Patrician Presentation School News

A historic day for the Fethard Patrician Presentation school’s PE Department, as the first group of Leaving Cert PE students completed their Performance Assessment Project in circuit training and interval training.  Our thanks to TÚS Campus Thurles for the use of their facilities.

National Stud and Japanese Gardens


In association with Coolmore Stud, Sixth Year students from Fethard Patrician Presentation Secondary School enjoyed a trip to National Stud and Japanese Gardens recently. Set in 850 acres of green rolling hills, it presented the students with an opportunity to interact with the workings of a stud farm, which included a tour of the stud and horses.

The group are photographed above at a bridge in the Japanese Garden, that were created over one hundred years ago by a master Japanese horticulturist. Thank you to Coolmore Stud for supporting this trip for the students.

Royal Irish Academy elects Pat Guiry as President

Professor Pat Guiry, chemist has been elected the 58th President Royal Irish Academy (RIA) for a three-year term.

On March 16, 2023, at their Stated General Meeting, the Members of the Royal Irish Academy (RIA) voted Pat Guiry MRIA as its 58th President for a three-year term. The Royal Irish Academy is Ireland’s leading body of experts in the sciences and humanities. Professor Guiry who is Full Professor of Synthetic Organic Chemistry and Director of the Centre for Synthesis and Chemical Biology in University College Dublin, replaced the outgoing President Dr Mary Canning. Professor Guiry was elected to membership in 2013 and has been an active Member, serving the Academy on Council from 2015 to 2020 with specific roles as Science Secretary, a member of the Executive and Policy and Oversight Committees from 2016 to 2020.

Pat Guiry grew up in St. Johnstown, Fethard, County Tipperary and attended the Patrician Brothers Primary School and the Patrician Brothers / Presentation Sisters Secondary School in Fethard. He studied at University College Dublin (UCD), B.Sc. 1986 and Ph.D. 1990 with Professor Dervilla Donnelly and was a visiting student in the group of Nobel Prize winner, Professor Sir Derek Barton FRS. He carried out postdoctoral research in asymmetric catalysis with John M. Brown FRS (Oxford University). He joined UCD in 1993 and is currently the Director of the Centre for Synthesis and Chemical Biology and Full Professor of Synthetic Organic Chemistry since 2006. His research interests include the design, synthesis, and application of novel ligands in asymmetric catalysis, natural product synthesis, and medicinal chemistry.

He has supervised 59 Ph.D. students to graduation to date, worked with 24 postdoctoral fellows and supervised over 120 final year undergraduate project students. His work has been published in over 180 peer-reviewed papers, review articles and book chapters. He was elected a Member of the Royal Irish Academy in 2013 and is an elected member of the UCD Governing Authority (third term) and of the Senate of the National University of Ireland (third term). He was the Science Secretary of the Royal Irish Academy from 2016−2020 and is the President of the Institute of Chemistry in Ireland from 2019−present and President of the EuChemS Division of Organic Chemistry. He chairs the Board of the Young Scientist & Technology Ltd and is a Head Judge in the Chemistry/Physics/Mathematics category. He was recipient of the UCD President's Teaching Award in 1999, the Institute of Chemistry of Ireland’s Boyle-Higgins Medal in 2014 and the Science Foundation Ireland Mentorship Award in 2020. A keen tennis player, with 19 Irish national titles to date, he represented Ireland in 2022 in the Austria Cup (ITF World Team Competition) in Florida.

The Royal Irish Academy (RIA)
The Royal Irish Academy, founded in 1785, is Ireland’s leading body of experts supporting and promoting the sciences and humanities. As an all-island independent forum of peer-elected experts we recognise world-class researchers and champion Irish academic research.

We make a significant contribution to public debate and policy formation on issues in science, technology, and culture. We bring together academia, government, and industry to address issues of mutual interest by providing an independent forum.

We lead important national research projects, particularly in areas relating to Ireland and its heritage. We represent the world of Irish learning internationally, have a unique globally recognised library and are a leading academic publisher.

Fethard 'Spring Clean Day' on Saturday, March 25
Fethard’s annual 'SPRING CLEAN' day takes place on Saturday next, March 25. Our local Tidy Towns Group are appealing for helpers. We assemble at the back of Fethard Ballroom at 10.30am. Gloves, bags and hi-vis vests will be supplied.

GAA Sports Development Lotto Results
Fethard GAA Sports Lotto draw results for Tuesday, March 21, 2023, are as follows: the numbers drawn were: 17, 24, 27 and 28. We had no Jackpot winner and one Match 3 winner who received €100: Caroline Gayson. One Lucky Dip winner received €100: Paul Fitzgerald.  

The next draw takes place on Tuesday, March 28, when the jackpot is €18,200. The funds raised are used to promote sport in the local community.

