700 CELEBRATIONS
A meeting was held on last Tuesday night to discuss the Augustinian 700 Celebrations, which will take place in Fethard in 2005. Over 35 people turned up to the meeting in the Abymill Theatre. Further details will follow in due course.

JOHNNY DUHAN FOR ABYMILL
Well known singer songwriter, Johnny Duhan, supported by Billy ‘Bob’ Dwyer from Cashel, will perform in the Abymill Theatre at 8.15pm on Friday 5th March. Booking has now opened at O’Flynn’s Menswear, Fethard, Tel: 052 31254. Tickets €10.
From his musical beginnings in the 1960s fronting the legendary band Granny’s Intentions, Johnny Duhan has earned a justly impressive reputation over the years with a series of highly regarded albums, “Just Another Town”, “Don Quixote” and “Flame”, culminating in the highly anticipated album “Tree”.
Johnny is highly respected for the depth and maturity of his music, and his distinctive and eloquently crafted songs have been recorded by a long list of musical household names including Mary Black, Mary Coughlan, Dolores Keane and Christy Moore, and a number of his songs, including “The Voyage”, have become standards of the genre.
“Johnny Duhan is one of my favourite songwriters" (Ronnie Drew).

DR. WILLIE NOLAN LAUNCHES FETHARD TOWN ATLAS

Photographed at the launch of 'Irish Historic Towns Atlas, no. 13, Fethard', in the Abymill Theatre are L to R: Terry Cunningham (chairman Fethard Historical Society), Michael Ryan (President, Royal Irish Academy). Tadhg O'Keeffe (author), Willie Nolan (who officially launched the atlas) and Anngret Simms (editor, Irish Historic Towns Atlas). CLICK HERE FOR MORE PHOTOGRAPHS

On Saturday evening, 7th February, Dr. Willie Nolan launched the Fethard-Historic Town Atlas No. 13 for the Royal Irish Academy in the Abymill Theatre at 8.15pm (read Dr. Nolan's address).  The Fethard Town Atlas, by Dr. Tadhg O'Keeffe, includes historical and archaeological details of over 400 sites, an historical essay, and a range of large-format maps, reconstructions, views and photographs. All trace the growth of Fethard from its possible origins as an early Christian church site, to its foundation as an Anglo-Norman town in the early 1200s, right up to the 20th century. Fethard will join twelve other Irish towns and cites, which have been published as part of the Irish Historical Town Atlas series.
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

CREDIT UNION PRIMARY SCHOOLS TABLE QUIZ

Overall winners in the Under-13 section of the Credit Union Primary Schools Table Quiz held in Fethard Ballroom on 4th February were Fethard St. Patrick’s Boys School team L to R: Jerome Ahearne, Sam Manton, John Lalor and Adam Lyons. CLICK FOR MORE PHOTOGRAPHS

FIRST AID CLASSES
Fethard Civil Defence will run a public course in First Aid at the Fr. Tirry Centre, Barrack Street, Fethard, starting at 8pm on Tuesday 24th February, and running for 8 weeks. All are welcome.

CHARITY RIDE IN AID OF SCOIL AONGHUS

Click above photograph to see enlargement in separate window. CLICK HERE to see more photographs

The Tipperary Hunt Pony Club, with Charles Blackmore, recently ran a charity ride from Killenaule to Moyglass in aid of Scoil Aonghus Cashel. The ride left Cashel Road at 12 noon on Sunday January 25th in glorious January weather. Patrick Kennedy led the seventy riders taking part and after passing thought Cashel Road, Crosscannon, Graigue, Roan, The Rectory and Mortlestown Castle, the twenty-minute break taken was more than welcome. The ride then moved along through Lismortagh, Mortlestown Knockinglass, Cattaganstown and Clonbrogan to finish in Moyglass village at 4pm. The total ride covered approximately ten miles with sixty fences to jump on the way. Refreshments were served and enjoyed by everyone afterwards at The Village Inn.

The committee would like to take this opportunity to thank all the landowners who allowed them to cross the country. Sincere thanks to the helpers, sponsors and emergency services who allowed for the smooth running of the day. All Pony Club Members are thanked for their wonderful support on the day and all the money raised will now go to benefit the children of Scoil Aonghus.

RUSSELL SAYS HELLO FROM CLONMEL
Hi, this is Russell O'Meara and I have some good news! I have moved in to Clonmel now and started a programme in the Transition Living Unit (TLU) at New Toberaheena, Cahir Road, Clonmel. I would also like to wish everyone in Fethard Secondary School the best of luck in the future. My email address is: russell_omeara@yahoo.co.uk

CARRICK PLAY FOR ABYMILL
Carrick Dramatic Society will perform their smash hit production of, "The Beauty Queen of Leenane" by Martin McDonagh, in the Abymill Theatre on Wednesday 25th February.  Booking now at O'Flynn's Menswear Tel: 052 31254. Tickets €10.