THE PARTING GLASS
The Leaving Certificate class of Patrician Presentation secondary school held their deb's ball in Cahir on Friday night last. When the bus, transporting the revellers, arrived back in Fethard, the students gathered in a group on Main Street.
We wondered as they stood in the spot where most of them waited each evening after school for their school bus, did they realise they were gathering there for the last time. Their conduct, as at the ball, was impeccable, a credit to themselves, their parents and their school. Most of them will now go on the third level education.
As we watched them disperse our thoughts went back over the past six years. The schoolboys and schoolgirls of yesterday, now the young men and young women of tomorrow. A great bunch, go neirí an saol is an bothar libh, you deserve the best, the leaving cert class of '99, the last of the millennium.

WEDDING
The wedding took place at Killusty church on Saturday 4th September of Theresa, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jack Fitzgerald, Crampscastle to Fergal O'Brien, Co. Cork.
Married in St. Mary's Church, Drum, on Friday 3rd September were Susan Fitzgerald, Drum, and Ian Cooke, son of Anna (Bradshaw) and Patrick Cooke, St. Patrick's Place, Fethard. The couple held their wedding reception at Inch House.

GUN LAW
Local Gardai wish to remind local gun owners, that all your licences are now due for immediate renewal.

COME DANCING
Fethard Ballroom has now become the Mecca of Ballrooms for ballroom dancers nation-wide. A record number of competitors from aged six to seventy six took part in the Slievenamon dancing championships at the venue on Saturday night. Dancers from Dublin, Galway, Mayo, Westmeath, Waterford, Carlow, Kilkenny, Wexford and Tipperary competed. All were loud in their praises of the wonderful dance floor and the marvellous space in which to display their dancing expertise.
Overall winners were Séan and Kathleen Dennehy, Mitchelstown. The promoters wish to sincerely thank all their sponsors. The ballroom committee pay a very special tribute to Fethard's Marina Mullins whose brilliant organising ability and experience in the ballroom dancers scene contributed to the expedient running of the event.

ANNUAL NEWSLETTER
Articles for inclusion in this years Annual Emigrant's Newsletter are now invited from individuals and local organisations. Please send articles and photographs to Joe Kenny, Rocklow Road, Fethard. Photographs will be returned.

A FINE CATCH
"Summer time and the living is easy, catfish jumping and the corn is high." So says the well-known song. Catfish may be jumping in the USA but very few trout are jumping for anglers on the Anner this year.
A big one jumped however for Tommy Nicholls on Saturday last when he landed a fine 3 and 1/2 lb. trout from the Anner near Thorny Bridge.

COMMUNITY COUNCIL
The next meeting of Fethard & Killusty Community Council will take place on Tuesday 14th September at 8.30pm in the Tirry Community Centre.

FETHARD MACRA NA FEIRME
The final races of the Karting Grand Prix will take place on Sunday, September 12th at 5.30pm at Tipperary Raceway.
The following teams are contesting the finals:
How ya Doon Team, Tony Kart, Formula '99, Dukes of Hazard, Chris Barlo, Cool Runnings, Full Contact.
Prizes will be presented to the winners later in the evening at Lonergan's Bar, Fethard.
Club members are presently finalising plans for their exchange trip to Wales later in the month. It is hoped that 12-14 members will travel on the weekend of September 24th-26th.
Congratulations to former club chairperson Corina Morrissey who recently announced her engagement to Robin Roe, Borris-in-Ossary.

SLIEVENAMON GOLF CLUB
16 teams participated in the weekly scramble competition, where handicaps were used for the first time. The team of Mick Burke, John Kenny and Peter Kenny won the scramble with a gross score of 57 (5 under). The team had a handicap of 3.9 and so finished with a nett score of 53.1. Each member of the team received a beautiful set of Newbridge cutlery, which was sponsored by Noel and Irene Sharp of the Castle Bar, Fethard. In second place were the team of Nigel O'Donnell, Bernard O'Donnell and Paul Cleary with a gross score of 60 and a nett score of 54.8. Diarmuid Heafey won the weekly "nearest the 18th hole" competition.
A meeting of the ladies of the club was held on Wednesday night, 1st September. Patty Leonard, Nora Lawrence and Anne Conroy were elected to the Ladies committee.
A ladies 9 hole scramble was played on Sunday, 5th September and Tuesday, 7th September. This scramble will continue for the month of September on Sundays only at 2 o'clock.
The next ladies committee meeting will take place on Monday, 27th September at 7pm.
Derry Kiely, PGA professional, continues to give lessons every Friday. For more information contact (052) 32213 or (052) 32040.

