Before the formation of the Community Council the people were represented by the Fethard Development Association, which was formed in 1967, the President of which was the late Very Rev. Canon Lee P.P.  The association was elected to concentrate on efforts to promote industrial activity in the town and the tourist potential of the area, with special reference to hotel and guesthouse accommodation. Officers elected were: Mr. P. Meagher, B.A. Secretary, Mr. E. O’Neill, and Treasurer Mrs. Maher.  The association formed three groups: (1) Industrial Development, (2) Tourism and Tidy Towns and (3) Social, Recreational and Educational Development. 

The members of the Industrial Panel were: Michael Smyth (leader), Dr. Maher and R. Gorey, A. O’Flynn, Ed. Delahunty, T. O’Connell, T. Barrett and D. O’Sullivan. On the No. 2 Group for Tidy Town and Tourism, was: Miss H. O’Connell (leader), H. Ponsonby, P. Lonergan, T. Coffee, T. Carroll, W. Holohan, Mrs. Healy and Miss P. O’Connell. The final panel, Social, Cultural and Recreational, had the following members: Mr. P. Broderick, (leader), Mrs. O’Brien, Rev. Bro. Steven, G. Walsh, P. Maher, P. O’Flynn, R. O’Sullivan, T. O’Connor, and A. Slattery.  Mr. A. O’Flynn was appointed public relations officer.

In 1974, a re-organising meeting of Fethard Muintir na Tire was held on July 26th.  The meeting was addressed by Mr. Patrick Costello of Templemore Branch who gave a instructive talk on the functions of Muintir na Tire.  A new council was elected.

At the AGM in 1975 the following officers and committee were elected: President - Rev. Fr. Noonan; Chairman - Austin O’Flynn; Vice Chairman - Brendan Kenny; Secretary - Mrs. Mary Healy; Treasurer - Sean Henehan; Assistant Sec. & P.R.O. - Catherine Allen. Committee: Jim Ryan, Tom Barrett, Jack O’Shea, Frank Coffey, Paddy Lonergan, Mrs. O’Brien, Tom McCormack, Austin Slattery, Tim O’Riordan, Mrs Coffey, Paddy Broderick, Tommy Carey, Carol Kenny and Larry Dargan.

A public meeting was then organised and held under the auspices of Fethard Development Association to ascertain the views of the people of Fethard and Killusty Parish on the advisability of forming a Community Council. There was a unanimous vote in favour of forming a Council, and a temporary steering committee was elected. This temporary committee distributed nomination papers to each household in the Parish. Each person over eighteen years of age voted for the candidate of their choice. The vote was by ballot.

On the 13th January 1976 the first meeting of the Fethard & Killusty Community Council was held and the following officers were elected: Chairman - Rev. J. Stapleton; Vice-Chairman - Jerry Skehan; Secretary - Mrs. Mary Healy; Treasurers - Paddy Broderick and Paddy Heffernan; P.R.O. Austin O’Flynn. The guiding principles of the council at that meeting were: “The Community Council is a representative body, whose aim is to involve all the members of the community in identifying local needs and problems, and taking the initiative to solve them. A community council ensures that the identification of local problems and their solution, is an on-going concern, and that concern is integrated into the everyday life of the community. We have at the moment, projects in operation, which we are confident will benefit the whole community.” Those principals still remain today, thirty years later.

To help us compile an accurate record of those involved in the Community Council over the past 30 years, we ask our readers for any information – photographs, articles, minute books or other details – which may be relevant.  If you have any of these items we would be grateful if you would make them available to the Community Council to be recorded.  Please bring them to the Community Office, Barrack Street, (Phone: 052 31000), where copies will be made (where possible) or contact Joe Kenny, Chairman, or Edwina Newport, Secretary. 

Slievenamon Climb

Meghan, Maeve, Mairéad and Maura Wyatt, Mooresville, North Carolina, daughters of Frank and Deborah, and granddaughters of Frank and Phil Wyatt, Jossestown, Fethard, photographed recently on a climb of Slievenamon.

Fethard Scouts Registration Evening
Scouting Ireland, Fethard, will hold a registration evening in the Fethard Ballroom on Tuesday Evening, 11th October from 19:00 until 20:30, for the restarting of the scout unit in Fethard for Beavers, Cubs and Scouts — for boys only. Intending members should be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Further information from: Philip O’Donnell. Tel: 087 8124548.

Fethard ICA Meeting
Fethard ICA will hold their next meeting on Tuesday 11th October at 8pm in the ICA Hall on Rocklow Road.  Guest speaker will be Rose Prendergast from ‘The Beeches Restaurant’, who will give advice and ideas to help us with our Christmas cooking. Hostesses for the night are the ‘Yellow Group’.

