Barbecue for Soccer Club
Moyglass United Soccer Club are having a Barbeque in the Village Inn, Moyglass, on this coming Friday 22nd September, to raise funds for the club. Tickets are €15 each and all are welcome. Music starts at 9pm and food will be served from 10pm onwards.

Collection for Concern
Joe Keane, coordinator of Annual Concern Church Gate Collection, would like to thank all collectors and those who subscribed so generously to the recent collection. The total collected for this worthy cause amounted to €891.

Died Recently
The death has occurred on Thursday 14th September, in Waterford Regional Hospital, of Patrick O’Shea, Dualla Road, Cashel, and formerly of Ardsallagh, Fethard. Remains were removed to St. John The Baptist Church, Cashel, on Sunday 17th September, followed by interment on Monday.

Proposed Fethard-Saratoga Civic Exchange

Mike Cahill photographed with Jennifer Conte, for Saratoga Cornell Cooperative Extension Agency of Saratoga County Equine Program, after their meeting on 6th September to discuss a proposed Fethard-Saratoga civic exchange.

Mike Cahill, a native of New York, has met with Jennifer Conte and Fiona Farrell, for Saratoga Cornell Cooperative Extension Agency of Saratoga County Equine Program (Saratoga CCE-E) on a proposed Fethard-Saratoga civic exchange. The meeting took place on 6th September, 2006, at the Saratoga CCE Offices at 50 W High Street, Ballston Spa, New York.

Mike, working in conjunction with Fethard & Killusty Community Council, at the meeting, described Fethard as a small Irish town with a big reputation internationally for breeding top thoroughbred horses. Fethard is also well known in Ireland for the nearly intact medieval town walls that surround it — walls that drew the attention of Cromwell's forces during the English Civil War era and yet survived. Similarities were noted between Fethard and Saratoga County, a place synonymous with horse racing in the US and the home of the Saratoga Race Course. Though it has no town walls, Saratoga is dotted with historic structures from the era of the American Revolution. The county was the site of a major British defeat during the war — the Battle of Saratoga.

Jennifer and Fiona discussed the importance of horses and tourism for Saratoga's growing economy, and they touched on the role of Saratoga CCE in promoting the equine industry and agriculture, generally, within the region.

The prospect that Fethard and a Saratoga County town might have an interest in exploring an international civic exchange or sister city relationship for their mutual benefit was discussed. Some potential benefits of an exchange were identified. They included promoting equine and historic tourism between the two towns; sharing information and ideas on economic development; and arranging opportunities for civic, school, and cultural exchanges.

At the end of the meeting it was agreed that another session would be scheduled in the near future so that Mike could make a presentation to Saratoga County town supervisors and other local leaders.

Mike holds a Ph.D. in Anthropology and has worked on child welfare and aging issues for the NYS Office of Children and Family Services. His connection with Fethard comes through his father's side of the family. His paternal great grandfather emigrated from Fethard to Troy, New York in 1867 — as the story goes, because there weren't enough potatoes to go around. His last known relative in Fethard, the relater of this story, died at near ninety in 2000. Mike and several members of his family visited Fethard in 2003. On their arrival, they headed straight to McCarthy's Hotel and introduced themselves. The next day, McCarthy's proprietor took them on a tour of the town, including the old family homestead and the local cemetery, which contained Cahill family burials going back to the 1700s. Mike finds in Fethard a civic pride and an awareness of community that are inspiring. Fethard's website beautifully captures the town and underscores the progressive and dynamic nature of its leadership. If character is all, Fethard should make a stellar town partner.

Fethard & Killusty Community Council
The next meeting of Fethard & Killusty Community Council will take place on Tuesday 19th September at 8.30pm in the Tirry Community Centre.

Too Long In Exile

It’s been almost two decades since Aiden Ward has performed in the Abymill Theatre. A native of Fethard, Aiden cut his musical teeth with the long since disbanded, ‘Space Related’. His flirtation with music became a full-blown affair when he quit the day job as an engineer and took to the road armed with only a guitar and the ability to perform. He has performed all over Europe, averaging about 300 gigs a year, which puts his work rate just about equal to Bob Dylan’s.

