Celebrating the birthday of St Augustine

The Augustinians at the Fethard Abbey are celebrating the birthday of their Spiritual Father St. Augustine on the weekend 13th &14th November. St. Augustine was born in Northern Africa, modern day Algeria, in 354 and died in 430. After a wayward youth, he came to great peace of mind when he was baptised at the age of 33 years in Milan, the Imperial City, by the bishop Ambrose. Immediately after this he resolved to return to his native Africa whence he fled for adventure, learning and freedom. At Rome's port of Ostia his mother died.

On return to Africa he gathered a group of like minded young Christians and established what was in truth the very first Augustinian community - men living together, sharing their lives in a common search for God, having as their ideal the first Jerusalem community we read about in the Acts of the Apostles. Augustine later became bishop of the thriving port town of Hippo. A vital role of the bishop was being local Magistrate, listening to and trying to settle the endless stream of disputes of the local population.
Out of his tumultuous experiences and his personal search for happiness, for God, he wrote masterpieces of Christian literature, his Confession, The City of God, The Blessed Trinity. Among the greatest bishops of the Church, Augustine is revered as the Doctor of Grace, for he himself knew so well from his personal experiences the wonder of God's ways of helping us humans in our many trials and tribulations of life. The Augustinians at the Abbey and indeed throughout the world will be gladly celebrating the 1650th anniversary of St. Augustine' s birth on Saturday/Sunday, 13th /14th November. Do join them in their celebrations.

Holy Souls in November
The Rosary will be recited in the following Parish Cemeteries during the month of November.
Sunday, 14th Nov: Calvary at 3pm and Peppardstown at 3.30pm.
Sunday, 21st Nov: Rathcoole at 3pm, Redcity at 3.30pm and Tullamaine at 3pm.
Sunday, 28th Nov: Killusty, after Sunday Mass, Kiltinan at 3pm and Kilmaclugh at 3.30pm.

St. Vincent de Paul Assistance
Anyone in need of St. Vincent de Paul assistance for the oncoming Christmas period is asked to complete an application form available at the back of our local churches, and return same to any member of the Fethard Conference before November 30th.

Ladies Football
The curtain came down on the 2004 season for Fethard Ladies Football Club this weekend. We played Upperchurch in the Junior B semifinal and came up against a very strong team. We went into this game with some players injured and some others unavailable but those who played gave their all. We wish Upperchurch the best of luck in the final.

The club intend to organise a function within the next few weeks for both underage and junior players. Many thanks to all who helped in any way and especially to coaches/selectors, Aiden Fitzgerald and Tom Anglim, for all the work and training done during the year. The Club would like to thank Bob Grant, formerly Grants Bar, Main Street, for his help and for sponsoring a set of jerseys.

The club now has over 40 underage players and a full junior panel. We were winners of the Junior ‘C’ Championship and the presentation of medals will be made at a forthcoming county function. The prospects for the club are looking good for 2005.

Fethard Bridge Club
Fethard Bridge Club results for Wednesday 3rd November are:
1st Gross: Kay St. John and Rita Kane
2nd Gross: Brigid Gorey and Betty Walsh
1st Nett: Pattie and Mary Tobin
2nd Nett: Anne and Sean O’Dea
Subscriptions of €25 are now due. Anyone looking for a partner please contact Annie O’Brien, The Square, Fethard. Tel: 052 31862.

Fethard Ballroom AGM
Fethard & Killusty Ballroom Company Ltd will hold their Annual General Meeting on 1st December 2004 at 8pm in Fethard Ballroom, where they will present their financial statement for year ended 31st December 2003, together with the directors’ reports, resignation and election of officers. All are welcome.

Hunting news
At the November meeting of the Ballylusky White Heather Harriers votes of sympathy were passed to Mr Tommy Morgan, Grangebeg, on the death of his mother Mrs Mary Morgan, and to Mr Sean Kelly, Rathvin, on the death of his father Mr Dan Kelly.

Prizewinners in the November monthly members and friends draw were: €200 Mr Micky Dooley and €100 Ms Gillian Kirwan. The committee greatly appreciate the sporting gesture of Micky Dooley in contributing a good portion of his winnings to hunt funds, as they do, the gesture of Thomas Kearney in donating his prize winnings in the October draw. The draw for December takes place on Monday 6th December.

Next Sunday’s meet is at Loughcapple at 12 noon.

Armistice Day
At 5am on Monday, November 11, 1918, the Germans and the Allies signed the Armistice in the Forest of Compiegne, after which an order was issued for all firing to cease; and so ended the hostilities of the First World War after four years of conflict.

