Fethard owner for Hayes Hotel in Thurles

Hayes Hotel, Thurles, sold for €650,000 to Fethard owner Jack Halley on September 15, 2014

The new owner of the famous Hayes Hotel in Thurles has said he wants to turn the landmark property into a “cultural hub” which will recognise its role in GAA history but also become a thriving business.

It was revealed that local businessman Jack Halley, who is originally from Fethard but based in London for a number of years where he worked in the hospitality industry, was the purchaser of the historic business. The Co Tipperary hotel is where the GAA was founded in 1884 and has remained an important part of Irish sporting heritage and local business life. However, following trading difficulties in recent years it went into receivership last year and was sold at auction by Allsops Space on Monday, Septembe 15.

After a nail-biting 10-minute auction featuring multiple bidders and two last-second interventions, Hayes Hotel was sold for €650,000.


Jack Halley, Fethard, new owner of Hayes Hotel, Thurles

Jack Halley said, “I love the GAA and Tipperary hurling and football and thought, what better way to support sport here in Ireland than to get Hayes Hotel and try and turn it around and bring something to Thurles and Tipperary.”

He said he intends to put money into improving the hotel once the formal takeover happens next month, but this will be an incremental process and won’t happen overnight. The business will remain open and he wants to retain the current staff complement of about 25, with plans to take on more employees in the coming years. “It will be a gradual thing and we’ll do it in stages.”


Hayes Hotel Manager, Patrice O'Keeffe, pulling a pint on the day of the auction in Dublin

Hayes Hotel has 30 bedrooms as well as a bar, restaurant and nightclub and is a popular gathering spot for GAA fans when big matches are held at nearby Semple Stadium in Thurles. Mr Halley said he wants to make the venue a popular place for visitors to watch all sports, as well an attractive place for functions and the general food and drink trade.

“I want to not only keep it open but want to bring it back to its former glory, and better if I can,” Jack Halley said. “Obviously that will take a few years.” — (report by Conor Kane)


Hayes Hotel customers on the day of the auction L to R: William Sweeney and Pat Carey.

Harvest Festival this Weekend
This year’s Harvest Festival will take place in Holy Trinity Church of Ireland at 7.30pm on Sunday next, September 21. All are invited and welcome to attend this annual service. Refreshment will be served afterwards.

Flags Coming Down, ‘Museum’ Going Up


Some years ago the Fethard Historical Society arranged the making of four very large Flags to go atop the tower of Old Holy Trinity Church. The flags are of the four provinces; Munster, Leinster, Connaught and Ulster and prove very popular with locals and visitors alike. Originally, the flags were left flying during Festival Week only, but this year, thanks to local sponsorship from Coolmore Stud, new and stronger flag poles were installed so it was safe to leave the flags up all summer long. However, the flags are coming down this weekend before the windy winter comes and shreds them to pieces, but hopefully they will appear again next year when the sunny summer weather returns to Fethard.

Medieval ‘Pop-Up Museum’
The Historical Society have also arranged that a ‘Pop-Up Museum’, recreating the life of a medieval Fethard merchant, will be displayed in McGraths’ shop window on Main street during the coming weeks. It will be launched on Friday evening next, September 19, at 7pm in conjunction with Culture Night. The Heritage Council is supporting the installation of this ‘Pop-up Museum’ and the Historical Society is delighted to host the exhibition in town.

The display will be of interest to all but should be especially useful to local school groups who can see the type of goods that were being bought and sold in this trading walled town hundreds of years ago. After the opening at seven o’clock, people can then join the free Culture Night workshops being conducted by artist Patricia Looby from 7.30pm to 9.30pm in Old Holy Trinity Church.

Cloneen Field Day

Photographed at Cloneen Family Field Day last Sunday are L to R: Molly White, Mary Walsh, Heather Gahan and Hannah White.


Photographed at Cloneen Family Field Day last Sunday are L to R: Lea Hayes, Sadhbh Morrissey and Rachael Butler.