Aidan has recorded three albums, two with the band Aiseiri, and lately his first solo album entitled, ‘Water’. He has settled for the moment in Connemara, where he hosts a radio show, fishes on the trawlers and even picks stones to keep mind and body together. He is looking forward to his long overdue homecoming concert in the Abymill at 8pm on Saturday 30th September. He will be joined on the night by several accomplished musicians. Support on the night is from local band, “The Autocats’. Tickets are €10 and can be bought in McCarthy’s.

Fethard & Killusty Community Lotto
The numbers drawn on Wednesday 6th September were 1, 2, 6 and 29. There was no Jackpot winner and two ‘Match 3’ winners who received €75 each:

Diana Stokes, The Square, Fethard;
Canon J. Power, Cashel Road, Fethard.

The three €50 Lucky Dip winners were:
John Whyte, Main Street, Fethard;
John Ryan, St. Patricks Place, Fethard;
Alice Quinn, Burke Street, Fethard.
This weeks Jackpot is €6,900 and the Jackpot sellers prize is €690.

Reunion for friends of Bro Paulinus
Friends of Bro Paul (Bro Paulinus) are planning a reunion in Fethard to coincide with his visit to Fethard on 14th October. Br Paulinus was a teacher at the Patrician Brothers School in the 1960s and was very instrumental in bringing the Kinane Cup to Fethard in 1963. Members of the successful Kinane Cup winning team, and indeed anyone who knows Bro Paul, are asked to contact Denis Burke, Redcity, Fethard, Tel: 052 31854 or Mick Ryan, Monasterevin, Tel: 045 525563, for further details of the reunion.


Fethard Patrician Brothers 1963 Kinane Cup winning team photographed outside the secondary school. Back L to R: Garda Joe McNamara (trainer), Pat Butler, Paul Raleigh, Willie Harrington, Gerry Casey, Pierce Ryan and Philip Byrne. Middle: Tony Fitzgerald, Pat Barrett, Jimmy O'Connor, Pierce Coady, Austin Woodlock, Gerry Leahy, Mick Ryan and Bro. Paul. Front: Danny Ryan, Joe Morrissey, Denis Burke (captain), Davy Fitzgerald and Willie Frewen. Missing from photograph is Pa-Joe Purcell.
The replay of the drawn game between Fethard P.B.S and Doon C.B.S. in the Munster college’s junior hurling Final (Dr. Kinane cup), took place at Thurles sportsfield. The first half never really developed into the classic witnessed in the first encounter. In the second half spectators got something to enthuse about. The game was just one minute old when Fethard pointed and in the10th minute they raised a green flag followed a minute afterward by another. Aided by the wind in the second half, Doon started putting on the pressure and numerous overs should have been turned to better account. With ten minutes to go Doon launched a determined attack from which a goal resulted, followed by a point reducing the margin to five points. Then an exchange of points took place before the final whistle went to leave the score Fethard 4-5, Doon 3-3. Scorers for Fethard included: P. Ryan (2-0), P Butler and G. Leahy (1-0 each), P. Byrne (0-2), D Burke (0-2, one from a ‘70’). Fethard P.B.S. was the only school in county Tipperary to take a Munster College’s title to the county that year.

The Well Golf Society
The Well Golf Society results of last Saturday's outing to Callan are as follows:
Nearest the pin: Martin Fanning and Michael Kenrick.
1st place: Billy Phelan and Bernie Phelan.
2nd place: Brian Mullins and James Coulard.
3rd place: Patsy Hartigan and Aidan Grant.
Our next outing takes place on Sunday October 29th to Cahir Golf Club. Tee off time is 11 o'clock.

Grove Horse Trials

Photographed at the Grove Horse Trials held last Sunday in Fethard are L to R: Charlotte Blackmore, Maresa Ronan, Romy Ronan, Karine Ronan and Slaney Ronan holding their dog, Caesar.


