Abbey Choir invited to sing at Knock

The Abbey Choir, with organist Ann Barry, photographed at rehearsal for this year's national Augustinian Day celebration in Knock on July 18.

Following their great reception in Knock last year, the Fethard Abbey Choir have been invited back to sing again this year for the national Augustinian Day on July 18. Organist Ann Barry is currently rehearsing hard with her local choir for this year’s event. The choir comprises the Abbey Choir along with some members of Fethard Choral Society. It is a great privilege to have been invited back to sing and the choir is looking forward to participating and adding to the ceremonies with their singing.

Died Recently
The death has occurred on Thursday, July 16, 2015, of Rose Holohan (née Ryan), Ballinard, Fethard, and late of D'Arcy's Cross, Clerihan, after a short illness. Rose, pre-deceased by her husband Rody, deeply regretted by her sons, Patrick, Ailbe, Rory and Joseph, her daughter Majella O'Donaghue, daughters-in-law Bridget, Bernie and Deirdre, son-in-law John, sisters-in-law, Nora Ryan and Sr Bosco Holohan, grandchildren, nephews, nieces, relatives, neighbours and many friends. May she rest in peace.

Reposing at her residence on Saturday, July 18, from 4 pm to 8 pm. Funeral Mass on Sunday in the Church of the Nativity, Cloneen, at 12 noon, followed by burial in the adjoining Cemetery.

Retracing WW1 footsteps

Photographed at the Helles Memorial are L to R: Joe Lacy, Mary Nolan (Lacy), Francis Lacy, David O’Meara and John Nolan

A family group from South Tipperary just returned from Turkey where they retraced the final footsteps of their little known relative who was killed in the disastrous Gallipoli campaign on June 30, 1915. Patrick A Bourke was born in 1891 in Anaconda Montana to Ellen Meehan of St Johnstown, Killenaule and William Bourke of Stonepark, Glen of Aherlow. When he was two years old his mother died and himself and his younger brother John were brought back to Tipperary and were raised by their aunt and uncle at 74 Main Street, Tipperary, which was then a hotel and saloon bar. When he was 24, Patrick joined the Munster Fusiliers and like many others at the time he was diverted from the fight in Europe to attack Turkey and capture the Dardanelles strait. He arrived in Gallipoli on June 2, 1915, and with a minimum of acclimatisation to the Turkish summer he was involved in the deadly Battle of Gulley Ravine which started on June 28. He died of his wounds on June 30.


Mary Nolan planting the flag to recognise a fallen Tipperary Munster Fusilier, John Maher from Templemore.

The group of descendants of Ellen Meehan’s brother John, seen in the photograph standing at the Helles memorial in front of Patrick’s name, retraced his final footsteps in a three-hour trek up the Gulley exactly 100 years after the battle. In a fitting tribute to his memory, two Slievenamon songs were sung as well as an adapted version of 'The Galtee Mountain Boy'. A little bit of Tipperary soil was also sprinkled in the area. A decade of the Rosary was also recited in his memory and for all those 140,000 others who died on the peninsula during that eight-month campaign. Over 27,000 Allied soldiers have no known graves but they did manage to commemorate some Munster Fusiliers they found.

Fethard Sports Achievement Award for June

Photographed at the presentation of the Butler's Bar Fethard Sports Achievement Award for June were L to R: Miceál Maher (sporting guest), Gareth Lawrence (winner) and M.J. Croke, representing this month's sponsor, Cashel Motor Works.

The winner of the Butlers Bar Fethard Sports Achievement Award for June was Gareth Lawrence. Gareth recently brought home a world title to Fethard for Powerlifting. His gold medal was achieved in the 75kg junior deadlift event. Gareth was joined by family members and friends for the presentation held in Butlers on Friday last, July 10.
Special sporting guest on the night was Miceál Maher. Miceál will be best remembered for his national and international success as co-driver to the late Frank Meagher, rally driver from Cloneen whose Ford Sierra Cosworth Sapphire car overturned and unfortunately struck a tree on a forest track at Anner Wood near his home on March 10, 2002.

