Nano Nagle Christmas show

Rehearsing for the Nano Nagle Primary School 'Christmas Show', which will take place in the Abymill Theatre on Wednesday 13th, Friday 15th, and Sunday 17th December (matinée) are Back L to R: Emma Keating (Snowman), Laura Butler (Mouse), Courtney Walsh (Reindeer), Chloe Burke (Santa). In front is Ebony Burke (Jack-in-the-Box).


Senior infants class rehearsing for 'Born in Bethlehem', which is part of the Nano Nagle Primary School 'Christmas Show', which will take place in the Abymill Theatre. The Christmas Show will also include: ‘Christmas Eve in the Toy Shop’ (Junior Infants); 'The Night before Christmas' (1st and 2nd Classes); and 'The Snow Queen' (3rd to 6th Classes). Tickets will be available at the school.


Rehearsing for the Nano Nagle Primary School 'Christmas Show', which will take place in the Abymill Theatre in December are L to R: Adam O'Sullivan, Ryan Butler and Cian Hennessy.


Rehearsing for the Nano Nagle Primary School 'Christmas Show', which will take place in the Abymill Theatre in December are Back L to R: Sinead Regan, Kyle Allen, Megan Ryan. In front is Laura Kiely.

Fethard GAA Club News
The Club’s ‘Open Forum’ has been put back a week to Friday December 8th in the Abymill Theatre at 8pm (sharp). We invite all past players and members and present players and members to attend a night to review the present and plan for the future of this great club. We welcome any new members who wish to come on board as the AGM of the club will be taking place shortly.

To our Sean Ghael award winners, we offer our congratulations and especially to our own Dick Fitzgerald. The Fitzgerald family has been synonymous with GAA in the friary town during the past decades, and Dick followed his late father Paddy’s footsteps, who was chairman from 1955-1957, and 1961-1967. Dick was chairman from, 1968-1975, again in 1987-1988, and for a third time 2005-2006, and in so doing is the first Fethard man to hold the chairman’s office for three separate terms. Dick was also the field caretaker for a number of years, cutting the grass on one of the first sit up lawnmowers at regular intervals, often twice a week, and assisted the GAA as a regular gate checker going on 30 years, and is one of the unsung heroes of the club who was justifiably rewarded by a Sean Ghael Award in 2006. On behalf of the club, well done Dick and many thanks for your contribution to ‘The Blues’ over the years.

Liam Connolly was also honoured for his achievements and contribution on the field of play, with a 2006 Sean Ghael Award. For the county Liam won a minor hurling All-Ireland in 1953 and senior hurling All Ireland in 1958, 1961 and 1962. He also added intermediate hurling All Ireland in 1964 to his National Leagues and Oireachtas medals during this period. Liam also played for the county football team from 1955 to 1967, having been on both minor teams in 1953. It was for his club that he loved so well that he played both games equally over a twenty-two year period, from 1953 to 1974, winning county and south senior football medals in 1954 and 1957, south in 1957 and 1969, junior football south and county with Killusty in 1956, senior south hurling with Na Piarsaigh in 1957, junior south hurling in 1959, and many other tournaments including Tipperary Cup and ‘Seven a-Side’ medals to add to his collection. It is great to meet Liam now at matches, his love of GAA has not waned over the years and we wish him many more years of the same.

To Sean Walsh, Coolmoyne, we also offer our congratulations on his Sean Ghael award. Sean lives amongst us in Fethard and we wish him the best in his attempt to earn a place in the Guinness Book of Records as the most travelled card player on the roads of Ireland, playing in over 1000 different venues. Well done to all!

Our Lotto Jackpot €2,700 was not won. We had no ‘match three’ winner so five tickets were drawn and the following received €30 Lucky Dip: Mrs Hannah Leahy (Annsgift), Michael Gould (Claremore), Bernadette McManus (Burke St), Michael Sheehan (Killusty), Arthur Daly (Patricks Place). The €50 Lucky Dip going to Ann Marie Walsh (Woodvale Walk). Tickets kindly sponsored by Harrington Developments Ltd,

We offer our condolences at this time to the family of  Mrs Nellie Colville (Patricks Place) on their recent bereavement. Go ndeana Dia trocaire orthu.