Fraser Duffy on 'Mexicado' at the Grove Horse Trials


L to R: riders Jennifer Larkin and Elaine Thompson photographed at the Grove Horse Trials held last Sunday.

Knitting for Pleasure
The Knitting Cafe recommences after the summer break on Tuesday evening, 19th September, at The Green from 7.30pm to 9.30pm or thereabouts. There is a great variety of knitting projects on hand among the group of knitting enthusiasts! Those making a return to knitting after a long absence have contented themselves with producing simple items like scarves but made in the new fashion yarns which turn out really stunning. Some of the group knit for charity, some for First Communion, others for family members and some just for themselves! From evening jackets to Aran, simple sweaters to complicated cardigans, all are there. There is a great exchange of ideas and advice among the group.  So if you haven't yet put in an appearance, don't be shy. You will be made very welcome by Sr. Juliana and her flock of knitters and you can enjoy the chat over a friendly cup of tea.

Fethard Country Market members win awards at Iverk Show
Congratulation to Fethard Country Market members, Dave Curran, Patrick Quinlan, Maura Meaney and Bernie Meaney, on their great success at the recent Iverk Show in Piltown — which is the oldest agricultural show in Ireland.

In the Farm Produce Section, Patrick Quinlan, Lisronagh, was the overall winner and came away with the ‘Goldcrop Cup. In the Jam Section, Maura Meaney, Crampscastle, was presented with the ‘Blackmore Cup’ as overall winner. Dave Curran, Moyglass, winner of twelve first prizes was also recipient of the ‘Billy Breen Cup’ for overall winner in the Vegetable Section. To cap a great day for the group, Bernie Meaney, Crampscastle, was overall winner in the Baking Section and was presented with the ‘Galvin Trophy’.

Friends Graduate

Friends, John McCarthy and David Kennedy, both past-pupils of Patrician Presentation Secondary School Fethard, photographed after graduating with a Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Applied Physics & Instrumentation with First Class Honours. Both John and David have now taken up employment in Cork.

Harvest Thanksgiving Service
A Harvest Thanksgiving Service and celebration of  the special 75th Anniversary of the National Council of the Blind will take place in Magorban Church on Sunday 17th September at 3pm.  Everyone welcome.

Thursday Market on the Square
Following the local effort in preserving Fethard’s Market Rights we now have a regular supplier on the Square every Thursday morning. Michael French, for the past few weeks, has sold his large variety of homemade produce with great success on The Square and has now decided to make Fethard a regular venue for selling his produce every Thursday morning.

Married Recently

Pictured recently at their wedding in St. Mary's Church, Newtown-Forbes, Co. Longford, are Donnacha Prendergast, Cashel Road, Fethard, and Yvonne Laffey, Creenagh, Longford. The wedding reception was held in the Hodson Bay Hotel, Athlone.

Fethard GAA Club News
The intermediate hurling semifinal will be played this weekend on Saturday 16th September, please check sports page for time and venue. Fethard play St Marys, the same pairings as 2005, with the winners to play Davins or Ballybacon Grange. Having already met St Marys in the top of the league clash a few weeks ago, we will have to up our performance to advance, the best of luck to all involved.

The Minor B Hurling final takes place this Friday, 15th September, when we play St Marys in our first final appearance since 1996, having beaten Ballybacon Grange in the semifinal on last Friday on a scoreline, Fethard 3-10, Ballybacon Grange 0-7. The team was: J.P. McGrath (Sparagoulea), Ed Sheehan (Woodvale Walk), Liam Ryan (Slievenamon Close), Adrian Lawrence (Woodvale Walk), Declan Doyle (Strylea), Christopher Sheehan (Woodvale Walk), Eoin O’Connell (Coolmoyne), Peter Gough (Killenaule Rd), David Prout (Derryluskin), Alan O’Connor 0-2 (St Patrick’s Place), Richard Gorey 1-0 (Jesuits Walk), Dean Tobin 1-7f (Woodvale Walk), Niall Hayes (Cashel Road), Thomas Gilpin (The Valley), Jack O’Sullivan 1-0 (Main Street). Subs were: Aaron Donovan 1-0 (The Valley), James Kelly (Rathvin), and Thomas O’Connell (Coolmoyne). The very best of look to all involved in the final to be played in Kilsheelan, with a 6.15pm start. Please support these fine bunch of players by your attendance.

