2FM's Pamplona Bullrun prize
We are asking you if you could give us some publicity regarding the Pamplona Bullrun prize being given away on 2FM this week. Over the years, numerous people have been seriously injured and more than a dozen dead. Electric shock prods are used to frighten the bulls into stampeding along the route, the bulls are at risk of sustaining injuries including broken bones.

• Bulls used in the bullrun will later be brutally killed in a bullring.
• I have contacted 2FM of our concerns and the concerns of the Irish People here.
• We promote Ireland as a caring country and goodness knows we fought hard enough to achieve this.

The email below is one of many I have send on behalf of the Irish people at this side of the world (Australia). We are absolutely shocked that Will Leahy could even consider such a prize it not only lets our country down as a caring nation but will undo all the hard work we have have done to promote Ireland and the Irish people.

Thank you Joe.
Katie Knott & Family.

• To whom it concerns;
  
  I am writing to ask you on behalf of the Irish people here with us in Australia to drop the Pamplona bullrun trip as a prize in the 2FM/SEAT competition. This bullrun is not only extremely cruel to animals ( they are abused before and during the run and are brutally killed afterwards) but it is highly dangerous to the human runners and spectators. Ireland is known as a caring country and we want to keep it that way.
  
  Thank you I eagerly await your response.
  
  Your sincerely.

Killusty Soccer Club
Killusty Soccer Club will hold their AGM on next Wednesday 20th June at 8.30pm in the Tirry Community Centre. All members are asked to attend.

A Lot of Rocking at the Abymill
Approaching the doors of the Abymill on Friday evening I had to admit to a certain degree of apprehension. The occasion was the ‘Any Scream will Do’ concert organised, in the main, by the courageous Vincent Murphy. It was intended as a vehicle to showcase the talent of three local, teenage  bands, The Autocats, Ruthless,  and the unbelievably young Zero Tolerance all of whom are first year students at Patrician Presentation Secondary School. So, what to expect? There was an unspoken fear that we would be gripping our armrests in white-knuckled terror, smiling politely through gritted teeth as a sonic wall of sound washed over us produced by manic strumming on out of tune guitars and merciless drum bashing. All of those imagined fears proved to be totally unfounded.


Zero Tolerance band on stage in the Abymill. Band members Mary Anne Fogarty, Ted Barrett, Noel O'Brien, Tony Myler and Garreth Lawrence.

The gig kicked off with Zero Tolerance who took us back to the sixties and early seventies with the music of Jimmy Hendrix and Thin Lizzy. I don’t think the other bands will mind if I say that this young band  provided the highlight of the night. The guitar playing of Jimmy Hendrix was highly unorthodox and innovative. Only the bravest of guitar players would attempt to replicate it. Yet here, in the precocious person of Noel O’Brien, we had a young fourteen year old attempting the lead on two of Hendrix’s most famous classics ‘Hey Joe’ and ‘Purple Haze’ and carrying it off with great panache and bravura.  As if that wasn’t enough we were treated to two Thin Lizzy classics ‘Whiskey in the Jar’ and ‘Dancing in The Moonlight.’ Again, Eric Bell’s distinctive guitar breaks were carried off with aplomb by Noel, Garreth Lawrence and Tony Myler. And let’s not forget the contribution of Ted Barrett on drums and Maryanne Fogarty on keyboards.


The Autocats band on stage in the Abymill. Band Members Declan Doyle, Laura Rice, Matt O'Sullivan (guest), Kevin Maher, Fintan Maher and Lory Kenny.

The Autocats arrival onstage saw the volume being pumped up considerably as they treated the audience to a selection of mostly self-penned numbers that really rocked. There was some excellent ensemble guitar playing from Lory Kenny, Fintan Maher and Declan Doyle. These boys were relentless and indefatigable with Matt O’Sullivan laying down an impressive beat in an unaccustomed role as drummer. An observation: why don’t you all wear shades lads? Oh, and little hats a la vocalist Kevin Maher would give you loads of attitude.

Things settled into a more reflective mood when Ruthless began their set, performing a selection of numbers penned by Jack and Matt O’Sullivan, alternating with some Damien Rice compositions.


Brothers Jack and Matt O'Sullivan playing in the Abymill with Rootless

Overall it was an impressive display from such a young bunch of lads — and let’s not forget the two girls, Laura Rice and Maryanne Fogarty. Rock music is notoriously male-dominated and full of macho posturing so it was good to see two girls involved.

