FR PAT KILLIAN OSA
We record the death of Fr. Patrick Killian OSA who died in London on 2nd February 2004.  Fr Killian ministered in the Augustinian Abbey Fethard from approximately 1967 to 1971.  While living in Fethard he worked extensively with the youth of the town and became very popular.  In 1969, following a meeting to consider the feasibility of starting a brass band in Fethard, Fr Killian helped an interested group to form the first Fethard Youth Club in the Tirry Club and later on, facilitated regular committee meetings in the Abbey House to help keep running expenses at a minimum.

The clubs first chairman was Michael 'Waxie' Kenny, vice chairman was Brendan Kenny, other committee members were Don McCarthy, Tom O'Connell, Thomas Barrett and Miceál 'Korky' McCormack.

At the club’s Annual General Meeting held in 1969 the following officers and committee were elected: Patron, Canon Lee PP; Chaplain, Fr O’Brien CC; Chairman, Fr Pat Killian OSA; Secretary, Danny Kane; Treasurer, Miceál McCormack. Committee members: Thomas Barrett, John Littleton and Philip Ryan.

To raise funds, the club ran a ‘hop’ once a week and charged a sixpence entrance fee. They were later to discover from the late Sergeant Con Healy that, not having a licence, this charge was illegal.  Seeing the committee’s disappointment at the prospect of losing their only regular source of income, the good sergeant, with the wisdom of Solomon, solved the problem.  “You must allow everyone in free,” he said, “but having got them in you then go around and insist that they make a voluntary contribution of sixpence each!”

Fr Killian positively influenced the lives of many of the young people he worked with in Fethard and was also a role model in July 1971 when he calmly accepted his superior’s decision to transfer him to Ballyhaunis, Co. Mayo, at a time when it broke the hearts of all the young people who had grown to love him.  He gave them faith to struggle on, survive and be independent. We have never forgotten that faith, or Fr. Killian.

May he rest in peace.

FETHARD & KILLUSTY COMMUNITY COUNCIL
Fethard and Killusty Community Council will hold their annual Church Gate Collection, under the auspices of Muintir Na Tire, on weekending 13th and 14th March.  The committee ask for your support at this collection and invite anyone interested in getting involved in the Community Council to come along to the next committee meeting, which takes place on Tuesday 16th March, at 8.30pm in the Tirry Community Centre.

NEW BUS FOR DAY CARE CENTRE
The Fethard & Killusty Community Council have purchased a new minibus, fitted with wheelchair lift, for the Fethard & District Day Care Centre.  The new minibus is now in operation and services the parishes of Fethard and Killusty, Cloneen and Drangan, Killenaule and Moyglass.  If you know someone who could benefit from the services of Fethard & District Day Care Centre please contact your local Public Health Nurse, or the Day Care Centre supervisor, Geraldine McCarthy at Tel: 052 32917, or alternatively leave your name with Joan O’Donohoe, Community Office, Barrack Street, Fethard. Tel: 052 31000.

CARROLLS PUB
Carroll's Pub, originally Kennedy's Bar, was demolished on Tuesday 2nd March 2004, to make way for a new development. Many of our readers will have fond memories of the many card games, dart competitions and bag-a-tell games played when the late Sadie Carroll owned the pub.

PARISH NOVENA
The Fethard Parish Church Novena will be held from March 22nd to March 30th.  The Parish Novena has now replaced the traditional Parish Mission.  The devotions commence each evening at 7.30pm and the following is a list of the visiting priests and the themes of their respective sermons:

Monday 22nd: Mgr. M. Olden, Tramore — ‘Religion & The People’.

Tuesday 23rd: Rev. C. Hayes, Cashel — ‘Mary Our Mother’.

Wednesday 24th: Rev. J. Delaney, Newport — ‘Hope’.

Thursday 25th: Rev. J. Egan, Lattin & Cullen — ‘Christian Marriage & Family Values’.

Friday 26th: Rev. Seamus Ryan, Walkinstown, Dublin.

Saturday 27th: Rev. Joe Walsh, Thurles — ‘Young People & Christian Principles’.

Sunday 28th: Rev. Joe Egan, Boherlahan — ‘Death and its Christian Meaning’.

