Inaugural Community Family Field Day a great success

Enjoying Fethard Community Family Field Day are Back L to R: Jamie Webster, Rebecca McGarry. Front L to R: Jenna Coen, Hayleigh O'Donohoe, Alex Lawlor and Leanne McGarry.

All the constituent clubs involved in the Community Field basked in glorious sunshine last Sunday. The day was a huge success financially with the Field Committee netting €6,500, more importantly however was the way we all worked together to make this a very enjoyable day in a uniquely Fethard way and demonstrated in a very practical way that a community working together can achieve literally anything.


Helping with the catering at Fethard Community Field Day were L to R: Tony Fitzgerald, Tommy Morgan, Mary Kelly and Kieran Butler.


Enjoying the Community Field Day in Fethard are L to R: Jerome Skeehan, Helen Skehan, Kenneth Sheehan and Dathi Maher

The Juvenile GAA Blitz was a major attraction with parents and coaches from all the local parishes cheering on the stars of the future. Mullinahone won the Danagher Cup, which was proudly presented to them by GAA Juvenile Secretary Ann Fleming, nee Danagher. Great credit to the Juvenile committee who were out on the field at 7am on the morning of the Blitz to mark out the pitches.


Ann Fleming presenting the Danaher Cup to Éanna Ryan, captain of Mullinahone Under-8 football team. Winners of the Under-8 football blitz at Fethard Community Field Day.


Mullinahone Under-8 football team, winners of the Under-8 football blitz at Fethard Community Field Day.


Tipperary and Fethard goalie Paul Fitzgerald presenting David Murphy, captain of Rockwell Rover, with Cup following his team's win in the Inter-Club Football Blitz at Fethard Community Field Day.


Pictured above is the U12 Rockwell Rovers players who attended Fethard Community Field Day last Sunday, 13th September, to play in an inter-club football blitz. The finalists were Rockwell Rovers and Ballingarry. The team was presented with a lovely cup from the Fethard GAA club and each player received a lovely gold medal as a memento of the day. Back L to R: Craig O'Connell, Raymond Kelly, Liam Fahey, Owen Cleary, Diarmuid Barron (goalie), Kevin Blair, Darragh Campbell, Kevin Cleary (mascot). Front L to R: Sean O'Connell, Tom Keating, Cillian English, David Murphy (captain), Conor Hickey, Walter Ryan, Colm Moloney and Fergus English. Well done to all the players. The referee was PJ Ahearn who did an excellent job.

The dog show also proved to be a great attraction, with beautiful dogs of all breeds, ranging from a Great Dane to a Bichon Frise. The ‘Best in Show’ category was won by Luke Grant, The Valley, with his Golden Retriever ‘Sammy’. All the prizes for the show were kindly sponsored by John and Marion Smullen of Moyglass Boarding Kennels. John and Marion can be contacted on: 087 2150900, and as the saying goes, board local, stay local.


John Smullen, Moyglass Boarding Kennels (Tel: 087 2150900), presenting the 'Best in Show' prize to Luke Grant and his dog 'Sammy' at Fethard Community Field Day Dog Show. L to R: Colm Grant, Luke Grant, John Smullen and Andrew McGuire


Waiting to enter the Dog Show at Fethard Community Field Day were L to R: Gary Lee with 'Timber', Sally Nagle with 'Patch', Siobhán Pollard with 'Daisy' and Cathal Slattery with 'George'.


Chelsey Kenny and her dog 'Daisy' at the Fethard Community Field Day Dog Show


Dog & Owner race


Darren Thompson, Orla Sullivan and their dog 'Elsa' at tthe Dog Show at Fethard Community Field Day

The Badgers Soccer Club did a great job on parking and traffic control and collected in excess of €2,500 in entry fees, your contribution to the success of the Community Field is greatly appreciated.
The Rugby Club members and friends outdid themselves again catering for the hungry hoards selling in excess of €4,000 worth of food, mainly burgers and hotdogs.


Enjoying Fethard Community Field Day are Back L to R: Evie O'Sullivan, Tamara Timlin, Slaney Ronan and Jean O'Donnell.


At Fethard Community Field Day were L to R: Sarah Neville, Evanna McCutcheon and Nicki Knowles


Rebecca Needham having fun at the Fethard Community Field Day

The pony rides were a huge hit with all the children, the team involved clocked up an estimated 30 miles in the course of the day. Thanks to the owners for supplying such beautifully quite ponies.
The party music was provided by DJ Jack Kenny, playing great music all day, even giving Brendan Boyer a spin with ‘I Ran All The Way Home’, he promised this scribe to include Joe Dolan next year. Our MC for the day was ‘Mr Fethard’s Sports Man’ himself Michaél McCormack, who kept the crowd entertained and informed all day. Jack and Michaél worked brilliantly together all day, thanks a million.

The Donkey Derby proved to be a great crowd pleaser with some heavy bets being placed on the different ‘Asses’. Burke’s Bridge Bar sponsored the winning donkey. The committee is grateful to all the local bars and businesses who continue to support this and other local events despite the difficult trading environment.


