Died in her 102nd year - Mrs Chrissie Byrne
The death has occurred on Friday, July 11, 2014, of Mrs Chrissie Byrne (nee Shee), Killusty, in her 102nd year. Deeply regretted by her sons Phil, John, Noel, her daughters, Mary B and Catheryn, family and friends. Rest in Peace.

Reposing in the Church of the Sacred Heart, Killusty, on Saturday, July 12, from 4pm with prayers at 7pm. Funeral Mass on Sunday, July 13, in Killusty at 10am followed by burial in the adjoining cemetery.

No flowers please, donations to the Irish Council for the Blind.

Hurling medal returned to family

Ms Fidelma Boyle (left), holding the 1909 Leinster Senior Hurling Championship Medal won by her relative, Dan Kennedy, who played for Tullaroan and Kilkenny. The medal was returned to the family by Tony Newport (right). Also included is Tony's daughter Margaret Newport (centre).

A 1909 Leinster senior hurling championship medal in the care of the Newport family, Fethard, for many years was recently returned to the winner’s family by Tony Newport. The medal was won by the legendary Dan Kennedy, an icon of Tullaroan and Kilkenny hurling in his day.

Dan Kennedy gave the medal to Tony’s aunt, Ms Monica Kenrick Sharp (died 1962). Returning to her native Fethard following a 40 year nursing career in England, Monica gave the medal to Tony with the request, “I want you to look after this for me.”

Tony did just that but always felt the medal belonged to Tullaroan and Kilkenny. Thinking it was about time he did just that, enquiries discovered Ms Fidelma Boyle, now living in Derry, was Dan Kennedy’s nearest living relative.

While visiting her native Kilkenny at the end of May, Tony arranged to meet Fidelma and present her with the medal in Kilkenny. She became quite emotional in receipt of the medal and said she would cherish and treasure it and in due course, pass it on to her children and grandchildren.

Music Extravaganza and Barbecue on Sunday

Photographed at the 'Music Extravaganza' at Lonergan's Bar are L to R: Casey Hall, Diane Hall Byrne, Bernard O'Shea and Davy Byrne.

On Sunday last, July 6, following a few early heavy showers in the morning, spirits lifted when the sun shone before the start of this year’s 'Music Extravaganza and Barbecue' held at Lonergan's Beer Garden in aid of the Tipperary Branch of the Irish Wheelchair Association.

Again, this turned out to be a great family day out for the hundreds that attended the event and the weather was ideal to relax in the beautiful garden adjacent to Fethard Town Wall. The younger generation had great fun on the 'bouncing castle' and having their face painted by Andrea Carroll, while the older generation were supplied with as many delicious burgers they could eat from the barbecue, manned by the ever capable P.J. O’Dwyer and his daughter Molly.


Photographed at the 'Music Extravaganza' are L to R: Rachel Browne, Leeanne O'Connell and Hayley Carroll. VIEW MORE PHOTOS

All day long we had some fantastic live music on the ‘gig rig’ performed by 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 and Hooley. All bands performed free of charge for this worthy cause and the Tipp Branch are most grateful and appreciative of this very kind gesture. The branch would also like to thank Premier Music, Clonmel, for taking care of the sound desk all day; Michael Cashin, Urlingford, for supplying the ‘Bouncing Castle’; Morelli’s Takaway, Cashel; Martina McCarthy for organising the raffle and prizes; Lonergan’s Bar for the ideal venue; and of course all who came out and supported the ‘Music Extravaganza’.


Photographed at the 'Music Extravaganza' are L to R: Marie Louise Clear and Kelly Flanagan.

The top raffle prize of Evening Dinner for two and an overnight stay at the luxurious Clonacody House, very kindly sponsored by proprietor Helen Carrigan, was won by Paul Mullins, The Square, Fethard. As darkness descended patrons retired to the bar where local musicians ‘Pheasant Pluckers’ played till late!

Fethard Athletic Club
Fethard Athletic Club meet and train groups every Monday and Friday evening at 7.15pm from the ballroom carpark, walkers, joggers and runners are all welcome as are any new members.

Well done to Ginny Hutton and Biddy O’Dwyer who finished very well in the Coillte 10k last Wednesday night in Dundrum. Next local run is the Clerihan 5 miler taking place on Friday, July 18, at 7.30pm. This event is always an enjoyable summer race.

U12 Girls perform well at Munster finals

Fethard Killusty U12 girls GAA team winners of silver medals at the HSE Community Games Munster Finals, pictured with their mascot Emily Spillane and 'Teddy'.

