Ireland - Newfoundland Festival Opening Concert


This year’s ‘Ireland-Newfoundland Festival’ opening concert will take place on Friday, August 22, in the Strand Theatre, Carrick-on-Suir, when fifty-eight visitors from Newfoundland will visit the home of their ancestors who left this area in the 1700s and early 1800s (before the Great Famine) to work in the fishing industry in Newfoundland. The official opening will take place with His Excellency, Loyola Hearn, Ambassador of Canada.

Irish Country Music star, Louise Morrissey will perform at the Opening Concert and will be supported by many local artists. Booking opens on Tuesday August 5, and tickets are €20 each, contact 051 645050. The proceeds help finance the running of this bi-annual event when exchange visits take place each other year between the South East of Ireland and Newfoundland.

Up to half the population of Newfoundland of 600,000 have Irish ancestry and the forbearers of these Irish Canadians nearly came exclusively from counties Waterford, Tipperary, Kilkenny and Wexford.

Next year the Irish from the South East will travel to Newfoundland and hopefully some more Fethard people will travel. John Roche, native of Ballinard, now living in Kilsheelan travelled with the group last year and was amazed by the hospitality shown and the ‘unreal’ Irishness of certain parts of the Island.

Died Recently
The death has occurred on Friday, July 25, 2014, of Teddy Morrissey, Friarsfield, Fethard. Teddy, deeply regretted and sadly missed by his loving wife Tara, his children Becky, Lilly, Katie and Miley, his parents Davy and Bridget, brothers, sisters, relatives and large circle of friends. May he rest in peace.

Reposing at his residence on Saturday July 26, from 2 pm to 7 pm. Funeral Mass on Sunday at 11am in the Holy Trinity Parish Church, Fethard, followed by burial in Calvary Cemetery. Family flowers only. Donations, if desired, to Tipperary Hospice

Died Recently
The death has occurred on Tuesday, July 22, 2014, of Denis O’Brien, Fr Tirry Park, Fethard. Denis, deeply regretted by his family, neighbours and friends. May he rest in peace.

Reposing at McCarthy's Funeral Home on Friday July 25, from 6pm with removal to the Holy Trinity Parish Church at 7pm.

Funeral Mass on Saturday, July 26, at 11am followed by burial in Calvary Cemetery.



Ned Kelly Festival this weekend in Moyglass

Photographed outside 'The Village Inn' in Moyglass at last year's Ned Kelly Festioval are L to R: Junior Tynan, Matty Tynan, Peter Tynan, Sean Tynan, Kevin O’ Dwyer. This year's festival starts on this coming Friday night, July 25.

The annual ‘Ned Kelly Festival’ takes place in Moyglass Village this coming weekend commencing on Friday, July 25, with a traditional music session in the local Village Inn, where the life of Ned Kelly and his father, John ‘Red’ Kelly, who was born in nearby Clonbrogan, is very well documented and illustrated. All musicians are welcome to bring along their instruments and join in the opening night’s celebrations.

On Saturday, July 26, the annual Vintage Tractor Run will take place and also include a vintage Silage Demonstration, a great spectacle for all interested in times past and nostalgic farming. Later that evening, from 6.30pm to 8.30pm, a tug-o-war will take place followed by the traditional barbeque and social night in the hall with music, set dancing and full bar.

Sunday, July 27, is the New Kelly Family Field Day where entertainment is provided for all ages including a tractor and model farm machinery display, a Moyglass ‘Fittest Family’ competition 2pm, Dog Show at 3pm, crafts, sports and side shows including Bouncy Castles etc. For those wanting to keep in touch with Tipperary’s senior hurling championship future, the quarter-final clash against Dublin will be shown on TV at 4pm. The Festival will close with a live music session in the Village Inn from 7pm.

Moyglass Soccer Club 'Fun Day'

Moyglass Soccer Club will hold a Fun Day for all boys aged 10-16 at Moyglass School Field from 11am to 1pm on Saturday, August 9. All are welcome. Refreshments and registration on the day.

