The Poetry and Wit of Oliver St. John Gogarty

Ulick O’Connor will appear at the Abymill Theatre in Fethard on this Friday, February 28, in his one-man show, ‘The Poetry and Wit of Oliver St. John Gogarty’. Tickets at €10 each are available from Austin O’Flynn Tel: 087 1338961; Bob Lanigan Tel: 086 1742442; Susan Archdeacon, ‘Town and County’, The Square, Fethard, Tel: 086 8553318 or (052) 6132805. The show starts at 8pm.

Gogarty was one of the leading figures of the Irish Literary Renaissance, which reached its peak in the middle of the nineteenth century. Out of it came writers like W.B. Yeats, James Joyce, Sean O’Casey, George Bernard Shaw and Samuel Beckett.  It was a striking moment in Irish history and has left behind a significant body of creative work.

Students qualify for regional Junk Kouture

Fethard Patrician Presentation Secondary School's two entries that qualified for the Junk Kouture Southern Regional Final which will take place in the University Concert Hall, Limerick, on Friday, March 14. L to R: Kiya Lawrence modelling 'Candy Crush' and Katie Whyte modelling 'Arctic Queen'. VOTE BY CLICKING HERE and then the 'Click Here To Vote' and then selecting the 'SOUTH' area where you will find the Fethard 'Patrician Presentation' entries – 'Arctic Queen' and 'Candy Crush'.

This year two outfits from pupils at Fethard Patrician Presentation Secondary School qualified for the Junk Kouture Southern Regional Final which will take place in the University Concert Hall, Limerick, on Friday, March 14, at 7pm. The students, who created their outfits completely from thrash/rubbish ready for the bin, have been working on their designs for several months.

The first outfit, ‘Arctic Queen’, is made from hundreds of plastic milk cartons, old belts, recycled paper and was created by Orla Walsh, Louise Fitzgerald and Katie Whyte who is also modelling the dress in the regional final.

The second outfit, ‘Candy Crush’, is made from sweet wrappers, crisp bags, old Christmas lights, and was created by Annie Prout, Alannah Coady and Kiya Lawrence who is modelling the outfit.

All entries are now promoting their outfits using online voting which is worth 10% of the students’ overall results. This online idea is to give their entries some exposure to the general public and to carry the message, ‘Re-Use, Re-Cycle and Re-fashion’, which is what Junk Kouture is all about. Online voting takes place between 9am on Monday, February 24, and midnight on Friday, February 28, at www.facebook.com/ERPIreland

Died Recently
The death has occurred on Saturday, 22nd February 2014, of Michael Cranitch, Ballinard, Fethard.

Michael, deeply regretted by his loving wife Mary, his son Michael, his daughter Ciara, son-in-law Kevin, daughter-in-law Anne Marie, grandchildren, relatives and friends. Rest in Peace.

Reposing at his residence on Sunday from 4pm to 8pm. Funeral Mass in Cloneen on Monday at 12.30pm followed by burial in the adjoining Cemetery. Family flowers only. Donations in lieu to South Tipperary Hospice.

Died Recently
The death has occurred on Monday 17th February 2014, of Breda O'Dwyer (née Maher), Woodhouse, Fethard. Reposing at O'Connell's Funeral Home, Killenaule, this Wednesday evening from 5pm to 7.30pm, arriving at St. Joseph the Worker Church, Moyglass, at 8pm. Requiem Mass on Thursday at 11.30am followed by burial in the adjoining cemetery.

Died Recently
The death has occurred on Thursday 20th February 2014, of Mary Grace (née Culligan), College Avenue, Clonmel, Tipperary / Tramore, Waterford. Peacefully at her residence, Mary, pre-deceased by her husband Paddy, sadly missed by her loving family Michael, Caroline, Patricia, Paul, Fiona, Deirdre, Niall, Cora and Tony, her brothers and sisters, grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, relatives and friends. Rest In Peace.

Reposing at McCarthy's Funeral Home, Fethard, this Saturday from 6.30pm with removal to the Holy Trinity Parish Church at 8pm. Funeral Mass on Sunday at 11am followed by burial in Calvary Cemetery. Family Flowers only. Donations in lieu to the South Tipperary Home Care Team.

Died Recently
The death has occurred, peacefully, of Kathleen Barry (nee Cahill), Tullamaine, Fethard, on Tuesday, February 18, 2014.

