Last call for Emigrants Newsletter articles
This is our reminder and last call for your articles for inclusion in this year's Annual Newsletter. Our closing date is Monday, November 1, and unfortunately, we cannot guarantee that articles received after that date will be included. Please sent articles and your photographs with captions by email to: emigrantsnewsletter@gmail.com or hand them in to Joe Kenny, Rocklow Road, or Carmel Rice, Brookhill, Fethard.

Donations can be made Online
Due to Covid restrictions there will be no Church Gate Collection this year, but you can still make a donation by putting it in an envelope with your name and address and hand or post it to our Secretary, Carmel Rice, Brookhill, Fethard, E91 HY84, or to Joe Kenny, Rocklow Road, Fethard, E91 XR26, and all donations of €10 and over will be acknowledged in this year’s Newsletter.

Scan or Photograph this QR Code to go directly to secure Donation Page

Alternatively you can also make a secure donation by Credit Card or PayPal by clicking the 'DONATE' link below.

EMIGRANTS' NEWSLETTER

Fethard win County Intermediate Football quarterfinal
Fethard had it easy in the Intermediate County quarterfinal played in Littleton on Saturday last, October 23, with a fine performance and now look forward to the semi-final in two weeks’ time.  With a strong cross wind in the first half, Fethard scored 1-5 – the first two points in the opening five minutes scored by Brian Delahunty. The third point came from Conor Harrington followed by a goal from David Hayes, after a well worked passage of play. All before the first water-break.

In the second quarter, we only scored one point from a free, 45m out by Cathal O’Mahony, to lead at the break 1-5 to 0-1. After the interval we struggled to score, adding only two points in the third quarter – one from a free by Cathal O’Mahony and the second from play by Jack Purcell. It was in the final quarter that we drove on scoring three points – two from frees by Cathal O’Mahony and one from play scored by Michael Quinlan – to leave the final score, Fethard 1-10 to JK Brackens 0-2.

Jody Sheehan was our best player on view, and we lost Ryan Walsh before the interval to a head injury. Although this was an easy victory with some promising displays, we look forward to seeing how we stand up to tougher opposition in the semifinal against Drom & Inch, Grangemockler or Galtee Rovers, all in the hat this week.

Fethard team and scorers: Jack Dolan, Shane Neville, Paul Moloney, Alan O’Connor, Cathal O’Mahony 0-6 (five frees), Jody Sheehan, Brian Delahunty 0-2, David Hayes 1-0, Willie Morgan, Richie Anglim, Brian Healy, Darragh Hurley, Jack Purcell 0-1, Ryan Walsh, and Conor Harrington 0-1. Subs Used were Jack Devaney, Alex Donovan, Michael Quinlan 0-1, Peter Wall, and Ciaran O’Meara.

Abymill back in 'Show Buisness' on Friday 5th November

After a long time behind the scenes, Fethard's Abymill Theatre will draw the curtains open again on Friday, November 5, for The Fionn MacCumhaill Players new play, ‘The Year of 21’, written by Cloneen man Brian Clancy and directed by Anne Williamson.

The play has received great reviews and, due to popular demand, the Abymill are delighted to reopen after a long absence by staging this lavish production with a cast of seventeen, on Friday night, November 5, at 8.15pm. The play, based on real events in Cloneen 1921, tells a hundred-year-old story that will illustration how life was at that time and how greed, hunger and jealousy, can cause men to be very bitter! Early booking advised. Tickets at €15 each, will be on sale locally by contacting Tel: 086 0834208. Please note that tickets will only be available pre-sold.

Fethard Ballroom Annual General Meeting
Fethard Ballroom will hold their Annual General Meeting on Tuesday, November 9, at 8pm in the Ballroom. All are welcome.

Social Dancing Resumes in Fethard on Sunday, October 31
Social Dancing resumes back in Fethard Ballroom on next Sunday night, October 31, 2021, to the music of 'Unity'. Dancing from 8.30pm to 11.30pm. Patrons must show valid Covid full Vaccination Certificate and Photo ID for admission.

