Fethard & District Day Care Centre
The Fethard & District Day Care Centre will hold a ‘Senior Day’ on Friday 30th November from 11am. The chiropodist will be available at a cost of €10 and the district nurse will also be in attendance. A hot meal will also be provided at a cost of €5.

Christmas Bazaar
The Fethard & District Day Care Centre are holding their annual Christmas Bazaar in the Tirry Centre on Thursday 29th November from 11am. In conjunction with the bazaar we are also holding a monster raffle and a cake sale. Tickets for the raffle will be on sale that morning. All donations gratefully accepted. Please come along and support our fundraiser. Refreshments will be served.

Fethard ICA support charities

Mandy Quigley photographed during her demonstration of flower arrangement to Fethard ICA Guild's monthly meeting at the ICA Hall at Rocklow Road.

In conjunction with our November meeting and following a wonderful demonstration on flower arranging given by Mandy Quigley, the proceeds of the recent Craft Display and Sale was presented to the two nominated charities. The day was a great success with the sum of €1714 being raised. The organising committee wish to thank sincerely all those who supported the event in any way, a special word of thanks to the ICA South Tipperary Federation for their generous contribution. The results of the Raffle are as follows: 1st Prize Patchwork Quilt and Walling hanging, Agnes Carroll, Mitchelstown; 2nd Prize Small Quilt, Edwina Newport; 3rd Prize Rushwork Basket, Breda Keane, Mitchelstown; 4th Prize Bottle of Wine, Gillian Small, Limerick Patchwork Society; 5th Prize Gift Voucher, Gabrielle Schofield; and 6th Prize Patchwork Cushion, Josie Cleary, c/o Phil O’Dwyer.


Members of Fethard ICA presenting the proceeds of their recent exhibition to charities, Concern and the Christine Nobel Foundation, at their monthly meeting. L to R: Phyllis McDonnell, Aggie Barrett, Kate Corcoran (Concern), Therese Fennessy (Christine Noble Foundation), Marie Crean and Celia Byrne.

Following the meeting, Ms Kate Corcoran accepted the cheque for €1000, on behalf of Concern and Mrs Therese Fennessy accepted the cheque for €714 on behalf of the Christina Noble Foundation. Both ladies thanked all those involved in raising such a large sum, and assured us that the money would be put to very good use for the benefit of those in greatest need.

Hunting News

Long time foot-follower of Tipperary Foxhounds, Tony Newport, photographed above on his pony 'Minnie Gray' outside Lander's shop on Main Street while waiting for the off at the opening meet of the Tipps in 1937. Tony is also over sixty years a follower and supporter of t5he local foot pack, The White Heather Harriers', of which he is current chairman. Tony is also 50 years hunting correspondent with the Nationalist. Seventy not out, Tony says he intends to keep going as long as the old legs will carry him.

From their meet at Cloneen on Thursday, Tipperary Foxhounds had one of their best days of the week.  Finding in Rathkenny glen they hunted for Curaheen where they lost him.  Moving back to Spike they found in the covert. Hunting a full circle to Knockelly and back to the covert they had their fox away again and hunted to the Knockelly Road near Mr O’Flynn’s where he got to ground. Ballinard wood and the nearby fort proved blank.  Carroll’s held at least two brace. After some excellent covert hunting Derry elected to go with a fox that broke at the end opposite the sawmills. This fox got to ground, however, after a short run near Downey’s Cross.  Carrigbawn Rock was blank, but the day concluded with a fast thirty minutes from Killusty glen. Hounds hunted towards Bannixtown and left-handed by Carrigbawn. Their pilot did a u-turn here and seemed to be heading back to where he was found. Turning right-handed he crossed the Fethard/ Killusty road to Grove estate near the back gate.  The cry as hounds hunted strongly through the forest was a joy to hear.  Leaving cover close to the old Kennels they hunted by Kilmaclugh Graveyard and marked to ground in the big badger sett in the Deerpark.  This run concluded a good day at 3.50pm.


Tony Newport wishing Huntsman, Derry Donegan, good hunting for the season at the Opening Meet in Fethard on Monday 29th October.