Providing music at the Cloneen Field Day last Sunday were L to R: Barry Connolly, Jimmy Trehy, Dom O'Driscoll, Joe Kenny, Marc Van Dommelen, John Shortall, Susan Strappe and Tommy Strappe.

Fethard Juvenile GAA News
Fethard Juvenile GAA Club Fundraiser held their ‘Guess the Score in the All-Ireland Hurling Final’ prior to the All-Ireland and a huge thank you to everyone who supported this club fundraiser. Thanks and well done to all the club members on their selling efforts. The winners were Marion Waltzer, Mullinahone, and John Doran, Kilkenny. Each receive a prize of €100.

Hurling & Football Skills County Final
Well done to each of the six boys who represented the club brilliantly in the Skills County Final in Thurles. Each of them had qualified from the club’s Cúl Camp in August. Huge congratulations to Micheál Quinlan who came 1st in U12 football and Seán Moroney who came 3rd in U10 football.

Our representatives were: Under 8 Hurling - David O Donnell; Under 8 Football - Oisín Ryan; Under 10 Hurling - Thomas Donegan; Under 10 Football - Seán Moroney; Under 12 Hurling - Robert Hackett; and Under 12 Football - Micheál Quinlan.

Development of School Field
Further work has been completed on transforming the School Field into a usable full-size U12 field. This work is being undertaken by the Juvenile and Senior GAA, St Rita's Camogie Club and Ladies Football Club. Poles for the netting behind the goals are now in place and further grading and clearing has been done. The nets will go up within the next few weeks. At that stage, the field will be an excellent facility for the schools and clubs. A huge thank you to all the people who have helped with the work to date.

Coaching in the Primary Schools
GAA coaching, funded by the Juvenile, Camogie and Ladies Football clubs, for the forthcoming school year has now commenced in Holy Trinity and Killusty National Schools for 1st-6th classes.

Bunny Hop resumes at Convent Community Hall
Bunny Hop, music and movement for 0-4 year olds, has resumed again on Mondays, at the Convent Community Hall, Fethard, 10-11am.
Bunny Hop is an hour of stimulating songs and rhymes with actions, musical instruments and lots more. Parents and carers can spend quality time with special little ones, interacting with those of same or similar age. For details and to join us contact Nicola 087 6742401.

Married recently in Spain

Congratulations to Martin Sheehan, son of Dan and Ann Sheehan, Killusty, who recently married Alannah Cusack, Nenagh, in Benalmádena Pueblo, Spain

Back in full swing for Autumn programme
Fethard Convent Community Hall is now back in full swing with its Autumn classes now up and running: ‘Bunny Hop’ music and movement for 0-4 year olds, takes place on Monday mornings at 10am; Irish Dance classes take place on Tuesday evenings at 3.30pm with three-times world champion Michelle Lawrence; Parent Minder / Toddler group meet every Thursday morning from 10am to 12 noon. Cost is only €3 per child and new toddlers are always very welcome; Set Dancing Classes start this coming Thursday night at 7.30pm and all levels are catered for. Zumba classes with Carla start back at 8.30pm on Tuesday, September 23. Rebecca and her Dance Revolution class will also be back in the coming weeks.

All classes are open for new people to go along and join up. To book the hall for a party/class or any social occasion call Joan at Tel: (052) 613100 during office hours or Pamela Tel: 086 8743752 after 6pm

Social Dancing at Fethard Ballroom
Dancing at Fethard Ballroom on this coming Sunday night, September 21, to the music of Dave Rae. 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.

LauraLynn Coffee Morning
LauraLynn Coffee Morning will take place at Slievenamon Golf Club on Sunday next, September 21, from 10am onwards. Please come along and support Ireland's only Children's Hospice

Ardal O'Hanlon to host new TV Programme

Ardal O'Hanlon (left) photographed with Vinny Murphy in McCarthys Hotel on Friday last, recording a programme for RTE due to be broadcast in November.

Fethard & Killusty Community Lotto
The numbers drawn on September 10 were: 8, 11, 13 and 28. We had no jackpot winner and one ‘Match Three’ winner who received €150: Richard Allen, Cashel Road, Fethard.

