Admiral Sir Henry Kellett KCB
Most people may have never heard of Henry Kellett. He joined the Royal Navy at the age of sixteen and rose to the rank of Admiral before he retired. He served as a young man in West Africa working to abolish the slave trade. He then worked as a cartographer in Central America, mapping the coast of Columbia and Panama. After that he fought in the Anglo Chino War (‘Opium War’) where he was decorated for his bravery in battle. He then returned to serve in various expeditions in the Arctic. Following his final Arctic expedition he was promoted to Admiral and served in the West Indies. His final commission was served mapping the land he had helped to secure as a younger man when he returned to China.

Admiral Kellett was from Fethard. He was born in 1806 in Clonacody (in the house now belonging to the Carrigan family, bought from the Kellett’s in the late 1930s). He travelled to Cork in 1822 and joined the navy. People who are not familiar with Kellett may be very familiar with a piece of one of his ships. It has appeared in pictures, TV and in film for over a century — and what is it? Well the story begins in 1852.

Kellett was given command of a ship called the ‘Resolute’. It was one of a number of ships sent to search for the missing Franklin expedition that had disappeared searching for a north-western route from the Atlantic to the Pacific. The overall commander of the search party was Sir Edward Belcher, who ordered Kellett to abandon his ship when it was frozen in the ice. Kellett protested, claiming that he had ample provisions to see out the winter, but Belcher insisted that he obey orders and leave. The boat was abandoned and they all returned to England. Kellett and Belcher were court-marshalled. Kellett wasn’t charged as he was only obeying orders and soon after he was promoted.  Belcher wasn’t charged, as it was his commanding officer’s right to abandon the expedition as he saw fit. His real punishment was that he was never given a command again.

More to Belcher’s embarrassment, the ‘Resolute’, which was built with a triple thick hull to withstand icy conditions, floated off on a voyage of its own once the ice had thawed. It travelled 1200 miles before it was boarded by the crew of an American Whaler. The American government offered the captain of the Whaler, Captain Buddington, $40,000 for the ship. He agreed to the deal and handed it over.  The promised money never materialized, but that’s a different story.  The Americans then restored it and gave it back to Queen Victoria as a gesture of goodwill towards the British. In 1879, when the ship was decommissioned, a selection of oak was taken from the dismantled ship and carved into an ornate desk, which was then presented to the American President Rutherford B. Hayes.  It has sat ever since in the Oval office of the White House, apart from a brief period in a museum.


President John F. Kennedy sitting at the ornate desk carved from Admiral Kellett's boat ‘Resolute’ and presented to the American President, Rutherford B. Hayes, in the Oval Office of the White House where it still stands today..

Admiral Kellett didn’t live to see his ship decommissioned. He retired from the Navy in 1871 and returned to live in Fethard. He died in 1875 and is buried in the grounds of the Holy Trinity Church. His name lives on in various parts of the World to this day. Kellett Point on the coast of the North Western territories in Canada is called after him and the storehouse that he built on his otherwise ill fated Arctic voyage “Kellett’s Storehouse” is preserved as a national monument in that country and was actually used for shelter by expeditions over a hundred years after it was built. His name also appears on many charts that he drew in his years in Panama and China. Kellett Island has been joined up with Causeway Bay in Hong Kong is the home of the Royal Hong Kong yacht club. (VM)

Are you the wife of Michael Cleary?
Stagemad Theatre Company from Waterford city will perform the world premiere of “Are you the wife of Michael Cleary?” by Gino Dilorio at the Abymill Theatre, Fethard on this coming Friday 26th May.  The author Mr Dilorio will travel from New York for the premiere and is also expected to give a talk on how he came across the story and why he decided to write the play. The play commences at 8.15pm. Tickets are €10 and booking is at O’Flynn’s Menswear, Burke Street, Fethard. Tel: 052 31254.

Juvenile GAA Club
With First Holy Communion taken place in Fethard last Saturday we held no training for the under-6, 8 and 10s but we will resume this Saturday and all parents will be notified by text of the time and venue.  It would also be great to see more children turning up to participate in the fun and games that will take place. Parents are also invited to come and give a hand and support the boys and girls.

