Judo Club Meeting
Fethard Judo Club will hold a meeting for all players and their parents on Monday 11th October at 7pm in the Tirry Community Centre, Barrack Street, Fethard. Please make every effort to attend.

School Reunion of Leaving Cert Class of 1984
Anyone who was in Leaving Cert Class of 1984, or indeed, any school class at that time, is invited to attend a school reunion in Butler's Bar, Main Street, Fethard, on Saturday 27th November 2004.

The organising committee would like anyone who has photographs of school outings, sports events, etc. they might bring them along on the night. Also, people are requested to pass the word on that the reunion is taking place, as not everyone might see the Fethard Website or indeed, the Nationalist. For any further information contact Lydia at 025-33552 or 087-6792992.

Death of Pete McCarthy

Mr Pete McCarthy, author of ‘McCarthy’s Bar’ and ‘The Road to McCarthy’ has died of cancer, aged 51 years, on Wednesday 6th October at The Royal Sussex Hospital, Brighton.  Pete came to Fethard and appeared at the Abymill Theatre on 29th November 2002.  He also said that should he die in Ireland he would like the Undertakers at McCarthy's in Fethard to look after him.
He was a brilliant writer and a very funny man. Pete was given a standing ovation by the full capacity attendance at the show’s conclusion. Pete described Jimmy Ryan, Watergate, as one of the most unusual and extraordinary characters he encountered on his world wide travels. Photographed after his performance in the Abymill in 2002 are L to R: Pete McCarthy, Michael Chang, Paul Buckley and Vinny Murphy (McCarthy's Bar Fethard).

Sympathy
Our sympathy to Sarah (Crooks) Murphy, Burke Street, Fethard, on the recent death of her father who died in New Zealand. Sarah and her husband Vinny are currently on holiday with Sarah's family who live in New Zealand.

Ladies Football

Fethard under/12-13 ladies football team who won Section ‘B’ in the Blitz Tournament played in Mullinahone last week. Front L to R: Kelly Fox, Katie O’Shea, Faye Manton, Orla Lawrence, Debbie Lawrence, Aisha Tobin, Mary Jane Kearney, Jean Anglim, Jane Kenny. Back L to R: Ida Carroll, Lisa Anglim, Claire O’Brien, Sarah Lawless, Mary Anne Keane, Samantha Morrissey, Carrie Sweeney, Sarah Hayes, Chloe Gough, Sarah Conway, Kelly Cody and Tracey Needham.

Well done to our young ladies on the under/12-13 panel who took part in the Mullinahone Blitz tournament and came away winning the B category. These girls all played their part in winning medals for Fethard and are a credit to their trainer Jennifer Keane.

Make up your mind time for Fethard Local Area Plan
The Proposed Local Area Plan (PLAP) for Fethard has been issued by the Forward Planning Section of South Tipperary County Council, and further suggestions and observations are still being sought by the Council. This Local Area Plan is an important document indeed as it sets down the planning and development guidelines for the town of Fethard up to the year 2010.

Local reaction to date would be generally happy with the positive approach of the plan and its general aim to improve the living environment of all the people, young and old, of the town.

National Importance Not Recognised
There is still local unease, however, at the fact that the national importance of this Medieval Walled Town is still not explicitly stated in the proposed plan. At this stage it is beyond all argument that Fethard is of unique and national importance in the Republic of Ireland as the very best example of a medieval walled town. Not alone are the Town Walls still intact over most of their length, but also the walls still act today as the actual boundary along the south side of the town. This is a very rare occurrence indeed, not only in Ireland but elsewhere in Europe. In most towns and cities the walls are wedged in between buildings on both sides as the urban areas have long ago expanded out beyond the old medieval walls.

Unique Aspect must be protected

In the Proposed Area Plan it is proposed to rezone lands for residential purposes in the Valley area, some of it directly opposite the Town Walls at Holy Trinity Church. This would forever break the continuity of the walls with the countryside, which leads on past the ruins of St. Martins and then on to Market Hill and Grove Wood in the background.

This must not and should not be allowed to happen. By a freak of history, Fethard has inherited a truly unique feature of national and international importance — the Town Walls still facing out across beautiful countryside, just as it has done for over seven hundred years. It would defy all logic if Fethard’s ‘golden egg’ was destroyed by a wrong decision of our time.

Future generations of Fethard people, Tipperary people and Irish people deserve the right to be able to stand on the town wall battlements at Holy Trinity Church and look out across this unspoilt countryside, with Slievenamon looking down on it all, just as countless people have done before us .

