Design a Medieval Hat’ competition
Photographed are the ‘Design a Medieval Hat’ competition winners at Holy Trinity National School L to R: Ms Patricia Treacy (Principal), Nell Spillane (3rd), Andrea Pike (1st), Emma Jane Burke (2nd) and Ms R�is�n Ryan (teacher).
‘Design a Medieval Hat’ competition was part of this year’s Fethard Medieval Festival held on June 22. The competition was organised to raise awareness of costume from that time and all entries were on display in Holy Trinity Church of Ireland on the day. To work out their design, pupils looked at medieval hats as depicted in paintings from the 14th to 16th centuries, ranging from Northern Renaissance artist Van Eyke to the medieval French manuscript miniatures. The prizewinners were 1st Andrea Pike, 2nd Emma Jane Burke and 3rd Nell Spillane.
Brodeen Stitchers raffle for Tidy Towns
The Brodeen Stitchers had their annual raffle for Tidy Towns recently and the following are the winners of the many and varied prizes.
1st Blanket, Dolores Fenton; 2nd Painting, Liam Hayes; 3rd Whiskey, Mary Danaher; 4th Candles, Joan Heffernan; 5th Cushion, Alice Lawrence; 6th Whiskey, Wendy Allen; 7th Painting, Fionnuala O’Sullivan; 8th Cushion, Larry O’Keeffe; 9th Painting, Mary Newport; 10th Cushion, Anne Horan; 11th Cushion, Annie Ryan; and 12th Cushion, Jimmy Connolly.
A huge thank to all who supported this worthy venture.
Festival Duck Race results
The results of the Fethard Business & Tourism Group’s ‘Duck Race’ at Fethard Festival was as follows: 1st €100 to David O’Brien; 2nd €50 to Marie Smith; and 3rd €30 to Jimmy O’Meara.
Teddy Bear's Picnic
Parents and children enjoying a 'Teddy Bear's Picnic' at Fethard Playground Park after their Bunny Hop morning held on Monday morning at Fethard Convent Hall Community Centre.
Holocaust Survivor to lead Famine 1848 Walk, July 26
The annual Famine 1848 Walk takes place in Ballingarry on Saturday, July 26, at 3pm. The starting point is the National Flag Monument in the village of The Commons and the Walk concludes at the Famine Warhouse, the State national heritage site. The Walk covers a distance of one-and-a-half miles.
The Walk commemorates all those who died during the Great Famine and the 1848 Rising which took place in Ballingarry in the middle of the Famine. This year the Walk will be led by Holocaust Survivor, Tomi Reichental who has lived in Ireland since 1959. He will speak on his personal experience of the Nazi Concentration Camp Bergen-Belsen and the Holocaust in which six million Jews were murdered including thirty-five members of his own family. Light refreshments will be served. All are welcome.
Community Games
Best of luck to the Fethard and Killusty under-12 girls football team who will play Cara, Co. Waterford, in the semifinal of the HSE Community Games Munster Finals in University of Limerick next Saturday, July 5.
Kate O'Connell, grand-daughter of Bill O'Sullivan, Perryville, Fethard, photographed after she won the U10 100 metres event at the Dublin Community Games
Ladies Football County Final
Best of luck to our Under-12 Ladies team who will play Galtee Rovers in the County A Football Final in Cahir on Monday, July 7, at 6.30pm. This is their first time competing in a final at ‘A’ level and your support would be much appreciated.
We also send our best wishes to the Community Games Under-12 girls team who play in the Munster Finals on Saturday next.
Killusty Soccer Club back training
Training for Killusty Soccer Club will begin next Sunday, July 6, at 11.30am. If there are any lads out there who are genuinely interested in training and playing with us next season then please come along next Sunday to the pitch in Killusty.
Fethard Athletic Club
Fethard Athletic Club continues meet and train groups every Monday and Friday evening at 7.15pm from the ballroom carpark. There's plenty of races taking place all over the county and beyond over the summer months so do come along for a relaxed and social training session, walkers, joggers, runners are all welcome.
Happy 80th Birthday
Gus Breen, Fethard, photographed with his extended family on the occasion of his 80th Birthday celebrated at Raheen House, Clonmel
Social Dancing at Fethard Ballroom
Dancing at Fethard Ballroom on this coming Sunday night, July 6, 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.
Fethard & Killusty Community Lotto
The numbers drawn on June 25 were: 3, 8, 13 and 21. We had no jackpot winner and three ‘Match Three’ winners who received €50 each: Peter Kenny, The Green, Fethard; Geraldine McCarthy, Kerry Street, Fethard; and Aine Cuc, An Coill, Fiodh Ard.
The three following ‘Lucky Dip’ winners received €50 each: Mike Burke, Red City, Fethard; Philip Butler, c/o Kathleen Connolly; and Nellie Donovan, Fr. Tirry Park, Fethard.
Next week’s draw takes place on Wednesday, July 2. The Jackpot is €10,000 and the Jackpot seller’s prize is €1,000. All proceeds go towards community work in Fethard.
