Fethard & Killusty Community Council's 'Split The Cash' Lotto
Well done to The O'Donovan Family for winning our Community Split The Pot of €275.50 this week. Ticket drawn by Paul Duggan. Thank you to everyone who supports our weekly draw. All money raised from this draw will be used to benefit our town.
Our next draw takes place on Thursday, November 13. Envelopes are €2 each or 3 for €5 and are available at the Tirry Community Centre, Kennys Centra Fethard, Lonergan's Bar, Fethard, and Butlers Off Licence, Fethard. Also we have a new scan to pay option. Please remember to fill in all three envelopes if you avail of the 'Three for €5' special offer.
Patrician Presentation 'Table Quiz' for School Show
Fethard Patrician Presentation Secondary School will hold a Table Quiz on Wednesday, November 12, at 7.30pm in the School Hall to raise funds for the production af their annual 'School Show'.
Table of four will cost €20. There will also be a raffle on the night. We hope to see you there. Your support will be great appreciated.
GAA Sports Development Lotto Results
Fethard GAA Sports Lotto draw results for November 4, 2025, are as follows: the numbers drawn were: 9, 16, 29 and 33. We had no Jackpot winner and two Match 3 winners received €75 each: Garry O'Dwyer and Majella Daly. One lucky dip winner received €100: Chloe Wynne. The next draw takes place on Tuesday, November 11, 2025, when the jackpot is €5,400.
Johnny Sheehan — A Century of Craft and Character
Johnny Sheehan, Fethard, pictured with a plaque presented to him from The Irish Woodturners Guild, to mark his personal achievement of still turning beautiful pieces of wood at 100 years of age.
Earlier this year, Fethard man Johnny Sheehan reached a remarkable milestone — his 100th birthday — and on a recent visit to the Irish Woodturners Guild, he was presented with a plaque in recognition of his being a 'centenarian turner', still working from the small workshop behind his home at St. Patrick’s Place, where the steady hum of the lathe still sounds most days as Johnny continues to shape bowls, lamp stands and candlesticks from blocks of Irish timber. His pieces, polished and precise, reflect a lifetime’s care and patience — and a deep love for working with wood.
In retirement — though Johnny never truly retired — he turned his attention to woodturning, joining the Irish Woodturners Guild, where his craftsmanship and good humour have made him a respected member. Johnny Sheehan continues to inspire all who know him — a craftsman, a storyteller, and a true Fethard gentleman who has never forgotten the value of work well done. “I might take a rest in the morning,” he laughs, “but after lunch, I’ll be back out to the shed.”
The Irish Woodturners Guild is a non-profit organisation that was founded in 1983. It is run by a National Executive of unpaid volunteers. It currently has 18 Chapters around the country and over 400 members, Its aim is to promote the craft of woodturning and support woodturners in all aspects of their craft.
Emigrants Newsletter now closed for submissions
We would like to thank all individuals, clubs and organisations who submitted items for inclusion in this year’s annual newsletter. The deadline has now passed, and we can no longer accept articles as the finishing touches are now being applied to get this year’s issue ready for printer.
Postage costs continue to increase every year, current postage prices range from €2.95 (Ireland); €7.30 (Britain & Europe); € 11.40 (Canada USA); to €15.60 (Australia and New Zealand) to post each Newsletter. Again, we aim to post these newsletters free of charge to all our emigrants and family members living away from home throughout the world. This is made possible by your generous donations from home and away, the annual sales of newsletters at home, the volunteers at home who help with packing and posting the Newsletter every year, and of course, all the individuals and organisations who supply photos and articles to include in each individual issue. If you wish to donate and help defray postal and printing costs, you can still do so online at www.fethard.com/donate/
'Light Up Fethard' coming soon!
Fethard Bridge Club Results
The results of our game on October 22 were:
- 1st Nett Gabrielle Schofield and Norah Ryan
- 2nd Nett Carmel Condon and Brendan Kenny
- 3rd Nett Margaret Greene and Marie Holoha
- 1st Gross Ann O'Dea and Gemma Burke
- 2nd Gross Monica Anglim and Betty Walsh
- 3rd Gross Anna Cooke and Eileen Frewen
Bridge continues at 7pm every Wednesday in the card room at Fethard Ballroom. New members always welcome.