The award was presented by M.J. Croke, representing this month’s sponsor, Cashel Motor Works.

Fethard & Killusty Community Lotto
There was no jackpot winner in Fethard Community Lotto drawn on July 8. We had one ‘Match Three’ winner who received €150: Kathleen O'Riordan, Cloran, Cloneen. The three following ‘Lucky Dip’ winners received €50 each: Paul Ryan, c/o Mary Sayers, Crampscastle; Peter & Marie, c/o McManus, Burke Street, Fethard; and Margaret Maher, Kilboy, Fethard.

Next week’s draw takes place on Wednesday, July 15. The Jackpot is €5,200 and the Jackpot seller’s prize is €520. All proceeds go towards community projects in Fethard, and we thank you for your on-going support.

St. Rita's Camogie Club

St Rita's U10 team who recently took part in a county blitz which was hosted by St Rita's in Fethard GAA park. Training for all ages from age 6 up takes place every Tuesday evening at 6.30pm in Fethard GAA Park and all are welcome to come and try it out. Back L to R: Ciara O'Meara, Kaycee Ahearne, Eabha Ryan, Jessica Moloney, Emma Hayes. Front L to R: Amy O'Donnell, Aine Connolly, Caoimhe O'Connor, Maryann Fitzgerald and Sarah Smith.

GAA Sports Development Lotto
Last week’s numbers drawn on July 10, were 4, 16, 31 and 35. There was no jackpot winner and no match three winner so the following two drawn tickets received €25 each: Paddy Halpin, St Patricks Place, Fethard; and Alice Lawrence, Woodvale Walk, Fethard. The winner of the €50 Lucky Dip was Máire Morrissey, Tullamaine, Fethard.
Next week’s Jackpot is €12,600 and the draw will take place in Fethard GAA Park dressing rooms on Friday, July 17, at 7pm. Sellers Prize €320. All are welcome and thank you for your continued support. All funds raised are used to promote sport in the community.

Find your Fethard 'Postcode' and start using it
Eircode, Ireland’s new postcode system was launched on Monday, July 13, 2015. Eircode will enable people and businesses to find every address in Ireland, helping you to find life easier. CLICK HERE TO GET YOUR POST CODE

Over 35% of addresses in Ireland share their address with at least one other property, making it difficult for those delivering goods and services to accurately identify the location of an address. Eircode has been designed specifically to overcome this problem. Unlike other countries where postcodes define a cluster or group of addresses, a unique Eircode will be assigned to each residential and business address.

Having an Eircode, will remove the hassle and mistakes out of finding addresses in Ireland. www.eircode.ie

Died recently
The death has occurred on Sunday, July 12, 2015, of John Fogarty, Curraghscarteen, Fethard.

John, pre-deceased by Biddy, Kitty, Ned, Fr Jim and Phil, deeply regretted by his sister Sr Frances, sisters-in-law Breda and Madge, niece-in-law Cara, grand nieces and nephews, relatives, neighbours and friends. May he rest in peace

Reposing at his residence on Tuesday, July 14, from 4pm to 7.30pm. Funeral to arrive at the Holy Trinity Parish Church, Fethard, at 8pm. Funeral Mass on Wednesday, July 15, at 11am followed by burial in Calvary Cemetery.

Fethard Community Playgroup
Fethard Community Playgroup will reopen on August 31 for the coming year.  All application forms should be returned to Fethard Community Playgroup, Rocklow Road, Fethard, by Friday, July 10, please.  Mornings are fully booked but there are a number of spaces left for afternoon sessions.  Contact Helena on Tel: (052) 6132316.

Gatsby Ball – 1920s night
The Fionn MacCumhaill Players will host a 'Gatsby Ball – 1920s night' in Cloneen Sports & Social Club on Friday, August 14, with music by 'The Pearly Whites'. Fancy Dress (optional). For tickets contact Tel: 086 0834208.

Many great prizes on the night including two nights B&B for two people in Bantry; two nights B&B in Antrim; €100 voucher for hotel stay in Mayo; family tickets to Bunratty Castle; four green fees to Country House Hotel & Golf Club Athlone; two tickets for Guinness Storehouse; and many more . . .