Patrician Presentation Parents Association Fundraiser

The Premier – South Tipperary News (Issue 9)
The ninth issue of The Premier free local newspaper is now available in local shops and is also available online by CLICKING HERE or front page image.



You can also visit The Premier newspaper's website for further details of distribution in your area or for submitting articles or photographs for publication.

Died in England
The death has occurred in England, on Tuesday, October 12, 2021, of Billy Madden, Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire, and formerly of Kerry Street, Fethard, where they had a shop on Kerry Street corner, later owned by the Ward family. Billy Madden was aged 94 years when he died. His sister, Johanna, was married to Paddy Fitzgerald, St. Patrick's Place, Fethard.

Johanna died unexpectedly on October 15, 1950, leaving a young family to raise by Paddy, with the help of his fifteen-year-old daughter Biddy. Biddy cared for her siblings Dick, Mickey, Pat, Olly and Mary, along with Jimmy and Tony who were mere babies at 2 and 5 years old respectively. Biddy recently died this year on Saturday, August 21, 2021.

Clocks go back next weekend, Sunday, October 31!


Don't forget the clocks will go back by one hour at 2am on Sunday, October 31. This will mean an extra hour in bed. While clocks on most phones, laptops and other smart devices reset themselves, don’t forget to adjust any manually operated clocks and watches. Otherwise you may find yourself having an early breakfast or rushing around in the morning for absolutely no reason.

GAA Sports Development Lotto
Fethard GAA Sports Lotto draw results for Friday, October 22, are as follows: the numbers drawn were: 11, 14, 26 and 36. There was no jackpot winner and one 'Match 3' winner who received €150: Sarah Healy, The Green, Fethard. One 'Lucky Dip' winner received €100: Andrew Heffernan, Clonmel.

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. The next draw takes place on Friday, October 29, when the jackpot is €30,000 and the seller's prize is €1,000. The funds raised are used to promote sport in the local community.

Parish Church Lotto Draw Results
There was no jackpot winner in this week's Parish Lotto on Thursday, October 21. The numbers were: 2, 5, 16 and 17. The winner of the weekly draw of €30 was Rhya Roberts. Next week's Jackpot for Thursday, October 28, will be €1,950.

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 the weekly draw. PLAY OUR LOTTO NOW.

Maintaining memory health for older people
My name is Conor Walsh, I am a final year student in the University of Limerick currently researching design to maintain memory health for older people.

I am looking for older people (65+) or their family members to take part in interviews to better inform these design choices. These interviews will be no more than 30 minutes long and can take place via a video calling platform like MS Teams, Zoom - or whichever other platform/method you prefer. I don't need to specifically interview people with dementia, people with MCI (Mild Cognitive Impairment) or some general memory loss/issues from ageing would be very useful for my project.

In these interviews, I will ask you about your own experiences with keeping healthy and active while ageing and/or helping your family members to do the same and discuss your willingness to incorporate design solutions into your life which may help maintain cognitive health. The end goal of my Final Year Project(FYP) is to use research such as this to design a product or solution to help older people in some way with dealing with memory loss.

If you decide to take part, any information you give me will be kept confidential. I will ensure that no clues to your identity appear in any subsequent writeup. It is a requirement in UL for final year student projects to follow ethic procedures and to fill out an ethics forum seen by and approved by my tutor/lecturer so I can guarantee you I will keep all info given by you to me confidential. I have a tutor lecturer that provides me with help/advice with this project with a background with working with dementia patients and in psychology so I will be able to verify with her before the interviews that I am being as ethical as possible with what questions I ask and how I do the interviews with you.

If you are interested or know of someone who is? Please contact me by email: 18253741@studentmail.ul.ie or by phone: 085 1842886
Kind Regards, Conor Walsh.

Died Recently
The death has occurred on Tuesday, October 19, 2021, of John 'Johnny' Carey, The Green, Fethard and formerly Moyglass.