It’s incredible to think that a small town like Fethard could have three young bands trying to play real music, and having the courage, confidence and self-belief to write and perform their own compositions. What we saw may have been raw, but it was real and performed with conviction and was obviously heartfelt.  It was great to see that there are kids still striving to create their own music, striving for originality rather than trying to be the next pretty-faced, boy or girl band miming to backing tracks. So, to The Autocats, Ruthless and Zero Tolerance keep at it. Remember, John Lennon and his band played their first gig at a garden fete. A small beginning and look what that led to! 

Fethard & Killusty Community Council
Fethard & Killusty Community Council will hold their monthly meeting on Tuesday 19th June at 8.30pm in the Tirry Community Centre. The committee would welcome new faces willing to get involved especially those living in the new estates in Fethard. It is planned to have information evenings for newcomers over the next few months. Current projects include the renovation of the Convent Hall to accommodate the youth of the parish under the guidance of the Fethard Youth Project. In the meantime anyone willing to get involved is more than welcome to come along to our monthly meetings.

New Store opens in Fethard

Eoin Kelly cutting the tape at the official opening of Glanbia's Country Life shop in Fethard last weekend. L to R: Darragh Corbett, Michael Ryan, Michael Walsh (Chairman Glanbia Board), Gus Smyth, Eddie Holohan (Branch Manager), John O'Flynn (Area Manager), Eoin Kelly, Paul Kelly and Sean Dunne.


Photographed at the official opening of Glanbia's Country Life shop in Fethard were L to R: Jimmy O'Brien, Rita Smyth, Bridget Hayes and Sheila Corbett.


Photographed at the official opening of Glanbia's Country Life shop in Fethard were L to R: Harry Butler, Alice Butler and Nellie Ryan.


Photographed at the official opening of Glanbia's Country Life shop in Fethard were L to R: Edmond Hennessy, Amanda Napier and Kathleen McEnery.


Photographed at the official opening of Glanbia's Country Life shop in Fethard were L to R: Phyllis McDonnell and Celia Byrne


Liam Hayes and his son Kevin shopping in the new Country Life store in Fethard.

Community Alert Public meeting
Fethard & Killusty Community Council have organised a public meeting to form a Community Alert Programme in Fethard. This meeting will take place on Thursday night, 28th June, at 8.30pm in the Tirry Community Centre and will be attended by Margaret Quinn, Co-ordinator Community Alert Programme, South Eastern Region. The programme addresses the issues of community care, community safety and community crime prevention and is organised by voluntary groups in association with Muintir na Tíre and An Garda Siochana.

It is important that as many people as possible will come along and help get this Community Alert Programme up and running in our town. Please tell your friends to also come along and help us create and maintain a caring community in Fethard that will allay fear and reduce the feelings of isolation experienced by many people in our parish today. 

Annual Cemetery Mass at Calvary
The annual open air Mass will be celebrated at Calvary Cemetery on Wednesday 27th June at 7.30pm. All are invited to attend. 

Fethard and Killusty Community Games

Martin O Keeffe, Co Chairman Community Games photographed at the swimming finals with Radika Janacikova, Kevin Hayes and Jennifer Yates.

Congratulations to Radika Janacikova, Coolmore, who won a gold medal in the under-14 breaststroke event at Co Tipperary Community Games Swimming Finals in Nenagh last weekend.  Congratulations also to Kevin Hayes, Redcity and Jennifer Yates, Moyglass who both won silver medals.  Radika will now represent Co Tipperary at the HSE Community Games National Finals in Dublin on the weekend of August 17th to 19th.  Birth certs and passport type photos needed immediately please for Radika and Eric Fogarty who will represent the county in under-8 athletics. If they are not in the Community Games Office at Grove Road before Wednesday 20th June, they will be deleted from the list of competitors.  This is something we do not wish to do but we must stick to deadlines.

Fethard GAA Club News
The Senior Football County Championship continues this weekend with Fethard down to play Clonmel Commercials on Sunday evening 17th June at 7.30pm. This is a very important game as a win would secure us a place in the county quarterfinals. If we are not to win the only route back into the County would be by winning a South title in senior in 2007. The very best of luck to all involved.

The Junior A football first round takes place on this Friday 15th June in Monroe where we take on Cahir at 8pm.