Silage Extravaganza and Family Day at Moyglass

Organisers preparing the groundwork for the forthcoming Moyglass 'Silage Extravaganza' on Sunday, July 26.

Coolmoyne and Moyglass Vintage Club are hosting a silage extravaganza and family day on Sunday, July 26, on Joe Trehy’s farm at Mobarnane, Moyglass. This promises to be the biggest working event in Ireland for 2015 and entries have been received from all over Ireland and the U.K. The local club members are joined by experienced silage operators from surrounding clubs and counties. Club members met like-minded silage and vintage enthusiasts a few years ago and the idea of holding a large event was discussed and two trial runs were held last year. The venue is ideal as it is only 10K from the M8. There are over 100 entries for the silage cutting and it will be a sight to behold when all of these kick into gear on one site. We are creating a record for double chop harvesters and Lee trailers. One entrant is driving his tractor from the north of Ireland and the boys from the west are travelling in convoy to The Horse and Jockey.

Our tractor run will take place on Saturday, July 25, when we will meet the contingent from the west at The Jockey and escort them back to Moyglass. We want to emphasise that the main events are really part of a family day out. There will be a static display of vintage tractors, cars, oil engines and implements etc. an old fashioned threshing, butter making, a lady blacksmith, trade stands and auto jumblers will add to the enjoyment for the public. Of course we cannot forget the children and these will be catered for with bouncy castles, slides, swinging boats, train rides, amusement arcades, ice cream vans and shop etc. Food will be available all day. The Dog Show is sponsored by Moyglass Kennels, so it’s time to get grooming and give your pets a day out also. Neighbours Sean and Ann O’Dea are very kindly providing parking facilities.



The event will commence at 11am with cutting for single chops, precision chops, wagons and self propelled dating from the sixties to the eighties. Paddy Lee of Lee Trailer fame will officially open the extravaganza at 2pm followed by the double chop record challenge and the Lee trailer record challenge.

Eamonn O’ Dwyer of Tipp F.M launched the event when an episode of Down Your Way was recorded at the Village Inn Moyglass on June 13. This was a memorable night of trad music, interviews and nostalgia. The Pheasant Pluckers were joined by a host of singers and musicians. Eamonn will return to record another episode on site on Sunday, July 26. And the Pheasant Pluckers are returning to Ned Kelly’s on Saturday, July 25. Irish TV are sending a film crew to record the event, which will be aired on channel 191. A host of journalists from Ireland and Peter Love from England are covering the event. South Tipperary Hospice are the charity who will receive the proceeds from the event and what a worthy cause. Admission is very reasonable at €5 and children under 12 are free. So whether you are a silage enthusiast or looking for a good family day out head for Moyglass on Sunday, July 26, and become part of this unique event and also support a most notable charity.

Ronnie Delany to lead Famine 1848 Walk in Ballingarry
This annual Famine Walk takes place in Ballingarry on Saturday, July 25, at 3pm. The starting point is the Young Ireland and National Flag Monument in the village of The Commons. The Walk covers one and half miles and concludes at the Famine Warhouse, the State national heritage site. The Walk commemorates all those who died and emigrated 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 Ireland's most famous Olympic champion, the legendary Irish sportsman Ronnie Delany who won the Gold Medal for Ireland in the 1500 metres at the Olympics games in Melbourne in 1956. Light refreshments will be served. All are welcome. On the afternoon of Sunday, July 26, and there will be free guided tours of the Famine Warhouse every half hour.

Fethard Faces and Places from the Past
The following are a selection of photographs recently added to the Fethard Faces and Places from the Past page on Facebook, also published here for the benefit of our readers who are not on Facebook. The Facebook page is used for sharing old Fethard photographs with other members of the group and is open to all interested in joining. Send any comments or photo information to fethardnews@gmail.com


Photographed in The Green are Back L to R: Tom Ryan, Philip Ryan, Douglas Hannigan. In Front are Jeff and Johnny Hannigan.