Heineken Cup visits Fethard

Cheltenham Gold Cup winner 'War of Attrition' photographed at Mouse Morris Stables at Everardsgrange in Fethard with the Heineken Cup. L to R: Paul Collins (Rugby Development Officer), Mouse Morris, Sean Devaney (Fethard Rugby Club), Paul Shanahan (Fethard Rugby Club) and Johnny Lacey (Rugby Development Officer).


First and second class pupils of St Patrick's Boys' School Fethard photographed with Carmel Lonergan (teacher), Mary McCarthy (Special Needs Assistant), and the Heineken Cup that visited the school last week with members of the Munster Rugby Development Team. St. Patrick's Boys' School have recently commenced with rugby coaching.


Third and fourth class pupils of St Patrick's Boys' School Fethard photographed with their teacher Aisling Ryan and the Heineken Cup.


Fifth and sixth class pupils of St Patrick's Boys' School Fethard photographed with the Heineken Cup.

With the White Heather Harriers and Aquatic Foxes
Sunday last from Rocklow looked like proving somewhat of a disaster taking two hours before finding.  Finding eventually in the main Rocklow Covert an excellent run was enjoyed.  Leaving Covert by the Waterfall they ran under the avenue towards the lodge.  Turning sharply our fox crossed the river, ran right-handed over the Rathcoole Lane and then left crossing the Rocklow – Cashel Roads link road.  Swinging left they ran to McCarthy’s bog re-crossing the river near Breen’s Bridge, to the old railway line.  Crossing the Fethard – Moyglass road they hunted almost to the Fethard – Killenaule road.  Sweeping right-handed he ran to the Fethard Community Sportsfield.  From here they crossed Strylea Boreen to the Rocklow Road whey they crossed, running left-handed almost to Fethard Presentation Convent where a very good fox got to ground.

As hounds were making Sean Ronan viewed a fox on foot on the Cashel Road side of the river.  Donie tried hounds across where they hit the line immediately disturbing a further brace in the piece of scrubbing near Fethard Car-park.  Sticking to their original quarry they hunted to Breen’s Bridge where they crossed the river and on to the bog.  Crossing the river once again they ran to Monroe across the slip road and back to Rathcoole Lane.  Charlie proved a bit of a road runner here running the line for a considerable distance hounds found it difficult to hold the line here and they eventually lost him at the Graveyard.  Flynn’s held a brace which hounds unfortunately split eventually coming together on the slip road where Donie decided to call it a day bringing a very eventful days sport to a conclusion. 

A most unusual feature of the days hunting was that the hounds crossed the Clashawley at least five times.  The river carried quite a flood following recent rains.  Fox and hounds seemed to find the swollen waters no problem with hounds casting across themselves and holding the line each time on the opposite bank immediately.  The White Heather Harriers meet on Sunday next, December 3rd, at Ballyluskey and on Sunday, December 10th, at Clonacody at 11am. 

School Friends from Sydney

Melissa Stokes (right) photographed with her school friend Jacq Reidy and her husband Donacha in Fethard last weekend. Jacq and Donacha were visiting from Sydney.