Our Lotto Jackpot €2,000 was not won on the 29th August. The numbers drawn were 8, 14, 21 and 24. We had two match three winners who received €75 each: Ger McCarthy (Kerry St), and Rose Connolly (c/o Cambells Soup Thurles). The €50 Lucky Dip going to our hard-working promoter, Rita Doyle (Woodvale Walk).

Neither was the Jackpot won on 5th September, with two match threes of €75 each to Bobby Dorney (Woodvale Walk), and Joe Hayes (Rathcoole). The €50 Lucky Dip was won by Gabriel Horan (Tinakelly). All tickets were kindly sponsored by Harrington Developments.

Our condolences are at this time with the Maher family (Abbey St) Fethard on the death of Paddy, and with the family of Billy Kelly, Templemore. Go ndeana Dia trocaire orthu.

Fethard Athletic Club
Fethard Athletic Club have recommenced training for the new season. Training takes place every Monday and Wednesday evening, between 6:30pm and 7:30pm, at the Community Field. New members always welcome.

Visiting Fethard

Members of the Carrigan family from Clonacody, Fethard, photographed with friends in McCarthy's Hotel last weekend. L to R: Lucy Carrigan, Andrew Chen, Pearl Aschraft and Eithne Carrigan.

Fethard Juvenile GAA Club
Our under-8 hurlers played in a development blitz last Saturday in Cloneen in glorious sunshine, where many future hurlers were on show. We played three games against, Mullinahone, St Patricks and Ballyneale, winning one, drawing one and losing one. The kids showed great skill and commitment all through with many outstanding performances from the panel on the day — Jack Ward, Dean Dorney, Dean Kenny, Alex O’Donovan, Tom Sheehan, Tom Morgan, Ross McCormack, Jessie McCormack, Liam Quigley, Matthew Lynch, Darragh Lynch and Stephen Crotty. Well done to all involved.

Our under-10s travelled to Cloneen to take on the local team in a hurling and football challenge and did very well on their first night back together after the summer break. They will resume a one-day a week training schedule until November, beginning next week. All parents will be notified by text.

The Juvenile Club will run a level one coaching course in hurling and football in the coming weeks and would request as many parents as possible to put there names forward to participate, as there is a need to help and develop the skills of the kids for future years. Any parent interested should contact Caroline at Tel: 086 1713502. It is a two night programme taking only about six hours and will be run in the GAA field.

Our under-16 hurlers have one game left to play and will need to win if they are to progress in this year’s championship. Our opponents are Killenaule and a date has yet to be finalised. All will be informed when decided.

Well done to our minors who qualified for the south final to be played on Friday 15th September in Kilsheelan at 6.30pm against St Marys. The lads beat Ballybacon last week and with so many of our under-16 playing key roles, the future of hurling is looking bright for our club. Best of luck to all involved.

At the time of writing, there is an under-13 ground hurling blitz taking place on this Saturday. If it goes ahead, all players will be notified in due course.

Married Recently
Congratulations to Helen Morrissey, daughter of Pauline and the late Tom Morrissey, St. Patrick's Place, Fethard, and Eamon Power, son of Eileen and the late James Power, Old Parish, Dungarvan, who recently got married in Holy Trinity Parish Church Fethard. The couple held their reception at Hotel Minella.