Ruby Wedding Anniversary
Seamus and Margaret Dorney celebrating their Ruby Wedding Anniversary at Lonergan's Bar
Fethard GAA Sports Lotto
The numbers drawn on June 27 were 1, 5, 11 and 26 and there was no jackpot winner and no match three winners so the following drawn tickets received €30 each: Bob Maher, Barrack Street; Sharon O'Meara, Cedar Grove; Danny Keogh, Glengoole; Michael Kenrick, Burke Street; and Sophia Cummins, c/o P.J. Aherne.
The €50 Lucky Dip winner was Philip Butler, Main Street, Fethard. Next week’s Jackpot is €5,200 and the draw will take place in Fethard GAA Park on Friday, July 4, at 7pm. All are welcome. Thanking you for your continued support.
Music Extravaganza and Barbecue on Sunday
The very popular 'Wig Wam Glam Band' from Cashel - one of the many bands giving their services free for the 'Music Eztravaganza' at Lonergan's Beer Garden this coming Sunday afternoon in aid of the Tipperary Branch of the Irish Wheelchair Association.
On this coming Sunday, July 6, the annual family day, 'Music Extravaganza and Barbecue', will be held at Lonergan's Beer Garden, The Square, Fethard, from 3pm to 8pm, in aid of the Tipperary Branch of the Irish Wheelchair Association.
This great family day out, adjacent to Fethard Town Wall in Lonergan’s back garden, will have a 'bouncing castle', barbecue and live music from some of the top bands from the South East including: Kenny Ryder & The Rockin Rebels; Wig Wam Glam Band; Terminal 2; Hot Ice; Wrecking Ball from Wexford; and lots more. All bands are giving their services free for this worthy cause and we are most grateful and appreciative of this very kind gesture.
Please come along and support and enjoy a great family day out. Tickets cost €10 each or you can purchase a Family Ticket before the event for €15 which admits two adults and two children, limited number available. Call to Lonergan's Bar, The Square, Fethard, Tel: 052 6131447 or 0 87 9922596.
Relax afterwards, from 8pm onwards, to live music in the bar from 'Pheasant Pluckers' and the 'Tipperary Ramblers'.
Killusty Pony Show this Saturday
Killusty Pony Show will celebrate their 52nd annual show on next Saturday, July 5, at Claremore, Killusty. This year, with nearly 90 classes including Fancy Dress and Dog Show, there will surely be something for all members of the family to enjoy.
Entries on the day for the Fancy Dress Competition and the 14 classes in the Dog Show – from an obstacle course to the ‘waggiest tail’!
Hospice Collection
The Fethard Support Group for South Tipperary Hospice would like to thank sincerely all who supported their annual church gate collection in Fethard and Killusty last weekend. A total of €1,340 was collected for which we are most grateful. A collection in Moyglass will be arranged within the next few weeks and your continued support for this deserving cause is most appreciated.
Special Olympics medal winner
Clodagh Brett, Fethard, photographed with her daughter Keri, wearing the two gold medals that she won at the recent 'Special Olympics' held in Limerick. Keri won her medals in the Push Ball and Bowling events.
Sports Achievement Award nominees for June
The following are the nominees for the Butler’s Bar Fethard Sports Achievement Award for June:
- Paraic McCormack – At Rosegreen raceway recently Paraic won the first ever Classic Hot Rod motor race held in Ireland.
- The Magnier Family Coolmore – In June won both English and Irish derbies with wonder horse ‘Australia’.
- Colm McGrath – Colm runs the ‘Fethard Boot Camp’ and was responsible recently for organising a number of Fethard people to compete in the, ‘To Hell and Back’ run in Co. Wicklow.
- Billy Treacy – Billy’s racehorse ‘Fethard Player’ won a Handicap Hurdle race last Tuesday in Ballinrobe, Co. Mayo.
- Michael Spillane, Jacqui O’Flynn, Mark Prout, Pamela O’Donnell, P.J. Ryan – Selectors to Fethard U14 Ladies Footballers who have just won the Community Games county title for the second year in a row.
- Julie Connolly, Brigid Walsh, Mick Leahy – All Fethard golfers who were members of the Cahir Golf Club who won the Tipperary area mixed foursomes competition.
- Peggy Colville, Joe Keane – Local Community Games organisers who again this year have been very successful at county level, returning with a huge haul of medals.
- Zane Zorina – originally from Latvia and now resident in Fethard who won the ladies Mid-Summer Ramble 5k race.
- Willie Morrissey, Annette Connolly, Micheál Spillane – Selectors to Fethard U12 Ladies Football team who also won their county community games title for the second year in a row.
The June winner will be announced at a function next Friday night, July 4, at Butlers Sports Bar, Main Street. All are welcome.
Fethard Festival had something for everyone
Fethard Festival 'Medieval Parade' entering by the Town Wall
The eight Fethard Medieval Festival last weekend brought Fethard to life in so many different ways that the various activities appealed to all ages in the community, especially the children.
The highlight of the weekend was the ‘Carnival in the Valley’ on Sunday, where an officially estimated crowd of close to 4,000 enjoyed one of the best days ever in Fethard, in the shadow of the old Town Walls and with glorious weather that ensured everyone had a great time.
