Fethard & Killusty Emigrant’s Newsletter on sale now!

This year’s Fethard & Killusty Emigrant’s Newsletter is expected back from the printers and should be on sale in the following local shops at €12 each, Centra Supermarket (The Green), Daybreak Supermarket (Kerry Street), and Fethard Post Office (Main Street). Copies will also be posted free of charge to Fethard emigrants on our mailing list throughout the world.

We take this opportunity to thank everyone who submitted articles and photographs, and also those who supported the publishing and postage, with donations throughout the year that helps in no small way to make this annual publication possible – since it first began by the good work of Fethard Legion of Mary in 1959.

Pop-Up Clearance Sale in Convent Community Hall on Thursday, December 12, 2024 5pm-9pm

Fethard Ladies Group meet this Thursday
The next meeting of the Fethard Ladies Group is on Thursday, December 12, at 7.30pm, for their Christmas get together. The venue will be the Convent Chapel, where you will have an opportunity to see the new Fethard Day Care facilities. All are welcome to attend.

Happy Christmas to everyone who has supported my efforts in getting this group up and running. Regards Kay Neagle.

Ladies Football Club ‘Split their Pot’ with Dillon Quirke Foundation

After a successful 2023 draw for the Dillon Quirke Foundation, Fethard Ladies Football Club are proud to announce that they will be running their fundraiser again this year. Half the Pot will go to Dillon Quirke Foundation, the other half will be won on the night.

The club are guaranteeing €2,500 for the first envelope out of the bucket, followed by four additional draws, one for €200 and three for €100.  The draw takes place December 15, in Burkes Bar Fethard.

We cannot express how much the Dillon Quirke Foundation means to clubs up and down the country. The Foundation is a registered charity working to raise awareness of SADS (Sudden Adult Death Syndrome), and funds widespread cardiac screening for young people aged 12-18 and involved in sport. With your help, the foundation’s aim is to raise awareness and reduce the number of young people dying from SADS through a cardiac screening programme.

The Foundation’s hope for Dillon’s legacy is that every young sports athlete, male and female in Ireland, will have mandatory screening for their heart. Tickets can be purchased in Local Fethard shops or online at €2 each or three for €5, other online options also available. Best of luck everyone and please support this worthy cause. BUY A TICKET ONLINE

Parish Church Lotto Draw Results


There was no jackpot winner in this week's Parish Lotto on Thursday, December 5, 2024. The numbers drawn were 7, 13, 16, and 21. The winner of the weekly draw for €30 was Margaret Casey. Next week's Jackpot for Thursday, December 12, will be €5,000.

We are delighted with the support shown for our Parish Lotto, it is a fundraising initiative that is of great benefit to the parish. Please pass the word on and invite friends and family to take part. You can join, see the draw results, and details of how your support is making a big difference at: https://www.ourfundraiser.ie/org/fethardkillusty

‘Giant Christmas Stocking’ raffle on Sat. December 14


Did you get your tickets yet for our festive 'Christmas Stocking' raffle? If not there's plenty of time – tickets are available at CENTRA, The Green; Butler's Off Licence, Main Street; O'Sullivan's Pharmacy, Main Street; and Dalton's Pharmacy, Barrack Street; or from any committee member of  the Fethard & Killusty Community Council’s ‘Festivals’ committee.

This year's five-foot ‘Giant Christmas Stocking’ full of toys and goodies is on display in Butler’s Off-Licence Window on Main Street. The draw will take place live on Facebook at 8pm on Saturday, December 14. Tickets are €5 or three for €10. If you're not in, you can't win!

Happy Birthday Tossie!


Tossie Lawton, President St. Rita's Camogie Club, former player and a loyal supporter of all camogie, ladies’ football and GAA teams, turned a wonderful 80 years recently. To mark this special birthday Tossie was joined by players, coaches and committee members in wishing her a wonderful birthday.

Tossie was presented with some beautiful handmade cards from the players, cake, and a St. Rita’s Camogie jacket kindly given as a gift from Paul at O’Reilly Sports, to keep her warm for all matches from now on. Happy Birthday Tossie and thank you for being our biggest supporter always. A true blue.