Kathleen, beloved wife of Jimmy and loving mother of Seamus, Kay, Tom, Michael, Eamonn, John, Mary, Noel and Paul, deeply regretted by her brothers, sisters, brothers in law, sisters in law, sons in law, daughters in law, nieces, nephews, grandchildren, relatives and friends. Rest in Peace.

Reposing at McCarthy's Funeral Home , Fethard on Thursday from 4.30pm with removal to the Holy Trinity Parish Church at 7.30pm. Funeral Mass on Friday at 11am followed by burial in Calvary Cemetery. Family flowers only. Donations in lieu to 'End of Life Care' at South Tipperary General Hospital.

Died Recently
The death has occurred on Monday 17th February 2014, of Breda O'Dwyer (née Maher), Woodhouse, Fethard.

Reposing at O'Connell's Funeral Home, Killenaule, this Wednesday evening from 5pm to 7.30pm, arriving at St. Joseph the Worker Church, Moyglass, at 8pm. Requiem Mass on Thursday at 11.30am followed by burial in the adjoining cemetery.

Patrician Presentation Parents' Association Table Quiz
The annual Patrician Presentation Parents' Association Table Quiz in aid of the Lourdes Diocesan Pilgrimage will be held in the Convent Community Hall at 8pm on Monday, February 24, and all are welcome to come along.

Enrolment Application Forms for Holy Trinity NS
Application forms for enrolment are now available from Holy Trinity National School. They may be collected or if you ring they can be posted to you. Please feel free to contact the school if you wish to discuss any matter concerning your child starting school. Phone number (052) 6131493. Looking forward to hearing from you.

Fundraising for Concern

Pupils from Holy Trinity National School, Fethard, who raised €565.87 for Concern

Pupils from 3rd Class at Holy Trinity National School were very active raising funds for Concern recently. They organised a school day-long fast in school along with their teacher and school secretary, Mrs Ann Darcy, who fasted for 24 hours. A total of €565.87 was raised for Concern.

Concern are currently helping over 24 million people in 26 different countries including Sierra Leone, Uganda and Haiti Work where work is urgent and on-going. For every donation of one euro, 89.8 cent goes directly towards their work in developing countries.

Operation Transformation off-track by bad weather
Due to the bad weather last Wednesday we felt is was wise to cancel Fethard Operation Transformation weigh-in. We are sorry if anyone missed out on our text to say it was cancelled. We are back on track again for this Wednesday night for weigh-ins starting from 6.45pm.

Leader Biddy is very aware that often on a week where a weigh-in is missed it can throw people off track, so, even if you feel you had a bad week, please do still come along on Wednesday night and get back on track.

Fethard affected by bad weather

Storm damage at David Guiry's farm at Peppardstown, Fethard, where a roof was blown off his barn.

Many areas in Fethard were affected by the bad storm on Wednesday, February 12, with certain areas losing their electricity supply for days and others lucky to have no interruption to their supply. Many roads were impassable due to the amount of trees falling with the Moyglass Road particularly badly affected. Most roads from the town were blocked at some stage and great credit is due to the dedicated team of people who were involved in removing the fallen trees and keeping the roads open for school runs etc. Local schools were closed on Thursday and Friday due to lack of heating and electricity.

Local farms and businesses were also affected with damage to buildings and fallen trees. Some reports of roofs being blown cleanly off farm buildings were received. All-in-all this storm was one of Fethard’s worst in living memory. Here’s hoping that our summer will be one of the best!
One of two trees that fell at Calvary Cemetery, Fethard.


ESB Power lines and trees down at Rocklow Fethard.

A birthday party with a difference
Fethard Convent Community Hall had a birthday party with a difference last Sunday when our birthday girl Hannah had a ‘Pamper Party’ for herself and her friends and it went down a treat. The girls had their hair crimped, their nails painted with glitzy colours and lovely nail art added, tried lip gloss, lip stick, and even had their favourite boy bands named on their face.

Local girl Tara Mullins and her friend Lucy are available for ‘Pamper Parties’ and they also offer ‘Craft Parties’ for your children. Tara is a fully qualified make up artist and is studying early childhood studies at the moment. The girls offer different themed parties catering for children aged 4 to teenagers. Tara can be contacted at Tel: 086 3120053 and comes highly recommended from the girls’ at Sunday’s party.