Predeceased by his wife Rita, who died April 6, 2021, and deeply regretted by his daughters Anne and Sarah, son-in-law Aidan, grandsons Aidan and Brian, sister Joan (USA), nieces, nephews, relatives and friends. May He Rest in Peace.

Johnny’s Funeral Mass and burial will be held privately. Messages of Condolence may be left online by CLICKING HERE. Thank you for your co-operation and consideration at this difficult time.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a Anam Dílis

Students Council 5k Run/Walk

Fethard students promoting their Patrician Presentation 5k Run/Walk on Friday, October 15, organised by the Students Council

Well done to students, parents and teachers from Patrician Presentation Fethard, that participated in the 5k Run/Walk last Friday, October 15. This was a huge success organised by the Students Council. Overall winners: 1st John Cronin (2nd Year); 2nd Micheál O’Rahilly (1st Year); 3rd Jason Thompson (5th Year); and 4th Ailíse Fitzgerald (3rd Year).


Students, parents and teachers from Patrician Presentation Secondary School Fethard, who participated in the 5k Run/Walk on Friday, October 15, 2021.


Top three finishers photographed after the 5k Run/Walk on Friday, October 15, organised by the Students Council. Results: 1st John Cronin, 2nd Michéal O'Rahilly and 3rd Jason Thompson.



The Students Council would like to thank all who helped to make this event successful, including the parents, An Garda Síochána, and all students who volunteered as stewards.

Died Recently
The death has occurred on Monday, October 18, 2021, of Goldie Newport, Main Street, Fethard. Goldie gave a lifetime of service as the organist in the Holy Trinity Parish Church. She will be deeply regretted by her nieces Catherine, Margaret, Liz, Lydia and Edwina, her cousins Peter Bartlett (Bibury, UK), Frances Hetterley (Hereford, UK) and Bernard Kenrick (NZ), extended family, neighbours and many friends. May she rest in peace.

The Funeral Mass will take place at 11am in the Holy Trinity Parish Church, Fethard, on Thursday, October 21, in accordance with current restrictions. It may be watched online at parishchurch.net. Burial will take place in the adjoining Cemetery after Mass. Messages of support and condolences for the family can be left online by CLICKING HERE

Suspicious or Not?

An observant walker spotted this unusual activity on her travels, photographed it, to bring to our readers attention. This is the second time we've seen one of these sticks nailed to a fence opposite an outside farm entrance. Suspicious or not? We'll let you decide. The farmers in the area have been notified.

Fethard Art Students visit Kilkenny

Students with Pauline Swaine, Visitor Services Manager at the Butler Gallery, who gave students a guided tour of the paintings of Blaise Smith.

Third Year Art students from Fethard Patrician Presentation Secondary School, travelled to Kilkenny on Thursday, October 14, to see the paintings of artist Blaine Smith in the new Butler Gallery. This exhibition was a great opportunity for students to see over twenty-years of this artist’s work, most of which belong in private hands.

The subject matter was everyday things like crusty bread, fruit and veg, and other domestic items from the average home. Students were given a guided tour by Pauline Swaine, where they could engage with the artist’s technical ability and his play on light and composition.


Students photographed in the Long gallery of Kilkenny Castle. This room shows the portraits of the Butler's ancestry.

The group also took in a tour of Kilkenny Castle and its Long Gallery, showing all the Butler ancestry. The also got to see the Ross Tapestries, housed underneath the Castle – what was originally The Butler gallery. The Ross Tapestry tells the story of Ireland when the Normans landed.

Kilkenny Catwalk Art Trail

Students shown here with a cat sculpture in the castle grounds

Another attraction in Kilkenny is the new Kilkenny Catwalk Art Trail 2021. These are life-sized resin sculptures of stylised cats that twenty-one artists have painted and decorated. They are placed in various locations across the city. Students got to see four of these sculptures.