Opera Boutique opens in Fethard

Opera Boutique opened its doors to the public on Friday 8th September with a wide selection of ladies occasional wear. The proprietors, Bernie and Eamon Maher held a fashion show to showcase the wide range of designer brands stocked in the boutique. The fashion show held at New Park Hotel Clonmel was packed to capacity with some of Ireland's top models on the ramp. CLICK HERE TO SEE MORE PHOTOGRAPHS


Interior of Opera Boutique on The Square, Fethard.


Proprietors, Bernie and Eamon Maher.

Annual Emigrants’ Newsletter
This year’s issue of the Fethard & Killusty Emigrants Newsletter is currently being compiled and we take this opportunity to remind secretaries and club representatives to submit their annual reports before 1st October to ensure inclusion in this year’s issue.

We also invite individuals to submit their own articles (typed where possible) and photographs as soon as possible. Same can be handed in to Joe Kenny, Rocklow Road, or to Edwina Newport, Newport’s Newsagency, Main Street, Fethard.

Fethard Debs Ball

Photographed at Fethard Patrician Presentation Secondary School Debs Ball held on Wednesday 30th August at Kilcoran Lodge Hotel are L to R: James Smyth, Stephanie Fitzgerald, Jillian O'Connell and William O'Brien. CLICK HERE FOR MORE PHOTOGRAPHS

Fethard Embroidery School 1853
The following article, supplied by Michael Hall, Kyle, was taken from the Tipperary Free Press published on Wednesday 5th January 1853, entitled ‘Fethard (from our correspondent)’.

“There has been an embroidery school established in this town, under the patronage of Mrs Barton, Grove. There are from 5 to 30 little pupils in daily attendance, to whom instructions are given by Mrs Green, and her daughter, two most excellent embroideresses. As Mrs Green received instructions in this tasteful art at Brussels, a place of known celebrity for this species of manufacture, consequently the school has the advantage of being presided over, by one of the most competent embroidery mistresses probably in the whole country.

Capes, handkerchiefs, collars, It habit-shirts and chemisettes together with a variety of other ornamental and fancy works, are manufactured there, which, if presented at the exhibition, would, I am sure, claim the honour of a premium. Little girls of ten years of age earn 1s 6d a week others about twelve years, earn from 2s to 2s 6d a-week.

I am proud to be enabled to state that time school is characterised by time total absence of sectarianism or proselytism. The greatest decorum, order, end morality is enforced and observed in the school, but there is not a single word spoken, or insinuated, offensive or prejudicial to the religion of the children. lt would therefore be very desirable that this institution should receive more encouragement from parents, and from such as have any influence, by securing a more numerous attendance, as habits of industry and cleanliness would supplant indolence and squalor, and supersede that degeneracy of morals, which in many instances, of late years is but too prevalent among the distressed poor, owing to the extreme poverty under which they so pitilessly languish.

I should not forget to state that the very worthy patroness furnishes for time most part, these children with clothes, and that she has given them an excellent breakfast of bread, beef, and tea, on Christmas morning at the schoolhouse, at which were present the kind‑hearted, and amiable Mrs Barton, and her respected brother.

Would that every lady contributed so much to the weal of the poor as Mrs Barton does; poor-rates would thereby be expunged, poverty would disappear, vice would perish, virtue would bloom, and the domestic family, circle would gladden and be comforted as these little innocent embroideresses would return to their homes, after their days labour, like the bees, laden with the sweet fruits of their industry.

I would be unfaithful to truth and to my subject did I forget to observe that the school has been often visited by Miss Woodward and Miss Darby, who take a great interest in it, and bestow very nice presents to scholars in order to establish a competition among them to encourage them to persevere in their attendance. These philanthropic ladies are second to no one in deeds of charity great active benevolence.”

First Day at Nano Nagle National School

Starting school at Nano Nagle National School Fethard were L to R: Megan Hackett and Lucy Spillane.


Starting school at Nano Nagle National School Fethard were L to R: Andrea Pyke and Kyle Allen.


Starting school at Nano Nagle National School Fethard were L to R: Emma Jane Burke and Laura Kiely.


L to R: Megan Earl, Shannon Thompson and Rachael Prout.