Operation Transformation comes to an end
This Wednesday night brings an end to Fethard Operation Transformation and the final weigh-in will take place at Fethard Convent Community Hall from 6.45pm and the winner will be announced at 7.30pm. It would be great to see all the people who registered on the first week to come along to applaud the winner. Tea / coffee will be served and all are very welcome

Free Spirits Exhibition in Clonmel

Parent/Minder Toddler group
We remind all parents / minders of young children that the group meet in the Convent Community hall every Thursday morning at 11am. It is great to have a group like this in Fethard as it gives parents a chance to get out of the house and enjoy some adult conversation while their children play in a clean safe environment. All are very welcome to pop in any Thursday morning for a cup of tea and a chat. Cost is €2 per child.

Book worms take note
With the price of books increasing we would like to remind all book worms, young and old, that the public library is open upstairs in the Convent Community Hall every Tuesday afternoon from 3.30pm to 4.30pm and Tuesday evening from 7pm to 8.30pm. We will extend our opening hours in the coming weeks as the evenings get longer. There is a huge choice of books available to choose from so why not call down and join up.

Bandon Grammar School pupils visit Patrician Presentation Secondary School

Fethard pupils photographed with visiting pupils from Bandon Grammar School. Back L to R: Xavier Neville, Joshua Landzaad, Stevie Organ, Emma Young, Mark Bateman, Craig Pock, Amanda Landzaad. Middle L to R: Niamh Morrissey, Kelly Keating, Niamh Crotty, Hannah Tobin. Front L to R: Anthony Clare, Adam Fitzgerald, Clodagh Bradshaw, Kate O'Donnell, Eoghan Hurley and Thomas Channon.

On Thursday last, six pupils from Bandon Grammar School and two members of Bandon Walled Town Committee visited the school. The visit was organised by Mr Joshua Lanzeed from the school and art teacher Ms Pat Looby. The pupils visited the Museum in Clonmel where they viewed the 3D scaled model of Fethard produced by our 2012-2013 transition year pupils. They also met members of Fethard Historical Society, past pupil, Michael Costello, who mentored the group, and Liam Mannix of the Irish Walled Towns’ Network. The Bandon pupils are interested in making a similar 3D model of Bandon. Later, they were invited to lunch in the school and discussed the making of the model with the Fethard pupils. Thomas Channon, Adam Fitzgerald and Eoghan Hurley demonstrated cutting and modelling techniques to the Bandon pupils.

Study Skills
Workshops on Study Skills were recently held in the school by Student Enrichment Services Ltd. Students from 1st and 2nd Year had a three-hour session in the morning, followed by 3rd and 6th Years in the afternoon. Topics covered included: Goal Setting, Time Management, Note Taking, Memory Techniques, Essay Writing, Exam Techniques and the S.E.S Study Method. The reviews from students were, on the whole, overwhelmingly positive and we thank the Parents’ Association for assistance in funding the project.

Physical Education News
As part of our P.E. programme, our junior students are undertaking a Zumba dancing module and our senior students are completing a boxing module. Breda Kirby, a local Zumba instructor from Carrick-on-Suir has visited the school on numerous occasions. Zumba is a fusion of Latin Dance with aerobic exercise. Breda led the students and their teacher Ms Walsh through a number of fun energetic routines which they picked up very fast. The students thoroughly enjoyed each class and have got a great insight into this new exhilarating dance fitness sensation.

Also, our Fifth and Sixth Year students are currently completing a boxing fitness module led by local instructor Mark Ryan. It’s an excellent cardio workout for the students that helps improve their cardiovascular and endurance fitness through high intensity workouts. Well done to all the students participating and keep up the good work. Both modules are great stress relievers for our Third and Sixth Year students who have just begun their Pre-Junior and Leaving Certificate Exams.

Our First, Second and Third Year students have also registered for the Aviva Schools Fitness Challenge. Last week they completed their first bleep test and recorded their results. Over the next four weeks the students hope to improve their fitness and will complete the test again mid-March. Best of luck to all involved.

