Fethard Townpark Masterplan ready to roll

Following many meetings with local club representatives and members of the Townpark committee, it is finally agreed to move forward with the ‘Masterplan’ for the Townpark, situated opposite the National Schools on the Rocklow Road and reaching over to Strylea.

The committee, currently consisting of representatives from Community Childcare, Fethard GAA, Fethard & Killusty Community Council, Acorn, St. Patrick’s Boys School, Nano Nagle National School and members of South Tipperary County Council, have carefully looked at the best way to use the land to full advantage for all the community. The Townpark will include a new badly needed childcare facility, playground, walking amenity areas, new sports field to held relieve the over demand on the GAA Park and Community Field. It will also be available to the local schools and the proposed plan will provide pedestrian access from Strylea to the local schools which will help in no small way to alleviate the heavy traffic on the Rocklow Road during school hours and provide a safer route to school for children.

The committee will now meet with the County Manager, who very kindly supported the project by making council land available to the community and facilitated the setting up of a committee with the help of council staff. This help is very much appreciated by all the Fethard community, particularly in these recessionary times.

Graduation

Cian Moloney, Prospect, Fethard, photographed with his parents, Maurice and Ann, on the occasion of his Graduation from UCC with Honours Degree of Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science and Zoology.

Fethard Youth Centre
Fethard Youth Centre opens this Friday night from 7.30pm to 10pm and on Saturday night from 7.30pm to 10pm. It has been suggested that Friday nights, from 7.30pm to 9pm should only cater for the younger ages of 13 to 15 year olds (or 1st Year to 3rd Year students) and from 9pm to 10.30pm for senior members. We are awaiting your views on this suggestion and to see how many new younger members come along and join the Youth Centre.

Oncoming events include the Sponsored Cycle leaving from the Centre at 2.30pm on this Sunday 27th September, and a ‘Table Quiz’ (with a difference) on Friday 9th October. Teams of four can enter now for €4. Lots of prizes.

Killusty Soccer

Killusty soccer team who were beaten by Bansha Celtic in their League Division 1 game played in Killusty last Sunday. Back L to R: Colm Coen, Shay Coen, Aaron Kelly, Noel Walsh, David Conway, Ronan Maher, Adrian Lawrence, Mick Smyth (The Well Bar, sponsor of new strip), George Williams (Manager). Front L to R: Ben Coen, Danny Shelly, Tony Shelly, Shane Aylward, Andrew Aylward, Ross Aylward, Dean Tobin, Martin Coen holding Matt Coen and Jake Coen.

New Tidy Towns Committee

A meeting to re-establish a new Tidy Towns committee in Fethard will be held on Monday 5th October in the Tirry Community Centre at 8pm. Fethard & Killusty Community Council would like to express their thanks to the former members of Tidy Towns for their great work over the years and who, for various reasons, were unable to continue. If you would like to get involved, please come along and tell your friends.

A guest speaker from Emly, winner of this year's National Tidy Towns Award, will attend the meeting to offer lots of Tidy Towns organisational experience and advise to help us get started again. Remember the date – Monday 5th October!

Horse Trials at Grove

Enjoying the Horse Trials at Grove last Sunday are L to R: sisters Megan and Leah Coen with their cousin Luke Coen.


Enjoying the Horse Trials at Grove last Sunday are Jimmy and Dee Smith with their children Zack and Sarah.

Ballyluskey White Heather Harriers
The White Heather Harriers have not enjoyed the best of luck since opening on Sunday September 6th at O’Shea’s Glen, Killusty. This proved a blank morning with not a fox to be found. From Kickham’s Tree the following Sunday matters were not much better. The huge plantation which took over an hour to draw proved blank. The adjoining fort held a brace. The pack split on these. By the time they were re-united with scent on the fox Donie had decided to go on was washed out with torrential rain now falling so home was blown. Little could be done with a fox in Tullowcussane Wood on Sunday last.

The Ballyluskey Members and Friends monthly draw commences on October 6th. The committee have installed holding tanks at the Kennels which incurred considerable expenses on the small pack. They look forward to the continued support of the loyal members of the draw. They are making a special offer this year of the six €5 monthly subscriptions for, the all-in price of, €20 for patrons who pay the full amount prior to 6th October. We cordially invite new members to join and look forward to the continued support of all without whose co-operation we could not carry on.