Died Recently
The death has occurred on December 3, 2024, of Frank Quirke BL, Knockanglass, Moyglass, Fethard, peacefully at South Tipperary University Hospital in the presence of his loving family.

Frank, son of Dr Richard and Sally Quirke, Clonmel, beloved husband and best friend of Judy (née Philpott), father of Richard, Millie, Evie, Joe, Juliet, Patrick, Mick and Felicity, brother of Mike, Caroline, Liz, Sally-Anne and the late Nuala. Son-in-law of Mary and Joe Philpott. May he rest in peace.

Frank's Funeral has taken place privately. Messages of Condolence for the family may be left online by CLICKING HERE.

Died Recently
The death has occurred on Monday, December 2, 2024, of Fiona Louise Ryan Purcell of Jossestown, Fethard, who died suddenly at home; an absolute force of nature taken away too soon. Chef, farmer and carer, Fiona lived her life with a boundless love, energy, enthusiasm and a lust for life and the great outdoors.

Survived by her heartbroken husband Dessie Purcell, she was cherished by her parents Willie and Catherine Ryan, her five sisters Kerry, Sarah, Siobhan, Niamh and Eleanor, her father in law Toby, her adored nieces and nephews Holly, Danny, Anna, Mai, Billy, Jack, Elsa and Ewan, brothers-in-law John, Steve, Richard, Paul, Philip and Adrian, sister-in-law Erica, Marie and Graham and her loyal and protective dogs Ella and Buzz.

Fiona will repose at her parents' Willie and Catherine's home (E91 WP70) on Friday, December 6, from 5pm to 8pm where all are welcome. Funeral Mass will take place on Saturday, December 7, at 11am in the Holy Trinity Parish Church, Fethard, followed by a private cremation. Fiona's Mass can be watched online at parishchurch.net
Messages of condolence can be left online by CLICKING HERE

Grandfather and grandson celebrating success!

Liam Kiely (Coolmoyne) photographed with his proud grandfather, Shem Butler (Garrinch), in Limerick last week after Liam's team from University Limerick won the Electric Ireland Higher Education Division 2 Freshers Gaelic Football League final. UL defeated TUS Midlands (Athlone) by 4 points and defeated UCC, NUIG and DCU on the way to the title.

Santa lights up Fethard at Christmas Street Market

Santa photographed with some of his wonderful helpers that turned up in Fethard on Sunday, December 1, to help greet the children and officially turn on the festive street lighting.

On Sunday last, December 1, Fethard’s Christmas Street Market came alive. with a huge crowd came along to sample the fun, entertainment and the wide variety of over sixty food. Christmas gifts and craft stalls offering their seasonal goods for sale at the Convent Community Hall centre, Lower Main Street and on Main Street and The Square.


Packed Christmas Market in the Convent Community Hall

The organisers did a terrific job in keeping Main Street pedestrianised for the day and very much appreciated the good will and co-operation received from the houseowners and businesses in Main Street. This allowed for free entertainment stalls and amusements to set up and facilitate a brilliant traffic-safe family friendly environment for all to enjoy. Apart from one early shower, the afternoon brightened up with sunshine and cheer. 

Santa photographed with children from 'Fantasia' who entertained the crowd on The Square with Christmas Carols.

The highlight of the afternoon was the arrival of Santa in his sleigh at 2.30pm to spend some time meeting children as he roamed the full length of Main Street posing for memorable photographs and chatting to his adoring young fans. A ‘Santa Train’ made continuous trips up and down Main Street ferrying young children on a visual tour of activities.


Fethard Main Street a hive of Festive Activities on Sunday, December 1

Santa had one big job left to do at 4pm, and that was to switch on the new Christmas Tree lights on The Square. Fethard Main Street had also new energy-saving lights erected in the past week which was funded by locals and businesses contributing to a ‘Light up Fethard’ fundraiser organised by Fethard Business & Tourism Group.


