Fethard Athletic Club AGM this Thursday, Jan 16
Fethard Athletic Club will hold their Annual General Meeting on Thursday night, January 16, 2020, in McCarthys, Main Street, Fethard at 8pm. All are welcome to come along. The Fethard club as served the youth of Fethard for over 50 years and, being the New Year, it’s appropriate that we should take a look back to the foundation of the club in Fethard.


Members of Fethard team that won the NACA under-16 cross country championships run in Fethard on Sunday, January 11, 1970. L to R: Miceál McCormack (trainer), David Morrissey, Michael Kenrick (individual winner), Thomas McCarthy (2nd), Tony Hanrahan and Noel Sharpe (sub). Also included is the trainers son, Fergus McCormack aged 2 years. The Fethard Club was formed one month earlier in December 1969.

Brainchild of Miceál McCormack 50 years ago
Fethard Athletic Club was the brainchild of Miceál McCormack over 50 years ago while he was treasurer of the newly formed Fethard Youth Club at that time. The Youth Club was formed by local Augustinian priest, Fr. Pat Killian OSA, on September 22, 1967, to cater for boys over 16 years. The meeting was held in Fethard’s Muintir na Tire Hall, now better known as Fr. Tirry Community Centre in Barrack Street.

The following year, twenty-three members attended the club’s AGM, which was held on September 18, 1968, when the following officers were elected: Rev. Fr. Killian OSA (chairman); Brendan Kenny (vice-chairman); Tom O’Connell (secretary); Miceál McCormack (treasurer); and committee members Eddie Coffey, Davy Morrissey and Philip Ryan. At the meeting, the chairman Fr. Killian in his address, stressed the need for a youth club in Fethard, saying, “Without such facilities our contribution to the youth movement would be rather insignificant.”

Fr. Killian’s foresight and supportive work with the local committee was hugely appreciated by the youth of Fethard and, following the summer recess, the club reopened again in full swing on October 7, 1969. There was a slight change of officers elected in 1969: Very Rev. Canon C. Lee P.P. was appointed patron; Rev. Fr. O’Brien c.c. (chaplain); Rev. Fr. Killian OSA (chairman); Danny Kane (secretary); Miceál McCormack (treasurer); and committee members: Thomas Barrett, John Littleton and Philip Ryan.

During that year, members are busy with paint and brushes redecorating the premises and the idea of organising a cross-country running and athletic section was first suggested by Miceál McCormack with plans to have a team competing during the coming season. Many other additional plans for the 1969-1970 season included boxing, with the well-established Mullinahone Club offering every assistance to the Fethard Club.

Fethard Youth Club Athletics
Miceál’s idea for forming an Athlete Club, affiliated to NACAI was achieved in December 1969, and flourished in 1970 with a very successful year for the members, winning one All-Ireland medal, two Munster medals, two county medals and numerous runner-up medals. In January 1970, Fethard was also chosen as the venue for the County NACA Senior Mens Cross Country, Senior Ladies and Under 16 Championships, held at Delaney’s, Redcity. Most credit must go to Miceál McCormack, trainer of Fethard’s Under 16 team which won the team prize in the event, finishing on 17 points, with second place going to Cashel on a total of 34 points. As a result of this race, Michael Kenrick, Thomas McCarthy, Davy Morrissey and Tony Hanrahan were selected on the county Under 16 team. Fethard Ladies team of Teresa Downes, Helen Maher, Teresa McCarthy and Trudy Hanrahan finished third. Club members Michael Kenrick came first in the Under 16 Cross Country Championship and Thomas. McCarthy finished second, to establish a great future for Fethard Athletic Club that still runs today - 50 years later.

Don’t forget to come along to the Fethard Athletic Club’s AGM on this Thursday night, January 16, 2020, in McCarthys, Main Street, Fethard at 8pm.

Sports Achievement Awards for December

Proud dad picks up December award for daughter Dorothy. Ken Moloney (left), representing this month’s sponsor, Heineken, presenting the Butlers Bar Fethard Sports Achievement Award for December to Anthony Wall, who accepted the award on behalf of his daughter Dorothy Wall, who was unable to attend the presentation.

The December winner of the Butler’s Bar Fethard Sports Achievement Award was Dorothy Wall, a member of Ireland’s Senior Rugby team for the upcoming Six Nations Championship. The award was presented by Ken Moloney, representing this month’s sponsor, Heineken.

The ‘Mentor of the Month’ award was won by Ms Helena Walsh, P.E. Teacher at Patrician Presentation Secondary School who has coached three school volleyball teams to All-Ireland success in the short time she started working in Fethard in 2013. Helena also plays camogie with her hometown team, Carrick Swans.


Ken Moloney, representing this month’s sponsor, Heineken, presenting the 'Mentor of the Month' award to Ms Helena Walsh, P.E. Teacher at Patrician Presentation Secondary School, at the Butlers Bar Fethard Sports Achievement Awards for December on Friday, January 10.