Fethard Athletic Club
Fethard Athletic Club recently took part in the County Intermediate 8K Mens Road Championships in Ballyneale on March 12, 2023. It was great to see Fethard athletes competing once more and doing so well. The Men’s team comprised James Maher, Louis Rice, Fintan Rice and Kevin O’Meara.
Training continues every Tuesday evening at 6pm in Fethard Town Park. New members are always welcome.

Fethard & District Day Care Centre CLG

The Premier Newspaper - March 17, 2023
This week's issue of The Premier free local newspaper is now available in local shops and is also available online by CLICKING HERE. This edition features articles, photographs and news from the district, including: Adult Learners 'Walk and Talk'; – Premier Flashbacks to 1987; – Fethard News; – Tipperary Football Across Five Decades; and lots more. Click any of the images below to read the relevant pages in this issue online.


Flashbacks to 1987


Fethard News on The Premier


Adult Learner's Festival 'Walk and Talk'

Special Mass for the Elderly on Tuesday, April 4
Fethard's Holy Trinity Parish Church will hold a special 'Mass for the Elderly', including the 'Sacrament of The Sick' on Tuesday, April 4, at 11am. Fethard & District Day Care Centre will host tea and light bites afterwards in the Convent Chapel. All are welcome.

Social Dancing in Fethard Ballroom


Fethard Ballroom continues its social dancing on Sunday, March 26, to the music of 'Michael Sexton'. All are welcome to come along and enjoy a great night’s entertainment and social dancing from 8.30pm to 11.30pm. Admission is €10, which includes tea and cakes. For further information or for booking the Ballroom, contact Eileen Coady, Tel: 086 0776420.

Daffodil Day –The day we take back from cancer'

The late Eileen Gleeson, who died on Wednesday July 28, 2021, is photographed above supporting 'Daffodil Day' in Fethard back in 2012. This year's 'Daffodil Day' is back on Friday, March 24. Please give your support!

Daffodil Day 2023 in Fethard takes place on Friday, March 24. We are delighted to host our Coffee Morning and raffle from 9am to 1pm in the Town Hall, Fethard. Daffodils will also be on sale throughout the town from early morning. We are looking forward to welcoming back all our fantastic supporters. 

Funds raised on the day help the Irish Cancer Society to support cancer patients and their families. Hope to see you there! 

Happy St. Patrick's Day

Parish Church Lotto Draw Results
There was no jackpot winner in this week's Parish Lotto on Thursday, March 16, 2023. The numbers drawn were 3, 13, 14 and 17. The winner of the weekly draw for €30 was Sean O'Donovan. Next week's Jackpot for Thursday, March 23, will be €3,925.

Please pass the word on and invite friends and family to take part. You can help our Parish in a real, practical way.  Thank you for your support and the best of luck in our next weekly draw. PLAY OUR LOTTO NOW

Big Picture – 'Puck Fair' Fethard Carnival Fancy Dress Parade in the 1950s

'Puck Fair' Fethard Carnival Fancy Dress Parade

This photo above was taken of a large group involved in the 'Puck Fair' Fethard Carnival Fancy Dress Parade entry, in the Barrack Field in the 1950s. Included in the group are: Neddy Delahunty, Joe Ryan, John Collins, Andy Holohan, Larry Dargan, Sean Ward, Percy O'Donnell, Rose Henehan, Mary Goldsboro, and Mary Kenny. See if you can find some more faces that you recognise and let us know?

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 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 collected from some local people interviewed in the 1990s that happily records many of our Fethard friends, some long gone, that maybe our older readers will recall and bring back happy pleasant memories. Please send any comments or photo information, names and event, to fethardnews@gmail.com

This lady is Maggie Higgins, who lived on The Green.


This photo was taken of Paddy Dalton with his wife and child.


Patrick Sayers photographed holding a child taking a ride on an ass.


Photographed at The Green are L to R: Dan Hynes, Michael Healy and in front is Tommy Healy on his Rocking Horse.


Photographed at Fethard Fancy Dress Parade in the Barrack Field are L to R: Concepta Healy, Lou Kenrick and Fr. Leddin OSA.


Group photographed at the wedding of Sally Finn, Burke Street.


Playing cards at the kitchen table at Knockelly are: Jack and Kate Myles, Billy Lawless (standing), Bernie Myles, Paddy Fitzgerald and Michael Keane.


Major Hughes and Mrs Hughes, Annesgift, having a picnic with friends.


Having a rest at Fethard Carnival are Kate Myles, Mrs Joe Fitzgerald, Bill Meaney, Bernie Myles, Billy Murphy, the child in front is Stephen Cummins.


L to R: Jerry O'Riordan, Barrack Street, and Brendan Kenny, The Green.


Group photographed at Guard Fallon's wedding.


James Leahy and Paddy Murray photographed with their greyhound at St. Patrick's Place.

Please send any further information to: fethardnews@gmail.com

Fethard News
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.