Social Dancing at Fethard Ballroom
Social Dancing continues at Fethard Ballroom on Sunday night, November 9, 2025, to the music of, ‘Liam Mannering’. All are welcome to come along and enjoy a terrific night’s social dancing from 8.30pm to 11.30pm. Admission is €10, which includes refreshments.
November Graveyards Rosary Timetable
Please join us in praying The Holy Rosary at the following graveyards during November. “It is a holy and wholesome thought, to pray for our dead!”
- Sunday November 9: Calvary - at 3pm; Peppardstown – at 3.30pm.
- Sunday November 16: Kiltinan-3pm; Kilmaclugh – 3.45pm.
- Sunday November 23: Rathcoole – 2.30pm; Redcity – 3.15pm; Tullamaine – 4pm.
- Sunday November 30: Killusty – After 10am Mass.Rosary Timetable
Thelma Griffith celebrates her 90th Birthday
Thelma Griffith (centre) photographed on the occasion of her 90th Birthday, with her co workers while serving as chairperson of Fethard & District Day Care Centre in the Tirry Community Centre, Barrack Street, Geraldine McCarthy (left), Day Care Supervisor, and Joan Donohoe (right), Fethard Community Scheme Supervisor.
Congratulations to Thelma Griffith on celebrating her 90th birthday in Fethard. Not long after coming to Fethard, Thelma restarted the Sunday School in the Church of Ireland vestry in 1995, following the last recorded Sunday School in Fethard being back in the mid 1920s. Over the following months she became a very active member of Fethard Tidy Towns, Fethard & Killusty Community Council, Fethard Historical Society, and was a support member of the ‘Fethard to Fethard’ Annual Walk in aid of the Fethard Day Care Centre that took place in July 1997, that raised £9,215 after expenses.
Thelma was elected chairperson of Fethard & Killusty Day Care Centre in 1999, with the following committee: Brian O’Donnell (vice chairperson), Julie Wall (secretary), Agnes Evans (treasurer), Sr. Christine (Day Care Centre supervisor), Mary Fennel (South Eastern Health Board), Megan Sceats, Nellie Donovan, Phil Whyte, Jimmy Lawrence, Noreen Allen, Maura Tynan, Sean Ryan, Agnes Allen, Carmel Rice, Nora Lawrence, Mary Guider (Killenaule) and Joe Kenny (Community Council). The centre, based in the Fr. Tirry Centre, was running very successfully after its four years in operation.
Thelma worked tirelessly to promote the centre and raise funds with supervisor Sr. Christine, who started the ‘Friendship Club’. This club consisted of daily raffles, with the members donating all the prizes, be it baking, handmade, bric-a-brac, etc. Out of the proceeds the members enjoyed an annual day trip and purchased items that helped the smooth running of the kitchen. Before long they had purchased their own minibus, driven by Liam Connolly, to collect and drive home clients from Cloneen, Killenaule, Drangan and outlying areas.
In the following years, as the Day Care Centre catered for far more clients and further opened their doors from three days to five days. Thelma became the main fundraiser, organising very successful Christmas bazaars over many years, table quizzes and always pushing us all to do more and better for the elderly.
Thelma is the personification of what being a Christian means.
Thelma celebrated her birthday with her fellow parishioners and Day Care family, including past and present staff, at their new home in the Presentation Convent. We wish her many more happy and healthy years and thank her sincerely for her unwavering support and work in our community over her many years living among us. Happy Birthday Thelma!