The overall winner for 2019 will be announced on next Friday night, January 17, at a special presentation function at 9.30pm in Butlers Bar. The qualifying monthly winners from which the winner will be chosen are as follows: Deirdre Goggin (January); Fethard Ladies U16 Rugby Team (February); Rugby players, Shane Neville, Robert Wall and Toby Collier (March); Robert Hackett (April); Fethard U12 A Football Team (May); Eoin Tynan (June); David Flanagan (July); Alison Connolly, Carrie Davey, Nell Spillane and Leah Coen, members of the Tipperary All-Ireland U17 Gaelic Football Squad (August); Lucy Spillane (September); St. Rita’s Camogie Club (October); Sinead Delahunty (November) and Dorothy Wall (December).

All are welcome to come along for the presentation on this Friday night, January 17.

Social dancing at Fethard Ballroom
Fethard Ballroom continues its New Year’s social dancing on Sunday, January 19, to the music of ‘Muriel O'Connor & Fran Curry’. All are welcome to come along and enjoy a great night’s entertainment and social dancing from 9pm to midnight. Admission is €10, which includes tea and cakes. For further information or for booking the ballroom, contact Eileen Coady, Tel: 086 0776420, Email: eileencoady@hotmail.com

Clashawley River Walk

One of Fethard’s most prized assets in recent years – the somewhat mysterious Clashawley River Walk at dusk – where you can walk alone and feel at harmony with one’s inner self or one’s inner thoughts and prepare for a peaceful New Year.

Well-Being Cookery Course starting soon
An eight-week Health and Well-Being Cookery Course will take place every Wednesday 10 to 12 in Fethard Community Hall starting on Wednesday, January 29, 2020. This is an opportunity for you to start your New Year off in a healthy way. Course tutor is Eileen Bowden. and it will cover such topics as cooking on a budget, general nutrition and specialist diets, to mention a few. The course will cost €5 per class. Book early to avoid disappointment by contacting Margaret on 087 6536374.

Bunny Hop back at Fethard Convent Community Hall
Bunny Hop, Music and Movement for babies to four-year-olds is returning to Fethard, starting on this Monday, January 13, at Fethard Convent Community Hall from 10am to 11am. 

To book for January please contact Nicola 087 6742401 or by email: nicola@bunnyhop.ie. Parents, Grandparents and childminders all welcome. Bunny Hop is an hour of music with movement for babies and young children. 

Fethard U16 & U18 Girls make Munster League semi-finals

Smiles all-round from our Fethard Rugby U16 Girls after winning their last round of the Munster League in wet and muddy conditions against a strong Clonakilty team. Well done!

The smiles say it all as Fethard Rugby U16 Girls win their last round of the Munster League in wet and rather muddy conditions against a strong Clonakilty team on Saturday last. This is fantastic achievement – the fifth season in a row for the club as the U16 girls also join the U18 Fethard girls, who have made their Munster League semi-final.

Thanks to all the players, their families and the coaches for their huge commitment so far this season to get to this stage. Wishing the girls all the very best for their upcoming Provincial semifinal.

Congratulations to U7s
We congratulate our U7 Fethard girls – Karen Bennett, Orlaith Breen, Ciara Gahan, Clodagh Fanning, Kate Flannery and Shauna Maher – who all represented East Munster, playing in the U17 Munster Tournament recently in Irish Independent Park. We are very proud of this bunch and wishing them all the best going forward.

With a busy few weeks ahead for all our girls teams from our U9, U10, U12, U14, U16 and U18s, there is plenty of rugby fun to be had. We would also like to take this opportunity to congratulate Dorothy Wall and wishing her the very best of luck with her Ireland women’s squad in the upcoming Six Nations games. Very proud moment for her family and Fethard Rugby Club.

If you wish to join in the fun, New members are always welcome. For more information contact Polly on 086 3394959.

Niall wins annual Texas Hold'em Card League

Full group of card players that took part in the Texas Hold'em Card League at Butler's Bar Fethard. Back L to R: Ronan O'Donnell, Philip Butler, Eoghan Hurley, Stephen O'Meara, Johnny Ryan, Tom Arnold, Richard Hayes. Front L to R: Steven Harrington, Keith Woodlock, Anne Marie Butler, Kenneth O'Donnell and Niall Hayes. The overall winner of the Annual League for 2019 was Niall Hayes.

Fethard & Killusty Community Lotto
The numbers drawn on Wednesday, January 8, were: 5, 22, 23 and 26. There was no jackpot winner and no ‘Match Three’ winner, so three drawn tickets received €50 each: Monica O'Shea, Woodvale, Walk, Fethard; Emma O'Donohoe, Glengoole, Thurles; and Teresa Fogarty, Pike Street, Killenaule.

The following three ‘Lucky Dip’ winners received €50 each: Brud Roche, Woodvale Walk, Fethard; Susan Sayers, Crampscastle, Fethard; and Joe Kenny, Rocklow Road, Fethard.

Next week’s draw takes place on Wednesday, January 15. The Jackpot is €10,000 and the Jackpot seller’s prize is €1,000. All proceeds go towards community projects in Fethard, and we thank you for your on-going support.