Darren O'Meara riding for Burkes Pub, one of the winners in the Donkey Derby


L to R: Andrew Maher and Colin Meagher preparing for the Donkey Derby


Shannon O'Brien at the Donkey Derby


Conor O'Donnell gets a helping hand at the Donkey Derby


Val O'Dwyer taking a tumble in the Donkey Derby watched by Stan Murphy.


L to R: James Harrington and Andrew Phelan who was a winner at the Donkey Derby


Photographed at Fethard Community Field Day are L to R: Tom Purcell, Elaine Purcell, Eileen Purcell, Breda Walsh and Joan O'Meara





Canon Tom Breen P.P. mingled with all the attendees and expressed his delight at such a wonderful community event providing great fun for all the families present, the kind of event, he said, which makes Fethard such a special place to live.

The Field Committee along with their constituent clubs are already planning on making the event better and more enjoyable next year and they wish to thank everyone for their support in making last Sunday such a success.

New Augustinian Prior

The Parish of Fethard & Killusty extend a warm welcome to Fr. Martin Crean OSA who succeeds Fr. Peter Haughey as Prior at Fethard Augustinian Abbey.

Fr. Crean was born in Limerick City on 12th May 1941 and was baptised in the Parish of St. Marys. His Primary and Secondary school education commenced at CBS, Sexton Street, Limerick, and from 3rd Year at the Augustinian, Good Council College, New Ross.
Fr. Crean entered the Augustinian Novitiate, Orlagh, Templeogue, Dublin, in August 1960 and was solemnly professed at Ballyboden on 16th September 1964. He later studied theology at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome and was ordained on 11th March 1967.
The following year, 1968, Fr. Crean travelled to work as a missionary in Nigeria where he remained until 23rd July 2001. He returned to Ireland and was appointed to Cork Community on 4th September 2001 where he served up to his transfer to Fethard on 1st September 2009.

We wish Fr. Crean an extended joyful stay with the Augustinian Community in Fethard.

Killusty Soccer Club
This year marks the 40th anniversary of Killusty Soccer Club. To mark this special event, the club has organised an anniversary dinner dance on Saturday, 24th October at the Park Hotel, Clonmel, at 8.30pm.


One of the Killusty soccer teams of the past . . . spot the faces!

The club has a rich history and has been an important part of life in Killusty village and surrounding areas over the years. At this event we hope to reunite former teammates, friends and neighbours, to relive the glory days.

During the evening, the club will honour our Tipperary Cup winning panel from ’89 –’90 treble-winning season. Tickets for the event cost €35, which includes a three-course meal, live band and disco. Tickets are available from all committee members, and we hope to see you all there.

The late Dinny O'Meara
The death has occurred on Tuesday 15th September, of Mr Dinny O'Meara, Grove Road, Fethard. Removal at 7.30pm on Wednesday 16th September from McCarthy's Funeral Parlour to Holy Trinity Parish Church, Fethard.

Requiem Mass at 11am on Thursday followed by internment in Calvary Cemetery. Donations if desired to South Tipperary Hospice.

Country Market growers feature well at Iverk Show
Congratulations to Dave Curran and Maura Meaney, members of Fethard Country Markets, who competed extremely well in their relevant sections, again this year, at the Iverk Show held in Piltown on Saturday 12th September.

Maura Meaney won the ‘Great Cherry Cake’ competition; first prize for the ‘Best Pot of Marmalade’; first prize for growing ‘Dwarf French Beans’; second prize for her ‘Round Potatoes’; second prize for ‘Best Light Fruit Cake’; and third prize for ‘Shamrock Boiled Fruit Cake’. Bernie Meaney also won second prize for her ‘Wholemeal Bread’.

David Curran won a total of twenty prizes in the ‘Farm Produce’ section of the show, which included nine first prizes in the ‘Vegetable’ and ‘Fruit’ sections, winning him the overall cup for the ‘Vegetable’ section.

Call to Fethard Country Markets at the Town Hall any Friday morning and you can buy this top quality home grown produce.

Walking tour of Fethard

Pupils from Cloneen National School photographed on a guided walk of Fethard Town Walls last weekend in Fethard. Also included are Mary Hanrahan, Fethard Historical Society, who gave the guided tour, and Ann Walsh, Principal Cloneen National School.

Fethard & Killusty Community Lotto
The numbers drawn on 9th September were 12, 20, 24 and 26. We had no Jackpot winner and one ‘Match 3’ winner who won €150:
P.J. Lonergan, The Square, Fethard.

The three following Lucky Dip winners received €50 each:
Rose McCarthy, Kilknockin View, Fethard;
Helen McGrath, Crohane, Killenaule;
Rory Walsh, Knockbrack, Fethard.
Next week’s Jackpot continues at €10,000 and the Jackpot sellers prize is €1000.

You can now also play our lotto online from your own computer by visiting www.fethard.com/lotto.