White Heathers
The Ballyluskey White Heather Harriers will meet at Grove gate on this Sunday, 25th November; at Ballyluskey on Sunday, 2nd December; and at Ballinard on Sunday, 9th December.

Fethard GAA Club News
Fethard GAA Club are holding their annual mass for all deceased club members in Killusty Church at 7.30pm, (tonight) Thursday 22nd November. All are welcome.

Congratulations to Jimmy O’Shea and Jack Wall on receiving the Cumann na Sean nGael Awards in Brú Ború Cashel on Sunday 18th November bringing a total of ten awards to Fethard in five years.  The Cumann na Sean nGael Awards are presented for individual achievements and contribution to the GAA during one’s lifetime. Well done.

A Buster Draw for Fethard GAA is now in full swing. Tickets are €20 each and the draw will take place on 9th December in Clonmel Greyhound Stadium. Tickets available from any committee member

On Sunday next 25th November in Grangemockler a special commemoration will be held after 10am Mass for Mick Hogan of Bloody Sunday fame who was shot in Croke Park. As Fethard was one of the six clubs represented on that famous day on 20th November 1920, with Scout Butler, Ned O’Shea (Captain), Gus McCarthy all playing their part on the Tipperary senior football team that played Dublin, we would ask that as many as possible be present to honour those gone before us.

Our Lotto Jackpot €7,600 was not won. The numbers drawn were 12, 15, 19 and 30. We had one ‘match three’ winner who received €150: Esther Breen (Barrack St Fethard).  The €50 Lucky Dip was won by Rita Doyle (Woodvale Walk). Thanks to Fethard Wholesale Electrical for providing the tickets.

We extend our deepest sympathy at this time to the Kennedy family (Tipp) on the death of Hugh, and to the Prout family (Killusty) on the death of Kathleen. Go ndeanai Dhia Trocaire ar an ainmeachta.

Happy Birthday

Kay Cummins, Cashel Road, Fethard, celebrating her birthday with Annette Donovan (left) at McCarthy's.

Fethard & Killusty Community Lotto
The numbers drawn on Wednesday 14th November were: 12, 17, 23 and 26. There was no Jackpot winner and one ‘Match 3’ winner who received €150:
Patrick Sheehan, Killusty, Fethard.

The €50 Luck Dip winners were:
Breda Lonergan, Hogan Square, Cahir;
Paula Gahan, Strylea, Fethard;
Maria Murphy, Coleman, Fethard.

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

Coffee Morning
Nuncie O’Dwyer will hold a Coffee Morning in Clerihan Community Centre at 11am on Sunday 2nd December in aid of ‘Playing for Life’ charity. All are welcome.

Nuncie was one of 37 who recently spent two weeks working with ‘Playing for Life’ in Pallotti parish, Arusha, Tanzania. Playing for live have projects running in Malawi and Tanzania and promote self-development through education, sport and health awareness in third-world countries.

Aidan Ward returned to the Abymill Theatre last weekend and presented a top class professional show with guest musicians from Galway. This is Aidan’s second time performing in the Abymill since taking his music on the road some years ago and touring Europe. His up-front honesty and love of live is well documented in the words of his album ‘Water’ and is highly recommended listening. He has penned some beautiful poignant songs recounting his relationship with his father Philip, who died in 1990 in his early 40s. The twenty years or so that Aidan only had with his father left a lasting impact on his life and music as explained in his song ‘Requiem’

 I’ll show you the beauty of all there is to see
through my eyes you’ll see all I see
across valleys and mountains deserts and seas
I’ll show you the world
I’ll take you with me. 

‘Cos I got through broken
I got through hoping
life will not let me down
I’ve done my crying
over you dying
now I live for you.

I’ll breathe for your soul
I’ll follow your dreams
I face all your fears
and I cast them from me.
Because you gave me something
no one can steal,
a passion for living
and a love of me.