The Federation meeting, which was held in Fethard Ballroom, on Wednesday 28th September, went off very well.  Many thanks to the members who helped in any way to make it such a success.

Harvest Festival
The Holy Trinity Church of Ireland Harvest Festival will take place this year on Friday 14th October at 8pm.  Everyone is welcome to attend this annual service in Fethard’s historic Holy Trinity Church on Main Street.  Refreshments will be served.

New Garage Opened
Best wishes to Ian Meagher who has opened a Service Station on the premises formerly known as O’Riordan’s Garage, Kerry Street.  Ian will continue to also operate his premises on The Green until further notice.

Looking Back — a pupils perspective

“On a group of theories one can find a school; but on a group of values one can find a culture, a civilisation, a new way of living together among men.”- Ignazio Silone.

Staff Members of Presentation Patrician Secondary School Fethard photographed last May. Back L to R: Michael O'Gorman, Michael Leonard, Deirdre Mullhall, Vincent Doocey, Catriona McKeogh, Joan Walsh, Majella Whelan, Noel Maher, Ann O'Donnell, Justin McGree. Mary Anne Fogarty, Denis Burke, Mary Lysaght, Dick Prendergast, Gwen Cronan, Connie Sullivan. Front L to R: Marie Maher, Pat Looby, Mary O'Sullivan, Ernan Britton (Principal), Marian Gilpin (Vice-Principal), Margaret Prendergast and Bernie O'Connor.

The dictionary definition of school is, “a place in which children are taught or instruction is given in a subject”, but I think this interpretation is particularly misrepresentative of Patrician Presentation Secondary School, Fethard.  To me, Patrician Presentation School has always been much more than a building in which to learn, it is an atmosphere which encourages the growth of the entire person, individuality rather than uniformity and a positive outlook on life and its opportunities.  As a sixth year student having attended the school since 28th August 2000, I reminisce with the fondest of memories of the last five years.

In comparison to other schools in the locality, Fethard enjoys marginally smaller class sizes, which undoubtedly results in more individual attention. Whilst the advantages are clear it must also be noted that the chances of getting through a class without homework are slim to none!  Through the years students of Patrician Presentation School have been awarded University Scholarships and Irish Scholarships.  Many pupils have also participated in national competitions such as the Young Entrepreneurs Scheme and the Science Olympiad which resulted in resounding success.  Due to the overwhelming interest in science subjects, Fethard school displays an above average entrance into science related careers and this has encouraged the renovation of the school’s Science Labs, due to commence in October.

Fethard School is widely renowned for its volleyball success of past and present and it appears any student who enters the school also catches the bug.  The love of the sport displayed by the students and the dedication shown by the coaches has enabled the school to compete at a very high level and take home silverware in the process. I have played since first year and now play on the senior team and the pleasure of playing and beating teams (especially Lismore and Callan) makes the school year all the more enjoyable.  Due to the interest in volleyball, a league is conducted daily at lunch time and any student who remains in the school during this time has the opportunity to play at least once a week. The atmosphere between the spectators is electric as they discuss the tactics of their future opponents.  Football and hurling also prove popular to sports enthusiasts and the school has had success in this field. In contrast to these fast paced games yoga has also been introduced as an alternative.

Patrician Presentation has established an unequalled Transition Year.  During my time in the year I completed the E.C.D.L. Course, a Self-Defence Course, a First Aid Course and Food Safety Course.  Our year staged ‘Buddy's Song’ in the Abymill, set up two new mini-companies and painted a mural, which is now on display in the Nano Nagle Primary School.  However, the most beneficial aspect of Transition Year for me, was the Work Experience Programme.  Having spent a week with a barrister, travelling from Waterford to Clonmel attending courts, I am confident that law is a career I am interested in and sincerely believe that only for my work experience placement I would still be unsure of my future plans. Transition year students are also actively involved in charity work such as Meals on Wheels, Daffodil Day and Child Education in Tanzania. Two fifth year students, one of whom I was lucky to be, travel as youth helpers with the Cashel and Emly Diocese to Lourdes each year and help in anyway they can. It was by far the best experience of my second level education to date.

The Principal, Mr Britton, Vice-Principal, Mrs Gilpin, and all the dedicated teachers and staff of Patrician Presentation Secondary School, Fethard, have made my school life and that of my fellow pupils a rewarding and enjoyable experience and help guarantee us a bright and fulfilling future. Thanks!

Fethard Site Statistics for September 2005


The statistics for FETHARD.COM have shown an increase again for the month of September. Thank you for your continued support!

Fethard GAA Club News
The Senior Football County Semifinal against Loughmore is fixed for Sunday 9th October at 3.30pm in New Inn. We wish our ‘Boys in Blue’ the best against the reigning 2004 County Champions.