You can still speak out
One further Public Information meeting will be held by the County Planners in the Abymill Theatre on Wednesday next between 4pm and 7pm and all and sundry can make their wishes on any aspect of the plan known there. Copies of the plan are available to view locally (Newport’s, Post Office, Library) and can be purchased from County Council HQ for €20 or download a PDF copy by Clicking Here. Final submissions, in writing, must be made before Tuesday 2nd November 2004 to M. McGivern, Planning Section, South Tipperary County Council. Email: mmcgivern@southtippcoco.ie

Trip to Aherlow
Fethard Historical Society have organised a social type outing to the Glen of Aherlow on Sunday next, 10th October. A mini-coach will leave the Town Hall at 1.45pm and will return for 9pm and the cost is €10 for Individual, €15 for a couple. Families also very welcome.
A local Guide will meet us on route and we will travel through the Glen to such places as St. Pecauns Well, to St. Berriherts Kyle and on to Glencush Boreen, where we may go on a little walk –so bring along light outdoor gear. The evening will be finished off in the Aherlow House Hotel where people can restore their sugar levels with the sustenance of their choice. Please phone any of these contacts: Mary Hanrahan 052 32141, Terry Cunningham 052 23402 or Catherine O’Flynn 052 31826 to ensure a seat on the Glen of Aherlow bus.

Fethard & Killusty Community Lotto Jackpot €9,850
The numbers drawn in the Fethard & Killusty Community Lotto on Tuesday 5th October were 8, 13, 21 and 30.  There was no Jackpot winner although Helen Morrissey was unlucky to be only one number away from winning the jackpot, picking 9 instead of 8. We had five 'Match 3' winners who received €30 each:
Martin O'Shea, The Valley, Fethard
Helen Morrissey, 48 St. Patricks Place, Fethard
Valerie O'Meara, Strylea, Fethard
Helen Fahey, Buffana, Killenaule
Cassandra Needham, Woodvale Walk, Fethard
The three €50 Lucky Dip winners were:
Eddie Sheehan, 15 St. Patricks Place, Fethard
O'Connor Children, Hair M Salon, Main Street, Fethard
Martina Neary, Burke Street, Fethard
Next weeks Jackpot is €9,850 and the Jackpot sellers prize is €875.

Is Liam right?
Ace GAA radio commentator Micheál Ó Muircheartaigh has written is autobiography in which he recalls the first game he commentated on — a Munster v Leinster railway cup game in Croke Park. The game played on St. Patrick’s Day, which fell on a Thursday, ended in a draw. The then powers decided to keep the Munster team in Dublin until the following Sunday, the date of the replay.

During the extended weekend, they visited several venues where a ‘no thirst’ policy prevailed. When they assembled in Barry’s Hotel, they looked more like ‘Slattery’s Mounted Foot’ than a football team and indeed a few required ‘steadies’ before going to Croke Park.
They defeated all logic and beat Leinster by 4-9 to 1-4, Munster’s biggest ever winning margin in a Railway Cup tie. Micheál goes on to say, “Where does this leave modern training technology?”

Liam Connolly, as well as his three senior hurling All-Ireland successes, also played for 13 years on the Tipperary senior football team and is fully convinced that modern training is wrong. He agrees with Micheál. Indeed, Liam has long advanced the theory that the best method of training for fit young men is to prepare the mind rather than the body for competition. After all, the first muscle any player of any code engages should be his brain.

Liam Connolly who is the best reader of a game, on or off the field that we have ever spoken to. In his playing days with Fethard Liam was, in the words of Dick Allen, “As good as six”. Liam literally left the imprint of his studs on every square foot of every pitch he played on with Fethard, and deserves to be listened to. Liam, who shuns publicity, will not thank us for this, but perhaps he is right. (T.N.)

Killusty Soccer Club
Thanks to everyone who supported our recent collection. As always your generosity is greatly appreciated.

The Well Golf Society
The curtain came down on our season last Saturday with our outing to Thurles Golf Club.
A turnout of 27 golfers went to post and these are the results:
Nearest the pin: Darragh Corbett, Tom Halpin, Tom McCormack.
Ladies: 1st Mary Stakelum, 2nd Bernie Phelan.
Gents: 1st Ray Morrissey, 2nd Aidan Grant, 3rd Darragh Corbett, 4th Davy Woodlock, 5th Willie Morrissey.

Our ‘Golfer our the Year’ was also decided and as predicted it went down to the wire, but finishing with a great winning score on the day was Ray Morrissey who was the outright winner. Well done Ray, you played a blinder all season.