Gaeilge
On Tuesday, February 4, the Dublin based company, ‘High Rock Productions’ with brothers Seán and Niall MacDonagh visited our school with the show ‘Caith Amach É’. The first half of the show included the acting-out of the 20 Sraithphictiúr (picture sequences) for the Leaving Certificate Irish Oral Exam. This involved very enjoyable interactions with the students. After the Sraithphictiúr and a short break, the pupils took part in a workshop. There was an emphasis on oral participation by the pupils in this workshop with much humour and pupil-centred activities. This was a thoroughly enjoyable, worthwhile and beneficial experience for our pupils.

Entrance Assessment
The Entrance Assessment for next year’s First Year Class took place on Saturday last and we look forward to working with these pupils and their parents over the coming years. Thanks to the Parents’ Association, teaching staff and the ancillary staff of the school for all their help with the event.

English Department
The School Community and the First Year Class under the guidance of their English Teacher, Ms McKeogh will soon take part in the One Book One School Project. The book chosen for the project is Sky Hawk by Gill Lewis. The project is directed by Ms Sinéad Burke who is the school’s School Completion Programme Co-ordinator. There will be more news on the project in future editions of the jottings.

Fethard February Sports Achievement Award

Special guest, Jimmy O'Shea, presenting the Butler's Bar Fethard Sports Achievement Award for February to Bridget O'Dwyer. Also included is M.J. Croke (left) representing February sponsor, Cashel Motor Works. Bridget is leader of the phenomenon ‘Operation Transformation’ which has taken Fethard by storm.

The winner of the Butler’s Bar Fethard Sports Achievement Award for February 2014 was Bridget O’Dwyer. Bridget is the leader of the phenomenon ‘Operation Transformation’ which has taken Fethard by storm recently. At the last count she had 77 people signed up for her detailed fitness programme run on a weekly basis.


Photographed at the Butler's Bar Fethard Sports Achievement Award for February are L to R: Bridget O'Dwyer (winner), Sarah Standbridge and Mollie Standbridge.

The award was presented on Friday night last at Butler’s Bar by local GAA personality and special guest Jimmy O’Shea. Jimmy retired from playing in 1974 and managed both the U21 and senior football teams for over 20 years. In this time as manager he won seven senior titles and reached two Munster finals, losing both to Cork teams. At Under-21 level he won two separate three-in-a-row titles, the first of which was winning both south and county titles from 1966 to 1968. Jimmy served as treasurer of Fethard GAA Club for sixteen years and chairman for three years. The February award was sponsored by Cashel Motor Works.


Pictured above are some of the nominees for the Butler's Bar Fethard Sports Achievement Award for February L to R: M.J. Croke representing sponsors Cashel Motor Works, Sean Kelly representing his son Harry Kelly, Mia Treacy representing her father Billy Treacy, John Fogarty representing his son Joe, Bridget O'Dwyer, Bernard Feery and special sporting guest Jimmy O'Shea.

Fethard & Killusty Community Lotto
The numbers drawn on March 5 were: 4, 11, 13 and 22. We had no jackpot winner and one ‘Match Three’ winner who received €150: Cathy Trehy, Kilnockin, Fethard.

The three following ‘Lucky Dip’ winners received €50 each: Mary Shelly, Moyglass, Fethard; Frances Lonergan (senior), Woodvale Walk, Fethard; and Christy Aylward, c/o Tom Purcell.

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, March 12. The Jackpot is €8,350 and the Jackpot seller’s prize is €835. All proceeds go towards community work in Fethard.

GAA Sports Lotto
There was no winner of the GAA Sports Lotto jackpot this week. We had five match three winners who received €30 each: Margret Lyons, Grangemockler; P.J. Aherne, Prospect; Michael Sheehan, Killusty; Nicky O’Shea, Killusty; and Patsy Lawrence, Woodvale Walk, Fethard. The winner of the €50 lucky dip was Mary Coen, Killusty. Next week’s jackpot is €3,600 and the draw will take place in The Well Bar on March 11. Thanks to all for your continued support.

