| Fatal Fire at Fr. Tirry Park
 A fatal fire at 2am on Friday 16th May, claimed the life of a young man, Joe Grant, at Fr. Tirry Park, Fethard.
Joe, who was in his mid forties, tragically died in the blaze at the house which he was minding for his sick mum Margaret while she was in hospital. It is less than a year since Margaret also lost her husband Paddy. The victim's brother Willie, who lives with his family in Wicklow, traveled to Fethard to be with his mother.
The scene was preserved for technical examination which was ongoing all through Friday.
Funeral arrangements are as follows: Reposing at McCarthy's Funeral Parlor from 5pm to 7pm on Wednesday 21st May followed by removal to Holy Trinity Parish Church, Fethard. Requiem Mass at 11am on Thursday followed by interment in Kilfeacle Cemetery.
In happier times, the late Paddy Grant and his wife Margaret photographed outside their house and garden at Fr. Tirry Park.
Community Lotto ONLINE
The Fethard & Killusty Community Lotto is now online and we invite all our readers to take part and support us PLAY ONLINE TODAY
The Fethard & Killusty Community Fundraising Lotto draws which run on a weekly basis play a huge part in the fund raising efforts of our community. Local projects supported to date include: Convent Hall, Youth Project, Fethard & District Day Care Centre, Town Hall, Slí na Sláinte Walking Trail, Fethard Heart Safe Project, Christmas Lights, Town Wall Floodlighting & Walled Towns Day Festival, Historical Society Medieval Trail, Resident’s Associations, Foróige Youth Club, Community Sports Field, Fethard & Killusty London Reunion, Senior Citizens Club and ACORN Childcare Project.
We encourage all of our neighbours and community to play the Fethard & Killusty Community Lotto. We also hope that we can all work together to promote this lotto and help get back in touch with people from the Fethard & Killusty Community, Tipperary who may now be living all over the world. Subscribe to our Newsletters >>
Aerial Photographs
New Housing development at Kerry Street photographed on Wednesday 14th May 2008.
Killusty Village photographed on Wednesday 14th May 2008.
Historical Outing to Baptistgrange
The long evenings are here and the Fethard Historical Society open their summer evening outing programme on Tuesday next, 20th May. The group will meet up at the Town Hall at 7.30pm and people will pool transport if needed.
The focus of the evening will be visits to locations associated with order of The Hospital of St. John the Baptist who had a huge presence in the Fethard area after the coming of the Anglo-Normans to this part of Ireland. In recent times, major new discoveries have been made as to the involvement of the ‘Hospitallers’, in the town of Fethard especially, but also at their other lands and property scattered across the county.
The outing will visit Baptistgrange, a few miles south of the town, and as the name suggests, this was also a ‘grain farm’ or ‘grange’ associated with the Order. A fee of €3 will be taken up and all and sundry are very welcome to come along.
First Holy Communion
Congratulations to the following boys and girls from Nano Nagle Primary School and St. Patrick's Boys School, Fethard, who received their First Holy Communion on Saturday 10th May: Eboni Burke, Laura Butler, Jordan Coen, Amy Cowlard, Aisling Gorey, Megan McCarthy, Róisín McDonnell, Rebecca McGarry, Erica McGrath, Amy Needham, Amye O’Donovan, Vanessa Pyke, Tara Regan, Carly Tobin, Courtney Walsh, Harry Butler, Jesse McCormack, Cameron Roberts, Mark Hayde, Adam Dorney, Liam Quigley, Jack Spillane, Jack Ward, Bradley Phelan, Dylan Lyons, Shane Curran and Eric Fogarty.
Sponsorship Appeal for Presentation Sisters
On Monday 2nd June the Flora Women’s Mini Marathon takes place in Dublin. The Presentation team of Srs Betty, Juliana and Winnie, is this year being generously assisted by Alice Butler, Kilnockin. Their participation and the sponsorship raised will bring much needed relief to the Presentation Sisters in Zimbabwe, who are living in an extremely stressful political situation with all the consequent hardships. All contributions will be much appreciated.
Fethard & Killusty Community Council
The next meeting of Fethard & Killusty Community Council will take place on Tuesday 20th May at 8.30pm in the Tirry Community Centre.
Fethard Bridge Club
We played for the Lucey trophy on Wednesday 7th May and on Wednesday 14th May we played for our President's Prize. All the winners will be announced at our President's Prize dinner on Friday 16th May at the Fairways restaurant.