This year marks the 90th anniversary of the outbreak of the First World War and as Thursday, 11th November, is Armistice Day, we especially remember the forty men of Fethard district who died in the great war of 1914-18. Also remembered are the many who fought in that terrible conflict, safely returned, and have since died.

It is fitting at this time that we also remember the Fethard men who took part in World War II 1939-45.

Fethard & Killusty Community Council
The next meeting of Fethard & Killusty Community Council will take place on Tuesday 23rd November at 8.30pm in the Tirry Community Centre.

Killusty lose FAI Junior Cup tie
Killusty 2, Rearcross 2 (Rearcross win 4 –3 on penalties)

Killusty soccer team who lost to Rearcross in the FAI Junior Cup 3rd Round in Killusty. Back L to R: Chris Coen (manager), Aaron Kelly, Shane Aylward, Philip Croke, Ronan Maher, Cian Maher, Noel Walsh, Brian Coen, Shay Coen. Front L to R: John Noonan, Karl Maher, Jason Nevin, Philip Ryan, Colm Coen, Martin Coen and Tony Shelly.

Our assault on the FAI cup has been put on hold until next year, with this home defeat to Rearcross. We started brightly enough taking the lead in the tenth minute with a goal from John Noonan. Rearcross drew level before half time with a well taken goal from a free kick. Killusty took the lead once more midway through the second half scored by our goal machine Karl Maher.

It looked like we were going to hang on to our slender lead, but with five minutes remaining, Rearcross scored to bring the game to extra time. No goals were scored during extra time and so it was down to the lottery that is the penalty shoot out.

With a bit of luck and if the crossbar was four inches higher the result might have been different, but Rearcross came out on top winning 4-3. We would like to wish Rearcross all the best in the next round.
Finally, we would like to take this opportunity to offer our deepest sympathies to the McCormack and Hickey families Baptistgrange on the recent death of Marian, our thoughts are with you at this time.


On a happier occasion, the squad are photographed above in McCarthy's last week at a special farewell party for player Nicky Murphy who left the country to work in Australia. Best of luck Nicky!

Killusty National School

Pupils of Killusty National School presenting a cheque for €410, the proceeds of a coffee morning, to Jim Bond, South Tipperary Hospice, on behalf of the people of Killusty.


Junior Infant class at Killusty National School. Back L to R: Aoife Sheehan (Loughcopple), Luke Coen (Killusty), Rebecca Kenny (Fethard), Thomas Morgan (Grangebeg). Front L to R: Chelsea Kenny (Fethard), Lorna Smyth (Killusty) and Jack Pollard (Grangebeg).

New Bank Doors
Customers visiting the local branch of the AIB on Main Street recently were greeted by the sight of a glass box blocking their way. The new entrance to the bank has got two doors. You press a button to gain access to the building. Once you pass through the first door, you are in a glass hallway. Entrance to the bank can then be gained by passing through a second door, which will not open until the first one is shut. This new system is an unfortunate but necessary security step in light of the recent robbery at the bank.

The door is designed to keep potential bank robbers out, though so far has managed to keep customers inside when the system crashed on its first day of operation. It may take a while for us to get used to it but at least the safety of the staff and customers has been greatly enhanced.

Burke Street Residents Unite
Not so willing to adapt to change of a different kind are the residents of Burke Street. A residents meeting was held recently in the Abymill Theatre to discuss the proposed walkway from Burke Street to Barrack Street along the remains of the Town Wall. The proposed plans of the County Council are to erect three new houses and expose the section of the Town Wall entering Burke Street by making an entrance at the gable end of a ruined house, previously Jack Kenrick’s barber shop.

Residents of Burke Street are concerned about the suitability of the type of dwelling proposed which is totally out of character with the rest of the houses on the street. A modern tiled roof is proposed in the middle of an 18th and 19th Century streetscape. Residents are also concerned about the risk of anti social behaviour in this newly created lane. The residents have made their concerns known to South Tipperary County Council.

Judo Club members train with Olympic Champion

Neil Adams photographed after the Junior training session with Niall O’Donnell, Padraig O’Shea and Tom Woodlock, members of Fethard Judo Club.

Judo in Ireland got a great boost this year with the appointment of Alan Jones as consultant coach to the Irish team. This new policy of bringing in top class coaches was continued in Cork last week with a visit from Neil Adams who won a silver medal in both the Moscow and Los Angeles Olympics. Neil not only showed the boys some new techniques including the ones that helped him become Word Champion in 1981 but also gave advice on training and nutrition. Well done to those that made the effort to attend Neil Adams sessions and we hope to see some of the new techniques at the upcoming competitions. Congratulations also to the six players selected from Fethard to travel to Belgium with the Munster Squad in January.