Unfortunately the weekend ended on a sad note when news reached us on Sunday morning of the death of Tony Woodlock. Tony was a brother of our club captain Pat, and members Davy and Vincent. We extend our deepest sympathies to all the Woodlock family. May he Rest in peace.

Fethard Bridge Club Results
Fethard Bridge Club results for Wednesday 29th September are:
1st Gross: Teresa Cummins and Alice Quinn
2nd Gross: Betty Walsh and Brigid Gorey
1st Nett: Pattie and Mary Tobin
2nd Nett: Suzanne Opray and Ellen Rochford

We played for the free sub nett on Wednesday 6th October - results next week. Playing for the free sub Gross has been deferred to Wednesday, 13th October.
Anyone looking for a partner can contact Annie O’Brien, The Square, Fethard. Tel: 052 31862.

Fethard Community Games Stars on TV
Fethard & Killusty boys under/15 volleyball team were seen in action in their match against Milford, Donegal, on last Saturday's screening of the first of two programmes of the ESB Community Games national finals on Network 2 at 5.30pm. County Development Officers Joe Keane & Bernard Feery were also seen carrying out their duties in GAA and Gymnastics at the national finals. The programme included a detailed view of the winning pictures in the Art event, which would be of interest to our county competitors and to anybody who may be interested in entering the event next year.

Fethard Athletic Club
The 2004 Cross Country season got off to a great start last week as Fethard Athletic Club athletes shone in the county schools competition in Thurles. Fethard St. Patrick’s Boys’ School acquitted themselves well but were unlucky to be out of the medals in the large schools section.

Radka Janacikova winner of the girls’ 3rd and 4th class race	Aisling O’Connor winner in the girls 5th and 6th class race	Gregory Henry who won the boys’ 5th and 6th class race

Killusty Open Sheep Dog Trials
On Sunday last, after an absence of many years, open sheepdog trials returned to Killusty. Competitors from all over the country travelled to compete in the inaugural running of the competition for the Paddy Morrissey Perpetual Cup.
The results on the day were as follows:
1st: Denis Birchill, Wicklow;
2nd: Pat Byrne, Kildare;
3rd: John Brennan, Tipperary;
4th: Donie Anderson, Dublin;
5th: Jim McConnell, Waterford;
6th: Dan Morrissey, Tipperary.
The Organiser of the event, Dan Morrissey, would like to sincerely thank all those who worked at the venue or helped in any way to make the launch of this annual competition such a success.

Tidy Towns AGM
The annual general meeting of Fethard Tidy Towns will take place on Tuesday 12th October at 8pm in the Tirry Community Centre. All are very welcome to come along and we would be delighted to have some new members join our group. Now ideas are always great to hear and of course, the more new members we have, the better equipped we will be to help keep Fethard a tidy town!

South Tipperary Hospice
The South Tipperary Hospice Support Group would like to thank those who organised Hospice Coffee Mornings on September 16th, and those who gave so generously at the following venues: Patrician Presentation Secondary School Fethard, Nano Nagle National School, St. Patrick’s Boys’ School, Fethard & District Day Care Centre, Coolmore, Dawn Fresh Foods, and Fethard Bridge Club who ran a Coffee Day from 9am to 6pm in the Town Hall. The total collected was €1,428.15.

The Late Tony Woodlock
We record the death of Tony Woodlock, Fethard, who died on Saturday 2nd October. Remains left McCarthy's Funeral Parlour at 7pm for St. Michael's Church, Clerihan, on Monday. Interment in adjoining cemetery following 11.30am Requiem Mass on Tuesday.


Patrician Brothers Football Team 1957. Back L to R: Pat Woodlock, Paddy Lonergan, Tom Mackey, John Egan, Finbar Tobin, John Britton, Timmy Tobin, Peter O'Connell and Tony Woodlock. Middle: Waltie Moloney, Lory Dineen, Davy Woodlock, Tom Long and Tony Tobin. Front: Jose Carcia, Pat Barrett, Jimmy Fitzgerald, Eddie Dillon and Tommy Teehan

The unexpected death of Tony Woodlock, Rathdrum, Fethard, on Saturday last came as a great shock to a wide circle of friends and acquaintances in the area. The late Tony Woodlock was in his schooldays and teen years, an outstanding young hurler and footballer with local school and underage teams. His outstanding displays at center-back in both codes is still well remembered. Of a shy and retiring disposition, his premature retirement from the playing fields of South Tipperary was truly the game’s great loss.
As a mark of respect, a minute’s silence was observed prior to the start of the Moyle Rovers v Fethard county semifinal championship game in Clonmel on Sunday last.
Sincere sympathy is extended to his sisters and brothers, and extended family.