Parent / Minder Toddler group
Fethard's Parent/Minder Toddler group takes place in the Convent Community Hall every Thursday morning at 11am. This is a great chance to escape the housework for an hour and have some adult conversation with a cup of tea / coffee while the children play in a clean safe environment. €2 per child. This is a community group and needs your support to survive. All are very welcome

Community Library
Just a reminder to everybody that Fethard Community Library is open every Tuesday afternoon from 3.30pm to 4.30pm and Tuesday night from 7pm to 8.30pm. Opening hours will be extended once evenings get brighter and the weather picks up. 

Biddy celebrates her 80th birthday

Biddy (Fitzgerald) Kearney photographed with her brothers and sister on the occasion of her 80th Birthday Party at Lonergan's Bar. Back L to R: Michael, Tony, Ollie, Jimmy. Front Mary, Biddy and Dick Fitzgerald.

Our congratulations to Biddy Kearney, St. Patrick’s Place, who celebrated her 80th birthday with family and friends at Lonergan’s Bar on Saturday, February 8. Biddy has worked in Lonergan’s Bar for over 40 years and the previous owners, Paddy and Ann Lonergan, were some of Biddy’s many friends who turned up to celebrate her special birthday. Many of the people who worked with Biddy over the years also turned up to wish her well.

Biddy is a daughter of the late Johanna Fitzgerald, St. Patrick’s Place, who died in 1950 at the young age of 30, and the late Paddy Fitzgerald who died in 1982 aged 70. Johanna and Paddy had eight children Dick, Biddy, Ollie, Jimmy, Pat (RIP), Mary, Michael and Tony. Following the death of their young mother Biddy played a huge role in rearing her siblings at their home in St. Patrick’s Place.


Biddy (Fitzgerald) Kearney photographed with her family on the occasion of her 80th Birthday Party celebrated at Lonergan's Bar. Back Dominic, James, Mary, Tom. Front L to R: Breda, Biddy and Joan.

Biddy married Frank Kearney in 1958 and had seven children of her own Mary, Tom, Joan, James, Francis, Breda and Dominic. Biddy lost her son Francis in 1996 at the young age of 32. Francis also worked for many years in Lonergan’s. Biddy’s husband Frank died in 2003, aged 70, the same age as her father when he died.


Biddy (Fitzgerald) Kearney photographed with her extended family on the occasion of her 80th Birthday Party celebrated at Lonergan's Bar.

Biddy is always in great humour and a great lover of music as can be verified by her regular attendance at the music sessions in Lonergans. At her party she had music supplied by ‘Kenny Ryder & The Rockin Rebels’ who added greatly to the festive occasion enjoyed by her extended family and friends present. Proprietors of Lonergans, John and Roseanne Carroll, also acknowledged Biddy’s great service to the establishment and presented her with a bouquet of flowers. One of Biddy’s highlights was the surprise visit of her great grandnephews and nieces who travelled from England to be in Fethard for the occasion. We wish Biddy many more year’s happiness and good health for the future.


Photographed at Biddy Kearney's 80th Birthday are L to R: Bridget Ryan, Eileen Hogan and Edel Mulcahy.


L to R: Ruth Higgins, Biddy Kearney and Doris Higgins




Sisters Eileen (Carey) Connolly and Maura (Carey) Tynan at Biddy's 80th Party.


L to R: Fiona Dorney, Seamus Dorney and Valerie O'Donovan





Biddy Kearney (centre) with two of her previous work colleagues at Lonergan's Bar, Irene Sharpe (left) and Eileen Connolly.


L to R: Steve Steele, Nicola Kemp, Rachael Fitzgerald, Claire Fitzgerald, Maggie Fitzgerald holding baby Lola Fitzgerald.


L to R: Claire Morrissey, James Kearney, Mary Morrissey and Tyler Kearney.

Fethard Athletic Club AGM
The AGM of Fethard Athletic Club will take place in McCarthy's Hotel on Friday February 21, at 9pm. All are welcome.

Social Dancing at Fethard Ballroom
Dancing at Fethard Ballroom on this coming Sunday Night, February 23, to the music of ‘Sam O’Doherty’. All welcome to come along and enjoy a great night’s entertainment and social dancing. Dancing 9pm to midnight and admission is €7.