Our under-12 football team continue to train and will play a series of games over the summer to help compensate for there very short championship and, again, they will be notified by text.

Our under-14 football team had a great win over Cahir last Friday night on the score of 2-08 to 3-01. This win will keep them in contention for the semifinals. Well done to all involved.

Our under-12/14 hurling teams are training away and looking forward to their championship which will start soon as are our under-16s and all hurling teams will be notified by text of training times. It is not to late for any new players to join up with any of these squads. The Juvenile Club would like to wish all our present and past players the best of luck in their exams which are about to start.

Posters have been put up around the town to advertise our Summer Camp for this year and we would ask all parents to support this and give their kids the chance to enjoy our weeks fun and games. Any queries on this contact our secretary Caroline at 086 1713502. Thank you.

Midsummer’s Night Ball
South Tipperary Autism Support Group has been chosen by Hotel Minella, along with nine other charity groups, to participate in a major fundraising campaign to raise €100,000 for the ten charities in recognition of their work in the community. It is an innovative fundraising event and John and Elizabeth Nallen must be commended for their efforts in organising this event.

A ‘Midsummer’s Night Ball’, on 21st June 2006, will be held in Hotel Minella, entertainment includes champagne reception, band recital on the hotel's lawn, a business talk by Dan McLoughlin of Bank of Ireland, dinner, cabaret by internationally renowned comedian Brendan Grace and dancing to Brass & Co. This is a black tie event. Tickets are €200 Limited number available. Contact Janette Blake on 087-2281900 or Noel Blake on 086-8586456

Fethard GAA Club News
The Senior Football County Championship second rounds all take place this Saturday 27th May, when we are out against Grangemockler in Kilsheelan at 7.30pm. We have a number of changes from last year and we wish our team the best of luck.

In the Intermediate Hurling County League we have qualified for the last twelve and await our opponents in the quarterfinals, with the South Championship not to far off. On Thursday last we had one of our best performances ever in Fethard against Ballinahinch when we won on a scoreline, Fethard 2-19, Ballinahinch 0-7. This puts us in the next round as winners of our group. Team was: Kieran Treacy, Michael Ryan, Karl Gahan, Paul Hackett, Willie Morrissey, Shane Walsh, Stephen O’Donnell, Jamie McCormack 0-6F, J P Looby 1-0, Tomas Keane 0-3, P J Aherne 1-1, Aiden Fitzgerald 0-4, Miceál Spillane, Mickey Aherne 0-1, Kenneth O’Donnell 0-2. Subs used were: Philly Croke, Eoin Doyle, Tommy Gahan, William O’Brien and Philly Prout.

The Minor Football South Championship final round was played last Wednesday in Cloneen against Ballingarry. In the second half we lost our way in the wind on a scoreline, Fethard 1-3, Ballingarry 0-8, leaving us in the semifinal against Mullinahone. This game to be played in July after all exams, with the first round of the minor Hurling starting immediately, and after completion of exams against Newcastle. Team on Wednesday last was: Glen O’Meara, Adrian Lawrence, Liam Ryan, Alan O’Connor, David Prout, Niall Hayes, Stephen O’Meara, Richard Gorey, Tomas Gilpin, Christopher Sheehan, Declan Doyle 1-1f, Peter Gough, David Conway, Michael Fleming, Edmond Sheehan 0-1f. Subs used were: Aaron O’Donovan and Dean Tobin. We wish all our players the very best of luck in the Leaving Cert and Junior Cert Exams which commence in the coming weeks.

Our Lotto Jackpot of €2,300 was not won. The numbers drawn were: 11, 12, 15 and 24. We had one ‘match three’ winner of  €150: Frasier O’Gorman (Maryfield, Gorey, Co Wexford). The €50 Lucky Dip was won by Nellie Ryan (46 St Patrick’s Place Fethard). Tickets supplied by AIB Main Street, Fethard.

Fethard’s Town Walls a National Treasure

Members of the Derry Siege Tours performing in the Guildhall Square, during a re-enactment of the arrival of the canons in 1642. The pageant was part of the celebrations to mark the arrival of the seven restored siege canons which completes the collection of 21 canon guns for Derry's City Walls. (Photo Lorcan Doherty)

Two members of the Fethard Historical Society, Tim Robinson and Terry Cunningham, travelled to Derry City on Thursday 11th May for a major event organised by the Irish Walled Towns Network.