Santa leaving Fethard on his sleigh before darkness falls

Great credit is due to the ‘Festivals’ committee, under the umbrella of Fethard & Killusty Community Council, who organised the daunting ‘Christmas Street Market’ to perfection. Take a bow Pamela Sweeney, Annette O’Donovan, Amanda Kehoe, Shannon O’Brien, Roseann Carroll, our secretary P.J. Henehan, and all the helpers they enlisted to realise their plans. Well done to all! Upwards and onwards!

Christmas Lights ‘Thanks’
A heartfelt thank you to everyone who donated, fundraised, and supported us with the Christmas Lights this year. This incredible achievement would not have been possible without the entire community coming together. 

Special thanks go to David O’Mahoney Electrical Services. David, Noel Walsh, and the entire team worked tirelessly to get the lights up in time. Congratulations to the Christmas Market organisers on a fantastic event on Sunday, and of course, a big thank you to Santa Claus for switching on the lights!

Congratulations Kelley!

Congratulations to Kelley Coady Cunniffe, The Valley, Fethard, working as an engineer in Galway, who received her Master’s in Applied Science Enterprise Systems, at the University of Galway. Kelley is photographed above with her parents, Kevin and Margaret Coady, Fethard.

New Mass Times at the Augustinian Abbey
Please Note that the following changes of Mass times in the Abbey will apply from Sunday, December 1, 2024.

• Sunday  9 am  and 12.00 noon   
• Monday  8 am and 10.30 am
• Tuesday and Wednesday. 10.30 am
• Thursday 8 am
• Friday 10.30 am
• Saturday 11.30 am
• The 9.30 am Sunday morning Mass is at the earlier time of 9am.
• There will be no 8 am Mass on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday and no 10.30 am on Thursday.

South U21 Football Final at Fethard Town Park

Fethard U21 A football team photographed before the South final played at Fethard Town Park. Back L to R: Charlie Hackett, Dara O’Meara, Michael O’Meara, Conor Neville, Jack Quinlan, Ben Allen, Gavin Neville, John Lacey, Andrew Connorton, Michael John Phelan, Sean Moroney, Tom Murray. Front L to R: Darragh Spillane, Mark Neville, Shane Neville (captain), Charlie Walsh, Rory O’Mahony, Liam Kiely, Jack Davey, Noah Flynn, and Matt Coen.

On Saturday, November 23, the U21 A South Football Final between Fethard and Clonmel Commercials was played on the 4G all-weather pitch at Fethard Town Park.

The curtain came down on Fethard’s GAA year, with a heartful display by our young team, particularly in the second half, when they displayed lovely fast free flowing football, and winning the half by 0-5 to 0-3. However, our downfall was the first half, when Commercials raced into a 1-2 to 0-0 score in the first eight minutes. We then got our first score with a point from Charlie Walsh, and within a minute Conor Neville added a second. In the following nine minutes, Commercials added five points without reply.

Andrew Connorton got injured and was replaced by Rory O’Mahony. On the twenty-first minute Fethard were handed a lifeline, but an excellently kicked penalty was saved by the Commercials’ goalie, making our job more difficult.  To their credit, the team added two points from frees scored from twenty meters out by Mark Neville.  This brought an end to the first half leaving the score: Commercials 1-7 to Fethard’s 0-4.

Commercials scored the first point of the second half. Fethard then took over and kept the whole Commercials team back in defence. We started our come back with a point from a free by Matt Coen. In the 42nd minute, a great move saw Liam Kiely score a point. Commercials scored a point on a breakaway run. John Lacey came on as a sub for Fethard and from the 47th to the 56th minute, we added three points – a free from Mark Neville, a great kick by Matt Coen, and the last point from Conor Neville. We had one opportunity in the last five minutes that broke down on the final pass. It was a Commercials fist that scored the last point of the game, that won them the South Championship on a scoreline 1-10 to 0-9.