Our AGM will be held in the Tirry Centre on Wednesday 21st May at 7pm. We hope to see a lot, if not all, our members there. The AGM will be followed by our last game of the season.
Slievenamon Golf Club
Slievenamon Golf Club (foreground) photographed in the valley of Slievenamon on Wednesday 14th May 2008
Fethard GAA Club News
On Sunday last in Kilsheelan we were defeated in the first round of the county championship by a Commercials team that on the night were far superior in most departments. The final score was Fethard 0-8, Clonmel Commercials 2-9. Having started the game with four injuries from the previous game we were really struggling and were 2-1 behind after 10 minutes. But battle we did right up to the end without reaching the heights we had displayed against Moyle Rovers. Our only salvation in 2008 Senior Football is to win the South Championship that will resume in a few weeks. Team was: Paul Fitzgerald, Aiden Lonergan, Damien Byrne, Ian Kenrick, Benny Hahessy, Michael Ahearne, Cian Maher, Jamie McCormack, Eoin Doyle, Declan Doyle, John P Looby, Michael Dillon, Brian Coen 0-7 (6f), Aiden Fitzgerald 0-1, Glen Burke. Sub used was Christopher Sheehan for Declan Doyle. We wish J.P. McGrath the very best with the County Minor footballers in the Munster semifinal against Limerick on Wednesday 14th May. J.P. is also is our club senior football sub goalie.
Intermediate Hurling resumes this Friday evening 16th May when we play Ballyneale in Cloneen at 7.15pm. We would like to congratulate Eoin O’Connell on his display with the County Minor Hurlers in beating Limerick in the first round in Thurles and we wish him the best in the year ahead.
J.P. McGrath (left) who is on the Tipperary Minor Football panel and Eoin O'Connell who plays on the Tipperary Minor Hurling team.
Thanks to all those who have renewed their County Board Draw Membership and to the promoters who will be out selling on the road for the next two weeks. You may also join the draw with any promoter or by contacting any club officer.
The Annual Disabled Drivers Church Gate Collection will be held this weekend 17th/18th May we ask you for your continued support.
This week’s Jackpot €9,900 was not won. The numbers drawn were 5, 15, 27 and 32. We had one match three winner who received €150: Frankie Coffey (Burke Street, Fethard). The €50 Lucky Dip was won by Rita Doyle (Woodvale Walk, Fethard). We would like to thank AIB Fethard for supplying the tickets.
Died Recently
The death has occurred in Witney, Oxford, England of Maureen Ryan, formerly from The Kennels, Cloneen. Interment took place in Oxford.
Dance in aid of Hospice
The Mick Aherne Perpetual Trophy Dance Competition will take place in Fethard Ballroom on Saturday next 17th May from 8:30pm to midnight. All proceeds will go towards South Tipperary Hospice and we ask for your support.
Three Tenors for Abymill
Ireland’s greatest voices, the fabulous Three Tenors, will perform their fantastic special show in the Abymill Theatre on Saturday 7th June at 8.15pm. Come along and hear David Martin, John Scott and Declan Kelly perform some of the world’s most popular songs from Elvis, Sinatra, Bocelli, Pavarotti, Lloyd Webber and much more! This tour is a nationwide sell-out so early booking is advisable. Booking is at O’Flynn’s Menswear, Burke Street, Fethard. Tel: 052 31254.
Fethard Bridge Club
We played for the Lucey trophy on Wednesday 7th May and on Wednesday 14th May we played for our President's Prize. All the winners will be announced at our President's Prize dinner on Friday 16th May at the Fairways restaurant. Our AGM will be held in the Tirry Centre on Wednesday 21st May at 7pm. We hope to see a lot, if not all, our members there. The AGM will be followed by our last game of the season.
Fr. Michael helps put Borrisoleigh online
Fr. Michael Barry, originally from Tullamaine, Fethard, has been working hard over the past twelve months to create a community website in his new parish of Borrisoleigh. Fr. Michael, together with a local enthusiastic committee, finally launched their site last week and it is a credit to their efforts. The site can be viewed at www.borrisoleigh.ie
Fethard Connection with Kentucky Derby winner
 No one knows Kentucky Derby winner ‘Big Brown’ better than Michelle Nevin, daughter of Michael Nevin, a former jockey who trained in Fethard and New York, and granddaughter of trainer Richard Nevin, Ballintemple, Fethard. Michelle is the exercise rider for the unbeaten Kentucky Derby winner ‘Big Brown’ and has ridden the big bay colt more than 100 times and remains awed by his graceful stride and powerful running style. “The horse just floats over the ground,” Michelle said following Big Brown's final workout before Saturday's Derby. “You don't feel like you're going that fast at all. He just lengthens his stride. It’s very smooth. It’s very comfortable. He’s like a powerhouse underneath you.”