Our Intermediate Hurlers bowed out of the championship in Cashel on Saturday 1st October on a scoreline, Fethard 0-8, Moycarkey / Borris 3-16.  With four forced changes from the South Final, we put up a good show until half-time when the score was, 0-6 to 0-9, in favour of Moycarkey. But in the second half we just were overrun by a stronger opposition. We wish them the best in the remainder of the championship.

The Fethard team was: Paul Fitzgerald, Shane Walsh, Michael Ryan, Michael Aherne, Willie Morrissey, Stephen O’Donnell, Jamie McCormack, Aiden Fitzgerald 0-1, John P Looby, Cian Maher, Michael Dillon, Brian Coen 0-1, Kieran Treacy 0-6F, Alan Phelan, Karl Maher.  Subs used were: Alan Burke for Alan Phelan, John Leahy for Cian Maher. We would like to thank all the players, trainer and selectors for their time and effort and entertainment afforded over the year.

The Under 21 B Hurlers lost in the championship on a scoreline, Fethard 0-4, Cahir 1-10, in Monroe on Sunday 2nd October.  The team was: Darragh Corbett, Declan Doyle, Mike Kelly, Connie Flynn, William O’Brien, Shane Walsh, Niall Hayes, Darren O’Meara, Michael Dillon 0-2, John Leahy, Alan Burke 0-1, Peter Gough, Paul Kenrick, Jamie McCormack 0-1, Dan Lonergan. Subs used were: Christopher Sheehan for Dan Lonergan, Alan O Connor for Paul Kenrick, Dean Tobin for Peter Gough, and Michael Fleming for Nial Hayes.  Thanks to players and selectors for their time and efforts.

Our Lotto Jackpot of €3,100 was not won.  The numbers drawn in Burkes Bar were 1, 2, 11 and 22.  We had no match three winners so five Lucky Dips of €30 each went to: Bernie Byrne (Claremore); James Cooney (Coleman); Michael Gould (Claremore); Liz Lonergan (Ballyhomuck); and Maura Ryan (10 Kilnockin View).  The €50 Lucky Dip going to Jimmy Connolly (Main St).

Fethard Area Youth Network

Out for a cycle around Fethard are L to R: Kevin Needham, Darren Thompson and Neill Pattison.

The second meeting of the Fethard Area Youth Network Group will take place in the Abymill Theatre, Fethard, at 11.30am on Friday 7th October.  The previous meeting, held on 16th June last was attended by: Ann Bradshaw (Mid-Tipperary Drugs Initiative /Tipperary Regional Youth Service), Veronica Crowe (Vocational Education Committee), Deirdre Hennessey (Tipperary Regional Youth Service), Clare Cashman (Millennium Family Resource Centre, Glengoole), Cllr. Denis Landy (South Tipperary County Council), Cllr. John Fahey (South Tipperary County Council), Marian Gilpin (Patrician Presentation Secondary School), Phil Shanahan (Clonmel Community Partnership), John Lonergan (Garda Síochána) Tess Collins (Housing Section South Tipperary County Council), Edwina Newport (Fethard Community Council), Catherine Corcoran (Tipperary Institute), Mary Larkin (Tipperary Institute), Cllr. Michael O’Brien (South Tipperary County Council), Cllr. Susan Meagher (South Tipperary County Council), Ruairi O Caisleain (Health Service Exec.), Denis O’Brien (Foróige), Peter Grant (Fethard Community Council), Joe Kenny (Fethard & Killusty Community Council), Philly Ryan (South Tipperary Community and Voluntary Forum), Margo Hayes (Community and Enterprise South Tipperary County Council), and chairman for the evening, Pat Holland (Community and Enterprise South Tipperary County Council).

Some of the issues identified as facing young people in Fethard were:

• Lack of activities that are relevant to them.
• Existing youth clubs are collapsing- lack of volunteers (Fethard and Killenaule).
• Family breakdown and subsequent lack of support.
• Parents feeling under pressure through lack of time, financial resources etc.
• Young people have rights but little responsibility.
• Young people have the option of paid employment so voluntary work does not attract them.  An example of volunteering is not given to them by adults.
• There is no dedicated place for young people so they are pushed to the margins (railway bridges, fields) where they experience bad leadership.
• Lack of transport for young people.
• Lack of resourced professional youth workers.
• Availability of drugs and alcohol from off-licenses leads to anti-social behaviour.
  

Items on the agenda to be discussed by the group at this meeting include: A presentation from Tipperary Institute on their research findings from their Community Council’s Feasibility Study carried out to establish the views that young people have on the needs for their area; Input from youth organisations meeting between Tipperary Regional Youth Service (TRYS) and Foróige.

The Fethard area has been shown to have a high level of depravation in the GAMA figures.   The lack of youth services is contributing to a social divide whereby parents who can afford it are paying for services (such as summer camps) for their children, while other children are left excluded.