AGM Slievenamon Musical Society — April 3rd
Slievenamon Musical Society will hold its AGM on this Thursday 3rd April. The meeting will start at 20.30pm. All members are asked to attend this important meeting. Light refreshments will be provided and we might have a few tunes and songs afterwards. So it promises to be a good night, not to be missed.

But more important is that the Slievenamon Musical Society should be what its name says: a society, where all members are involved.
The society produced another fantastically successful show with ‘My Fair Lady’ last year. But now it is time to plan for the future. And the future of the society depends on the input of its members - on stage, but even more off stage.

So come on, visit the AGM; give your opinion and ideas to make 2008/2009 an even better year for the Slievenamon Musical Society.

The Architect's Eye visits Fethard

Liam O'Brien, Producer of the RTE Radio 1 programme 'The Architect's Eye' recently recorded a programme in Fethard with the main focus on the town wall. The whole premise of the series is that each building site is viewed through the eye of an architect. In the case of Fethard, his guest was Jacqui Donnelly, Conservation Architect with the Architectural Heritage Advisory Unit of the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government.

The programme on Fethard town wall will air on April 15th at
10pm on RTE Radio 1. This is the second run of the series. Last year's one can be accessed at www.rte.ie/radio1/architectseye

Fethard Historical Society AGM
The AGM of Fethard Historical Society takes place at 8.30pm in the Abymill Theatre on Tuesday 1st April. The society is celebrating twenty years in existence this year and we hope to mark this significant anniversary with some interesting events. We would like to invite all our members and friends to come along next Tuesday evening to join us in marking “fiche bliain ag fás”. The election of the new committee will be followed by a brief video presentation by Peter Grant showcasing highlights of various events hosted by the society during the past twenty years. Light refreshments will be served.

Table Quiz
South Tipperary Branch of the Irish Wheelchair Association are holding a table quiz in Cloneen hall on Friday night 4th April at 9.30. Tables of four €20. All are welcome and an enjoyable night is guaranteed for all.

Kittser at the Abymill
David Kitt plays the final gig of his Irish tour in the Abymill theatre this Saturday night March 29th. There are a few tickets remaining for this unique show. Support on the night is from Cork band Armoured Bear. Both Kittser and Armoured Bear are veterans of the Irish and American music scene with regular appearances at the Oxygen and Electric picnic festivals in the past few years as well as multiple appearances on RTE's "Other Voices" music programme. Tickets are €25 from McCarthy's Bar in Fethard.
For more info on these musicians check out davidkitt.net and armouredbear.com or both of their MySpace sites.

First Aid Classes
Fethard Civil Defence will commence with classes in First Aid on Thursday 27th March from 7.30pm to 9.30pm. The classes will last for eight weeks. Those interested in participating are asked to contact: Dolores Fahey, Civil Defence Officer, Heywood Road, Clonmel. Tel: 052 34455 or Mobile: 087 2435001. Email: dolores.fahey@southtippcoco.ie

Fethard & Killusty Community Lotto
The numbers drawn on Wednesday 19th March were: 13, 17, 20 and 25. We had no Jackpot winner and one ‘Match 3’ winner who received €150:
Margaret Bradshaw, Congress Terrace, Fethard.
The three €50 Lucky Dip winners were:
Michael Russell, Mullinahone;
Aisling Aherne, c/o Kitty O’Donnell;
Maureen Murphy, 18 Fr Tirry Park, Fethard.
Next week’s Jackpot continues at €10,000 and the Jackpot sellers prize is €1000.

St. Vincent De Paul
Families that may need help with this year’s First Communion or Confirmation expenses are asked to contact any member of the Fethard St. Vincent de Paul committee as soon as possible.