Michelle, when asked her age replied, "Do I have to say?" She was born and raised in Fethard and moved to the United States at “around 17” and wanted to become a jockey but wasn't small enough. Michelle also worked horses for Irishman Leo O'Brien and Kieran McLaughlin. After freelancing for a few years, she’s worked for trainer Rick Dutrow for “six of seven years”.
Big Brown had a crowd of 157,770, the second largest in Kentucky Derby history, on its feet and cheering as the unbeaten, muscular bay crossed the winning line some four and three-quarter lengths ahead of the runner-up Eight Belles, who was later put down, after breaking both front ankles, about a quarter mile past the finish line.
Big Brown is owned by Michael Iavarone and Richard J. Schiavo, both New York residents; trained by Rick Dutrow, the top trainer in New York in 2001 and 2002 in terms of wins; and was ridden in the Derby by jockey Kent Desormeaux. On Saturday, Big Brown will race in the $1 million Preakness Stakes, as the only 3-year-old with a chance to become the first Triple Crown champion since Affirmed in 1978.
Fethard & Killusty Community Lotto
The numbers drawn on Wednesday 7th May were: 4, 5, 16 and 23. We had no Jackpot winner and four ‘Match 3’ winners who received €40 each:
Brendan Kenny, St. Patricks Place, Fethard;
Joe Dolan, Ballyvin, Lismore;
Olive Curran, Woodvale Walk, Fethard;
Rory Walsh, Knockbrack, Fethard.
The three €50 Lucky Dip winners were:
Seamus Doherty, Clonmel;
N. Stokes, c/o D. Stokes, Fethard;
Martin James Ryan, Lismortagh, Killenaule.
Next week’s Jackpot continues at €10,000 and the Jackpot sellers prize is €1000. PLAY ONLINE TODAY
Fethard Convent Hall Youth Project needs your vote
Fethard Community Council’s Youth Project in the Convent Hall is one of three AIB Branch projects short listed for the AIB Better Ireland Programme. The Convent Hall is presently being renovated as a dedicated Youth Centre and is expected to be completed by September this year at a total cost of approximately €500,000.
The Youth Project now has a chance of winning €10,000 with your support by texting FETHARD followed by B to 53099. Each text vote cost 60c and all proceeds (less operator charges) will go back towards our project. So the more votes we get the more money we get! We ask for your support by spreading the word and making that important ‘text’ on our behalf. The other two groups in our section are the ‘Fethard Community Playgroup’ and the ‘Millennium Family Resource Centre’ (Glengoole). Voting takes place from 6th May to the 6th June 2008.
Convent Hall (top left) photographed on Wednesday 14th May 2008
Fethard & Killusty Community Council purchased the hall from the Presentation Sisters some years ago and, following a feasibility study undertaken by Tipperary Institute, identified the greatest community need in Fethard was the provision of a dedicated Youth Centre. The project has already received support from South Tipperary County Council in the form of a substantial grant of €100,000 for which the committee are most grateful. The success of the project will also depend on the appointment of a full time youth officer who will be based in the hall.
Sadler’s Wells to retire at Coolmore
 Coolmore Stud announced the retirement of their best know stallion, ‘Sadler’s Wells’, on Monday 12th May 2008. The legendary stallion has been retired from stud duties at the age of 27 due to declining fertility. Sadler's Wells has stood at Coolmore Stud since 1985 and produced 69 individual Group One winners including Epsom Derby winners Galileo and High Chaparral. He also sired the three-time Champion Hurdle winner Istabraq.
Coolmore manager Christy Grassick said: “I think Sadler's Wells is generally acknowledged as the best sire Europe has ever seen and we feel very privileged to have been associated with him. Despite his advancing years, he is still in remarkably good condition and I hope he enjoys a long and happy retirement. His influence will be felt for many years to come and in Galileo, Montjeu and High Chaparral, we are delighted to have his three best sons at Coolmore.”
Town Hall face lift
The Community Council have been informed that the Housing Section in South Tipperary County Council have made provision for the painting of the Town Hall in their budget for this year and that tenders will be sought shortly in relation to this work.
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