Cllr. Jimmy O’Brien Clinic

Cllr Jimmy O'Brien (right) photographed with Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny while in Clonmel promoting 'Yes to Lisbon' campaign. Also included are Cllr Joe Brennan; Mayor of Clonmel, Cllr Dinny Dunne; Deputy Tom Hayes T.D. and Cllr Joe Leahy.

Cllr. Jimmy O’Brien will re-commence his clinics in Fethard on this Friday, 25th September at 10am in the Fr. Tirry Community Centre, Barrack Street. They will continue each Friday, weekly at the same time and venue. Jimmy can be contacted on 087 691 4648.

Lisbon referendum

Photographed at Pat Cox, former President of the European Parliament and lead spokesman for the yes campaign to the Lisbon referendum, address to Clonmel Chamber of Commerce were: L to R: Austin Kenny, Aidan O'Dwyer, Tom Kenny, Don Davern and Benny Tynan.

Fethard & Killusty Community Lotto
The numbers drawn on 16th September were 5, 25, 28 and 32. We had no Jackpot winner and one ‘Match 3’ winner who won €150:
Aidan Kenny, Barrack Street, Fethard.
The three following Lucky Dip winners received €50 each:
Margaret McNamara, Knocktopher, Kilkenny;
Kathleen Kenny, The Green, Fethard;
Audrey Tynan, Kilnockin View, Fethard.
Next week’s Jackpot continues at €10,000 and the Jackpot sellers prize is €1000.

Fr. John Meagher OSA

Fr. John Meagher OSA who recently celebrated his 93rd birthday

Congratulations to Fr. John Meagher OSA who recently celebrated his 93rd birthday. Fr. John was professed in the Augustinian Order 75 years (1934) and was ordained in September 1939 and spent 22 years of his life as a priest in Fethard.

Coffee Morning in aid Childrens Hospital, Crumlin
On Friday next 25th September, from 9.30am to 12 noon, Fethard Guild will host a Coffee Morning and Cake Sale in the ICA Hall in aid of the National Childrens Hospital, Crumlin. The Coffee Morning is run in conjunction with Tipp FM and your support for this worthy cause will be very much appreciated.
We also remind members of our Federation Meeting on Monday night 28th September which will be held in New Inn at 8pm.

Fethard Macra Club

Fethard Macra members photographed at club officer training in the Green Isle Hotel, Dublin which took place recently. L to R: Una Shanahan, Julie Kennedy, Michael Moclair, Anne Kennedy, Anne Marie Kennedy.

Fethard Macra club members travelled to the Green Isle Hotel in Dublin recently for club officer training. Training was very beneficial for our new club officers and a great night’s entertainment was had with all our fellow Macra officers from all over the country.

Upcoming Events — The ‘Macravision’ (karaoke) competition and the Know Your Ag Quiz will take place in the Horse and Hound, Dualla on Friday, 25th September at 8pm. Best of luck to the Fethard boys and girl in the quiz! The final of the Macravision competition will take place in Kilmurray Lodge, Limerick on Saturday, 3rd October.
Fethard Macra will host a table quiz in aid of MS Ireland in Butlers Bar, Main Street, Fethard on Friday, 9th October at 9pm. This table quiz is open to all the public and all are more than welcome to attend. Spot prizes will be on offer on the night.

Fethard Macra are looking forward to the first South Tipperary Macra New Year’s Eve Ball which will take place in Kilcoran Lodge. The theme will be ‘black and white’. This promises to be a great night’s entertainment for both present and past Macra members from South Tipp and other counties. Tickets are priced at a recession busting €40 per person. The official launch of the New Year’s Ball will be in November. For further information contact Michael 0879019443.

Happy Birthday Hannie

Hannie Leahy photographed on the occasion of her 90th birthday

Congratulations to Hannie Leahy, Annesgift, a founder member of Fethard Country Markets, who recently celebrated her 90th birthday. Fethard Country Markets was established in 1947, and is the longest established Country Market in the country. Hannie is still very actively involved in the weekly operation held every Friday morning in the Town Hall and we wish her many more active years to follow.

Fethard Bridge Club Results
The results of Fethard Bridge Club game played on Wednesday 9th September, the first night of the new season, were:
1st Gross: Eileen Frewen and Noreen Evans;
2nd Gross: Berney Myles and Alice Quinn;
1st Nett: Nell Broderick and David O’Meara;
2nd Nett: Carmel Condon and Brendan Kenny.