Please support Sponsored Cycle on Sunday 27th September
Volunteers are requested to take part in a sponsored 20-mile cycle on this Sunday 27th September starting from the Ballroom Car Park at 2.30pm. The route will be two laps from Fethard to Coolbawn, over to Moyglass and back to Fethard. Sponsorship cards are available from Paul Shanahan or any of the youth leaders. Proceeds will be used to help finance the Youth Café’s annual running costs, in particular over the winter months when electricity and heating is a premium expense.

Michael meets Clint!

Michael Fahy, Moyglass, photographed with American actor, film director, film producer, and composer Clint Eastwood (left) on a recent visit to Carmel, California, USA. Mr. Eastwood owns the exclusive Tehàma Golf Club, located in Carmel-by-the-Sea. The invitation-only club reportedly has around 300 members and a joining price of $500,000. He is an investor of the world famous Pebble Beach Golf Links. Eastwood is also the owner of the Mission Ranch Hotel and Restaurant, located in Carmel-by-the-Sea. He is an experienced pilot and sometimes flies his own helicopter to the studio to avoid traffic.

Fethard GAA Club News
South Intermediate hurling semifinal score was drawn at Carrick Davins 3-12, Fethard 1-18. Best for Fethard was Shane Walsh (from placed balls), John P Looby, Cian Maher, Eoin O’Connell, Aiden Fitzgerald and Miceál Spillane. The team was: J P McGrath, Michael Carroll, Michael Aherne, Declan Doyle, Aiden Lonergan, Shane Walsh 0-6 F, Jamie McCormack, John Paul Looby 0-1, Cian Maher 0-1, Eoin O’Connell 1-1, Aiden Fitzgerald 0-4 F, Johnny O’Halloran, Benny Hahessy, Miceál Spillane 0-1, Brian Coen 0-1. Subs were: Chris Sheehan, Dean Tobin 0-2, and Tomás Keane 0-1.

We were beaten in the replay on a score, Carrick Davins 3-13, Fethard 2-14. For Fethard, J P McGrath, Michael Ahearne, Aiden Lonergan, Eoin O’Connell and Aiden Fitzgerald were most prominent.
The Fethard team: J P McGrath, Michael Carroll, Mikey Aherne, Jamie McCormack, Aiden Lonergan, Shane Walsh, Cian Maher, John Paul Looby, Johnny O’Halloran, Eoin O’Connell 0-2, Aiden Fitzgerald 2-7 (7f), Brian Coen 0-3, Benny Hahessy 0-1, Miceál Spillane and Chris Sheehan. Subs were: Dean Tobin, Alan O’Connor 0-1, and Declan Doyle.

After a good year last year we surrendered our South title and a crack at the County series when we made our exit last weekend. Thanks to all involved for a wonderful year.

Fixtures to come: on this Saturday at 3.30pm we play the South U21 B Hurling semifinal in Monroe against St. Patricks Gaels and the Junior Football A quarterfinal against Carrick Davins is fixed for Kilsheelan on Tuesday 22nd September at 6pm.

Our Lotto Jackpot of €3,200 was not won. The numbers drawn were: 5, 9, 19 and 24. We had four match three winners who received €40 each: Brian Walsh (Baptistgrange, Lisronagh), Stephanie Johnson (Main Street, Fethard), Louis Coen (Killusty, Fethard), and Con Doyle (Woodvale Walk, Fethard). The €50 Lucky Dip was won by Conor Murray (c/o Abigail Doyle, Fethard). We thank Fethard Electrical for providing the tickets.

Hospice Collection
The local support group of South Tipperary Hospice would like to express their sincere appreciation to all who supported their recent annual church gate collection in Fethard, Killusty and Moyglass. The total amount collected was €1,808.87.

Family information wanted
I was just wondering if anyone might be able to help me or point me in the right direction. My name is Kieran Davin from Kilkenny and my great grandfather Michael Davin came from Fethard. He was born there around 1870 and worked at the Coolmore Stud, whatever it might be called then. He moved to Kilkenny and married a protestant and after that I believe he had no contact with his family. A sister of my grandfather told us that the Fethard family were obviously not happy with this and they had a priest in the family, which makes me think the priest might have been Jerome Davins brother. I have found some information and think they may be related. Anyway, I would be really grateful if you had any information or could point me in the right direction. Thank you Kieran Davin (email: ace@iol.ie).

Bennett information
I am a descendent of James Bennett from Fethard, Tipperary. James was my grandfather and he came to the United States circa 1915, settling in Brooklyn, New York. I know very little about him, but would love to find out if he had brothers or sisters and if they had children who had children.

Is there anyone in the town of Fethard who might be able to help me uncover information about my grandfather's family? I have discovered his date of birth and his parents' names. From my grandfather's death certificate, I learned that my great-grandfather's name was also James and my great-grandmother's name was Kathleen O'Dohany. I knew my grandfather had a first cousin, Frank Doheny, whom I think also lived in Brooklyn, NY, near my grandfather. Doheny appears to be an example of one of those (unfortunate) changes that often occurs to immigrants' names. Any help would be greatly appreciated. All the best, Kathleen M. Sheridan, Waltham, MA, USA. (email: kmsheridan@comcast.net)