The three following ‘Lucky Dip’ winners received €50 each: Jim Keane, Knockelly, Fethard; Abigail Sheehan, Reflections; and Dermot Darcy, St. Patricks Place, Fethard.

Next week’s draw takes place on Wednesday, September 17. 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 September 12 were 10, 13, 14 and 18. There was no jackpot winner and one match three winner who received €150: Austy Godfrey, Derryluskin. The €50 Lucky Dip winner was Lorena Lawrence, Woodvale Walk, Fethard.

Next week’s Jackpot is €6,300 and the draw will take place in Fethard GAA Park on Friday, September 19, at 7pm. All are welcome. Thanking you for your continued support.

Died Recently
The death has occurred on Sunday, September 14, 2014, of Mrs Diana 'Di' Stokes (nee Grey), The Square, Fethard. Beloved wife of the late Dr. Patrick Stokes, sadly missed by daughter Jacqui, sons John and Nick, son-in-law, daughters-in-law, grandchildren, relations and friends. May she rest in peace.

Reposing at 'The Cottage', Knockbordan, Grove Road, Fethard, from 5pm to 9pm on Tuesday, September 16.

Funeral service takes place at 12 noon on Wednesday, September 17, at Holy Trinity Church of Ireland, The Square, Fethard, followed by interment in the adjoining cemetery.

Yoga Classes
Yoga Classes for beginners/intermediate will commence in the Tirry Centre, Barrack Street, on Monday, September 22nd at 8pm. Yoga encourages overall health and wellness by improving flexibility, strengthening the body and reliving stress by practising relaxation techniques. Booking is essential as places are limited. For further details contact Peg on Tel: 086 3027927

The late Jimmy Roche, Ballinard

The late Jimmy Roche pictured feeding wild birds outside his home in Ballinard. Over the years, Jimmy built up a trusting relationship with the birds in his garden who ate from his hand.

The death has occurred on Friday, September 12, 2014, of Jimmy Roche, Ballinard, Cloneen. Reposing at McCarthy’s Funeral Home, Main Street, on Sunday from 4.30pm to 6.30pm, followed by removal to the Church of the Nativity, Cloneen, to arrive at 7pm.

Funeral mass takes place on Monday, September 15, at 11am, followed by burial in the adjoining cemetery. Family flowers only please, donations, if desired, to South Tipperary Hospice.

Tipperary Support high in Fethard

Seamus and Margaret Dorney showing their true colours for this year's All-Ireland Senior Hurling final between Tipperary and Kilkenny on Sunday, September 7.

Congratulation to the Tipperary Senior Hurling team who put up a tremendous show against Kilkenny in the All-Ireland Hurling Final on Sunday last. Although ending in a draw, Tipperary were very unlucky not to win in this final, which was one of the most exciting displays of hurling in many, many years, if not ever. We wish them the best of luck in the replay which will be played on Saturday, September 27.

Culture Night in Fethard on September 19
Culture night is an annual all island public event that celebrates culture, creativity and the arts. It comprises of hundreds of events across Ireland and overseas and has grown from a relatively small scale event staged only in Dublin in 2006 to the significant national event it is now, with 350,000 people visiting museums, galleries, historic houses, artists studios and cultural centres across the country.
This year, it will also take place in Fethard on Friday, September 19, as part of this national event. Two workshops will take place in Holy Trinity Church of Ireland. The workshops, led by artist Patricia Looby, will investigate the 12 graveslabs contained within the Church, and involve looking at the translations and taking rubbings.


Students taking rubbings from the graveslabs in Holy Trinity Church of Ireland

Students from Patrician Presentation Secondary School Fethard recently completed a project based on these graveslabs. The exhibition of their rubbings are till in place in the church, so a more detailed look at these will be part of the workshops, with the students available to talk about their part in the project.

The evening is being hosted by Fethard Historical society and workshop times are children from 2pm to 4pm and adults from 7.30pm to 9.30pm. All events are free and everyone is invited and more than welcome to attend.

Culture night in Tipperary is supported by the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht in partnership with Tipperary County Council. For more information visit: www.culturenight.ie

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.