Community Games Benefit Night

Winner of the Colville Bloodstock A4 525 'Buster' Stake (main race). L to R: Joan Moloney, Joe Keane (Community Games), Emby Walsh (nominator), Catherine McCormack, owner of winner 'Glasha Bridge', Rita McLoughlin, Kilsheelan, holding baby Zac O'Loughlin, P.J. Colville who presented the Colville Bloodstock Cup, Peggy Colville and Andrew Moloney. Children in front Emily O'Loughlin and Jack Moloney.

Co Tipperary Community Games Committee would like to thank everybody most sincerely for their wonderful support of the Benefit Night held in Clonmel Greyhound Stadium on Sunday night last. This venture was a great success thanks to support from areas and the people from the Fethard and Killusty area were extremely generous to us.

It was fitting therefore that a share of the prizes came to the community. The €1000 prize for the winning combination on ‘Colville Bloodstock A4 525 Buster Stake’, sponsored by P.J. Colville, was won by Sean O’Donovan, Coolmoyne. Dogs finished in the following order 312654. Congratulations to Sean.

Photographed at the Community Games Fundraising Night at Clonmel Greyhound Stadium on Easter Sunday were L to R: Mat O'Donoghue, Peggy Colville and Joe Keane.

Joe Keane won the nominators prize in the first race, The Co Tipperary Community Games A6 non winners stake. The winning dog here was owned by Joe Golden from Carron, Cashel. Paul Ronan won the nominators prize in Race 3, The Clonmel Credit Union A1 525. Paul also won nominator prizes in Race 6, The Proctor & Gamble stake and Race 10, The Ian Waterworth Open 575. Fethard Credit Union was nominator of the winning dog in Race 5, The Horse & Jockey Hotel Open 790, and Coolmore Stud, kindly sponsored Race 4, The Coolmore Stud Open Puppy 525. This final was won by Cashen Pedro, owned by Chris Houlihan, Ballyduff, Co Kerry. Most of the proceeds will go towards publishing the book on the history of the games in Co. Tipperary, in this the 40th Anniversary of the National Organisation. Full results of the evening in the sports page. We really appreciate all the help given to us.


Billy and Moira Morrissey from Tullamaine, Fethard, at the Community Games Fundraising Night at Clonmel Greyhound Stadium on Easter Sunday.

Art & Model Making
Results of area Art & Model Making competition will be published in next weeks issue. Schools will be visited on Monday, March 31st, where medals will be presented to first three in each category. The county final will take place in Fethard Ballroom on Saturday, April 5th commencing at 1pm.

Fethard & District Rugby Club
The under 18's scored a well-deserved victory over Kilfeacle on Thursday night last to reach the semifinal of the cup. This replay lived up to all the pre match hype and was fully enjoyed by all the parents and supporters that turned up.

Fethard started the stronger in a game where both teams were fully fired up and determined to progress to take on Clonmel in the semifinal. The forward exchanges in the first quarter were not for the faint hearted, and the ‘hard yards’ gained by Fethard was the difference of the two teams with Joe Kelly and Billy Horan in devastating rucking and mauling form, ably assisted by all the other forwards who were rock solid throughout. It was from such a forward exchange that lead to Fethard's opening score with Shane Power at scrum half releasing the Fethard backs who crossed the gain line, though full back Shane Kavanagh was stopped a yard short of the line, but still succeeded in popping the ball up for the incoming Cathal Gorey to touch down in the corner. Declan Doyle under the watchful and prayerful gaze of Seanie and Judy slotted the ball over from a near impossible position to push the score to 7-0 for Fethard.

Kilfeacle upped their game for the second quarter and all the defensive qualities of this Fethard side were tested. I can't recall seeing a miss tackle from any of the Fethard players at this stage, with Shane Kavanagh and Alan O'Connor mopping up any speculative kicks put in by Kilfeacle. Paddy Teehan had to retire injured and was replaced by Nicholas Hyne. The break gave both teams a welcome respite as they gathered their breath and their thoughts after a pulsating and intense first half.

