Table Quiz Success
A Table Quiz in aid of The Lourdes Invalid Fund was held in the Secondary School recently. There was a fine attendance of young enthusiasts and some more seasoned campaigners. Margaret Prendergast was quiz mistress and the questions were judged to be manageable and varied. The picture round and Dingbat round remain very popular. A most enjoyable evening was had by all.

First table prize was won by Ann Fleming, Marian Gilpin and Marie Danagher. Second place went to Gwen and Janice Cronin, Justin McGree and Mary O'Sullivan. The Junior students' table prize was won (for the second time) by four knowledgeable third years, Cian Grogan, Colm Horan, David Gorey and J. P. McGrath. The Raffle was a great success and we congratulate those lucky ones who carried away the beautiful prizes.

The Parents' Association would like to thank the sponsors of the beautiful quiz and raffle prizes and all those who helped with the occasion, which was an outstanding success. We would like to thank all who supported the raffle by buying tickets and all who helped supply and serve the refreshments. We also gratefully acknowledge generous donations to the fund. Go raibh maith agaibh. The proceeds of this quiz will assist local invalids visit Lourdes with the Cashel and Emly Diocesan Pilgrimage in June 2006.

Fethard & Killusty Community Lotto
The numbers drawn on Wednesday 15th March were 1, 3, 11 and 24. There was no Jackpot winner and two ‘Match 3’ winners who received €75 each:
Alice Quinn, Burke Street, Fethard;
Filis Ni Siochain, Ait Naoimh Padraigh, Fiodh Ard.

The three €50 Lucky Dip winners were:
Catherine, Claire and Mary, c/o Centra, Fethard;
Trehy Children, Mobarnane, Fethard;
Breda Conway, 37 St. Patrick’s Place, Fethard.

Next weeks Jackpot is €3,150 and the Jackpot sellers prize is €315.

Fethard’s First Gold Cup
The town of Fethard is synonymous with horses. They feature heavily in the life of the town. Oliver Cromwell fell from his steed in Barrack Street, rose from the ground and cursed the street, and to this day the funeral processions in town never pass through it. He later stabled his horses in the Abbey church. Centuries later, Fethard was a changing point for the Bianconi horses when they passed through town.  These days, every conceivable type of horse can be found in or around the town, from the thoroughbred stallions standing in Coolmore Stud to the trotter grazing the long acre. Many a Grand National and Derby winner started their lives in the fields around the town, but there was always one prize missing from Fethard’s roll of honour in the equestrian sphere — the Cheltenham Gold Cup. Last Friday, that changed.

Mouse Morris and his team did the town proud when their Michael O’Leary owned “War of Attrition” romped home under jockey Conor O’Dwyer to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup. A few minutes later, the party started.  Everyone was determined to wait on in McCarthy’s to welcome Mouse home with the trophy that night. Not all of them lasted the pace. Quite a few fallers were listed before Mouse entered at ten thirty and handed over the Gold Cup. He was then grabbed by the well-wishers and hoisted up in the air in the victory celebration.  The cheers that went up from the waiting crowd were well deserved.  And the party continued.

The following Sunday, Mouse opened up his yard and led “War of Attrition” around for the benefit of all the well-wishers that called to see the now famous steed. Well done to all concerned.

Fethard & Killusty Community Council
The committee would like to thank all who donated to the Fethard & Killusty Community Council (Muintir na Tire) recent church gate collection. The amount collected was €709.

The next committee meeting has been deferred to Tuesday 4th April to facilitate members attending the nine-day novena to Our Lady in the Parish Church which runs from 20th March to 28th March.

Winter Memories
Tommy Healy, Plymouth, contacted us about our recent article, "What Cold?" Tommy, formerly from The Green, went on to say, “The article brought back memories from the 1950s. Spraying water from the 'Judy' at the end of Barrack Street to create a good slide the next morning was a common pastime. The result was a skating rink worthy of the Winter Olympics. It froze so hard that you could rely on there being a half-inch thick layer of ice next morning. I remember breaking the ice on that swampy ground inside the field by the bridge where the river from Saucestown meets the Clashawley and it was at least an inch thick. Chilblains were a common complaint then, I have not seen anybody suffer from this nasty condition for over thirty years. The temperature dropped to below freezing from mid-October and frost was common until well into March. Heating at school was rudimentary, a turf fire at one end of the classroom in the primary school and we all shivered. Central heating was to be found at the secondary school from an ancient solid fuel boiler, which occasionally warmed the radiators in the classrooms. We seemed to get by without it so I am all the more grateful for the warmth in which I am typing this email now. Outside the temperature is 3 degrees C today, there is a sharp east wind blowing despite the fact that I live on the coast. Modern winters! We do not know how well off we are.”