Fethard team and subs: Ben Allen, Michael James Phelan, Shane Neville (captain), Darragh Spillane, Charlie Hackett, Dara O’Meara, Liam Kiely 0-1, Jack Quinlan, Andrew Connorton, Charlie Walsh, Matt Coen 0-2 (1F), Noah Flynn, Mark Neville 0-3 (3F), Conor Neville 0-2, and Gavin Neville. Subs: Michael O’Meara, Oisin Ryan, John Lacey, Jack Davey, Sean Moroney, James Barry, Tom Murray and Rory O’Mahony. – (Noel Byrne)

GAA Sports Development Lotto Results
Fethard GAA Sports Lotto draw results for December 3, 2024, are as follows: the numbers drawn were: 2. 9, 24 and 32. We had no Jackpot winner and two Match 3 winners who received €75 each: James Martin and Eoin Whyte. One lucky dip winner received €100: John Kenrick. The next draw takes place on Tuesday, December 10, 2024, when the jackpot is €30,000.

The committee of Fethard GAA Development Lotto would like to thank all our supporters for the continued support.

'Split The Granny Pot' winner

Congratulations to Rita Kenny on winning the November Split The Granny Pot draw. Rita received her winning cheque at our stall in the Fethard Christmas Craft Fair from Liam Hayes and Fionnuala O’Sullivan.

St. Vincent de Paul annual appeal
Our Annual Church Gate collection will be held at all Masses on December 7 and 8. We are always grateful for the great response every year to our collection but because of the lesser numbers attending mass since Covid, we very respectfully ask that if you wish to donate other than at the Church Gates, then you can do so online website at www.svp.ie/donate/
You can name our Conference: Holy Trinity Conference Fethard Co Tipp, and your donation will reach us eventually.

Alternatively, if you want to donate by mail, please address it to: The Treasurer, St. Vincent de Paul, Fethard, Co. Tipperary, and a receipt will be sent to you. We remind you to please do not send cash in the mail.

Big Picture - Fethard South Football Champions 1943

Fethard 1943 South Senior Football champions with supporters. Front L to R: Tom Dalton, Paddy Dalton, Joe O'Dwyer, Jimmy Hayes, Bill Connors, Dickie Allen, Paddy Ahearn, Mick Hickey, Billy Matthews, Jimmy Madden. Middle L to R: Mick Byrne, Peter Napier, Derek Wall, Jimmy (Slicks) McCarthy, Joe Fogarty, Mick Fogarty, Tony Newport (boy). Back L to R: Neddy Trehy, 'Cautious' Cummins, Dick Hayes, Tom Burke, Mick Hayes, Dick Wall, Mikie Connors, Jim Noonan, Mick Prout, Canon Lee, Connie Danagher, Michael Quigley, Mick O'Neill, two boys in front of Canon Lee are Dinny and Chris (Cly) Mullins. Other people at back include Jim Williams (Clonmel), Stoney Brien, Jim Costigan, Willie Ryan and Jack Leahy.

You can zoom in closer to see more detail by clicking the photograph to zoom-in and double-clicking the photograph to zoom-out. If you can help with names or further information please let us know. Your comments, names or corrections are always welcome to: fethardnews@gmail.com

Faces and Places from the Past
This week we have a selection of photographs copied from the family album belonging to Fredrick Cribbens, husband of May Mackey, when he visited Fethard in September 1994. There may be someone out there with further information that we can add to our files, so if anyone can help us, please do. Please send any comments, photo information, names, to fethardnews@gmail.com

Photograph taken on Slievenamon


Photograph taken on Slievenamon


Photograph taken on Slievenamon


Kathleen Ahearn 1946 (Jim's daughter)


Postman Jim Ahearn delivering post to a house in St. Patrick's Place.


Leaving Fethard by train 1946.


Alan, Kitty and Billy Power


Nan and Jim Ahearn


Group sitting in a room?


Mrs La Terriere's batty ponies at Kiltinan


Woman holding dogs at Kiltinan Castle.


Lady and boy holding pony


Fethard Parish Church altar. 1940s


Rock of Cashel


Staunton Row, Clonmel

Please send any comments, photo information, names or stories, to fethardnews@gmail.com

Fethard News for inclusion on this website
Comments or items for inclusion on this website can be emailed to fethardnews@gmail.com or delivered by hand to Joe Kenny, Rocklow Road, Fethard.

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