‘Fethard Tournament 1909’ - information needed?
We have a request for information about one the major hurling tournaments from Tom Semple’s era know as the ‘Fethard Tournament’. The ‘Fethard Tournament’ was organised by Archbishop Innocent Ryan, pastor of Fethard, for the purpose of paying off a parochial debt due to the renovation of the Parish Church and the building of the Parochial House on Rocklow Road. The tournament was contested in the years 1909-1911. Any information would be greatly received by email to: fethardnews@gmail.com or by hand to Joe Kenny, Rocklow Road, Fethard.

Killusty Tidy Village Meeting
The Tidy Village Group is to meet this coming Wednesday, July 23, at 7pm.

Death of Chrissie Byrne (nee Shee) in her 102nd Year

Members of the Byrne family photographed in 2010 after the unveiling of a plaque by the oldest living past-pupil, the late Mrs Chrissie Byrne, to mark the opening of the new extension at Killusty National School. L to R: John Byrne, Noel Byrne, Canon Tom Breen P.P., Mrs Chrissie Byrne, Bridget (Byrne) Gould, Fr. John Meagher OSA and Mrs Frances Harrington (Principal). In front is Jack Sheehan.

A mother’s love is a blessing and how fortunate our family were to have Mam in our presence for so long, who loved each of us equally in her own little way. Her husband Mick passed to his eternal reward in 1986 and she had the misfortune to lose her eldest daughter, Carmel, in 1983 (interred in London) and her only brother Phil in 1989.

A very religious lady and daily Rosary devotee, she was housekeeper to Killusty church for close on 80 years as organist, sacristan, cleaner and caretaker who looked after all the many priests that past through the parish with great devotion, Canon Christopher Lee (twice), Canon Ryan, Fr John Stapleton, Fr Willie Lambe, Fr Tony Lambe, Fr Donal Cunningham, Canon James Power, Fr Michael Ryan and one of her favourites, Canon Tom Breen P.P. for whom the family is deeply appreciative for his regular trips to the house in the last 10 years, not forgetting, of course, the Augustinian Abbey Priests and Fr Morty O’Shea in recent times – a big thank you to all.

Chrissie was a woman who spent nearly all her life in her grocery shop in Killusty, taking over the running of it in 1941 until 2008. Her one ambition in life that she did not achieve was to be a postmistress, as the shop never attained that status. Her aunt Chrisie helped out in the early years while she was busy rearing her six children with her late husband Mick. Her earliest recollections was the burning of the shop in 1921 by the Black and Tans and after escaping that, to be cared for by Nicky and Catherine O’Shea, Tullow, for a few weeks after the fire. The Parish came together and offered the O’Sheas the old school house (where the Grotto is today) and they lived and operated a shop there until 1925 when the original shop across the road was reopened. The family thank the parish for their generosity in their time of need.
Her many recollections include Captain Pierce Dillon’s ‘21 Gun Salute’ in Killusty in 1924, and other highlights of her early years were the local platform dances where she earned the name ‘The Landless Lady’ after refusing plenty offers of land in favour of her best friend and later husband, Mick Byrne. The Eucharistic Congress in Phoenix Park in 1932 was also often fondly recalled went she travelled by train from Kilsheelan with three teachers.

Although not a great lover of GAA, she always took a keen interest when any of her family were playing and in particular, winning. She was secretary of the Tidy Village committee in the 1970s and 1980s. She really enjoyed her trips to Lourdes (travelling without a passport) and the Fethard London Reunions organised by the Legion of Mary in 1970s.

Her 100th Birthday Party is affectionately remembered as her final farewell to her many friends and special friend, Carri Acheson. Also to a place she loved so well, Killusty. Her ability to recognise school children was a gift and her recollection of all those who went to Killusty School in over eighty years was amazing when compiling the school book for the Killusty National School Centenary Celebrations in 2010. Her tonic in the shop was meeting all the school kids over the years and recalling their roots and her ability on the pen was of paramount importance as letters became her main hobby and means of communication to all those across the Irish Sea and particularly with the Nationalist in toe.

We were very fortunate to have her so long in our lives as an inspiration and loving mother. May she rest in peace.
— (her son Noel)

Grove Horse Trials

Jenny Butler and her mother Judie Butler photographed at the Grove Horse Trials on Sunday last at Grove, Fethard.

