Died Recently
The death (sudden) has occurred on Monday, April 28, 2014, of Claire Sullivan (nee O'Halloran), Woodvale Walk, Fethard.

Claire, deeply regretted by her loving husband Connie, her sons Shane and Mark, her daughter-in-law Mary and her grand daughter Grace, her sisters Patricia and Frances, relatives and friends. May she rest in peace.

Reposing at her residence on Wednesday, April 30, from 5pm to 8pm. Funeral Mass on Thursday in the Holy Trinity Parish Church, Fethard at 11am followed by burial in Calvary Cemetery.

Social Dancing at Fethard Ballroom
Dancing at Fethard Ballroom on this coming Sunday Night, May 4, to the music of ‘Tommy Carroll’. All 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.

Closing Date extended to Thursday 1st May

Bunny Hop resumes
The Bunny Hop mornings have now resumed at Fethard Convent Community Hall on Monday mornings from 10am to 11am. Bunny Hop is a music and movement group devised especially for babies and young children. To join or for information contact Nicola 087 6742401.

Young Robert leads the way

Twelve-year-old Robert Hackett who returned six trout, the most trout caught on the day by any angler

Fethard and Killusty Angling club held their annual competition on the Anner on Sunday, April 20. Conditions on the day were less than favourable with bright sunshine and a brisk east wind, this along with high water made fishing very difficult. However, twenty-one trout were returned for the weigh in by the twelve competing anglers. Included was twelve-year-old Robert Hackett who returned six trout, the most trout caught on the day by any angler.


Fethard & Killusty Anglers photographed at the presentation of prizes after their day's fishing on The Anner

First prize for the John Sayers Trophy went to Sean Maher, 2nd prize for the Tom Shea Cup went to Albert Adcock, who also won the John O’Donnell Cup for heaviest trout, 3rd prize for the Eddie O’Neill Cup went to Matty Fleming. The juvenile winner was Robert Hackett who on the day showed a few of the old timers how it’s done.

80's Music this Saturday Night at Lonergans
This coming Saturday night Lonergans Bar have a night of 80's music and dancing with the brilliant 'Twisters Disco' & DJ Roger. Originally from Fethard, Roger started DJing in 1983 learning his skills from supporting many 2FM DJs of the day that came to Ballingarry in the 80s which included his hero DJ pioneer Vincent Hanley of MT USA fame. Since then Rogers DJed on radio stations Centre 101 FM, WLR FM & Tipp FM, DJing in venues in Dublin, Cork and London. If this DJ can't get you dancing no one can . . . a night not to be missed!

Yoga Classes
A six-week session of Yoga Classes will commence in the Tirry Centre on Monday, April 28, at 8pm. These classes are suitable for beginners and intermediates. Some benefits of Yoga practice are: it improves strength and flexibility., helps to detox the body, destress the mind and increase energy.

For further information and booking please contact Peg on 086 3027927

Thank You to the people of Fethard

Teddy Morrissey photographed with family members at the benefit night in Clonmel Park Hotel. Back L to R: Alice Stapleton, Paul Morrissey, Martina Morrissey, Becky Fogarty, Teddy Morrissey, Tara Clancy, Jean Morrissey. Front L to R: Dave Morrissey, Bridget Morrissey, David Morrissey and P.J. Morrissey. (Photographs taken by Larry Kenny)

There are a lot of things that can be said about living in a small town. Many of these are negative. It cannot be easy living in your neighbours pockets or knowing everyone’s life story or in the case of many Fethard people, being related to more than half of your parish. But for every negative, there's a positive and there are undoubtedly many positives about Fethard that deserve to be celebrated.

This weekend, the people of Fethard came out in their hundreds to support one man, my father Teddy Morrissey. A benefit night was organised in the Clonmel Park Hotel by some of Teddy's best friends. The night was extremely successful and the atmosphere was unlike anything I have ever experienced before. The sense of community on the night was next to none as Teddy's friends and family members from near and far participated in waxing and head shaving challenges. Many bidders fought for great prizes, kindly donated by local businesses as local auctioneer John Stokes took bids. Music by local DJ Kumar Mehta had the whole ballroom dancing as Teddy himself gave an outstanding ACDC impersonation. Many donated money on the night and hundreds of raffle tickets were sold which saw many people take home great prizes.