Hunting News
Monday 20th November saw a good turn out of fifty riders for the Tipperary Foxhounds meet at Poulmucka.  First draw held a fox in small covert off the road.  This fox was hunted to Donegal covert where he was lost.  Moving back across the road to Minogue’s hounds quickly found again.  The pack split on a brace here.  The first lot away ran to the Derog bog and from here a nice hunt to Lavally.  Unfortunately most of the field stayed with hounds hunting in covert and missed this nice run.  Not a lot could be done during the day with foxes from the Gorse, historic Breen’s and Claire Ryan’s.   Foxes were very plentiful at Earlshill on Wednesday.  First draw held at least one and a half brace, one being hunted to the old open cast mine and lost.  The old mine at Coalbrook and surrounds must have held at least four brace.  One was eventually persuaded to leave the Slag Head and hunted to the big plantation above Ballysloe where they were stopped.  Late in the day hounds hunted from near Coppe Steeple to the road near Lisnamrock School where they lost him.  From Moyglass on Thursday a fox on the old railway line between the Village Hall and Clonbrogan Bridge had to be left as having been headed would not leave the Railway/Clonbrogan Sandpit area.  Moving on to Curraghscarteen hounds quickly found this fox just as quickly going to ground.  Crossing the road Derry then drew Michael Teehan’s Plantation.  Hunting from here to the Moyglass road they swung left handed marking to ground close to the Farnaleen – Coolanure road.  Knockanglass area proved blank as did the old railway line behind the Village Hall.  A fox from the grove at Lacey’s proved a very good run.  Hounds ran through Ryall’s left handed to Knockforla towards Foulkstone.  Hounds ran back through Beechmount their fox getting to ground quite close to where they found.  Drawing Buffana Wood late in the evening hounds hunted well on covert but once again Charlie decided it was safer to stay at home than leave, and was given best.

Haiku Day
A Haiku Day will be held on Saturday 2nd December in Fethard.  Participants are requested to meet at Crampscastle Pottery at 12 noon and to bring walking shoes, a digital camera and a biro.  This event will be led by Jim Norton and further details can be had by contacting Dóirín Saurus (Phone: 052 31916).

Christmas Lighting in Fethard
The Christmas Lighting Committee would like to bring your attention to the fact that the annual cost of providing lighting in Fethard for the Festive Season is €8930. (This figure includes the erection & taking down of the lights and the electricity costs incurred).  As you can appreciate this is quite a considerable amount to be paid out each year so in an effort to defray expenses a local fundraising campaign has been undertaken.  You may give a contribution to any committee member or support the campaign by purchasing a bulb, priced at €5 each, at various businesses throughout the town.  Please play your part in making this Christmas a bright and cheery one.

Tree Planting at Nano Nagle

The outgoing Parents' Association have planted a tree in the grounds of Nano Nagle Primary School as a tribute to the late Sr Mary Macnamara. A fitting gesture as Sr. Mary spent all her teaching career here in Fethard. Pictured above are Sr. Maureen, Principal Nano Nagle Primary School, Ms Maureen Maher (Vice Principal), outgoing Parents Association representatives, Kate Phelan and Fionnuala O'Sullivan, and 1st and 2nd class pupils.

Fethard & District Rugby Club
Over seventy children, up to under-12 level, travelled to Portlaoise on Saturday morning with every Fethard player participating and Fethard recording wins in all level. As one excited coach reported, “we had a clean sweep”.

The standard of rugby played by the Fethard kids was of such a high level it would be remiss of us to mention individual performances today, only to say to all the children that you did Fethard proud. Our chairman, Paul Kavanagh, wishes to express his gratitude to all the parents who turned up to ferry this amount of children to Portlaoise, without incurring the cost of a bus.

Our under-18s travelled to Cashel on Saturday evening and played in very bad underfoot conditions, which didn’t suit our players. Cashel won by 28 points to 10, but, the coaches are happy that this bunch of young men are continuing to improve with good performances from Declan Doyle, Richard Gorey and Billy Horan. It was great to see Chris Sheehan back and playing in his first game this season.

Our under-14s travelled to Thurles and came away with a win. This young team are continuing to improve with every outing.

Club News
The new Club constitution was unanimously passed at our AGM on Thursday last. The trustees elected were, Mr Clem Murphy, Mr James O’Sullivan, who is also President, and Mr Sean Devaney. Senior Club membership is now available and application forms are available from any committee member. Cost of membership is €50.

The Heineken Cup visited all the local schools including Fethard, Ballingarry, Lisronagh, Killenaule and Moyglass. Table Quiz takes place on this Thursday night in Butlers Bar.