Big Band sound for Abymill
The Premier Swing big band makes a welcome return visit to Fethard’s intimate Abymill theatre on Friday 31st March. The twenty-one piece orchestra will play some of the all time big band favourites including music by Glenn Miller, Duke Ellington, Count Basie and, of course, a selection of vocals by the late Frank Sinatra.

The band will as usual be joined by star vocalists Irene Walsh and Liam Butler direct from their starring roles in Carrick on Suir Musical Society’s production of ‘Jekyll and Hyde’, which was rated as one of the best amateur musical productions of 2006.

As an added attraction the band will also feature their female vocal quartet the ‘Satin Dolls’. The close harmony singing espoused by the girls is reminiscent of the Andrews Sisters.

Since its formation just four years ago, the band has gone from strength to strength and has accumulated a library of outstanding arrangements of all the well-known big band swing classics.

The band has had the ‘house full’ sign at the Abymill on their two previous visits with lovers of the big band sound travelling from surrounding areas. The sound of saxophones, trumpets and trombones complemented by drums, piano and bass has a huge appeal to many listeners and this promises to be a date not to be missed. Advance booking is at Austin Flynn’s, Burke St., Fethard, phone (052) 31254 and tickets cost €10.

Fethard GAA Club News
Under 21B footballers, on Saturday 18th March, were successful in accounting for Carrick Davins in the south quarterfinal on a scoreline, Fethard 0-7, Davins 0-4. The team was: Glen O’Meara (Strylea), Mike Kelly (Rathvin), Connie Flynn (Knockelly), Richard Gorey (Jesuits Walk), Niall Hayes (Cashel Rd), Alan Burke (Tullamaine), William O’Brien (Rosegreen Rd), James Smyth (Strylea), Jamie McCormack (Woodvale Walk), John Leahy (Derryluskin), Darren O Meara 0-5 (3f) (Red City), Peter Gough (St Patrick’s Place), Paul Kenrick 0-1f (Burke St), Ronan O’Meara (Strylea), Shane Aylward 0-1 (Quartercross). Subs were: Darragh Corbett (Roebucksland), and Liam Ryan (Slievenamon View). Best of luck in the semifinal against Mullinahone on next Saturday in Ned Hall Park, Cloneen.

Our senior football team are due to play Ardfinnan in the county league also next weekend. Well done to our county senior players on their recent victory over Waterford on a scoreline, Tipperary 1-11, Waterford 1-6.

Club membership fees are due before the end of March, Adults €25 and Juveniles €15. Membership fees to coordinator Stephen McCormack or any of the following officers, Gus Fitzgerald, Dick Fitzgerald or Nicky O’Shea. Thank You for your support.

The County Board Draw will be renewed shortly. Draw promoters will be calling around. Our Lotto Jackpot of €5,400 was won last week by Tom Kearney (Killusty). The numbers Drawn were 5, 8, 15 and 23. The €50 Lucky Dip going to Jim Carroll (c/o Centra, The Green).

Fethard and Killusty Community Games 
Area finals of the art and model making competition took place last weekend. A total of 155 children entered this event from Nano Nagle Primary School, St. Patrick's Boys School, Killusty Primary School and from Presentation Patrician Secondary School.

The standard was extremely high. We would like to congratulate all those who participated and thank the teachers in all the schools for their help and cooperation in organising this event.  Aine Proudfoot, Laura Rice, Louis Rice and Charlie Manton were all winners for the second successive year. The following are the medallists:

Art U/8 Girls: Roisín McDonnell, Main St; 2nd Chloe Burke, Woodvale Walk; Joint 3rd, Aisling Gorey Moanbeg and Ciara Hayes, Fethard.

Boys: 1st, Harry Butler, Coolanure; 2nd, Conor Clancy; Joint 3rd, Mark Hayde, Saucestown and Jesse McCormack Woodvale Walk.

U/10 Girls 1st, Aine Proudfoot, Strylea; 2nd, Sadie McGrath; Joint 3rd, Hannah Tobin, St. Patricks Place and Natasha Murphy.

Boys 1st, Charlie Manton, Main Street; 2nd, James Harrington, Killusty; 3rd, Eoghan Hurley.

U/12 Girls: 1st, Nicole Looby, St Patricks Place; 2nd, Deirdre Dwyer; Joint 3rd, Jessica Conran, Killusty and Leah O Donnell. Boys: 1st, Gerard Gorey, Moanbeg; 2nd, Adam O’Donnell; Joint 3rd, Darragh Bradshaw and Brian Healy, The Green.