Jessica Bradshaw having her hair cut by Caroline Corbett and Mikey Fitzgerald at the Benefit Night for Teddy Morrissey

Teddy said a few words on the night which inspired the entire crowd and showed the strong, enthusiastic spirit for which he is known.
For me, the night was a heart-warming reminder that small communities have the power to do amazingly big things when they pull together and I have never been so unbelievably proud to call myself a Fethard native. On behalf of myself and my family, I would like to extend a thank you to every single person that attended the event; those from near and afar; those that went home bald and those who held their tears as they were waxed; to everyone who donated, bought raffle tickets and bid on great prizes and to all of the local businesses who donated items and to the Clonmel Park Hotel for having us.


Photographed at the Benefit night for Teddy Morrissey at Clonmel Park Hotel are L to R: Niamh McGrath, Fiona Crotty and Dylan Maher

Of course there are those that must be thanked on a larger scale for their exceptional efforts. A massive thank you to Kumar Mehta for providing great music that had the entire town playing air guitar. To John Stokes who upped the ante at the auction and got great prizes sold. To Laurence Kenny for photography and of course, an exceptional thank you to the men that organised the entire event, Declan Lonergan, Johnny Lawlor, Niall Walsh, Keith Culligan and Shane Kenny or as they were known on the night, ‘Teddy's Crew’.

But ultimately the biggest thanks goes to Teddy himself whose big heart and unconditional friendship to all brought the entire community together for one big celebration. It was once written that the value of a person’s life is directly related to the number of people they positively affect. Seeing the amount of support that Teddy has received in the last few weeks has proven that he is a living legend, a man that above all else, believes in the importance of friendship and family.

To the people of Fethard, your support has been amazing. As a family, we are touched by the efforts of every single last person that's offered a hand or some kind words at this time. May you always be loved and welcomed home by a community bounded by camaraderie and may you never forget the days that you spent in a small walled town in Tipperary. Thank You!

— Becky Fogarty

Photographed at the Benefit night for Teddy Morrissey at Clonmel Park Hotel are L to R: Niall Cronin, Amie O'Brien and Nigel O'Brien


Photographed at the Benefit Night for Teddy Morrissey L to R: Jeff Coady, Jillian O'Connell and Leanne Sheehan.


James Smyth having his head shaved by his father Jim Smyth


Becky Fogarty and P.J. Morrissey


L to R: Eoin Tynan and Teddy Morrissey


Teddy Morrissey photographed with friends

























































Fethard Athletic Club
Easter weekend brought with it glorious sunshine and a host of races to be enjoyed. Well done to three of our lady members, Ginny Hutton, Biddy O’Dwyer and Imelda Vaughan who took part in the Callan United 10K on Sunday, a tough hilly course but the beaming sun made it one fabulous day for a run. Personal bests recorded by all, I believe, keep it up ladies!

Training continues each Monday and Friday evenings at 7.15pm at the ballroom car park, new members, both runners and walkers are always welcome. So, come along and enjoy those long balmy summer evenings doing something that's both social and really good for you.

Rapunzel Foundation

Presentation to Lucy Whyte, 1st Year, who got her hair cut short recently and donated the hair to the Rapunzel Foundation which financially assists children and adults with alopecia who wish to wear a secure, comfortable, natural-looking human hair wig. Lucy is pictured with Principal, Mr O'Sullivan and Deputy Principal, Ms Fogarty

Congratulations and well done to Fethard Patrician Presentation First Year Pupil, Lucy Whyte, Coleman, for her recent kindness to the Rapunzel Foundation. Lucy very kindly had her beautiful blond hair cut recently and donated it to the Rapunzel Foundation of Ireland. The Rapunzel Foundation is an organisation working to boost the level of hair donation in Ireland. It financially assists children and adults with alopecia who wish to wear a secure, comfortable, natural-looking human hair wig: a wig which will allow the child to engage in all aspects of their childhood, from swimming, horse-riding, gymnastics to the everyday rough and tumble of being a kid with every day living.
Ian O’Connor of Tipp FM, who heard of Lucy’s deed kindly organised a small presentation to Lucy in the school in recognition of her good deed.


A cake designed by Transition Year students at Patrician/Presentation Secondary School and presented to the Dungarvan staff on their recent visit. Pictured with the cake are Orla Walsh and Louise Fitzgerald who decorated the cake with their Home Economics teacher, Ms. Maher.

Fethard and Killusty Community Games
Well done to our U10 mixed football team on their 5-6 to 2-8 victory over St. Pat’s, Drangan Cloneen, on last Wednesday evening. All team members performed well with each player contributing to this great success. Those who scored were: Shane Lawrence 2-2; Conor Neville 1-2; Seán Moroney 1-2; Charlie Hackett 1-0. Fethard were due to play Ardfinnan in round two of the championship but unfortunately are unable to field a team so Fethard are now looking forward to round three.


