Funding for Fethard Town Wall

Minister for the Environment Dick Roche has announced grants to benefit historic buildings in Ireland. Among those is a new ‘Walled Towns Fund’ — €2 million in 2007 — which is to be administered by the Heritage Council. This would enable conservation works to be carried out in many of Ireland’s walled towns, such as Athenry, Co Galway, and Fethard, Co. Tipperary.

There was also a grant announced of approximately €33,000 towards the eligible cost of employing a conservation officer in each local authority. This is all good news for Fethard and its future as, “The Most Important Small Medieval Town in Ireland”. In the meantime the steering committee for the preparation of a ‘Fethard Town Wall Management and Conservation Plan’ met in Fethard on Wednesday 18th April.

Students off to Lourdes

Fethard Secondary School pupils, Niamh Whyte and Joe Fogarty, who will travel as youth helpers with this year's diocesan pilgrimage to Lourdes in June.

A table quiz, recently held in the Patrician Presentation school hall, in aid of the Lourdes Fund, proved to be a tremendous success. Under the auspices of the Secondary School Parents' Association, whose members provided a wonderful array of sandwiches and confectionery during halftime, the quiz was organised and conducted by Mr & Mrs Prendergast. Mr Britton was floor manager on the night and Ms Fogarty and Mr Maher acted as scrutineers. Assisting proceedings were two Transition Year students, Chloe Gough and J.P. McGrath. A novel feature of this table quiz was the auction of an Easter Hamper after the tea break. The auction was capably conducted by Mr Burke. Well done to all concerned.

Sincere gratitude is extended to all the very kind sponsors who donated fantastic Table and Raffle prizes, not forgetting the generous donations of Fethard Credit Union and others to the Lourdes Fund. Every year our sponsors come up trumps and ensure this fund-raising exercise is a great success.

Each year two 5th Year students assist the invalids with the Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes and the proceeds of the table quiz will help defray their travel and accommodation expenses. This year Niamh Whyte and Joe Fogarty will travel with the pilgrims in June as youth helpers and will be joined by about thirty other students from various schools around the Diocese. We wish Niamh and Joe well and are confident they will execute their duties responsibly and have a very good time as well.

Visitors to Fethard

Local Fethard wood craftsman Johnny Sheehan (left) photographed with visitors Richard Hatton, Colin Dixon and Elaine Dixon. Colin was in Fethard to research his ancestor, Henry Dodgson, from Oldham, Lancashire, who was a postman in Fethard and lived on the Green after marrying Johanna Coffey.

Fethard & Killusty Community Council
The next meeting of Fethard & Killusty Community Council will take place on Tuesday 24th April at 8.30pm in the Tirry Community Centre.

Easter Community Youth Programme

Boys and girls photographed taking part in the Fethard Youth Project Easter holiday activities at the GAA Field

The FCYP Easter Programme ran from the 10th to 13th April. The programme was designed to give young people in the area something to do during their school holidays. It involved a sports group for boys and girls, an art activity group and an afternoon out to Clonmel to the cinema. Overall the programme was a great success with over 30 young people participating in the huge variety of activities, which included soccer, clay modelling, rounders, painting and lots of games. Thanks to everyone who participated and those who contributed their time to help and a special thank you to the Fethard GAA and the Woodvale Walk Residents Association for the use of their facilities.

Parking with a diference!

One way to deal with present drinking legislation is to take the less serious option of breaking the law as this picture suggests, taken early one morning outside McCarthy's Hotel in Fethard.

Fethard reach Under-14 final of the East Munster Cup
Our under 14s travelled to Cashel to compete in the semifinal of the East Munster Cup and came away with a great victory on a margin of 17 points to 10. Daniel Hickey captained the side and played a real captains part throughout the game. His decision marking and kicking was flawless throughout and his defensive tackling at crucial times kept his team in it.