St. Vincent De Paul help for Confirmation
Anyone who may need St. Vincent De Paul’s help for Confirmation on Friday, March 14, are asked to please contact any member of the conference as soon as possible.

Fethard & Killusty Community Council
The next meeting of Fethard & Killusty Community Council will take place on Tuesday, February 25, at 8.30pm in the Tirry Community Centre. The main discussion item will be implementing the next stage of setting up an effective community CCTV system in Fethard.

Fethard & Killusty Community Lotto
The numbers drawn on February 12 were: 4, 10, 29 and 31. We had no jackpot winner and no ‘Match Three’ winner so the following three drawn tickets received €50 each: Kitty O'Donnell, Slievenamon Close, Fethard; Josie Boland, Rathkenny, Drangan; and P. Russell, Ballydonnell, Mullinahone.

The three following ‘Lucky Dip’ winners received €50 each: Christine Brett, The Valley, Fethard; Majella Daly, c/o Anne Daly; and John Coonan, Glencarra Close, Clonmel.

Remember you can purchase your lotto ticket online at fethard.com. Buy seven weekly tickets and get one free! Check on the website for lots of special offers. Next week’s draw takes place on Wednesday, February 19. The Jackpot is €7,900 and the Jackpot seller’s prize is €790. All proceeds go towards community work in Fethard.

The Village Inn, Moyglass

Photographed at The Village Inn, Moyglass on Valentine's Day are L to R: Tony Curran, John Lacey, Paddy Shelly, Mick Fahey and Tom Shelly

GAA Sports Lotto
The numbers draw this week were: 7, 21, 24 and 28. We had no winner of the jackpot and two match three winners who received €75 each: Tom McCarthy, Derryluskin, and the Fitzgerald Family, Kiltinan, Fethard. The winner of the €50 lucky dip was Jimmy Walsh, New Ross. Next week’s draw will be held in McCarthys Hotel on February 18, with a jackpot of €3,300. Thanks to all for your continued support.

Minis rugby back in action
It was great to get back playing rugby this weekend following our recent spell of bad weather. Our minis travelled down to Waterpark last Sunday with small numbers. Our Under 9s played a great match against Waterpark with a small but tough panel. In particular, Michael Phelan ripped ball and rucked over to provide good support with Daithi Hogan’s quick hands and great tackles. Andrew Wall’s constant tackling and good recycling resulted in several tries. Tomas Ryan and David McCormack were fearless and passed balls to Padraig O'Dwyer who scored tries.

Special praise to Sean Fitzgerald in the Under 7s team who shone at Waterpark with his great passing and strong running to get over the try line.

Fethard U12s played an expansive game against Waterpark. Matthew Burke showed drive with his fine ball carrying to set up some nice tries. Iain Harrington was quick robbing of the ball, direct passing and, assisted by Mark McCormack, put in great tackles. Lucy Murphy gave solid support on the wing and Emma Jane Burke on the opposite wing provided great ball handling skills and fine runs.  Aidan Fitzgerald was a fine back and showed find speed and tackling.

Well done and thank you to our hosts and all who travelled. A special thanks to Aisling, Aine and Tommy for their help. See you all at training on Friday evening from 6.45pm to 8pm. New members are always welcome so come along and enjoy the fun a game of rugby has to offer. Next Sunday, February 23, we are away to Thurles for all ages in the minis for U7s, U8s, U9s, U10s, U11s and U12s

Fethard U14s first cup match
Fethard played their first U14 cup match away to Thurles on Sunday, February 16, captained by Padraig Harrington. This was a tough encounter with both teams coming close to scoring in the first few minutes. Three breakaway tries in the first half by Patrick Scully and Jack O'Rourke relieved the pressure and Fethard led 17-3 at half time.
Some substitutions were made, Barry McGrath who was having brilliant game made way for Frank Meagher. In the second half Fethard increased the pressure with Danny Gleeson dominating in the lineout winning and with great combination play between Joe Carroll and Jack O'Rourke scored a try in the corner. Joe then added another try with a great run down the side-line. In the final minutes Peter Wall placed precision kick for Baylea Grace to run on and score his first try for Fethard. Final score Fethard won 34-3. Well done for a great team performance.

Fethard News
Items for inclusion on the weekly Fethard News page on The Nationalist can be emailed before noon on Mondays to news@fethard.com or delivered by hand to Joe Kenny, Rocklow Road, Fethard.