Fethard and Killusty Community Games U10 Mixed GAA Team. Back L to R: Conor Neville, Thomas Donegan, Jack Quinlan, Shane Lawrence, Dara O'Meara, Michael James Phelan, Michael Flanagan. Front L to R: Charlie Hackett, Seán Moroney, Nicole Delaney, Cáin Hall, Lilly O'Mahony, Heather Spillane, Kelly Ryan and Luke Dolan.

The following competitors have all been entered for the county final of the Art Competition which will take place in Presentation Secondary School, Clonmel on Saturday next, April 26:

• Under 8 Girls Aoife Harrington and Freya Byrne;
• U10 Girls Anna Collier and Amy Morrissey;
• U12 Girls Jennifer Phelan and Annica O’Connor;
• U14 Girls Jessica Gainford and Megan Hackett;
• Under 8 Boys Evan Moore and Leo Malchinya;
• Under 10 Boys Charlie Hackett and John Coady;
• Under 12 Boys Matthew Burke and Kieran O’Donnell;
• U14 Boys Peter Wall and James Doyle.

The competition will commence at 2pm so it is advisable for the participants to be there in good time and they must supply all their own materials. Entry fee of €2 will be collected on the day. The Presentation Convent is on the right hand side of the road between Irishtown and the Dungarvan road roundabout.

Fethard & Killusty Community Lotto
The numbers drawn on April 16 were: 9, 13, 18 and 27. We had no jackpot winner and one ‘Match Three’ winner who received €150: Margaret Dunne, Ballycullen, Mullinahone.

The three following ‘Lucky Dip’ winners received €50 each: Kathleen Connolly, The Valley, Fethard; Molly Cleary, c/o Kitty O'Donnell; Theresa Fenlon, c/o Mary Sayers, Crampscastle, Fethard.

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, April 23. The Jackpot is €9,250 and the Jackpot seller’s prize is €925. All proceeds go towards community work in Fethard.

Bianca Fundraiser - Musicals of the Night
Thanks so much to everyone who supported 'Musicals of the Night 'in The Abymill Theatre last week. It was a most enjoyable night and a big thank you to all the performers under the direction of Stefan J. Doyle; to Gary and Paul from Waterford City who captivated the audience with their renditions of 'If I were a rich man', ‘Reviewing the Situation', 'Major General' and 'Accustomed to her Face' and to Ciaran with that beautiful voice singing ‘Bring him Home’ and ‘The Impossible Dream’. Stefan's ‘Send in the Clowns’ was very lovely and we also thank Holly Jean Williamson and Diarmuid Vaughan for their memorable duets and solo performances; and the lovely Ciara Butler who tore at the heartstrings with 'Castle on a Cloud'. Thanks to Mark Fitzgerald who being the great guy he is stepped in at the last minute to fill in the chorus. Thanks to local businesses and all the sponsors of spot prizes, and to Austy O’Flynn, Christy Mullins and Joe Kenny - we are forever in your debt. Michael and Trish and all their family are truly grateful for all your help in this tough time.

Died Recently
The death has occurred on Monday, April 21, 2014, of Mrs Lizzie Sheehan (nee Kealy), St. Patricks Place, Fethard, peacefully at home.

Elizabeth (Lizzie), sadly regretted by her sons, Pat, Michael, Eddie and Thomas, her daughters Elizabeth, Mary, Josie and Annette, her brothers Jimmy and Bill Kealy, her sons-in-law, daughters-in-law, grandchildren , great grandchildren , extended family and friends. May she rest in peace.

Reposing at her residence on Wednesday April 23, from 4pm to 8pm. Funeral Mass on Thursday at 11am in Holy Trinity Parish Church, Fethard, followed by burial in Calvary Cemetery. Family flowers only. Donations if desired to South Tipperary Hospice.

This week's 'Blast from the Past' – 50 years ago

The first Fethard Carnival was held in 1926 to raise funds for building the new parochial house. This annual festival has still survived up to now, 2014, and we can now have a glimpse back 50 years to the 1964 Fethard Carnival thanks to the photographic talent and foresight of Mr Donal O'Sullivan, Main Street, who captured these clips on cine film – long before video cameras ever existed. Many well know Fethard faces are easily identified.

Articles for Emigrants’ Newsletter
We are now inviting submissions of articles and photographs for inclusion in this year’s Emigrants’ Newsletter which will be published in November this year. Articles or photographs can be submitted to Joe Kenny, Rocklow Road, Fethard, or by email to newsletter@fethard.com

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.