Irish Mythology Exhibition Open
Parish Church Lotto Draw Results
There was no jackpot winner in the Parish Lotto on Thursday, October 30, 2025. The numbers drawn were 4, 7, 14, and 22. The winner of the weekly draw for €30 was Aoife Dillon. Next week's Jackpot for Thursday, November 6, is €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
Fethard beaten in the South U21 A Football semifinal
On Sunday, October 26, 2025, the South Tipperary U21 A Football semifinal was a thrilling game from start to finish with both teams level seven times, and the game going to extra time with Fethard losing in the finish by two points, on a scoreline Fethard 2-14 to Moyle Rovers 4-10.
In the first half Fethard scored 0-6 to Moyle Rovers1-4, the points coming from Liam Kiely, Charlie Walsh, Charlie Hackett, Mark Neville and a two-pointer from Jack Quinlan. Ben Allen came to the rescue on two occasions, making a great save and intervention just before the short whistle to keep a point between the sides. In the 35th minute we lost our keeper to an injury while trying to prevent a Moyle Rovers goal. He was replaced by Alex Knightly.
Fethard scored a point from a free from Mark Neville in the 37th minute. Charlie Walsh scored a goal after a great movement to bring the teams level again. Moyle Rovers had four points up before Shane Neville set up John Lacey for a great point. We then had an exchange of points from both corner forwards. Our Charlie Walsh was also denied a goal with Brian Morrison, Moyle Rovers corner forward and a thorn in our side, scored another point from play.
In the 58th minute, Michael Quinlan set up John lacey, who in turn found Conor Neville, who scored a great goal in the 60th minute. A free for dissent brought forward 50m, let Mark Neville score a point and draw level at 3-7 to 2-10, and bringing the game to extra time.
The first period was a physical battle on all fronts with both sides reduced to fourteen players. Rovers scored a simple goal and a point to lead by four points at the interval. In the final ten minutes Fethard really fought back to try and win the battle, scoring four points, with Jack Quinlan scoring 0-3 and Mark Neville 0-1. Rovers scored two points leaving Fethard with not just enough to get over the line with time running out. We lost by two points in a great game.
Best on the day for Fethard were Ben Allen, Shane Neville, Dara O’Meara, John Lacey, Jack Quinlan, Conor Neville, Charle Walsh and Mark Neville. Scorers Charlie Walsh 1-2, Jack Quinlan 0-5 (2ptr), Mark Neville 0-4 (3F), Conor Neville 1-0, Liam Kiely, John Lacey, Charlie Hackett.
Team: Ben Allen, Michael J Phelan, Rory O’Mahony, Michael O’Meara, Shane Neville , Dara O‘Meara, Noah O’Flynn, John Lacey, Darragh Spillane, Liam Kiely, Jack Quinlan, Charlie Hackett, Conor Neville, Mark Neville, and Charlie Walsh. Subs used: Alex Knightly 35m, Danny Barry for Michael O’Meara 45m. – (Match Report Noel Byrne)
St. Rita's Camogie Club Fethard
On behalf of everyone at St. Rita’s Camogie Club, we would like to wish the very best of luck to Clodagh Foley and Izzy Maher, who line out with Peil Na MBan Naomh Padraig in their Munster Junior Football Final this Saturday. It’s a momentous occasion for the club as they contest their first ever Munster Final. What an incredible achievement for the girls. Go out enjoy the day, and give it everything!
Fethard & Killusty Community Council AGM
The Annual General Meeting of Fethard & Killusty Community Council will take place at 8pm on Wednesday, November 12, 2025, in the Tirry Centre, Barrack Street, Fethard.
Tractor Run in aid of Fethard Schools November 29
Light Up Fethard Vintage Car & Tractor Run promises to be one of the brightest events this year, in conjunction with Coolmoyne and Moyglass Vintage Club. Proceed will go towards Fethard’s schools and we encourage all to join in the fun with your lit-up vintage vehicles.
Registration takes place from 6pm to 6.45 pm at Fethard Town Wall at Watergate. The run will commence at 7pm. Fee is €20 per vehicle entered.