Kilfeacle pilled on the pressure from the off and were in constant attack mode. This pressure eventually yielded a try but the conversation was narrowly missed. The intensity of the exchanges began to take its toll as Fethard lost Dick Walsh and Joe Kelly to injury. These were replaced by Nigel O'Connell and Joe Fogarty respectfully. The momentum now appeared to be with Kilfeacle but the Fethard players responded manfully and spent the next ten minutes attacking the Kilfeacle line mainly through strong running from Stuart Hanrahan, Declan Doyle, Alan O'Connor and Cathal Gorey, with the forwards taking up where they had left off in the first half and Colm Blackmore ensuring that the loss of cousin Joe was not going to effect the outcome. Fethard was awarded two penalties during this period and Declan Doyle was successful with one to push the score to 10-5 in Fethard’s favour.

Kilfeacle were now down to 14 men but these lads tested Fethard right up to the final whistle when they were camped on the Fethard five-yard line for the last five minutes but stout Fethard defence kept them at bay. This was a notable win for Fethard and one, provided they get their line outs right, can add to by defeating Clonmel in the semifinal, date to be confirmed. Game this weekend against Dungarvan.

Fethard GAA Club News
In the Senior Football County League on Sunday last, having already qualified for the semifinal, we did not feature against Aherlow.
We played our first game in the County Intermediate Hurling League, winning on a scoreline, Fethard 6-12, Ballyneale 3-10. Having had a good first half with good defending the score was Fethard 3-7 Ballyneale 0-4. Our second half performance was better but we still need improvements in most departments before the championship. The team was: Paul Fitzgerald, Michael Carroll, Michael Ryan, Adi Lawrence, Eoin O’Connell, Aidan Lonergan 1-0 f, Declan Doyle, John Leahy, John P Looby, Dean Tobin 2-5 (5f), Aiden Fitzgerald 0-3 (1f), Eoin Doyle 0-1, Miceál Spillane 1-0, Michael Aherne 0-1 and Alan O Connor 2-1.

In our Under 21 B Football quarterfinal we never really got going in Kilsheelan on Monday last. With quite a number of our advanced age players not turning up and Thomas McCarthy, our sole selector, doing his best with the bare fifteen in the opening half, we held Clonmel Óg to a five point margin on a scoreline, Clonmel Og 1-6, Fethard 0-4. On resumption we were dealt a heavy blow with a goal conceded. For the remainder of the second half we chased and gave our best with the Clonmel Óg keeper denying us of at least three goals making point blank saves. We lost out to a fitter team who showed improvement in all their games to date and winning on a scoreline, Clonmel Og 2-8, Fethard 0-8. The team was: J P McGrath, Jerome Ahearne, John Leahy, James Kelly, Alan O’Connor, William O’Brien, Dean Tobin, Declan Doyle Aaron O’Donovan, Eoin O’Connell, Adi Lawrence, Ed Sheehan 0-4 f, David Conway 0-1, Keith Lawrence and Jason Lawrence 0-3.

On Saturday 29th March and Sunday 30th March, a Church Gate Collection will be taken up for Br Paul, Eldoret, to help his missionary work in Kenya that has been so badly hit with recent political unrest. Anyone wishing to make a donation contact: Denis Burke, Red City, (31852) or Gus Fitzgerald, Kiltinan, (31354)
The Lotto Jackpot €9,200 was not won. The numbers drawn were 1, 13, 23 and 28. We had no match three winners. The following tickets drawn won €30 each: Paul Fitzgerald (Kiltinan, Fethard), Denis Burke ( Red City Fethard), Mary Newport (Congress Tce Fethard), Esther Breen (Barrack St Fethard), and Cian Maher (Dun Aoibhinn Fethard). The €50 Lucky Dip was won by Josie Fitzgerald (Kiltinan Fethard). We would like to thank Fethard District Credit Union for supplying the tickets.

Clocks Forward
Just a reminder that Summer Time comes into being this weekend. Do not forget to put the old timepiece forward one hour on Saturday night, 29th March.