Thanks to those club members who turned up for the unveiling of the plaque on Friday last 8th June at McCarthys Hotel, Clonmel, where the first South Board Meeting was held in 1907.  This was to mark the centenary celebration of that meeting. As we now approach the half way stages of these celebrations, the Chairman of South Tipperary County Council, Cllr Joe Donovan, awarded the South Board a civic reception on Friday last that was very much appreciated and enjoyed by all. On Saturday 9th June, the Centenary Celebration group were also invited to a Civic reception in Carrick-on-Suir by Cllr Denis Landy.

Mayor of Clonmel, Phil Prendergast, also recently awarded a Civic Reception in Clonmel Town Hall on behalf of Clonmel Corporation.

The club offers its sincere sympathy at this time to the Holohan Family (Cloneen) on the recent death of Father Pat Holohan (Rockwell College). Go ndeana Dia trocaire orthu. 

Fethard & Killusty Community Lotto Results
The numbers drawn on Wednesday 6th June were: 9, 19, 21 and 28. There was no Jackpot winners and three Match 3 winners of €50:
Kathleen Kenny, The Cottage, Fethard; 
Sean Evans, 6 Congress Terrace, Fethard;
Willie O’Meara, Barrettstown, Fethard.

The €50 Luck Dip winners were:
Mary Ward, 62 Woodvale Walk, Fethard;
Marianne Butler, The Valley, Fethard;
Damien Trehy, Fethard.

Next week’s Jackpot continues at €10,000 and the Jackpot sellers prize is €1000.

Abymill Theatre AGM
The annual general meeting of the Abymill Theatre (The Mill Ltd.) will take place on this Thursday evening, 14th June at 7.30pm. 

Round the Walls Race
Fethard Athletic Club will host their annual ‘Round the Walls’ four-mile road race on Thursday 21st June at 8pm. Athletes taking part are asked to assemble outside the ICA Hall. For further information contact Miceál McCormack, Kerry Street, Fethard. Tel: 052 31534. 

Died recently
The death has occurred on Monday 4th June of Rev Fr Patrick Holohan CSSp formerly from Ballinard and late of Long Island City USA, Nigeria and Rockwell College, Cashel. Our sympathy to his sister, Sr. Bosco, Presentation Convent, Fethard, and to all his relatives. Interment took place at the Community Cemetery at Rockwell College following Requiem Mass at 2.30pm in the College Chapel.

The death has occurred in England of Mr Johnny Heffernan. Johnny, now left Fethard for over 60 years, was a great athlete in his younger days and played senior football for Fethard at a very early age. Johnny was a brother of Nell Murphy, Mary Nagle and the late Paddy Heffernan.

Our sympathy to Mrs Mary Prout, Derryluskin, on the recent death of her mother, Mrs Joan Carroll, which took place on Monday 4th June at her home in Kilcully, Cork. Interment took place in Trelton, West Cork. 

Frank Purcell Memorial Golf Classic
The annual Frank Purcell Memorial Golf Classic will take place at Slievenamon Golf Club on Friday 13th and Saturday 14th July. Team entry cost €200 which includes meal. T-boxes can be had for €100. Proceeds are in aid of Trust Charity run by Alice Leahy. Following the presentation of prizes on Saturday night there will be a barbecue at McCarthy’s Hotel garden by the Town Wall with music supplied by the exciting ‘Two Time Polka’ band from Cork. Tickets are €20.  Further information from  Chris Coen, John Leahy, Vincent Woodlock, Vincent Murphy and Brendan Kenny. Chris Coen (087 6868991); John Leahy (087 2853613); Vincent Woodlock (086 2650766); Vinny Murphy (086 8119625) or Brendan Kenny (087 2828647). 

This Sunday for Fethard’s first ‘Confidential Art Sale’
This coming Sunday 17th June will see Fethard hold its first ‘Confidential Art Sale’ — a very innovative fundraising event in aid of the refurbishment of Fethard Holy Trinity Church of Ireland. Art works by many well-known artists and amateurs alike were donated to be sold at the ‘Confidential Art’ event — all for the one price of €25 each. The ‘anonymous’ works are signed on the back so buyers will have to purchase their pieces without knowing who the artist is at that time.  So, depending on your luck, you could end up with a very valuable painting for €25!

The ‘Garden Party’ event will be officially opened by Nellie Shortall at 3pm and admission is €5 which includes Cream Tea. A raffle is also being run in conjunction with the event and has very attractive prizes such as, four tickets to the ‘Joseph’ show in London including €200 travelling expenses. Do come along and support this worthwhile event. All are welcome.