Our forwards played exceptionally well throughout and took the game to the bigger Cashel pack throughout and they absorbed everything that the big Cashel Pack threw at them. Michael Tobin, Robert Hall and Colm Shanahan were especially effective in all areas of play, both defensively an offensively. Thomas Nolan scored our first try under the post in the 10th minute, after Fethard absorbed 10 minutes of constant Cashel pressure before kicking and mauling their way to the Cashel 25 to release Thomas, Daniel Hickey converted, Fethard then piled on the pressure and ran at Cashel with every opportunity and the ball carrying and line breaking runs of Ciaran Power was a pleasure to watch. This pressure forced Cashel to concede a penalty which was duly despatched by Daniel Hickey to leave the score 10-0 at the break. 

Cashel resumed the second half in determined mood and all the defensive qualities of this fine Fethard side were put to the test and they withstood attack after attack and the quality of the tackling from everyone in the Fethard side was of vintage Munster style. Cashel were eventually rewarded with a well taken try 15 minutes in, to leave the game wide open. This Fethard side responded however and all worked extremely hard to release Michael Nolan for his second try which Daniel Hickey converted to leave the score a 17 to 5 with 10 minutes remaining.  Fresh legs were introduced to the Fethard Side and they were badly needed as Cashel were not about to give up and  but for stout defending by Colm Shanahan who made a try saving tackle on the line to keep Cashel at bay the result would be in question up to the end.

Conor Kavanagh was very effective at Scrum half and Joe Morgan at full back was also very assured. The two wingers Frankie Donovan and Shane Power were also very effective throughout.

Cashel did cross the line for a consolation try at the death but this panel of five ‘Fethard Friends’ were well worthy of their victory and now face an even tougher test in the final against Kilfeacle next weekend.

Fethard Under-16 Rugby who played in the final of the East Munster plate. Back L to R: James Kelly, Adrian Lawrence, Stewart Broderick, Steven Healan, Keelan O’Neill, Shane Kavanagh, Joseph Kelly, Colm Dunne, Matthew Fitzgerald, Michael Power, Andrew Kelly, Mark Fitzgerald. Front L to R: Matt O’Sullivan, David Hall, Kevin Hayes, Ben Walsh, William Power, Adam O’Donnell, Johnny Moroney, Paul Tierney and Jonathan Fleming. Missing from photo is Kieran Power.

Our under 16s travelled to Carrick-on-Suir on Friday last to play Clonmel in the final of the East Munster plate. Our team was defeated by one try to nil, conceded in the first 5 minutes.

What followed was the most enthralling and physical game of Rugby seen at this level for a long time.  The referee obviously played his rugby in the forwards and gave the bigger more physical Clonmel side the fifty-fifty decisions that can decide a game. This is not an excuse as Clonmel played the ref as all good teams should do.

Our team did themselves proud and played the better rugby throughout and repelled attack after attack by Clonmel with tackling that was fierce and fair and from number 1 to 20, each and every player from Fethard put in 110%.

The team was captained by Joey Kelly who put in another excellent game despite carrying a shoulder injury for most of the game.  All the forwards were heroes on the night, Steven Healan, David Hall, Kevin Hayes, Matt O’Sullivan (replacement hooker early in second half), Mathew Fitzgerald, Joey Kelly, Colm Dunne, Keelan O’Neill and Michael Power.

The backs were at their defensive best from scrum half William Power, Shane Kavanagh, James Kelly, Jonathan Fleming, Ben Walsh, Adrian Lawrence, Stuart Broderick, Mark Fitzgerald for the injured Stuart Broderick second half and Johnnie Moroney at full back put in another great game.  Fethard never gave up and attacked the Clonmel line at every opportunity with Colm Dunne being held up first a ½ metre from the line. The attacking spirit of Fethard continued and we almost breached the Clonmel defensive line when Shane Kavanagh floated a near perfect cross field kick to release Adrian Lawrence who was again stopped half metre from the Clonmel line.  This was a great game of rugby and when the disappointment dies down these young men can look back on 2006/2007 season with great pride and satisfaction and look forward with great confidence to next season playing at under-18 level. Subs were Mark Fitzgerald and Adrian Lawrence.