Dancing on St. Patrick’s Night at Fethard Ballroom

Fethard and Killusty Community Council’s Ballroom Committee pictured at the official reopening function held on St. Patrick’s Night, March 17, 1993. L to R: Peter Grant; Vincent Doocey; David O’Donnell; Chris O’Dwyer; Bobby Phelan and Joe Keane.

Dancing at Fethard Ballroom will take place on this coming Monday Night, St. Patrick’s Day, March 17, to the music of ‘Pat Hogan’. All are welcome to come along and enjoy a great night’s entertainment and social dancing. Dancing 9pm to midnight and admission is €8 which includes tea and cakes. This is the 21st anniversary of the reopening of the Ballroom under Fethard community, which took place on St. Patrick’s night, March 17, 1993. As a result please note that dancing this weekend will take place on Monday night and not on the usual Sunday night.

Community Games prepare for another exciting season
Fethard and Killusty Community Games are now preparing for another exciting season. The following are the dates for upcoming county finals:

Cross Country will be in Thurles Crokes Athletic Club on Friday, April 4, at 7pm. Entries on the night and fee is €2 per head. Events are U12 Boys and Girls, U14 Boys and Girls, U16 Boys and girls, mixed distance relays with a panel of six on each team, U13 Cross Country 1200m, Mixed (5 boys and 5 girls) on panel of ten competitors. Anybody interested just arrive on the night.

Swimming events are: Girls Swimming in Clonmel Pool on Saturday, April 5 at 2pm; Boys Swimming in Clonmel Pool on Sunday, April 6 at 2pm. Closing date for entries at area level is March 20. Events for boys and girls are as follows: U8 one length freestyle; U10 one length freestyle and one length backstroke; U12 two lengths freestyle, backstroke and breaststroke; U14 two lengths freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke and butterfly; U16 two lengths freestyle, backstroke and butterfly; U13 squad (4 x one length freestyle); and U16 squad (4 x 50m medley). Please email your entry to peggycolville@gmail.com or ring 086 8110768 before March 20.

The Art venue is Presentation Secondary School in Clonmel on Saturday, April 26, at 2pm. Art entries will be collected in both Holy Trinity NS and Killusty NS on March 20. Age groups for art events for boys and girls are U8, U10, U12, U14 and U16. If a child would like to enter but is not going to either of these schools please ring 086 8110768 to arrange for collection

Gymnastics venue is Moyle Park Sports Complex, Monroe, Lisronagh, on Monday May 5. Tag rugby U14 semifinals are Drangan v Silvermines, and Cashel v Fethard and it is proposed to play these games in mid April.

Teams for U10 Mixed GAA, U11 Hurling, U12 Girls’ GAA and U14 Camogie have all been entered for the Summer Games Programme and the draw for same will be made shortly.

Playground popular with Fethard’s young folk

Tony McGarry, Woodvale Walk, photographed on their way to Fethard Playground with L to R: Natasha McGarry, Sean Thompson, Nicole Vaughan and Leanne McGarry.

Fethard Playground opened its gates for use on December 7 last and ever since has grown steadily in popularity among Fethard’s young folk and their parents. Even the cold weather hasn’t deterred families from making their way to use the fantastic facility for the town. While passing last weekend I could count at least thirty people in the playground which is a great tribute to the organising committee and the funding and support from South Tipperary County Council and Tipperary Development Company.

New Tipperary Rangers annual gathering
The committee of the New Tipperary Rangers invite all to their annual gathering at their monument erected at Noan, East Ballinure, on Saturday next, March 15, at 2 pm. The gathering will remember the neighbours, past and present, to say a prayer and have a chat about our proud heritage from this wonderful swart of land in this pleasant part of South Tipperary. It would be lovely to see those not living in the parish to make a small effort to come along, and who knows, you’d never know who you might meet. Tiobraid Árann Abu.