St Vincent de Paul
Anyone requiring the help of St. Vincent de Paul for this Christmas can contact any member of the society for an application form or collect one from the back of our local churches. Please return the completed form to any member of the society before 30th November.

Comhairle na nÓg Meeting

Fethard Community Youth Project representatives at the Comhairle na nÓg Youth Meeting in Clonmel last weekend. L to R: Dave Gorey, J.P. McGrath and Suzie O'Shea, Foróige Youth Officer working with the Fethard Community Youth Project.

On Saturday 24th November, approx thirty young people involved in various youth projects around South Tipperary gathered together at the annual Comhairle na nOg meeting held in Clonmel town. Comhairle na nÓg is the junior of Dail na nÓg Dáil na nÓg means, “youth parliament”, and is a chance for the children and young people of Ireland to represent the views of all Irish children at national level.

The Fethard Community Youth Project members were invited to the event in Clonmel for the day, which consisted of various discussions, Road Safety, Stereotyping, Young People and Financial Dept.

One of the aims of the day was to elect four members for the Dail na nÓg. Fethard’s own J.P. McGrath was elected and will attend the annual conference in Croke Park on the 17th February. Many thanks to the two Fethard members, J.P. McGrath and David Gorey, for attending. It is very much appreciated and is a great achievement for the Fethard Project, at such an early stage, to help get our name out there and on the map.

Tony Sheehan Memorial Foundation
A very successful committee meeting of the Tony Sheehan Memorial Foundation took place in the Tirry Community Centre on Friday night last Nov 24th. There will be a further committee meeting in early January to finalise the legalities of the trust which will be followed by a public meeting at the end of January. The following letter was submitted to the meeting from the Sheehan family.

“We, the Sheehan family would like to thank most sincerely the people of Fethard and surrounding areas for their kindness and generosity during the most difficult time of our lives which resulted in the loss of Tony from cancer.

Tony had been fighting the battle of his life when we discovered that conventional medicine was no longer a viable pursuit in the quest for a cure. Being Sheehans we were not prepared to lie down under this enormous challenge and give up but to get up and fight. However, to do this we needed the help and support of our local community. Research led us to believe that Mexico could offer an alternative cancer treatment which we hoped would be the answer to our prayers and so cap in hand we went to each and every one of you for your help. And help you did without a moment’s hesitation and in such a generous and willing way that we will be forever grateful.

Unfortunately, it was not to be and as you are all aware Tony’s journey ended as it began in his native Tipperary on the 10th February, 2006 with Mexico still so far away but yet having been so close due to your generosity. If money was all that was needed to save Tony then the people of Fethard and surrounding areas could surely be considered his saviour.

Tony’s passing has left a void in our lives that can never be filled but it has also left a legacy in the form the Tony Sheehan Memorial Foundation which we, the Sheehan family, hope will be of assistance to other families in our community, who like ourselves, may be faced with the despair and hopelessness of this traumatic and devastating life threatening illness.

Once again, we would like to thank all of you who gave so generously and hope that you will never have to walk a mile in our shoes or need the kind of assistance in your lifetime for which this foundation was first created. I believe that those who give get and your kindness and generosity to Tony may one day be returned to you through his legacy which you helped create.

You will always be in our thoughts and prayers. The Sheehan Family.”

Happy 40th John!

John Hackett photographed in the Fethard Arms on the occasion of hiss 40th birthday with his wife Mary and their son James.

Fethard & Killusty Community Lotto Results
The numbers drawn in the Fethard & Killusty Community Lotto on Wednesday 22nd November were: 2, 15, 25 and 28. There was no Jackpot winner and one ‘Match 3’ winner who received €150:
Eileen Fahey, Graystown, Killenaule.

The three €50 Lucky Dip winners were:
Denis Gahan, Cloneen, Fethard;
Dermot Darcy, St. Patricks Place, Fethard;
Eileen Tobin, St. Patricks Place, Fethard.

Next weeks Jackpot is €8,550 and the Jackpot sellers prize is now €855.