Aidan has played music from an early age and joined the Pheasant Pluckers on many occasions performing his own songs with a passion that later developed into a gifted ability to document life with great sensitivity. Aidan has his own website www.aidan-ward.com and anyone wishing to purchase his music can get further details on the site or by email: aidanward.com@hotmail.com

We wish Aidan every success in the future and one can get a glimpse of his character by reading his following article published in the Fethard & Killusty Newsletter, at the age of 16, entitled:

‘A Message To The Old And The Young’.
“Nowadays, we are living in a world where the elderly are being badly treated, mugged, robbed, mocked and humiliated. They have grown to be terrified of the young people today. This is terrible, but it is a fact. I know one case where an elderly man living in our own town admitted being afraid to walk up town when the youngsters are coming out of school, for fear of being pushed or shoved off the footpath. This situation is scandalous.

It is up to us, the young, to prove to the elderly that they are loved, needed, wanted and respected members of our society. After all, we owe them a lot. They have passed down to us our Parish of Fethard and Killusty, our faith, our culture and our traditions. We need to put an end to the maltreatment of our elders by correcting those few who are the cause of it, and make the Parish of Fethard and Killusty a safer place for the elderly to live.

So young people from this day forth, say hello to an old person you see, smile and show them that they need not be afraid. If they are trying to get past you and your friends on the footpath, move back and let them through. Give them any help you can, call in to see them more regularly and by doing these simple things we can ease the terrible fear in the old peoples’ hearts and show them that they are loved.” — Aidan Ward, 9th November 1986.


Local band 'Naked Mr America' photographed playing support act to Aidan Ward at the Abymill on Saturday night last. The band has grown solidly since their first performance at the 'Walled Towns Day' in Fethard on 26th August 2007, but, with exams looming we are unlikely to hear this band again until summer 2008. We'll look forward to it! L to R: Ciarán Leahy, Lory Kenny, Matt O'Sullivan, Jack O'Sullivan, Kevin Maher and Laura Rice.


Aidan Ward photographed with his mother Mary and her friends after his concert in the Abymill Theatre L to R: Kate O'Flynn, Mary Ward, Aidan Ward and Ann Lonergan.

St Vincent de Paul Christmas Help
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 28th November.

Parents on social welfare that have a child attending third level college are also invited to contact the society for some help if financial assistance is needed.

Fethard Scouts
The annual general meeting for Fethard Scouts / Cubs will take place on Wednesday 28th November at 8pm in the Ballroom. This meeting is open to the general public and all are welcome.

Fethard Ballroom AGM
The annual general meeting of Fethard Ballroom will be held on Monday 26th November at 8pm in the Ballroom. All are welcome.

Cemetery Rosaries
Parishioners are asked to make a special effort in remember their dead by praying the Rosary in our local cemeteries during the month of November. The Rosary will be prayed in the following cemeteries on next Sunday 25th November, after 10am Mass in Killusty, 3pm at Tullamaine, 3pm at Kiltinan and 3.30 at Kilmaclugh.

Fethard Bridge Club
On Wednesday 14th November 2007 we played our annual game for charity. No prize money is paid out and all the table money goes to the Multiple Sclerosis Society this year. The results of our game were:

1st Gross: Berney Myles and Alice Quinn;
1st Nett: Rosemary Lalor and David Abell;
2nd Gross: Rita Kane and Kay St. John;
2nd Nett: Mike Burke and Bridie Lee.

Next Wednesday, 28th November, we play for the Nett Turkey prize and on 5th December the Change of Partner Turkey prize.  Our Christmas Party will be held on 19th December at McCarthy's restaurant. Names as soon as possible please to our president Bernie O'Meara. Anyone looking for a partner please contact Berney Myles at 32038.

Patrician Presentation Secondary School

French Film
On Wednesday 15th November the Transition Year and 5th/6th Year French pupils attended a screening of the French film, ‘Comme Une Image’ in the Excel Theatre in Tipperary Town. The pupils were accompanied to the film by their teachers, Ms Whelan, Ms Fogarty and Ms Looby.

‘Comme Une Image’ is director, writer and actress, Agnès Jaoui’s second feature film. Co-written by Jaoui and her long-time partner Jean-Pierre Bacri, the film won best screenplay at the 2004 Cannes Film Festival and was warmly received by audience in France and internationally.