GAA Sports Development Lotto back in February
The numbers drawn on Friday, December 20, were: 7, 14, 28 and 32. There was no jackpot winner and three ‘match three’ winners who received €50 each: Michael Quinlan Tullamaine, Fethard; Mary Godfrey, Derryluskin, Fethard; and Margaret Lonergan, Clerihan. The committee of Fethard GAA/Sports Centre Development Lotto would like to thank all our supporters near and far who participate in our weekly lotto draw and wish you all a Happy New Year. The next draw takes place on Friday, February 10, in Burke’s Bar at 7.30pm, when the jackpot is €24,600 and the seller's prize is €1,000. The funds raised are used to promote sport in the local community.

Tipperary Books and the Book Fair

There are a few aspects of the upcoming Tipperariana Book Fair, on Sunday, February 9, that are particularly important for books of Tipperary and local interest. Firstly, the book dealers who come from all over the country to the fair make sure to gather up their ‘Tipperary interest’ books and have them for sale on the day, knowing that there will be a market in Fethard for all Tipperariana type books and memorabilia. The reverse is also true, with punters being very happy to come across a local book that they always wanted, as it may have some photo or reference in it to their family or locality.

Secondly, the organisers of the book fair , the Fethard Historical Society, receive donations of ‘ould books’ that otherwise might end up in the skip , and the odd one can be rare or special in some way and will go for sale at the fair and make some purchaser very happy on the day.

Tipperariana Book of the Year
A feature of this whole annual focus on books in the county is the nomination, by the organisers of the Book Fair, of their Tipperariana Book of the Year. Every year over thirty or more substantial books or journals are published in county Tipperary and the Book of the Year concept is just another way to draw attention to, and give recognition to, the authors and publishers of such books. In many ways these books are the ‘stored memory’ of the people of Tipperary and their importance will only increase with the passing of time.

The organisers also try to invite as many as possible of the authors of ‘Tipperary’ books – published in the preceding year – to come to the fair to promote, sell and sign their books.

Anyone wishing to make contact with the organisers of the upcoming 25th Tipperariana Book Fair on Sunday, February 9, or who wish to donate books, can email bookfair@fethard.com or text or phone 087 9305232 or 087 9009722.

Jake Carter coming to The Abymill


Jake Carter will do a once-off intimate concert in the Abymill Theatre, Fethard, on Saturday, March 7, starting at 8pm. The concert is run to raise funds for Cappanagarrane Horse Rescue. You are asked to please come along and support this deserving cause to help fund the rescue and rehabilitation of so many horses who would otherwise have no chance of survival. Cappanagarrane Horse Rescue is the only registered horse rescue service in Tipperary. Tickets are just €25 each and early booking is advised as tickets are limited. Booking now by contacting Anne at Tel: 086 0834208.

Country Markets resume this Friday, January 17.

Winners of the Fethard Country Markets draw for two Christmas Hampers being presented with their prizes at the weekly market held in the Town Hall Fethard. L to R: Heather Bailey (Country Markets), Frank Condon (winner), Christy Williams (Country Markets) who accepted the hamper on behalf of Olwyn O'Brien (winner); and David Curran, treasurer Fethard Country Markets. The Country Markets will resume on this Friday, January 17, in the Town Hall.

Faces and Places from the Past – 36 Year Ago
The following are a selection of photographs of faces and places taken in our locality that may bring back memories to many of our readers and visitors to fethard.com Please send any comments or photo information, names and event, to fethardnews@gmail.com

These photographs taken at Fethard GAA Centenary Convention held in the Tirry Community Centre in January, 1984, 36 years ago, will bring back many memories of a vibrant Fethard GAA Club, and local followers who dedicated their lives to the club. At that convention the following were elected: President - Fr. Philip Noonan, vice-president - Bill O’Connor, Dickie Allen, Fr. Stapleton and Michael O’Riordan, Chairman - Dick Cummins, Vice-Chairman - Ned Sheehan and Dick Fitzgerald, Hon. Secretary - Michael McCormack, Hon. Treasurer - Martin Cuddihy. Committee: Noel Byrne, Joe Ahearne, Hurling Chairman: Liam McCarthy, Hurling Secretary: Seamus Hackett, Margaret Hackett, Frances Bourke, Sean Hanrahan, Benny Morrissey, L. O’Meara, J. Allen, M. O’Brien, J. Clarke, J. O’Shea (Trainer), N. O’Shea, P. Sheehan, J. McCarthy, A. Colville, L. Connolly, J. Harrington, D. Kane and M. Keane.


Top table at the Fethard GAA Centenary Convention held in the Tirry Community Centre in January 1984 L to R: Liam McCarthy, Dick Fitzgerald, Ned Sheehan, Dick Cummins, Miceál McCormack, Martin Cuddihy and Stephen McCormack.


Fethard GAA Centenary Convention held in the Tirry Community Centre in January 1984.


Fethard GAA Centenary Convention held in the Tirry Community Centre in January 1984

For Facebook members, many of these photos are also published on Fethard Faces and Places from the Past page. This Facebook page is used for sharing old Fethard photographs with members of the group and is open to anyone interested in joining.

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 fethardnews@gmail.com or delivered by hand to Joe Kenny, Rocklow Road, Fethard.