Monday 29th: Rev. T. J. Breen, Holycross — ‘Forgiveness & Penitential Service’.

Tuesday 30th: Rev. G. Horan, The Abbey. Fethard.

FIVE COUNTY STARS
Congratulations to the five Fethard footballers who played on the senior Tipperary team who defeated Louth in their league game played in Clonmel last Sunday.  The five players were: Paul Fitzgerald, Aidan Fitzgerald, Cian Maher, Damien Byrne and Glen Burke.  Well done lads!

FETHARD & KILLUSTY COMMUNITY LOTTO
The numbers drawn on Tuesday 2nd March were: 4, 18, 24 and 27. There was no Jackpot winner, and no "Match 3" winner, Five tickets were drawn and the following received €30 each:

M.F. Croke, Tullamaine, Fethard

Terry Coady, The Valley, Fethard

Lisa Walsh, Burke Street, Fethard

John O'Brien, 8 Woodvale Walk, Fethard

Nick Stokes, Fethard.

Lucky dip winners of €50 each were:

Eleanor Roche, 22 Woodvale Walk, Fethard

David Orr, 25 St. Patricks Place, Fethard

Bernadette McManus, Burke Street, Fethard

Next weeks Jackpot €5,250. Jackpot sellers prize €375.

FETHARD BRIDGE CLUB
On Wednesday 3rd March 2004 we played the third round of the Player of the Year competition and the results were:

1st Gross: Betty Walsh and Suzanne Opray

2nd Gross: Anna Cooke and Annie O’Brien

1st Nett: Marie Delaney and David O’Meara

2nd Nett: Mike Burke and Brendan Kenny

Bridge will take place as usual on Wednesday next St. Patrick’s Day, 17th March.  Anyone looking for a partner can contact Annie O’Brien. Tel: 052 31862.

PARENTS ASSOCIATION TABLE QUIZ
The Parents Association of the Secondary School, Fethard, will hold a Table Quiz in the Secondary School Hall on Tuesday 23rd March at 8.30pm.  A raffle will also be held in conjunction with the table quiz.  Prizes for both quiz and raffle are kindly sponsored.  Proceeds are in aid of the Lourdes Pilgrimage Fund. 

A good night’s entertainment is promised, refreshments will be served and an invitation is extended to all.

Progressive 25 results
Results for Progressive 25 game played on Friday 5th March.

Joint winners on 11 games: Tom McCormack and Paddy McCormack, Paddy Butler and Tess Maher.  Table Prize: Teresa Cummins and Bridget Hayes.  Rubber finals: Bridget Hayes and Teresa Cummins, Paddy Butler and Tess Maher, John St. John and Pat O’Dwyer, Brian O’Donnell and Seamus Maher.

The next game takes place on Friday 12th march at 8.30pm sharp in Fethard Ballroom.

THE WELL GOLF SOCIETY
Our first outing of the season took place on last Sunday and it turned out to be a huge success, with a larger than expected number of players.  We were blessed with a beautiful sunny day and Tipperary Golf Course was in great condition. Ten teams took part in our scramble competition and the winners were as follows:
1st place (61.8 nett) Tom Anglim, James Smyth, Ann Delahunty
2nd place (63 nett) Joe Corbett, Aiden Fox, Mary Kenrick
3rd place (64 nett) Kevin Ryan, Billy Phelan, Liam Meagher and Pat '3 birdies' Woodlock.
Nearest the pin: Liam Meagher and Davy Woodlock
Our next outing is on Saturday April 17th at Rathdowney Golf Course.
The question on everyone’s lips is, are we running our annual Easter draw?  The answer is yes, you lucky people.  As well as the usual Easter hamper, we have meal vouchers, meat vouchers, shopping vouchers, tickets to the races, I could go on all night and at only €2 per line, buy early to avoid the rush!  Ten percent of our sales will go to the Fethard Day Care Centre.

FETHARD GAA CLUB
Fethard’s under 21 A football campaign for 2004 came to an end on last Sunday when we were defeated by Moyle Rovers on a scoreline, Fethard 1-3, Moyle Rovers 1-14.  Report on sports page.
The under 21 B hurling gets underway on Sunday 14th March when we play St Marys in Monroe at 12.00.