Fethard Girls Rugby cake sale
Please note we are home next Sunday, March 16, for a morning of rugby kicking off at 10.30am. Please may we ask families to support our Fethard Girls’ Rugby fundraising on Sunday morning, March 16, in the clubhouse.

Died recently
The death has occurred on Monday, March 10, 2014, of Sr. Winnie Kirwan, Presentation Convent, Fethard, and late of Ballinure, Thurles, in South Tipperary General Hospital, Clonmel.

Sr Winifred, deeply regretted by her sister, Noreen Cooke (Thurles), her brothers Michael and Paudeen, brother-in-law, sisters-in-law, aunts, uncle, nieces, nephews, grand nieces, grand nephews, cousins, relatives, community and friends. May she rest in peace.

Reposing in the Presentation Convent Chapel on Wednesday, March 12, from 4pm to 7pm. Funeral Mass on Thursday, March 13, in the Holy Trinity Parish Church, Fethard at 1 pm followed by interment in Calvary Cemetery. "Ar dheis Dé go raibh a h-anam dílis."

Unusual finish to Ballydine Meet
The Tipperary Foxhounds had a most unusual finish to a hunt from Bawnmore from their Ballydine meet on February 19. Running towards Longfield hounds were at fault in a roadside field on Mr John O’Connor’s. Huntsman Derry Donegan discovered that Reynard had sought refuge in a thicket on one of the lawn’s Lime trees. Better still, 2½ couple of hounds had managed to climb to the thicket with the leading hound by now at least 15 feet above ground. What goes up must come down, so they say, but hounds were unable or uninclined to descend from their lofty perch.

With the hour, however, came the man, whipper-in Gavin Shorten quickly dismounted. Going aloft like an old time sailor on a sailing ship by some manner or means he soon had the hounds and himself back on ‘terra firma’ and Charlie remained in his lofty perch. Well done Gavin.

Huntsman Derry Donegan and some veteran followers said that while a fox has sometimes been put down from a Lime tree they had never witnessed a fox, much less five hounds ascend one.

Town Wall funding – the good and the bad

With all funding reduced drastically we've had some good news from Jonathan Flood, Executive Planner with South Tipperary County Council, that he has managed to secure €15,000 under the Planning Section budget for Fethard Town Wall works for this year. Jonathan also managed to get the Town Walls membership fee to be included in the Planning Section budget. This is additional to the €15,000 mentioned above.

Eoin Powell, Senior Executive Engineer at South Tipperary County Council, is hoping to appoint a contractor to complete the road marking works in the next 2-3 weeks. The budget for this is also independent of the €15,000 mentioned above.

The bad news is that the Heritage Council funding is very tight for this year’s walled town capital works. South Tipperary will have four towns looking for funding and is it very likely that only one town will succeed in getting some funding.

Hunting season comes to a close
Another season has come and gone with the storms and rain during the final month of February being anything but favourable for hunting. Great credit due to the huntsmen and whippers-in of both the Tipperarys and White Heathers, and indeed of all packs for doing their utmost in almost impossible conditions. No day’s hunting was lost though home was blown early on a number of days with the elements winning hands down.

The Tipperary Foxhounds finished their season with a childrens’ meet at Kilcooley on Saturday, March 1. The Ballylusky White Heathers finish their season with a meet at Kildimo, West Limerick, by invitation on Saturday next, March 15, at 12 noon.

The Ballylusky White Heathers are currently promoting their annual draw and tickets are available from any committee member.

The Tipperary hunting season officially ended with Seamus O’Dwyer’s, Suirview Harriers, hunting festival. Five different packs from Cork (2), Westmeath, Laois and Seamus Kelly’s Jessfield Harriers keeping the Tipperary flag flying high with a good day from Kilcommon on Saturday, March 8.