Battle of the brains Table Quiz.
In a few weeks from now Killusty Soccer Club will be holding a table quiz to find out where the real brains of the parish lay. Ideally, we would like teams to consist of members who all reside in the same area ie. street, estate or townsland. We realise that this may not always be possible but any format is acceptable. Any number of teams may enter from each area and we hope that will be the case. Also, for those outside the Parish who think they possess more brain power than the people of Fethard and Killusty (unlikely), then bring it on. Watch this space for further details. In the meantime, round up all the clever people in your area before someone else does.

Fethard GAA Club News
The County GAA Board Draw came to Fethard on Friday 5th for the November Draw and was a most enjoyable evening for all present with music provided by Sean and Liam Quirke (Clonmel). The last draw held in Fethard was back in 1999, also in the Fethard Arms. On this occasion we had the County Board Draw chairman, Gus Fitzgerald (Kiltinan) from the Fethard Club, present which is a great honour for the club. Other county board officers present were, chairman Donal Shanahan, treasurer Michael Nolan, central council representative Con Hogan, secretary South Board Sean Nugent, secretary West Board Mattie Connolly, secretary Football Board Eddie Lonergan, South Board and Fethard  Club Life President Dick Cummins, Stephen Fitzgerald (Fethard) Tipperary Camogie Chairman, Cllr John Fahy (South Tipperary County Council). Also present were Fethard club officers and supporters and representatives from many other clubs within the county, with the draw committee taking pride of place, in particular Tim Floyd and his assistants, with Martina Oakley on computer.

The draw for two cars was made by Dick Cummins (Fethard club life president) and Dick Fitzgerald (club chairman). One car or €15,000 was won by a Portroe club member and the 2nd car, or €10,000, going to Fethard Club county board draw member Sean / Breda Donovan, Coolmoyne, with promoter Gus Fitzgerald receiving €200. Congratulations and well done to all.

Other prizes won locally, out of a total of 25 drawn on the night, were: € 200 to Pat Sheehan (71 St Patricks Place), promoter Denis Burke; € 200 to Noel Byrne (Claremore), promoter Nicky O’Shea; €100 to Paddy O’Flynn (Burke St), promoter Gus Fitzgerald; €100 to Aileen Flanagan (c/o Fitzgeralds Kiltinan), promoter Gus Fitzgerald; €100 to Pat Sheehan (Walshbog), promoter Nicky O’Shea; €100 to Willie O’Meara (St Patricks Place), promoter Miceál McCormack.

We would like to thank all those present and to those who provided sausages and sandwiches for a most enjoyable night all round. Thanks also to Fethard Arms for making their facilities available to the Fethard Club on the night. Anyone willing to join the draw at this stage may do so with any of the promoters named above . Well done to all and a special thanks to our promoters and supporters for their generosity and long may it continue.

The GAA Lotto Jackpot of €1,500 was not won. The numbers drawn in McCarthys Hotel were: 5, 8, 16, and 24. We had five 5 ‘Match Three’ winners who received €30 each: M O’Gorman (Thurles), Rena Sheehan (264 Elm Park Clonmel), Stephen O’Brien (Rosegreen, Cashel) Keenan Aherne (Prospect), and Stephanie Johnson (The Green). The €50 Lucky Dip winner was Paddy Maher (Abbey Street).

Racing Success
Well done to local trainer Mick Ahearn on the success of ‘Rathvin Raven’ in the 5-year-old Mares Maiden Race at the United Foxhounds Point-to-Point held at Dungourney on Saturday last.
Congratulations to the Bob Grant’s Bar Syndicate on their mare ‘Feathard Lady’ who completed a hat-trick of wins recently. A local wag on being told ‘Feathard Lady’ had won her third race on the trot was heard to say, “I wonder what will she do when she starts to gallop”.

‘Feathard Lady’ looks a real Cheltenham prospect and here’s hoping the Fethard Syndicate have another ‘Solerina’.

Community Lotto Jackpot €10,000
The numbers drawn in the Fethard & Killusty Community Lotto on Tuesday 2nd November were 2, 6, 14 and 31. There was no Jackpot winner and two 'Match 3' winners who received €75 each:
Melanie Ryan, Slievenamon Close, Fethard
Claire O'Brien, Old Creamery, Drangan
The three €50 Lucky Dip winners were:
John Barrett, Brodeen, Fethard
Rick Flynn, Tullow, Killusty
Mary Myler, 66 St. Patricks Place, Fethard
Next weeks Jackpot remains at €10.000 and the Jackpot sellers prize is now €935.