The Kilkenny Catwalk Art Trail was put together by Kilkenny Civic Trust and the local council. All the sculptures - inspired by the Pangur Dubh which features in the Book of Kells – were brought to a wider audience by the Cartoon Saloon movie, 'The Secret of Kells', and will remain in place until next Easter. CLICK FOR FURTHER INFORMATION


Students shown here with a cat sculpture in Kilkenny Design Yard

Big Picture – Irish Junior Set Dancing Class – Abymill 1991

John Ryan's Irish Junior Set Dancing class in the Abymill Theatre (1991)

See how many faces you can recognise in this photograph taken of John Ryan’s Irish Junior Set Dancing class students photographed in the Abymill Theatre in October 1991. Back L to R: Fiona Conway, R. O’Donnell, Mary Doyle, Sharon Burke, C. Harvey, Katie White, B. Cloonan, Carina Condon, Kerry Ryan, Jennifer Keane. Third Row L to R: Susan McCormack, Aoife Nagle, Marie O’Meara, Siobhán White, Edwina McGrath, C. Lawless, Ann Looney, Tara Ryan. Second Row L to R: Orla Nagle, Pamela Sharpe, Marissa Roche, Eleanor Roche, Melissa Rochford, Sandra Ryan, Eimear Fogarty, Heather Ryan. Front L to R: Marcella Myler, Audrey Conway, Ann Marie Myler, Eimear Gahan, Evelyn Fogarty, Mary Costello and Amanda Ryan.

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

Christmas Shoebox Appeal 2021


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 8, 2021. 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 vert short of empy shoe boxes and would be very grateful if anyone has some, to please drop them in to Geraldine McCarthy at Fethard Community Centre. For further information in regard to this year's 'Christmas Shoebox Appeal' please contact Monica Pollard Tel: 087 1258591. Choose who you'd like to receive your gift – a boy or a girl, in one of three age groups: 2-4 years, 5-9 years or 10-14 years. Visit the 'Christmas Shoebox Appeal' website by CLICKING HERE

Faces and Places from the Past
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

Fethard & District Photos from the past . . .

This week we have a selection of photographs, some are copies of old photographs, some that we have identified, others we need your help with names if known? If you can help with names, comments or further information, we would love to hear from you. Email: fethardnews@gmail.com

Fethard Foróige Club members photographed at their weekly meeting held in the Tirry Community Centre on Thursday nights (October 1991)


Nurse Stasia Walsh with her son Paddy in front of car, The Back Green, 1933


Mr Joe Prendergast, presenting Aisling Neagle for best individual effort the Nano Nagle National School’s World Book Club ‘Partners in Excellence’ promotion in the school, June 1991. Also included in the photograph are Aisling’s parents, Kay and John Neagle, holding their baby Aoife.


A very serious looking Fethard Camogie team about to take on St. Mary's in a Féile na nGael camogie tournament game played in Fethard, June 1991.
Back L to R: Caroline Fitzgerald, Leanne Burke, Ailish Sheehan, Noelle Murphy, Jennifer Fogarty, Annette McCarthy, Deirdre Lawlor, Sharon Lawton. Front L to R: Audrey Sheehan, Kay Spillane, Edwina Keane, Carmel O'Dwyer, Nora O'Meara, Niamh Sheehan, Olivia Phelan and Lisa McCormack. (Thanks to P.J. Ahearn for his help with the names).


Barbara, Aisling and Catherine Ahearne from Fethard, competing at the County Community Games Finals in Roscrea on June 30, 1991.


Dollie O'Connell's shop, Lower Main Street, in July 1991. The entrance on the left was formerly down to where Arthur Eustace ran Fethard Bakery and at the time of this photograph,it appears to have been ‘Engineering Works’


Fethard GAA club members making a presentation to Fr. Michael Ryan on the occasion of his transfer to Dublin. Fr. Ryan was an active member of the local Club during his years spent in the parish of Fethard and Killusty (September 1991).


Keane’s Pub Team, Killusty, who came third in the publican’s team event at the Killusty 5 Mile road race held in September 1991. L. to R: Peter McEvoy, Billy Prout and Maurice Boland.

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.

Share this page on Facebook