U/14 Girls: 1st, Amy Lyons, Woodvale Walk; 2nd, Faye Manton,  Main Street; Joint 3rd Rachel Prout Derryluskin. Boys: 1st, Louis Rice, Everardsgrange; 2nd, Ger Maher; 3rd, Noel O’Brien. U/16: 1st, Laura Rice, Everardsgrange.

Model Making  U/10 Boys: 1st, Michael Hally.
U/14 1st: Jack Connolly, The Green; 2nd, Andrew Maguire Annesgift; 3rd, Donal Walsh, Killenaule Road.
Girls: U/14: 1st, Evie O Sullivan, Main Street; 2nd, Jane Holohan, Ballintemple.

Certificates were awarded to all participants. The first two in each event have qualified for the county finals, which will take place in Fethard Ballroom on Saturday 1st April. Entry fee is €2 and must be paid on the day. Enquiries to 052 31906 or 052 31023.

Fethard Ladies Football Club
A reasonable number of players turned out on Saturday last for registration and training in the GAA Park at 2pm, but due to misunderstanding, some players turned up at 3pm. Please note that training for all underage groups will take place on this Saturday in the GAA Park at 2pm sharp.  The U/16 game between Fethard and Templetuohy is due to take place in Fethard on the weekend of the 25th March and the U/12 team are due play Brian Boros on the weekend of the 19th April.

Cards are still available for the Duck Race, which will take place on Easter Sunday, April 16th. It is very important that all players sell these lines as this is a fundraiser for the club to assist with cost of transport during the coming year.

On Yer Bike!
A small amount of people last year went cycling for leisure, pleasure and fitness. It is hoped this coming year that more people join the group. We expect to start in about two weeks time when the long evenings commence. It is important that bikes used would have gears and cyclists wear reflective jackets and helmets. For further information contact Joe Keane at Tel: 086 1751012.

Fethard Historical Society AGM
The Fethard Historical Society will hold its AGM in the Abymill at 8.30pm on Tuesday 28th March. Everybody is welcome. A slide show by Pat Looby will follow at 9.30pm.  The title of the slide show is ‘Fantasy Worlds’ and will include images of Nicki de Saint Phalles' Tarot Garden. Refreshments available. Admission free.

The Well Golf Society
Oh what a bunch of romantic old golfers we have in our society, with so many of you wanting to be with your loved ones next Sunday, we have decided to re-schedule our first outing. This will now take place on Sunday 30^th April at Tipperary Golf Club. After that we play Callan in May, Abbeyleix in June and as we go to press, Mountain View in July.

The Trip to Trinity
Some thoughts from Patrician/Presentation Fethard pupils on their trip to Trinity College Dublin to compete in the IMTA final. When we, John Frewen, Niall Hayes, Fintan Maher and Ronan Shee set out for Dublin with our teacher Ms. Lysaght, I could not help but feel a great sense of pride in myself and my school, even though it was very early on a Saturday morning.  On arriving at Trinity College, we were treated like royalty by the sponsers Citygroup, and staff of the Maths Department particularly Professor Siddhartha Sen.

After a really nice meal, we entered the William Rowan Hamilton Hall and then the nerves started to kick in.  Let the battle commence.  After a few inspiring words from Professor Sen, the quiz began.

Each round seemed to fly at us but we were going well until Round 7.  After that round we felt we hadn’t a chance, but we still kept at it and in Round 8, we got full marks.  When we saw that we were up there in 3rd place, just behind Gonzaga College Dublin, and Christians, Cork.  We were shocked but realised we had achieved a great feat.  We were very proud of ourselves, and glad that we had responded to the early morning alarm call.  We were sure that our school would also be glad that we had finished in great style.  An exercise to be recommended to all Higher Leaving Cert Maths pupils.

Fundraising for Tanzania
The volleyball tournament set up by Patrician Presentation Secondary School pupils to raise funds to educate children in Tanzania was completed on Thursday 16th March. In a thrilling final, which went to three sets, victory finally went to the team captained by Liam Ryan and included Sarah Hayes, Sarah Conway, Darragh Dwyer, Robert Ahearne, Eoin Prout and Jerome Ahearne. The losing team, captained by David Conway, included Emma Walsh, Debbie Lawrence, Jonathan Fleming, Kevin Hayes, Thomas O’Connell, and ‘man of the match’, Eoin Condon.