Christmas Cookery Demo, Nov 6 at Fethard Ballroom
Don’t miss our Christmas Cooking Demo in Fethard Ballroom on November 6 from 7.30pmm featuring Sinéad Delahunty, Delalicious, cookbook author and food educator; plus Live Cocktail Demo and Bites with Sadler’s Restaurant; and Flower Arrangement demo with Flower’s by Mandy, Fethard. Tickets costing €25 are available now from Sadler’s Restaurant, O’Sullivan’s Pharmacy, Dalton’s Pharmacy, Fethard Horse Country Experience or committee members.
Christmas Shoebox Appeal
The Christmas Shoebox Appeal is an Irish project that promises to get your 'Christmas Shoebox' into the hands of a needy child in Eastern Europe. All they ask is for you to fill a shoebox with a range of simple Christmas gifts, and drop it off at your local drop off point at Centra, Fethard, or Monica Pollard, Rocklow Road, up and including Monday, November 10, 2025. Monica also has some wrapped empty Shoeboxes available if someone needs one. HOW TO BUILD A SHOEBOX
All you need to do is get an average size shoebox (or a plastic storage container would also be great), and wrap it with Christmas paper. This year we are very short of empty shoe boxes and would be very grateful if anyone has some, to please drop them in to Fethard Community Centre.
Big Picture: Holy Year Cross Slievenamon 1950s
This photograph was the second pilgrimage to Holy Year Cross on Slievenamon taken on June 29, 1951, and we've had many requests to identify some of those in the photograph while we still have people with us that can. If you are one of those, please email us at: fethardnews@gmail.com and send us your valuable information, using the number on photograph along with the name of the person you recognise. We will publish same at a later stage as we receive them.
You can zoom in closer to see more detail by clicking the photograph to zoom-in, and double-clicking the photograph to zoom-out or use the controls when you hover at the bottom of the photograph. 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
Richard (Dick) Lucey added the following information
8) Tommy O'Connell, Main Street, who had the shop with his wife.
13) Tim Tierney, Burke Street.
51) Mrs McLennan, Main Street.
52) Possibly one of the McLennan boys.
53) Mrs Sergeant Byrne, Main Street.
Hope this helps and that I got it correct!
Kevin Ryan replied with: no 8 is Tommy O’ Connell, no 9 ? Pollard, no 11 Mick Kearney, no 26 Jack ( sprig ) Nagle, no 46 Mick Halpin. To answer Fionas question, by the time Ray passed away the Cross was in a bad state of repair, so the lights never worked after that, the old wooden cross was replaced by the present one in 1974. Regards, Kevin Ryan.
Noel Byrne submitted the following information: No 4 Nora O Shea Quartercross, 7 Pat Byrne Claremore, 8 Tom O Connell Burke St, 21 Mrs Phil Darcy Killusty, 25 Connie Ryan Killurney, 25 Jim Kenny Grove Young Adult, 26 Jack Sprig Nagle Tinrush, 27 Pa Gleeson Cloran, 34 Sheehan ?, 38 Tommy Pollard Quartercross, 49 Mick Halpin Killusty South, 54 Jim Darcy Killusty South, 66 May Lonergan Helper to 65 Mary Barnable Hill Wall, 11 Is a Kearney Jack or Frank Killusty, These are some of the people I recognised Noel.
Fiona Taylor replied with the following information request: My grandmother was the last of my family branch to live in Killusty so it's probably a bit easier for me to notice resemblances. "Sheila's identification is really interesting as I was questioning no.59's identity. When I looked at no.59 first I thought of my granduncle Ray Dunne because they look very similar but then it dawned on me it wasn't Ray because the man in the photo was too old. However, now that we know no.59 is a Ryan I have more questions because I know my GGG grandmother was Bridget Darcy née Ryan. Bridget was Ray's grandmother. Would anyone know if there are any connections between Joe Ryan and the Darcys? Kind Regards, Fiona."
Sheila Corbett identified her parents: Holy year cross photo. No 59 is Joe Ryan and 60 is Dolly Ryan, Roebucksland, Fethard.
Fiona Taylor : Sent us the following Information:
"Jim Corr of Cappadrummin is my great granduncle and I believe he is the balding gentleman marked no.13.