Judo Success
Congratulations to Aobh O’Shea, The Valley, on winning gold at the Irish Open Judo Competition on 12th October, and also to her brother Padraig for winning a well-earned bronze. Gary Bradshaw came fourth after some very hard contests. Well done to Josephine O’Donnell, coach at Koga Judo Club.

Thanks for helping!
The People Animal Welfare Society (Paws), based in Mullinahone, would like to thank all who organised and supported the Table Quiz in Fethard on Friday night last and donated the proceeds to their organisation. A total of €670 was raised for which they are most grateful.

Fethard Patrician Presentation School Show
The Patrician Presentation Secondary School will stage their annual musical production 'Grease' in the Abymill Theatre on Friday 8th, Saturday 9th and Sunday 10th December.

Substance Misuse Information Evening
Fethard Patrician Presentation Secondary School invite all adults to an ‘Information Evening on Substance Misuse’ in the School Hall on Wednesday 6th December at 8pm. Guest speaker is Ms Sinead O’Mahony Carey, Health Service Executive HSE.

Identifying drug, alcohol and solvent related situations is crucial in helping and supporting young people who may be experiencing problems or engaging in risky activity due to their substance use. This is a good opportunity to find out more about this everyday problem in today’s life.

Graduation

Paul Barry, Tullamaine, Fethard, who recently graduated with a Bsc (Honours) in Applied Physics and Instrumentation at Cork Institute of Technology. Paul also received awards for best final year project and best student in his class.

Preparing for Christmas
Advent is a time of spiritual preparation to celebrate the real meaning of Christmas.

Put some time aside for prayer and personal reflection during this time by joining in an hour of prayer at the Presentation Convent at 8pm on Monday evenings, commencing on 4th December. Encourage your family and friends to come along as well. All are welcome.

Died Recently
The death has occurred on Monday 27th November, of Mrs Monica Allen, St. Patrick's Place. Remains left McCarthy's Funeral Parlour at 7pm on Tuesday 28th November for Holy Trinity Parish Church, Fethard. Requiem Mass took place at 11am on Wednesday followed by interment at Calvary Cemetery.

The Well Golf Society
The Well Golf Society hold their final outing of the year on this coming Sunday 3rd December, at Slievenamon Golf Club with a 12 noon tee off. As always, we ask players to arrive well in advance of tee off time and to register on arrival.

Fethard Juvenile GAA Club
The juvenile GAA club would like to congratulate Michael O’Dwyer on receiving a special merit award at the South Board medal presentation last Friday night. Never has an award been so richly deserved by a worthy recipient. This was awarded to Mick for all the hard work and tireless dedication to the Fethard club over many years. Mick has been involved with the Juvenile Club in Fethard for as long as we can remember and it was great to see his valuable work honoured by the South Board.

Many years have passed since Mick joined the juvenile ranks and his appetite is as strong now as it has ever been. Thanks Michael from all in the Juvenile Club.

Well done to Eoin O’Connell for his participation on the south under-15 football team who were unfortunately beaten in the final after extra time. Well done to the under-11s who played in the floodlit cup in Commercials against Moyle Rovers in atrocious conditions. Although beaten they have qualified for the plate final on Tuesday night. The Juvenile GAA club will hold a Race Night in McCarthys Hotel on Saturday 2nd December. The club would like to thank all parents and sponsors who supported us in this venture and ask you to come along and enjoy the night. A great night is guaranteed!

Died Recently
The death has occurred, on 24th November, of Mr Pat O’Brien, Garrankyle, Cloneen. Interment took place in Cloneen Cemetery.

The death has occurred, on 25th November, of Mrs Mary Meagher, Milestown, Cloneen. Interment took place in Cloneen Cemetery.

The death has occurred on 23rd November of Mrs Nellie Colville, St. Patrick's Place,. Fethard. Remains left McCarthy's Funeral Parlour at 6.30pm on Friday 24th November for Holy Trinity Parish Church Fethard. Requiem Mass took place at 11am on Saturday followed by burial in Calvary Cemetery.

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