The Senior Football County League continues also on Sunday 14th March when we play Commercials in Fethard at 4.30pm.
Our Lotto Jackpot of €3,300 was not won.  The numbers drawn in Burke’s Pub were 1, 18, 19 and 22. We had three match three winners who received €50 each: Bernie Byrne (Claremore), Miceál Sean McCormack (Kerry Street), and Brian Higgins (Strylea).  The €50 Lucky Dip went to Cora McGarry (10 Woodvale Walk).

COMMUNITY GAMES
Entries for Art & Model Making will be collected in all schools in the area on Monday, March 15.   Age groups for boys and girls are under 8. 10, 12, 14 and 16.    All entries must have a sporting theme and be accompanied by entry fee of €2.  Any child living in the parish but attending school elsewhere may hand in their entry to Helena O’Shea, The Valley,  Tel: 052 31008 on or before March 15th.

LADIES FOOTBALL
Training now takes place each Monday and Friday at 7.30 pm and we are delighted with the turnout.  Training for all underage players will commence very shortly.  Registration Fees for the coming year are as follows:  €25 for over 18, €15 for underage players and €10 for a non-player.  There is also a €50 registration fee for all individual clubs.  Our next club meeting will take place in Grants Lounge on Friday 19th March at 8.30pm.

TABLE QUIZ
St. Rita’s Camogie Club will hold a Table Quiz at Grants Bar on Tuesday 16th March at 9pm.  All are welcome to take part. Tables of four cost €20.

KELLETT INFORMATION
My daughter found your address on the web, and I am writing now to see if you can help me to trace my Irish ancestors. My father, Edward Orlando Kellett, born in 1902 was killed in action in March 1943.  His elder brother, Richard Henry Villiers Kellett was killed in the first war.  Their father was Major General Richard Orlando Kellett, and their mother had been Eleanor Emily Mallock. After she died my grandfather marred - after I was born - Jessie Longbottom.  I met her once on our honeymoon in 1947 - but had near been told about her.  She had been my father’s governess and my parents were bored by, and disapproved of, her.  As a result they said so - when very young and my grandfather left all his money to the parson at Fethard, Mr. Patten.  Clonacody and all the things, which Admiral Sir Henry Kellett had left in entail, went to my father.  He and my mother sold Clonacody as she would not live In Ireland, and I have the Admiral's pictures, medals, a few small things and the family silver. 

I was an only child. I have a miniature of John Dalton Kellett - and over the years I have tried to trace any relations of my father's and indeed of my grandmother's, who was a Mallock, but have not been at all successful.  He had one very nice, and very remote, cousin called Evedne who married Sir somebody Wildbore Smith and I used to see her until she died many years ago. I also met Mr Patten's daughters once, an equally long time ago, and Mrs Patten left me the family medals.  She wanted to leave me my grandmother's jewellery but understood that my grandfather had given it to Jessie Kellett and in old age she had lost her memory and sold it all for nothing to dealers.

And that is about all I know.  I would love to know more, and also who now lives at Clonacody.  If I knew I could perhaps write to them and go over with my daughter to see the house.

I married in 1947 when I was 19, Richard Wood, the youngest son of Lord Halifax - who had been Viceroy of India and was Foreign Secretary at the time of Munich.  Richard was an MP for Bridlington for many years and then went to the House of Lords as Lord Holderness. He died very suddenly in August 2002.

Yours sincerely, Diana Holderness (email: holdernessd@aol.com)

RECENT DEATHS
The death has occurred recently of Ms Ida Kiely, Curraghdobbin, Carrick-on-Suir, formerly Ida Quinlan, Garraun House, Fethard.  Interment took place in Ballyneale Cemetery.

The death has occurred in Portsmouth, England, of Mrs Kathleen Broomfield, formerly Kathleen Cunningham, Tullamaine.

The death has occurred on 2nd March in Leicestershire, England, of Mr James ‘Jim’ Walsh, formerly of Monroe, Fethard.  Prior to emigrating in 1961, the late Jim Walsh was in long time employment with the Holway family at Madamsland.  He also worked nights and on Sundays as usher and caretaker at the Capital Cinema from where he will be well remembered by cinema patrons of the forties and fifties.  Interment took place in England.