As a parent and on behalf of all the parents, I would like to thank the coaches of this team — Joe Burke, Sean Devaney, Tony Fitzgerald and Nial O’Connell — who put in at least ten hours per week bringing these young men to this high standard since last September. Go raibh mile mile maith agaibh.

On Good Friday thirty under-8s from Fethard turned up to Clonmel for the season tournament and what a performance they gave. They played four matches between them, winning against Cashel and Kilfeacle in wonderful displays. They then played Waterpark and were just edged out, despite showing good tackling and teamwork. In their final match against a strong Kilfeacle they played magnificently.  The Fethard team and team-mates on and off the pitch made the game a thrill to watch. With fantastic tackling, passing of the ball and wonderful recycling, Fethard showed they are a team that will not go down without a fight. With a draw at the end, the golden try time still produced incredible Rugby. Unlucky for Fethard it was then decided by penalty kicks, which Kilfeacle just got the better of us. However, the team were highly commended by their coaches on the day for impressive rugby played on the field by all the players. The squad consisted of Joe Carroll, Tommy Morgan, Ciaran O'Dwyer, Dale Murphy, Ned Grogan, William Pratt, Darragh Harcourt, Harry Butler, Ewan Harcourt, Matthew Lynch, Darragh Lynch, Jack Mulcahy, Richard Houlihan, James O'Connell, Killian O'Dwyer, Gary Kavanagh, Luke Ryan, Brian Norton, Keith Cleere, Patrick Scully, Jack Ward, David Stocksborough, Colm Hayde, James Walsh, Andrew Phelan, Mark Heffernan, Gus Brown, Connie Cohen, Michael Gaynor and Joey Noonan.

Other News
We are nearing the end of yet another wonderful season and just wanted to take this opportunity to thank you all for your support and update you on some events, matches coming up etc.

The ‘End of Season Bar-B-Que’ takes place on Sunday 22nd April at 3pm in the Community Field and also a tag rugby match of coaches and parents against the under-18s. Therefore any willing parents please ‘tog off’ your on so to speak. An afternoon of fun and games is planned and please, could we ask for donations of food (salads, sandwiches, garlic bread, buns, biscuits etc) for the afternoon, along with helpers on the day thank you.

Under 11s competition takes place in Waterpark on Saturday 28th April. Time to be confirmed.

Under 9s (incorporating some of the 8s) and under 10s competition takes place in Waterpark on Sunday 29th April. Time to be confirmed.

Under 10s and 12s tour takes place on Monday 7th May. Details to follow.

The under 14, 16 and 18 tour has yet to be confirmed.

Remainder of Club House draw tickets to be returned as soon as possible please to Jimmy O’Sullivan or any committee member.

A ‘Coaches & Parents Day Out’ takes place on Saturday 5th May to Faithlegg House Hotel & Golf Club, Waterford, (golf for gents and spa treatment for the ladies). Cost is €60 which includes bus and meal.

Our AGM will be held on Monday 21st May at 8pm in the Tirry Centre in Fethard. All parents are welcomed to attend. Thank you once again for all your continued support. We look forward to meeting up with you at the above events.

Happy Birthday Brian

Brian Burke photographed in McCarthys Hotel, Fethard, after celebrating his 40th birthday with family and friends. L to R: Mary and John Hackett, Brian and Marie (Walsh) Burke.

Community Games Rugby
The county finals of all rugby competition — under-11 mini mixed rugby, under-11 tag rugby and under-14 tag rugby — will be hosted by the Fethard and Killusty Area and will take place in Fethard Community Sportsfield on this coming Saturday 19th April, commencing at 11am.

Teams involved are as follows:
Under-11 mini rugby. North Division, Nenagh v Newport. South Division A, Boherlahan Dualla v Fethard. South Division B, Ballingarry v Powerstown Lisronagh. South final winners of A v B. County final winners of South v winners of North finals.

Under-11 Tag Rugby A, Fethard Killusty a bye. Under-11 Tag Rugby B, Powerstown Lisronagh v Boherlahan Dualla. Final winners of B v A.