FETHARD GAA CLUB
Junior Football
On Saturday our A (1) team kept up their winning ways with quite a few regulars not present. Fethard 1-10 (0-6) Cahir 0-9 (0-2).
Team: Robert Ryan, John Kelly, Michael Ryan, John O'Meara, Paul Hackett, Michael Ahearne, Kenny Hackett (0-1), Shay Ryan, PJ Ahearne, Conor O'Donnell (0-2), John Hurley, Brendan Brett (0-3), Johnny Neville (1-3), Rubáird Broderick (0-1), Kenneth Byrne.
Subs: Paddy Cooney for PJ Ahearne (inj).
This gives our team A (1) full points from 5 outings (10 points). Two remaining games vs. Fethard A (2) and vs. Ballylooby.
On Sunday evening our Junior A (2) team played Ballylooby with a very depleted panel, eleven absent for one reason or another, but the fifteen who played, including father & son (Tommy Gahan), played the game of their lives losing by the narrowest of margins. Fethard 2-6 (0-4) Ballylooby 1-10 (1-0). Those present were Tommy Gahan (snr), Kevin O'Donnell, Willie Quigley, Peter Carroll, Brian Coen (1-0), Gabriel Horan, Kenneth Sheehan, John O'Riordan, Nicky Murphy, Kenneth O'Donnell, Garreth Byrne (0-2), Tommy Gahan (0-2, 1 free), Colm Coen (0-1), John Fitzgerald, Gerry Ahearne (1-1). This gives us a total of 4 points with one game remaining vs. Fethard A (1). Thanks to all, who gave us much enjoyment and keep playing football.

Dog night-21st September
Please, please support any club member by either sponsoring a race £150, taking an ad £50 and £100, nominating a dog £10, or buying a ticket £4 (draw on ticket). The club members will be calling door to door in the next two weeks.
Minor Football Final
We await fixtures. Please check fixtures for next weekend.


BALLET SPECTACULAR
The Abymill Theatre will host a return visit of the exciting ‘Ballet Ireland Company’ on Sunday 3rd October. The ‘Ballet Spectacular’ will perform a Tchaikovsky Gala with highlights from Swanlake, Nutcracker and Sleeping Beauty.
The company are including Fethard in their Autumn Season Irish Tour after a most successful visit earlier this year in February. Early booking is advisable. Tickets £7 and £5 concessions at O’Flynn’s Menswear, Burke Street. Tel: 052 31254.

LOURDES PILGRIMAGE
Pilgrims who intend to travel on the year 2000 pilgrimage to Lourdes and wish to pay their fare in weekly instalments may do so. The scheme, so successful in previous years, is being co-ordinated by Kathleen Barry, Tullamaine. Tel: 052 31630.

DAY CARE CENTRE
The Day Care Centre reopens on September 6th after a two-month Summer break. We look forward to another successful year and to meeting all our existing clients again as well as any new faces that maybe joining us. Volunteers willing to help and get involved can contact Sr. Christine at the Tirry Centre in Barrack Street. Tel: 052 31000.

AUTUMN FLOWER SHOW
The Flower Show takes place in the Ballroom on Sunday, September 19th. Doors open at 2.30pm. Teas will be available and there will be interesting stalls and displays as well as the floral exhibition. All profits will, as usual, go to local charities. Entries for the show will be taken on Saturday, September 18th from 3-6pm and schedules will be available at the Post Office and Newport’s.

HOGAN MUSICAL SOCIETY
The annual general meeting of the H.M.S. will take place on Monday, 13th of September 1999 at 8.30pm in the Abymill Theatre.
At this meeting we will discuss our production for the year 2000 and we would welcome everybody’s views. Please do come along. New members most welcome.

PARENTING COURSE
A course called “Parenting through communication and self-esteem”, with the aim of helping parents communicate more effectively with their teenagers, will begin on Tuesday, 7th September 1999 at 8pm in the Secondary School, Fethard.
The course will continue for 6 nights and cover the following topics: Family communication, self-esteem, problem solving, conflict resolution limits and peer pressure in relation to drugs, alcohol and sexuality.

ST. VINCENT DE PAUL
Meetings will resume on Monday the 13th of September in the Tirry Centre from 7-7.15pm (excluding Bank Holidays). If you need help or assistance of any sort feel free to call to us-members Dinny Burke, Lynn Cummins, Vincent Doocey, Sean Ryan and Peggy Sullivan.