The Network was established in 2005 by The Heritage Council, the official body that advises the government on all matters relating to both the natural and man-made heritage of this country.


Fethard featured very prominently in many of the lectures as the Town Wall of Fethard is the most complete on the island, after Derry, and the restoration of over 300 metres of the Wall in The Valley — by the community group ‘The Friends of Fethard’ — still stands as the most impressive restoration project undertaken in the Republic.


Also a large aerial photograph of Fethard, presented to the Heritage Council by Tim Robinson, was prominently displayed in an exhibition in Derry’s famous Guildhall, and now all the walled towns have been asked to do likewise.

The Network is part of a bigger European project and attending the Derry event were the mayors of the walled cities of Valletta in Malta and Dubrovnik in Croatia. So Fethard is in very good company indeed and it is vitally important that every effort is made by the people of Fethard to ensure that the walls are ‘minded’ and that over time the complete circle of the Wall can be opened up and preserved for the public to see and admire.

The Fethard Historical Society have produced a new colourful walking guide, the Medieval Town Trail, and this will be launched on Saturday evening 10th June and all admirers of the old walled town — local and visitors alike — are invited to ‘walk the line’ that evening. Completed arrangements will be published in the coming weeks.


Guests at the Cannon Restoration Celebration Event in the Guildhall Square. Included, from left, are Deputy Gerald Pulman, JP, Chief Commoner of the City of London Corporation, Michael Starrett, Chief Executive, Heritage Council of Ireland, The Mayor of Derry, Councillor Lynn Fleming, Alderman Sir Gavyn Arthur, Governor of the Honourable the Irish Society, Barbara Nedwman, Deputy Governor, Tom McGrath, OBE, Chairman, Northern Ireland Tourist Board and Stephen Quinn, Permananet Scecretary, Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment.

Fethard Bridge Club Results
At our President's Prize dinner at Slievenamon Golf Club on Wednesday, 17th May, the following prizes were presented:

President's Prize winners: Berney Myles and Alice Quinn;
Committee Prize Winners: Kay St. John and Rita Kane;
1st Gross: Bridie Lee and Mike Burke;
1st Nett: Philly Kenny and Rose Lonergan;
2nd Gross: Gemma Burke and Carol Kenny;
2nd Nett: Ann and Sean O'Dea;
3rd Gross: Frances Burke & Breda Walsh;
3rd Nett: Breda O'Grady and Mary Tobin
4th Gross: Bernie O'Meara & Anna Cooke;
4th Nett: Nora Lawrence & Madeleine O'Donnell;
5th Gross: Carmel Condon & Brendan Kenny;
5th Nett: Rita Holohan & Mary Delaney;
6th Gross: Marie Delaney & Annie O'Brien;
6th Nett: Mary Quirke & Fr. John Meagher.

Club Championship - The Hayes Trophy
Winners: Anna Cooke and Bernie O'Meara;
1st Gross: Rita Kane & Kay St. John;
1st Nett: Nora Ahearne & Olive Looby;
2nd Gross: Berney Myles & Alice Quinn;
2nd Nett: Rita Holohan & Mary Delaney;
3rd Gross: Brigid Gorey & Betty Walsh;
Joint 3rd Nett: Suzanne Opray & Ellen Rochford;
Joint 3rd Nett: Gemma Burke & Carol Kenny.

Player of the Year - O'Flynn Trophy
Winner: Mike Burke;
1st Gross: Carol Kenny;
1st Nett: Suzanne Opray;
2nd Gross: Frances Burke;
Joint 2nd Nett: Gemma Burke, Carmel Condon, Breda Walsh;
3rd Gross: Anna Cooke.

Individual Champion - Dick Gorey Perpetual Trophy
Winner: Betty Walsh.

Most Improved Player - Suzanne Opray Trophy
Winner: Mike Burke.

Our AGM will be held on Wednesday 24th May at 7pm in the Tirry Centre. All members are invited to attend. There will be a game following the AGM.