Back L to R: Rosie Ryan, Bernadette Ryan, Serean O'Sullivan, Ber Brown, Annette Fox. In Front L to R: Raymond Ryan and Tony Thompson.


Tom Anglim supplied this photo given to him by his Aunt, Betty Cunningham, Moyglass. Photo: Ned Anglim, Tom Hennessy, John Hennessy, Michael Hennessy, Richie Hennessey, Mrs Bridget Dwyer [nee Hennessey], Mary Dwyer, Grace Hannow and Alice Dwyer. Not sure of date, but think was taken at the back of Walls, Main Street.
Below are some of the comments generated on Facebook . . . if you have some to add please email fethardnews@gmail.com

Michael Smyth (Coolbawn) updated the names as follows from a photograph and information he received from his aunt, the late Noddy Hennessy and Mrs O'Dwyer from Ballinure.
Back Row L to R: Eddie Anglim, Richie Hennessy, Michael Hennessy, John Hennessy, Tom Hennessy. Middle Row (seated) L to R: Mrs Margaret O'Shea (née Breen), Arbour Hill; maybe a Walsh from Newtown, Fethard; Grace Hennessy (née Hammond), Main Street; Nora Breen, Main Street; Bridget O'Dwyer (née Hennessy), Ballinure. Front (sitting on ground) L to R: Alice O'Dwyer and Mary O'Dwyer. (Photo dated July 1925)


This photograph of what is now known as Mockler's Terrace, was taken in the 1930s by the late Joe Coffey, Burke Street, of the last few houses before they were knocked and replaced by the present row of houses. The owners of the old houses were re-accommodated in the new houses.
Below are some of the comments generated on Facebook . . . if you have some to add please email fethardnews@gmail.com



'7 Little Girls' at the start of Fethard Carnival Fancy Dress Parade (where the ballroom car park is now) in the 1950s, in the background is Paddy Heffernan's bicycle shed where most bike owners of that time were well acquainted.
Below are some of the comments generated on Facebook . . . if you have some to add please email fethardnews@gmail.com



Paul O'Meara, The Green, photographed outside Kenny's shop


Fethard Community Games in the school field 1980.

Fethard & Killusty trip to Medjugorje 2015
Next year’s Fethard & Killusty parish trip to Medjugorje, operated by Joe Walsh Tours, will depart on August 12, 2015, and return on August 19, 2015. A special group rate of €669 per person sharing has been organised which includes flights, accommodation with breakfast and evening meal. There are some single rooms available at an additional cost of €22 per night. Deposit (when booking) €200. For further information contact David Woodlock at Tel: (052) 6131077 or 087 2522028.

Class of 1990 Reunion in July
The Fethard class of 1990 are holding a reunion in Burke's Bar, Fethard on Saturday, July 25, 2015. Anyone who was in that class at any stage from Junior infants to Leaving Cert is more than welcome to attend. For more information you can contact Niamh (Kenny) Moroney Tel: 086 1940016 or Pamela (Morrissey) O'Donnell Tel: 086 1632475. We hope to see a good crowd there.


Fethard Patrician Presentation Leaving Certificate Class 1990. Back L to R: Dick Prendergast (Principal Patrician Brothers Secondary School), Mary Hurley, John Meagher, Mairead O’Brien, Martin Ryan, Clara Phelan, Pat Doocey, Pat Phelan, P.J. Tobin, Noel Maher, Brian Daly, Declan Ryan. Third Row L to R: Siobhán Cleary, Tina Phelan, Sarah Ryan, Mona O’Gorman, Margaret Allen, Sandra Wade, Kim Lonergan, P.J. Lonergan. Second Row L to R: Bernadette Holohan, Debbie Coen, Mairead O’Connor, Josephine Denn, Charlotte Lawless, Helen Costello, Emma Boland, Sr. Breda (Principal Presentation Secondary School). Front L to R: Fionnuala Murray, Jacqueline Conway, Pamela Morrissey, Rowena Lawless, Valerie Colville, Eleanor Maher, Sarah Ryan and Eleanor Sheehan.

Fethard News
Items for inclusion on this website and 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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