Toddler’s Summer Party
The Parent / Minder Toddler Group at the Convent Community Hall will hold their Summer Party on Thursday morning, July 31, when coordinator Janice will have lots of treats for the little ones. The party is open to all toddlers and if you have older children at home they are also very welcome to come along. The older children can watch a DVD or they can play the available games but won’t be allowed in the bouncy castle while the toddlers are using it.

The group will take a break for the month of August and will be resume with the weekly group meetings again in September.

Visitors from England

Johnnie and Mary Coady home on holiday recently from Blandford Forum, Dorset, England

Social Dancing at Fethard Ballroom
Dancing at Fethard Ballroom on this coming Sunday night, July 27, to the music of ‘Dermot Lyons’. 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.

Carroll Family Reunion

Members of the Carroll family photographed at a reunion at Lonergan's Bar in Fethard

Fethard & Killusty Community Lotto
The numbers drawn on July 16 were: 1, 6, 9 and 12. We had no jackpot winner and four ‘Match Three’ winner who received €40 each: Philly Kenny, Hill View, Fethard; Niall Connolly, c/o Eileen Connolly; Siobhán Meagher, c/o Kitty O'Donnell; and Dick O'Brien, c/o Kathleen Connolly.

The three following ‘Lucky Dip’ winners received €50 each: Brud Roche, Woodvale Walk, Fethard; F. Barrett, c/o Tom Purcell; and Dermot D'arcy, St. Patrick's Place, Fethard.

Next week’s draw takes place on Wednesday, July 23. The Jackpot is €10,000 and the Jackpot seller’s prize is €1,000. All proceeds go towards community work in Fethard.

Twisters Disco

Enjoying the music of 'Twisters Disco' recently in Lonergans are L to R: Noreen Hackett, Frances Lonergan, Catriona Boland and Luke Hackett.

Fethard GAA Sports Lotto
The numbers drawn on July 18 were 6, 9, 18 and 28. There was no jackpot winner and one match three winner who received €150: Eoin Whyte, Main Street, Fethard. The €50 Lucky Dip winner was Philomena Morrissey, St. Patrick’s Place, Fethard.

Next week’s Jackpot is €5,500 and the draw will take place in Fethard GAA Park on Friday, July 25, at 7pm. All are welcome. Thanking you for your continued support.

Elocution Awards presented

The group are pictured above after receiving their awards at the Tirry Community Centre with their teacher, Nancy Farrell. Included are Adam Buttimer, Henry Buttimer, Beth Buttimer, Cillian Carey O'Dwyer, Jessie Crotty, Mia Danagher, Orianna Doyle, Paddy Fitzgerald, Evija Golvere, Gemma Gould, Killian Hallinan, Jack Hartigan, Elizabeth Kennedy, Abby McGrath, Seamus O'Brien, Sorcha O'Brien, Ciaran O'Leary, Aisling Prendergast, Louise Prendergast, Anna Quigley, Sam Quigley, Carolann Ryan, Katie Ryan and Judith Shortall. Missing from photo were; Ellen Buckley, Marguerite Buckley, Michael Buckley, Tadgh Buckley, Anna Collier, Fiona Holton and Emma Moore Kelly.

It was time to celebrate at the Irish Board of Speech & Drama Awards Ceremony It was celebration time in Fethard recently as students were presented with their certificates for grade examinations in Poetry, Drama, Mime, and Communication Skills. Students and parents alike were delighted with the high marks achieved, where Distinctions and First Class Honours were the order of the day. Adam Buttimer, from Clonmel was awarded the gold medal for his outstanding performance.
Nancy is a member of the Institute of Drama and Communication Teachers (IDAC) and is a graduate of the Leinster School of Music & Drama, Dublin. She teaches elocution locally and in the broader South Tipperary region. Nancy is a founder member of the RTE Philharmonic Choir and currently sings with Our Lady's Choral Society, Dublin.

Irish Board of Speech and Drama exams provide an opportunity to develop self-confidence and self-esteem in a safe and friendly environment; a professional evaluation of progress; and a certification of achievement. All ages and abilities are catered for, and exams, although encouraged, are not compulsory. For further information, you can visit the Irish Board website www.irishboard.ie or contact Nancy on 086 3432526.

Married Recently

Joe Lee, grandson of Bridie Lee, Loughcopple, Fethard, photographed with his wife Clare Holohan (Kilkenny), following their recent wedding in Abbeyleix, Co. Laois.

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.