'Loudest Whisper' back on Friday night
Music lovers will be pleased to here that the legendary Cork-based band, Loudest Whisper, will pay a welcome return visit to Butler's Bar Fethard on this coming Friday night, 28th March. The band is long established as one of Ireland's foremost contemporary originals, with their unique blend of folk/rock music. Like fine vintage, the Loudest Whisper sound has been fermenting since 1973 when Brian O’Reilly first wrote his acclaimed Celtic musical ‘The Children of Lir’.

Fethard Triumph in Irish Grand National
Fethard bred ‘Hear The Echo’ ran the race of his life to land the Powers Whiskey Irish Grand National at 33-1 on Easter Monday at Fairyhouse. The horse, bred by the late Nuala Delaney, Redcity, Fethard, and trained by Mouse Morris, Everardsgrange, Fethard, was a double success for the Fethard area and maintained the high success of local breeders in top races over the years.

This was another revisit to the Irish National winner's enclosure for Mouse Morris after ‘Hear The Echo’, carrying the colours of Michael O'Leary's Gigginstown House Stud, ran a 12-length victory over joint favourite Royal County Star. Mouse Morris said: “We were a bit disappointed with him at Leopardstown last time. I think you'd have to say he could be an Aintree horse for the future, he should have a chance next year.”

Winning owner Michael O'Leary was surrounded by photographers in the winner's enclosure as he posed kissing Morris on the cheek. "I'm divorcing my wife and marrying you instead!' remarked the smiling owner, before adding: "This horse had an interrupted preparation all along but credit to both horse and Mouse who got him here to run his heart out like that." O'Leary went on to say: "I have been incredibly lucky winning with War Of Attrition in the 2006 Gold Cup and now this, which is without doubt, one of those once in a lifetime great days."

60's Rock N' Roll Weekend for Charity
Lonergan's Bar, The Square, will host an exciting '6o's Rock N' Roll Weekend' on 4th, 5th and 6th April with live music, DJs, Finger Food, Fancy Dress and loads of craic! A €10 ticket will cover all the weekend events and all proceeds will go towards PAWS Animal Shelter in Mullinahone.

The weekend kicks of at 9pm on Friday 4th April with 60's DJ and live music by 'Midnight'; on Saturday from 9pm to closing you have a 60's DJ and the return of the very popular 'Elvis' show by Shane Devine; Sunday afternoon from 3pm to 7pm you'll have 60's DJ followed by 'Fancy That'. A great line up not to be missed . . . and all for a great cause!

Cloneen IJKA Karate Club

The Irish squad for the world Karate championships in Italy L to R: Michael Bergin, Claire Kennedy, Niall Quinlan, Tony Power, Enda Walsh and P.J. Moloney.

Cloneen Karate club has had a very good year. Three club members graded under Sensei Shihan Kato: PJ Moloney (Club Instructor) - 5th Dan black belt; Michael Bergin - 3rd Dan black belt; and Niall Quinlan - Pt Dan black belt.

The European championships were held in Hungary last summer where P.J. Moloney brought home three silver medals and Niall Quinlan one bronze.


Cloneen IJKA Karate Club members L to R: Niall Quinlan, James Moloney, Michael Bergin and P.J. Moloney.

The Italian open championships were held in Turin in October. P.J. Moloney, Niall Quinlan and Brian Mulcahy (Dungarvan) represented the IJKA National team and took gold in the Kumite (fighting) event.
The Irish open championships were held in Fermoy, Co. Cork, in March and Cloneen scored well with James Moloney winning three silver, David Lee winning three silver, Michael Bergin and Niall Quinlan each winning a gold medal.
Well done to all the juvenile members who graded during the year. Training continues every Thursday night at 7.3Opm in Cloneen Community Centre. The club is in its 14th year and new members are always welcome, young or old for fitness and training.