Under-14 Tag Rugby A, Borrisokane a bye. Under-14 Tag Rugby B, Ballingarry v Killenaule Moyglass. Under-14 Tag Rugby C, Powerstown Lisronagh v Fethard Killusty. Winners of match B play Borrisokane A. Final winners of B/A v winners of C. All enquiries to coordinator Paul Kavanagh Tel: 087 8388205.  Please note, in mini rugby it is optional whether or not a team is mixed but in all tag rugby games there must be two girls on the pitch at all times.

Fethard & Killusty Community Lotto
The numbers drawn on Wednesday 11th April were: 7, 11, 13 and 22. There was no Jackpot winner and six ‘Match 3’ winners who received €25 each:
Dick Burke, Main Street, Fethard;
Mike Burke, Red City, Fethard;
B. Maher, Kilnockin Road, Fethard;
Trevor Gough, Coolmore, Fethard;
Ian Turner, c/o Thelma Griffith;
Maura Meagher. Killenaule.

The €50 Luck Dip winners were:
Anna Cooke, 49 St. Patrick’s Place, Fethard;
Mick Aherne, Prospect, Fethard;
Abigail Doyle, The Green, Fethard.
Next week’s Jackpot is €10,000 and the Jackpot sellers prize is €1000.

Heather wins first prize

Heather Casey, Drumdeel, with Councillor Eugene Regan, Cathaoirleach, Dun Laoghaire Rathdown Co. Council after being presented with 1st prize for her entry in the under-12 poetry competition.

Congratulations to 11-year-old Heather Casey, daughter of Jerome and Yvonne Casey, Drumdeel, Fethard, on her remarkable achievement of winning first prize for her poem ‘My Secret’ in the under-12 English category of the Feile Filiochta International Poetry Competition run by Dun Laoghaire Rathdown, County Council Public Library Service. The competition attracted entries from over sixty countries with 6,176 poems submitted in ten different languages. Prizewinners came from Austria, Australia, England, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Poland, Sweden, Scotland, Spain, United States and Wales. To win a prize in a competition of such an exceptionally high standard certainly highlights Heather’s immense talent. Heather is a pupil of Lisronagh N.S. and her winning poem is as follows:

My Secret

I have a secret
It's a good one too
I think I can trust you
So I'll tell you. 

Down in the basement
There is a big Unicorn
He is big and white
And has a golden horn. 

Then in the attic
I have a Chinese dragon
At just about midnight
He pulls a purple wagon. 

In the Shed
Behind the house
My prize possession
Is a giant mouse. 

He has green hair
And bright blue ears
And when he cries
He has yellow tears. 

The Cupboard
Just behind the stairs
Is the house
Of an evil teddy bear. 

His patchy fur
Is black and blue
One eye is missing
Fell down the loo. 

Under my bed
Is a bogey man
He steals children
In a big black van. 

And I guess
You are wondering
How I knew
Because I am a monster too.

Flowers stolen from grave
A reader has contacted us and asked, “Am I the only one to have problems with flowers being stolen from a grave?”

This reader goes on to say, “My father died two years ago and since then I have tried to attend his grave in Fethard and put flowers on as often as possible. Last year a bowl of flowers was taken and a small shrub was dug out of a pot, I thought perhaps by a dog because the pot was lying on its side with some of its contents scattered.

In October of last year we had Dad's stone erected and this spring we started to plant a garden for him. He was a keen gardener and loved roses. We had already planted a garden for him at home, from there I took two of his roses and planted them on his grave.

This week I went to the grave to see how the roses were doing and the other pots we have there, I also wanted to make plans for what else to plant. You can imagine how upset we were when not only was one of the roses dug up and gone, not a trace of it, but the Christmas pot his grandchildren had bought for him was now missing one of its little shrubs. Sadly, I cannot think of any excuse for their disappearance other than some mindless person actually digging them up and stealing them or just throwing them away for fun. What sort of a person would even think of doing such a thing?

I find myself questioning, is there any point in finishing the planting or replacing the rose, only for it to disappear again? Will the other one be gone next time I call in? Is it just Dad's grave that this has happened to others? How very, very sad that this can happen here in Fethard!”