Paul Hayes and his son Billy taking part in he Medieval Parade
Apart from the wonderful weather, the continued success of the Medieval Festival, especially on the Sunday, can be attributed to a number of factors. The first is generous state grants and equally generous local sponsorship. The Fethard Historical Society received a grant, as in previous years, of €7,000 from the Irish Walled Towns Network (a part of The Heritage Council) and this along with large sourced sponsorship from the Fethard Business and Tourism Group and the kind support from the Magnier family, enabled a huge family friendly festival to be but in place where nearly all events were free.
Tipperary County Council’s Heritage Office sponsored the ‘build up’ art events run in the local schools, particular the Grave Slab Project in the Secondary School. Fethard & Killusty Community Council supported the very popular art and craft trail initiative by Marie O’Hara where the unused shop windows in Fethard were used for displays.
L to R Erin Carroll and Emily Clancy at the Fethard Festival
The final ingredient in the success of the Fethard Medieval Festival is of course the ‘work and effort’ by many people and organisations, especially the organising group within the Fethard Historical Society, who have being laying the plans over the past year to ensure that the ‘brand image’ is maintained and even enhanced year on year. This work and effort over many years, enables state funding to be drawn down from many sources to run the festival.
Members of Fethard Historical Society who co-ordinated the 'Medieval' aspect to this year's festival. L to R: Terry Cunningham, Pat Looby (Chairperson), Colm McGrath and Mary Hanrahan. Also included is 'Rí', one of the Irish Wolfhounds that lead the parade every year.
Emma Murphy and her dog 'Honey' at the Fethard Festival
Lorraine Callum with her children Aoibheann and Meadbh at the Fethard Festival.
Anna Quigley at the Fethard Medieval Festival
L to R: Edwina Newport and Kate Corcoran enjoying the Medieval Festival in Fethard.
Festival – most positive event in many years
David Gorey giving Jessica Stokes a few tips on woodcarving at Fethard Medieval Festival
In keeping with the spirit of the festival weekend the committee organised guided historical tours of medieval Fethard for the senior pupils of Fethard and Killusty primary schools given by Terry Cunningham of ‘Backs to the Wall Tours’, in an effort to connect the local children with the rich heritage of their home area. There were also two free guided tours of the town held on Saturday when over forty people attended, with both locals and visitors in equal measure.
Fresh produce and food lovers had a treat on Saturday morning on Main Street when Fethard Country Markets were joined by many visiting market groups to sell their home-grown and homemade produce on The Square. This is the second year to hold this popular event at the ideal venue, Fethard, where Country Markets was originally founded back in 1947.
Popular street trader Willie O'Connell, Lisronagh, selling his fresh garden produce to Pauline Morrissey at the Fethard Country Market's day outside the Town Hall.
The concert by Nuada on Saturday night was both a concert and historical musical tour all in one and was highly enjoyed by music lovers of all types.
Festival Sunday, June 22, was designated ‘Walled Towns Day’ for Fethard and what a day it was, with brilliant weather, the Town Wall park and church grounds all in perfect condition and looking splendid for the occasion. All involved in this area of general upkeep in Fethard and the local Tidy Towns committee must be truly commended for their work as this sets the scene for everything that takes place over the festival weekend.
The Medieval Parade was a sight to behold and a very happy affair indeed. The winners of the best medieval costume were: (1st) Dee Brady and (2nd) Jane Hayes in the adult section. The children’s section in the parade was won by Lily Murphy with Rachel Cooke taking second prize.
Noel Harrison and his grand-daughter Mia with their dog 'Bobby' who was chosen as 'Dog of the Show' at Fethard Festival Dog Show. Also included are show organisers Catherine Kearney (left) and Pat Culligan (right).
The winner of the Fethard Business and Tourism Group’s ‘Monster Hamper’ draw was Davy Hogan, Cloneen. The Business and Tourism Group committee would like to thank everyone for supporting the draw and all who attended their ‘Midsummer Barbecue’ in the Convent Community Hall.
Hundreds of families relaxing in the Kids Free Funland
where everything was there to enjoy free of charge, thanks to the kindness and support of the Magnier family.
Sundays festivities, both the Medieval aspect, giving ‘hands-on’ experience with crafts people, artists, circus people and re-enactors, and the Kids Free Funland section, resulted in one big happy affair. Overall the Festival Weekend was one of the most positive events in Fethard for many years, and probably the envy of many bigger communities in the county. Long may it continue!
L to R: Tony Sayers, Pat Bradshaw and Kevin Bradshaw
Amy Morrissey trying the 'Rodeo'
Children having fun on the free amusements
L to R: Pat Looby, Jane Hayes and Kathrin Grawitter.
L to R: Jenna Coen and Grace Kelly
Enjoying the fun of the Festival are L to R: Courtney Walsh, Guillaume 'William' Nadal, Grace Maher, Aisling Gorey an Amye O'Donovan.
Fethard Festival Funland
Maeve O'Sullivan enjoying the fun at Fethard Festival
Michael and Karen O'Sullivan photographed at Fethard Festival with their children L to R: Michaél, Cillian and Aisling. Michael is Principal of Fethard Patrician Presentation Secondary School
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.
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