Fethard and Killusty under 12 girls football team put on a fine display for their mentors and supporters at the Munster finals of the HSE Community Games held in UL on Saturday last. The girls played Cara, Co Waterford, in the semifinal, in a very evenly matched game which was played in four quarters with the result at the end of the first quarter being 2-1 in favour of Fethard. From then on it was nip and tuck with the lead reverting from one team to the other until Fethard edged away in the final quarter to win on a score of 1-6 to 2-1.

The girls then played a very strong Kerry team who had previously defeated Limerick and Cork on their way to the final and unfortunately added Tipperary to their list of conquests. However, the Fethard girls played very well but luck wasn’t on their side on this occasion, but they were very worthy winners of silver medals.

It is a great honour to represent one’s county in a Munster final and the girls can be proud of their achievements. Team consisted of Alison Connolly, Laura Harrington, Ava Ward, Emma Lyons, Aoife Morrissey, Eimear O’Sullivan, Hayley Ryan, Kaylin O’Donnell, Aine Ryan, Jess Gleeson, Nell Spillane, Heather Spillane, Lily O’Mahony, Nicole Delaney, Kelly Ryan, and Ellie Devaney. They were a credit to their managers Micheál Spillane, Willie Morrissey and Annette Connolly, who all do such tremendous work with their teams and are a pleasure to deal with. Well done to all.

Sports Achievement Award for June

Joe Keane, winner of the Fethard Sports Achievement Award for June, accepting the award also on behalf of his community games colleague Peggy Colville. L to R: Denis Burke (special guest), Mary Godfrey, Joe Keane and Ann Butler, representing this month's sponsor, Butlers Sports Bar.

The Butler’s Bar Fethard Sports Achievement Award for June was won by Peggy Colville and Joe Keane, both are the local Community Games organisers who again this year have been very successful in promoting athletics in the parish and enabling local athletes to compete successfully at County, Munster and National level.

Community Games was founded in Dublin in 1968 and in 1970 included competitors from outside Dublin when 10,000 children from 67 areas competed. Like most parents, Peggy and Joe first got involved in Community Games when their own children started competing. Joe’s son, Joseph, competed in the National Finals in 1978 and Peggy’s daughter, Valerie, won the county’s first gold medal in Judo back in 1985. Both have been continued to be extremely active in Community Games at all levels and were the inspiration behind the compiling and publishing of a book, ‘History of Tipperary Community Games 1968-2008’, which chronicles the Tipperary games year by year.

This month’s award was sponsored by Butlers Sports Bar and the special local sporting guest was Denis Burke, Redcity. Denis was a highly regarded GAA player and trainer in his early years and also a keen golfer in later years. The presentation took place in Butler's Bar on Friday, July 4.

Social Dancing at Fethard Ballroom
Dancing at Fethard Ballroom on this coming Sunday night, July 13, to the music of ‘Liam Mannering’. 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.

Cloneen Sports & Social Club
The AGM of Cloneen Sports & Social Club will take place at 8pm on Friday, July 11, in Cloneen Hall. All club members are asked to attend.

Tipperary beat Clare in shield competition

Jack Dolan and Ross McCormack, members of Fethard GAA Club, who were part of the Tipperary U15 football team who took part in the U15 munster football competition. Tipperary won the shield competition beating Clare in the final in Milstreet. Also included is Tipperary team mentor Jamie McCormack (centre) from Fethard.

Fethard & Killusty Community Lotto
The numbers drawn on July 2 were: 1, 20, 22 and 29. We had no jackpot winner and no ‘Match Three’ winner so the following drawn tickets received €50 each: Martin Burke, Main Street, Fethard; Pat Culligan, The Valley, Fethard; and Abigail Sheehan, Main Street, Fethard.

The three following ‘Lucky Dip’ winners received €50 each: Jimmy Connolly, Main Street, Fethard; Dermot Darcy, St. Patrick's Place, Fethard; and Michael Moloney, Graystown, Killenaule.

Next week’s draw takes place on Wednesday, July 9. The Jackpot is €10,000 and the Jackpot seller’s prize is €1,000. All proceeds go towards community work in Fethard.

Fethard GAA Sports Lotto
The numbers drawn on July 4 were 4, 6, 16 and 22. There was no jackpot winner and one match three winner who received €150: Patsy Lawrence, Woodvale Walk, Fethard. The €50 Lucky Dip winner was Cian Morrissey Tullamaine, Fethard. Next week’s Jackpot is €5,300 and the draw will take place in Fethard GAA Park on Friday, July 11, at 7pm. All are welcome. Thanking you for your continued support.

Cemetery Masses
A Cemetery Mass will take place on this Wednesday, July 9, in Calvary Cemetery at 7.30pm and in Killusty Cemetery on Friday, July 11, at 7.30pm. We encourage as many people as possible to attend these masses to remember our families and loved ones that have passed on.

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.