The tournament raised almost €1500 which will go directly to a school in Tanzania run by the Order of Our Lady of the Apostles, and will allow the enrolment of at least ten children in their school in Bugesi Tanzania. In one of the poorest countries in the world, the school in Fethard will have contributed to the provision of that most basic right of all — an education.

Sincere thanks to all the pupils and teachers who contributed so generously and to parents who allowed the pupils to fundraise.

Secondary School Entrance Exams
Entrance Exams for Patrician Presentation Secondary School will take place in the school on Saturday 1st April commencing at 9.15am and concluding at approximately 12.15. For further information please contact the school, between 9am and 4.30pm, on Tel: (052) 31572.

Home is the Hero
Fethard was agog with excitement over the weekend following War of Attrition winning the Cheltenham Gold Cup on St. Patricks Day.  The cheer in McCarthys as he cleared the last fence and passed the winning post must have been heard in Prestbury Park itself. When head lad Johnny Cummins arrived at McCarthys later that evening to announce there was to be a free bar that night the news was greeted with almost as loud a cheer.  Once trainer Mouse Morris arrived later that night with the cup the cheers were renewed with gusto as he was carried shoulder high into what has been rightly described as “The Ultimate Racing Pub.”  What shamrock was not wetted in Cheltenham was drowned in McCarthys on St. Patrick’s night. 

Mouse Morris held an ‘Open Afternoon’ at his Everardsgrange Stables on Sunday. War of Attrition, who seemed quite oblivious to what he had accomplished, was paraded.  Many of the huge crowd who turned up availed of the opportunity to have their photograph taken with the horse and the cup.

Heartiest congratulations to Mouse, Johnny, the stable staff, and of course to owner Mr Michael O’Leary on their wonderful win.  War of Attrition is only seven years old and looks quite capable of doing an Arkle or a Best Mate, and winning three Gold Cups in a row. 

We have been asked if War of Attrition is the first Fethard trained winner of the Cheltenham Gold cup.  The answer is yes.  We will lay our heads on the block here and say he is the first Gold Cup winner trained in Co. Tipperary.  No doubt we will have someone within a few days telling us we are wrong on this one. 

Two horses that figured prominently during the fifties were Fethard bred.  Linwell, Gold Cup winner in 1957 was bred by Mr James Delaney, Red City.  Coolcustomer, bred by Mr John Burke, Garrankyle, and bought out of Larry Keating’s yard was a most unlucky second.  Winner of many top class chases in England. Coolcustomer seemed to have the race at his mercy when a bad mistake at the second last lost him victory.  These were just two of the very many top class chasers prominent on the English national hunt scene, in post war years and after, bred in the Fethard area — “The Home of the Racehorse.”

Mouse Morris on Monday said he was amazed and very well pleased at the large crowd who turned up at his stables on Sunday afternoon. He said, especially as the event was not widely advertised, it was most remarkable the many who paid a visit.  He is greatly appreciative of their attendance, and wishes to thank all sincerely. 

The Fethard Connection
Tribute was paid to P.J. Colville, Grove Road, in the post race comments by the TV commentator following Brave Inca’s win in the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham.  P.J. earned the plaudit for the part he played in Brave Inca’s early development. A great friend of trainer Colm Murphy, Colm was best man at P.J’s wedding. 

P.J. rode Brave Inca to his first two victories.  He first rode the horse to win his ‘Bumper’ race at Fairyhouse at 25/1 and on his next outing to win his ‘Winner’s Bumper’ race at Navan at 3-1.  P.J. who was at Aidan O’Brien with Colm and associated with such great horses as Istabraq and Rock Of Gibraltar, was convinced at that early stage he was sitting on a future champion.

Incidentally, P.J. who now runs his own stables of Lowesgreen, is son of the late Pat Colville who rode three times Cheltenham winner Willie Wumpkins, bred by Mr. Dick Hennessy, Coleman, to his first win at Prestbury Park. 

To finish the season
The curtain finally rang down on the local hunting scene on Sunday last with the meet of the Ballydine Beagles at The Hive, Ballydine.  Following a continuous afternoons hunting in the vast Ballymore bog and forest, huntsmen and followers adjourned to Lacy’s pub.  There at a very enjoyable social evening, a presentation was made to master and huntsman Matt Wade.  Matt has filled one or both of these positions for thirty years, helped in no small way by his brother John, who was also made a presentation. The presentations were made by Michael Heaney whose family have long been associated with this great little pack.

Great to see present, Billy Kinane.  Billy, one of the very well-known Kinane family of racing fame, is a former huntsman of the Ballydine Beagles.  He still continues his life long interest in the little dogs and is a regular puppy walker for the club.