Fethard ICA Guild
The next meeting of Fethard ICA Guild will be held on Tuesday 12th October in the ICA Hall. Our guest speaker will be Lisa McNulty from the TV programme, ‘Beyond the Hall Door’, courtesy of Woodies DIY Stores. She will speak on interior design and her talk starts at 8pm sharp. Hostesses on the night are the ‘Green Group’.
We would like to send best wishes to Tony Newport on his retirement as correspondent of the Fethard News to the Nationalist for the past 45 years. Tony has been a great help to the guild on many occasions and we hope both he and his wife Mary have many years of health and happiness ahead.
The Autumn Federation meeting takes place in the Community Hall Cahir on 7th October, hosted by the Ballingarry Guild.

Harvest Festival
The Holy Trinity Church of Ireland Harvest Festival will take place this year on Friday 15th October at 8pm. Everyone is welcome to attend this annual service in the historic Holy Trinity Church on the Main Street. Refreshments will be served.

Fethard GAA Club News
The curtain came down on our senior football team on Sunday last in Cashel when, again, for the third year in a row we lost the county semifinal, on this occasion to Moyle Rovers on a score line Fethard 0-10, Moyle Rovers 1-9. It all happened in the first half when we were outfoxed and outplayed by a team who have improved all the year in every game to reach the final. In the second half we played some great football but we just could not claw back the lead of five points at the break, Fethard 0-4, Moyle Rovers 1-6.
Again we must hand it to that man Declan Browne who scored all 1-9 of Moyle Rovers total. Team: Paul Fitzgerald, Willie Morrissey, Michael Quinlan, Damien Byrne, John P Looby, Michael Aherne, Cian Maher, P J Aherne, Aiden Fitzgerald 0-2, Michael Dillon, Eoin Doyle, Brian Coen 0-1, Karl Maher 0-2f, Glen Burke 0-2, Kenneth O’Donnell 0-1. Subs used were: Miceál Spillane, Stephen O’Donnell 0-1, Conor McCarthy 0-1, and Tom Anglim. We would like to thank the players and management team for their commitment during the year and in also bringing the 2004 county league to the club.
Our Junior ‘A’ footballers are the remaining standard bearers at this time and await the outcome of the other section to know if their opponents will be Newcastle or Moyle Rovers in the south semifinal.
The Lotto Jackpot of €1,000 was not won. We had two match three winners who received €75 each: Jim Butler (31 Abbey Meadows, Clonmel), and Pat Sheehan (Killusty). The €50 Lucky Dip was won by Eamon Drea (c/o Lonergans Bar Fethard). The numbers drawn at McCarthys were 2, 6, 12 and 23.
Our sympathies are at this time with the Woodlock Family (Rathdrum) on the death of Tony who was a player on the 1957 Fethard County Minor Football Team. Go Ndeanai Dhia Trocaire ar an animeachta.

New Golf Society Formed
The Bridge Bar, Main Street, Fethard, have formed a new golf society and have affiliated with the Golfing Union of Ireland (GUI). The Bridge Bar Golf Society have organised their first outing on Saturday 9th October to the Goldcoast Golf Club in Dungarvan. Tee off times between 11.45am and 1pm.
For more information contact any of the following: Martin Burke (President), Vincent Woodlock (Captain), John Lonergan (Secretary), John Ward (Treasurer) or Brendan Kenny (PRO).

Camogie Centenary

Sinead Ryan, Captain of the succesful Tipperary Camogie Team, photographed with Elsie O'Dwyer, Coolmoyne, and the O'Duffy Cup. Elsie, a former camogie player with Coolmoyne, was the captain of the first Tipperary camogie team to contest an All-Ireland title back in 1933.

Tipperary camogie team, this year in winning the historic centenary All-Ireland Senior Camogie title, recalled the association of Fethard parish with the first Tipperary camogie team to contest an All-Ireland title. Nineteen thirty-three was the first year the All-Ireland senior camogie championship was staged. The Tipperary team, beaten by Dublin in the All-Ireland final on that also historic occasion, was captained by a Coolmoyne lady, Elsie (Ahearn) O’Dwyer.
Coolmoyne, who were Tipperary 1933 county champions, also had two other players on the Tipperary team, Nell O’Flynn and ‘Babs’ Croke. Elsie O’Dwyer, we are glad to report, is still going strong and was honoured as Tipperary’s first senior county camogie captain in Croke Park on All-Ireland camogie final day.