Jim passed away just a few years after this photo was taken in 1954 aged just 53.
The gentleman next to him marked no.15 is quiet possibly his brother John (Jack) Corr...
Their 1st cousin Jim Darcy is the gentleman front left marked no. 54.
My grandaunt Alice O'Neill nee Dunne is definitely the lady marked no.44.
The boy marked no.10 looks like Johnny Sheehan..?
The boy marked no.11 maybe Christy Williams..?
The boy marked no.48 maybe a Byrnes..?
To me the lady in the hat marked No.5 looks quiet like an elderly Hannah Darcy nee Curran mother of afore mentioned Jim Darcy and the girl next to her marked no.4 looks quiet like her daughter Bridget Penfold nee Darcy (1912-1991)...
However, Hannah passed away in 1946 so if this picture dates to the 1950s it couldn't be her..?
If not then it's quiet possibly someone related to them..?
Hannah's grandmother was Mary Walsh sister of my GGG grandmother Ellen Corr née Walsh. There's a double marriage connection so basically two Darcy siblings married two 'Walsh' 2nd cousins.
I know my granduncle Ray Dunne took on the responsibility of tending to the light on top of Slievenamon after my great granduncle Jim Corr passed away. Sadly Ray passed away at a young age also at the age of 52 in 1978 when his family were still young and I don't know who tended to the light and cross after this."
The Cross on Slievenamon – a historic day in 1950!
A special contributor gives this impression of the first pilgrimage to Holy Year Cross on Slievenamon, which took place on Sunday, November 12, 1950.
"It was a pity the day was so bad", "We had great compassion for ye on Sunday". These were some of the phrases that greeted us as we returned from the blessing of the Cross on Slievenamon. But, fellow pilgrims, did not need these words of pity and compassion after Sunday's ceremony. The climb was stiff and steep; it was rough and wet. At times we had hardly enough breath to sing our hymns or to answer our rosaries on the pilgrimage up to this cross. A sleety shower caught us on the bleak bear mountainside, but not one turned back.
It blew a gale at the Cross as His Grace Most Rev. Dr O'Donnell gave his triple episcopal benediction to his noble memorial of the Holy Year and the Dogma of the Assumption. His grace sprinkled it with holy water from the sprig of the mountain heather and then humbly kissed the base of the cross.
The wind still tugged and tore at us as we devoutly, up there, high praised above the plains of Tipperary, answered Mary's prayer and as we listened to His Graces address, and Canon Ryan’s, both of which breathed forth our strong Catholic faith, and love for famed gentle, beautiful Slievenamon.
We witnessed with pleasure the rewarding of the committee who were responsible for promoting and erecting the cross.
Each member was presented to His Grace, who gave each one a medal His Grace brought just recently from Rome. The medals bear on one side the profile of Our Holy Father and on the other a beautiful representation of Our Lady being assumed into Heaven. And those men – Michael Mulcahey, Jim Corr, Dan Davis, Michael Byrne – and all the rest, indeed deserve reward for work so well done.
The wind blew all that time, fierce and strong, but thank God and Our Lady, there was no rain. Were we sorry we went up? On the country, we were glad and delighted, I may say.
We had, high up there, a sense of achievement, or triumphing over difficulties, of having made a true pilgrimage, of having gone, in some sense, the ‘Way of the cross’.
The memories of that day will never die – to see Bill Prout carry out the pilgrimage cross exultingly and joyously at the head of our procession; to see His Grace of Brisbane, make the last difficult ascent as a humble pilgrim on foot of the mist of pilgrims; to see Canon Ryan so boldly ride his white horse to the Cross – these are things we shall always remember.
Yes November 12, 1950, on Slievenamon will always be a historic in our lives."
Faces and Places from the Past
This week we have a variety of old photographs from our files with little or no information. Maybe someone out there will be able to help. We invite people to let us know any names, or any other information that we can add to our files for future generations. If anyone can help us, please do and send any comments, photo information, names, to fethardnews@gmail.com
This photo was copied in 1984 for someone local . . . ?
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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