Fethard Safe-Heart Programme
On Tuesday and Wednesday last, the Transition Year pupils successfully completed the Safe-Heart Programme under the expert direction of Mr Liam Hayes. The school is indebted to school parent Mr Hayes for offering to facilitate the programme in the school and thank him most sincerely for his time and efforts.

The pupils, who are in the final stage of a first-aid course, got intensive training in CPR and learned to use a defibrillator . It is believed that they are so far the youngest people in the country to acquire such a skill.

School Sports
The boys’ under-18½ Gaelic football team won their first round match against Carrick CBS in Kilsheelan on 15th November. The Carrick lads made all the early running and were ahead until a hat-trick of goals by J.P. McGrath steadied the team and led them to an eight-points win. Prominent on the day were Darragh Dwyer, Ciarán Ryan, Matt Fitzgerald and particularly goalie Darren Connolly who made many fine saves during the game.

Gala Christmas Concert for Abymill

The Abymill Theatre presents a Gala Christmas Concert in association with M&R Productions on Saturday 1st December starting at 8.15pm. The concert compère is Billy McLellan and will feature Derek Ryan (bass baritone), with guests, the Frank Patterson Choir from Clonmel; Darragh McGrath (magician); Deirdre O’Connor (soprano), Seamus O’Reilly (tenor), and Sarah E. Murphy (contralto).

Part one of the show will feature soloists performing popular songs from light musicals and part two will be dedicated to the memory of the late Luciano Pavarotti and will concentrate on the world of the Grand Opera. This will be a night of music, song and entertainment not to be missed. Booking is now open at O’Flynn’s Menswear, Burke Street, Fethard. Tel: 052 31254. Tickets are €15 and €12 (concession).

New Childcare Committee
A successful meeting, convened by Fethard & Killusty Community Council, held on Thursday 15th November last, resulted in the formation of a new committee to co-ordinate the development of a purpose-built childcare facility in Fethard.  This meeting was well attended by a group of interested and enthusiastic people.  Representatives from the South Tipperary County Childcare Committee, Mr Gerry Hickey, Manager, and Ms Ger Boland, Development Officer, were in attendance.

The meeting was chaired by Joe Kenny.  He informed the meeting that at present there is both a need and an opportunity in Fethard to develop a purpose-built childcare facility in the town.  Joe’s address was followed by a contribution from Ger Boland who expressed her delight at the large number in attendance.  Ger informed the meeting that successful community facilities had been set up in many locations throughout the County from similar meetings.   Ger advised that getting involved in a committee would involve a considerable amount of work and that the involvement of skilled members would be highly beneficial.  Ger informed that applications for funding, which usually take about six months to complete, are assessed under the following headings: Local Need; Capacity of the Committee, and Value for Money.

Ger advised that as a substantial amount of the 2008 budget has already been allocated it could be likely, at this stage, that the 2009 funds would be applicable to Fethard.  She further advised that an amount of €1.2 million should be sufficient to develop a multi-functional childcare building incorporating indoor and outdoor play areas.  Ger stated that an in-depth analysis of current and prospective local needs would be a vital requirement before any decision to provide funding would be made.

Ger Boland continued by offering the services of the Childcare Committee – skills-training, support and co-operation – to assist the new group.  She also advised that all existing childcare providers in the town could be accommodated in a new development, the facility would be inclusive to all.  Mr Gerry Hickey advised that the strength of the committee would be greatly enhanced by ‘networking’; people on the committee might know someone (accountant, quality surveyor, architect, etc.) who would be willing to contribute.

Cllr. Jimmy O’Brien informed the meeting that negotiations are underway with the County Council to enable a suitable green-field site be made available for such a development.  

The following Officers were elected: Chairperson Joe Burke; Secretary Helena O’Shea; and Treasurer Carmel Kiely.

Fethard Childcare Committee will hold their inaugural meeting on Thursday 6th December 2007 at 8pm in the Fr. Tirry Community Centre.  This meeting is open to all, so if you are interested in becoming involved or consider that you have something to contribute feel free to come along.

Died Recently
The death has occurred on 15th November of Kathleen ‘Kitty’ Prout, Killusty South. Interment took place in Killusty.