The results of our game on Wednesday 16th September were:
1st Gross: Brigid Gorey and Betty Walsh;
2nd Gross: Berney Myles and Alice Quinn;
1st Nett: Anna Cooke and Bernie O’Meara;
2nd Nett: Eileen Frewen and Kathleen Kenny.
Next Wednesday 30th September, we play for the Free Sub Gross and the following Wednesday 7th October, for the Free Sub Nett. Anyone looking for a partner contact Berney Myles at 6132038.

John Byrne information
At a soccer match in Croke Park last year, I met a gentleman from Fethard who suggested that I contact you about a John Byrne from Fethard.


This photo from the Kenrick Collection of glass plates c.1900 shows a J. Byrne (captain), Fethard Handball Club, winners of the District Medal Tournament 1903.

I found a reference to John Byrne and his wife Mary in the 1911 census as living in the Valley, Fethard, and I believe this is the right one. I am enclosing a copy of a letter which gives more information. If you have any other information it would be very much appreciated. Yours sincerely, Derek McDonnell, Ballybailie, Ardee, Co. Louth. Email: ballybailie@hotmail.com

“First of all, thanks to Derek for offering to look into my mother's birthplace of Fethard, Tipperary County. Her maiden name was Mary Frances Byrne and she was born on May 27, 1919. She was the youngest of six children of John Byrne and Mary Walsh Byrne. Her father fled Ireland around 1920-1921 because of being ‘wanted’ by the British and left his wife and children behind. Eventually, her mother and the two sons went to America first and my mother and her three sisters stayed with their grandmother in Fethard, until about 1926-1927 when the four girls travelled by boat to New York. They were citizens of the United States by then, since their father had become an American citizen. I have been told that my grandfather, John Byrne, was a blacksmith and a handball champion for Fethard. When my sister visited Ireland in 1996, she actually found a pub owner in Fethard who knew of him and showed her clippings from some news about him. I had a cousin named Denny whose wife's name was May who lived in the house where my mother did and my sister visited them when she was there. I am told now that both are dead. It is a very small place, but it will be wonderful just to visit there. I have a photograph of the house that my sister took and maybe I can find it.”

McCarthys Gig

Photographed at Philip Donnelly at McCarthy's are L to R: Sarah Moloney, Kate Maher, Mike McCarthy, Laura Moloney and Hannah Quealy

Hunting News
Tipperary Foxhounds are now half-way through the Autumn Hunting Season and, hard to realise, the Opening Meet is now just four weeks away. Hounds have, to date, been out twenty-two mornings, starting operations on 15th August at Ballagh. Late harvesting has limited the country available, hounds for the first fortnight being confined to bog and woodland. The best weeks hunting in this time has been from 2nd September with excellent mornings. At Drom Wood on the 2nd; Kilnockin Road on 4th; Barne/Patrick’s Well on 5th; Georgesland on 7th with Liskeveen on the 10th being the best so far. A new tradition was started this season with three evening meets at 4pm at Longfield, Kilnockin Road and Quinlan’s Glen (Lisronagh). These proved most successful with very good hunting at Longfield and Kilnockin Road.

Two English visitors were surprised on a trip to Fethard to hear hounds hunting near the town. Locating the action at McCarthy’s Bog (from Kilnockin) they thoroughly enjoyed the sport and stated they would bring back good reports of the Tipperarys to their home pack, the famous Blencathra Fell Pack, known as John Peel’s Hounds.

Fethard Senior Rugby Team - first in over 70 years

The Fethard & District Rugby Club fielded a senior side this weekend, the first time in over 70 years that a senior rugby team have togged out for Fethard. As well as picking up much needed match practice in their opening encounter, the Fethard men also picked up their share of bumps and bruises against an experienced Clonmel side. The team Back L to R: John Smullen, Colm Shanahan, Cathal Gorey, Anthony Wall, Paul Scully, Hugh O'Connor, Niko Hoynes, Jeff Coady, Kevin Hayes, Dick Walsh, Paul Kavanagh. Front L to R: John Russell, Joe Hanley, Martin Murphy, Nigel O'Connell, Peter Collier, Richard Horan, Tom Anglim and Rich Lalor.
(Photos by Kieran Butler)


Playing his first game of rugby, Tom Anglim gets to grips with the game to stem another Clonmel attack


Hugh O'Connor is lifted clear of the opposition to win possession in the lineout for Fethard.


Cathal Gorey makes a superb single-handed pass to maintain momentum in Fethard's attack.


Anthony Wall looks to offload the ball to Martin Murphy before being taken into touch.