CARELESS DRIVING
We have had two further reports during the week of downright careless if not dangerous driving at the pedestrian crossing on Main Street.  Both motorists having stopped to let pedestrians cross were overtaken at the crossing by motorists who failed to do so.   We have had similar reports of the same happenings in the past.  Perhaps in future if anyone witnesses a similar occurrence, they should take the number of the offending car and report it to the Gardai.  When will they ever learn?

HUNTING NEWS
We are glad to report that Tipperary Foxhounds huntsman, Pat O’Brien, is making very satisfactory progress in recovering from the serious knee injury sustained in a hunting fall near Rosegreen.  Pat and his whipper-in, James O’Donnell, who so successfully carried the horn during the last two weeks of the season, wish to personally thank all landowners over whose lands the pack hunted during the season.

The new joint-masters of the ‘Gallant Tipps’ for the 2004-05 season are Peter Reilly, Paul Ronan and Patrick Kennedy.  Each of the new joint masters have impeccable records in their service to hunting over the years.  All hunting followers and supporters will join in wishing them well and the best of luck.

WITH THE WHITE HEATHERS
Master Philly O’Connor has decided to call an end to the current season following last Sunday’s meet at Ballylusky.  This is the first season, which even long time followers can recall, that the traditional finishing day, St Patrick’s Day, has been brought forward.  The extraordinary mild weather has resulted in livestock being out to grass at least two weeks earlier than usual, so it was decided that it was better to finish.

The Ballylusky White Heather Harriers would also like to thank all landowners for their co-operation during the season.

TOWN HALL
On Tuesday 2nd March, Joe Kenny, chairman Fethard and Killusty Community Council and Terry Cunningham, chairman Fethard Historical Society, met with Stephen Fallon, Conservation Officer, South Tipperary County Council; John Moloney, Housing Department, South Tipperary County Council; and Cllr John Fahey, in the Council Offices Clonmel to discuss the next stage needed to apply for funding for the conservation and development of Fethard Town Hall.  At the meeting Mr Stephen Fallon gave the following status report update on Fethard Town Hall:

Introduction

In my earlier report on the Fethard Old Town Hall I described the three interconnected and mutually dependent items that were required in order to progress this project:

An Architectural assessment of the Fethard Old Town Hall building.  The Dublin Civic Trust were commissioned to carry out this work.  This research has been completed and was issued in mid November 2003.

A condition report on the structure A brief over view assessment was prepared by architect James O’Connor and issued in September 2003. While this assessment is not exhaustive, nor did it involve any opening up, it did indicate that the generally robust condition of the structure would allow an adaptive reuse of this building.

A well-researched and practical Project Brief is also required. The project brief will allow a project design and supporting budget to be prepared. This project brief is critical to determine the extent of the financial commitment that will be required of the various parties to deliver the project

Following from the brief will be the scheme design and review, all the way to planning stage including the preparation of a detailed project budget, establishing both of the new build and conservation elements, the fitting out, professional fees, VAT etc required to deliver the project.

The Next Stage (Commencing March 2004)

The next stage is to progress the items outlined in point 3 (above).

A project brief to be agreed by the principal parties to the project: including the County Council, the Tipperary Library Board and the Fethard & Killusty Community Council and to a lesser extent the potential grant providers: for example (DoE/H/LG), the Heritage Council and any other significant 'players' or individuals locally or nationally. Following the adoption of the agreed brief a design scheme proposal for the project and resultant costs can be prepared. This proposal can then be brought forward through the planning process.  The conservation information and method statements will form the central part of the conservation grant application to be made in mid January 2005 (to DoE/H/LG).

In parallel throughout 2004 the parties to the project must turn secure the much more significant sums required for the non conservation new elements of the project identified by the project brief.  These include in no particular order disabled access, new services including plumbing, sewerage connections, heating, telecoms, fire, security, new staff and visitor areas toilets, kitchens, reception areas and library.

• My own 'guesstimate feel' for project cost would indicate costs for new versus conservation works at a 3.5 or 4:1 ratio.

Stephen Fallon, Conservation Officer Forward Planning.