Great for the future of hunting to see so many young teenagers, both girls and boys, and indeed more, so many veterans climb Tipperary hills at Upperchurch, Templederry and Kilcommon in such style.  
— (EAN)

Died in England
The death has occurred on February 19, 2014, of James O'Connell, Hornchurch, Essex, UK, and formerly of Coleman, Fethard. James father was father was Michael O’Connell, Crampscastle, and his Mother was Ellen (nee Ryan) Boolagh, Killusty. He was one of a large family raised at Coleman, Fethard, that includes Mary (Hopkins), Tommy, Josie (Gildea), Joe, Margaret (Croke), Connie, Peter, Nora (Heffernan), Jackie, Michael, Paddy and Billy O'Connell.

Our sympathy to James’ wife Eleanor and their three sons living in Hornchurch, also to his extended family living at home, England and Australia. Requiem Mass took place in St. Mary's Catholic Church, Hornchurch on Friday, February 28, followed by interment in Upminster Cemetery.

Parish Novena in March
The Fethard & Killusty Parish annual Novena will take place from Saturday, March 22, to Sunday, March 30, inclusive, starting at 7pm on Saturdays and Sundays and at 7.30pm from Monday to Friday nightly in Fethard Holy Trinity Parish Church and your attendance would be very much appreciated. Please mark the dates in your diary.

Month’s Mind Mass
The month's mind mass for the late John Cloonan will be held in the Abbey Church, Fethard, at 7.30pm on Saturday, March 15.

Fethard & District Rugby Club

Fethard U7s
U7s continued their fine run. Harry Barton worked well with Sam Wyse and Lee Delany and Ned O'Meara set up tries for Troy Delany. Fine tagging from Sean Fitzgerald and Bill Smyth helped set up plenty of tries made by Cody Grogan, Gavin Neville and Sam Austin.

Fethard U8s
U8s had three games and our tackling machines of Andrew Wall and Pairic O'Connor worked well with Sam Rowan to score their tires. Sean Nash and Sam Coen were tough tackling. Youngsters Charlie Walsh and Adam Ruttle followed suit with constant tackles and great passing. Newcomer Ivan Movchan is improving with every game. Thanks to Thomas Murphy and Tommy Anglim for their great work.

Fethard U9s win 6-4
Fethard beat Clonmel in their first game with superb rucking from David McCormack and Jack Quinlan and great dashes up the line from Daithi Hogan and Matt Coen ably assisted by Paraic Heffernan, Mark Neville (Stringer). Tackling was superb from Tom Smyth, Joseph O’Flynn and Padraig O’Dwyer. The scrums and lineouts were outstanding with Louis Ryan and Tomás Ryan to the fore.
The second game was tougher with Cashel throwing everything at us. It took our team a while to adjust but when they did they excelled and won 7-3.

Fethard U10s
An understrength Fethard U10 team mustn’t have had their Weetabix as they went down 5-2 to a well drilled Clonmel team in Cashel in their first match. In the second match Fethard rediscovered their form with tries by Ben Ruttle and James McCormack helping us beat Clonmel 3-1 in a hard fought win. Johnny Gleeson and Michael Ryan set up tries for James Ryan and Ben Ruttle. In the third and final match against Cashel two tired teams played out a pulsating 3-3 draw.

Fethard U11s
Fethard U11s took on Clonmel in their first game and played with great spirit and determination. This game ended 0-0 draw and was a spectacle to watch. In the second game they came out on top against a Cashel side. This was a great performance from all of players. Luke Fox tackled and rucked well and was ably assisted by Killian O’Keeffe who has improved with every game. Shane Neville turned over opposition ball and Josh Rowan always threatened with his determined running and got his just reward with a try. Conor Walsh saw a gap and ran 30 yards to score a great try. In the backs Michael Scully showed great leadership and set up Robert Wall who made one of his now famous runs to score. Toby Collier and Robert Barton showed great courage and determination. Aidan Fitzgerald always looked dangerous and Sean Ryan always looked for the break and was willing to support. Well done!

Fethard U12s
Sam Quigley rucked superbly in Cashel and was toughness personified at the break down. The dry day allowed fastball and the games were physical. Eoin Walsh drew admiration with his ability to penetrate defences. Matt Burke worked well in tight and Ethan Coen gave a master class in open field tackling and scored two long-range tries.

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.