Miceál McCormack honoured by Fethard GAA
At a function in the Fethard Arms on Saturday 8th April, Tipperary South Board Chairman for 2006, Miceál McCormack, was Guest of Honour with his wife Mary and family, where the Fethard GAA Club Chairman, Dick Fitzgerald, made a presentation of a framed portrait to mark this momentous occasion of becoming the first South Board Chairman from the club in fifty years, the last been John Keating in 1955.  Kind and good wishes were conveyed to Miceál by each speaker present, past officers of the club: Joe Ahearne, Sean Moloney, Seamus Hackett, and current officers: Michael O’Dwyer, Austy Godfrey, and current secretary, Gus Fitzgerald, who stated that behind every good man is a good woman. Current chairman, Dick Fitzgerald, wished Miceál the best of luck for his time in the chair and hoped that no one from the club would appear before him during this term.

The club were honoured to have in our presence the South Board Secretary, Sean Nugent and his wife Betty, who said that he would endeavour to work with Miceál in the same manner as he had with the last two chairmen, Barry O’Brien and Willie Barrett. He did say that Miceál will be the boss and during his term decisions will have to be made that some may not like.

Miceál thanked all present and from his playing career back in the sixties and seventies, he always dreamt of becoming a club officer and his ambitions were honoured in 1981-1987 and 1996-1999, when he became secretary. It was the greatest honour of his career to take that job in light of the great men that had gone before him such as Tommy Hogan etc.  He said that he was club chairman from 1993 to1995 during the time the Fethard GAA field was being renovated and looks on it today as one of the best playing fields in the division.

Miceál wishes, for his time in office, that he achieves to have at least one referee from every club in the division on board. Everyone present wished him the best of luck.

Fethard GAA News
Our next outing in Minor Football B is against Mullinahone which takes place in O’Sullivan Park, Ballingarry, on Wednesday 19th April at 6.30pm.

The County Board Draw is now in full swing and for those who are not members and would like to join can do so with any of the following promoters for €10 (monthly) or €100 (yearly): Michael O’Dwyer, Josie Fitzgerald, Gus Fitzgerald, Nicky O Shea, Jimmy O’Shea, Seamus Hackett, Miceál McCormack, Pat Sheehan, Dick Fitzgerald, Sean Moloney, Edel Fitzgerald, Paul Fitzgerald, Denis Burke, Noel Byrne, Paddy Wallace and Denis O’Meara. These promoters will call from door to door over the coming weeks.

The Lotto Jackpot €2,100 was not won. Tickets sponsored by J.L. O’Sullivan Chemists, Main Street.  We had eight match three winners of €25 each:
Ger Manton (Main St),
Mike Gould (Claremore),
Darragh Doyle (Strylea),
John Spillane (Killerk),
Vikie Lees (Lakefield Farm),
Mike Shine (Fethard),
John Aylward (Grove),
Gerhard Bonwer (Fethard).
The €50 Lucky Dip going to Edwina Newport (Main Street).

Our sympathy at this time is with the families of Gussy Smyth, Tinakelly, Liam Kiely, Cahir, and Teresa Cummins, Burke Street, on their recent bereavements.
Go ndeana Dia trocaire orthu.

Royal Irish Regiment
Does anyone have any information on Margaret Carroll (formerly Sheedy) of Cashel Road, Fethard, who lost her son Private James Sheedy 9418 6th Bn., Royal Irish Regiment, on Friday, 2nd June, 1916 in France? Any information would be much appreciated. Thanks Margaret (email: margsheedy@hotmail.com).

Holy Week Ceremonies in the Abbey
Holy Thursday:
No morning Mass. Mass of the Lord’s Supper at 7.30pm (adoration until 9pm).
Good Friday:
No morning service. Celebration the Lord’s Passion at 3pm (with Holy Communion). Stations of the Cross at 7.30pm.
Holy Saturday:
No morning Mass. Easter Vigil at 8.30pm.
Easter Sunday:
Masses at 9.30am and 11.30am.
Easter Monday:
Masses at 10.30am and 5pm.

Holy Week Ceremonies in the Parish Church

Holy Thursday Ceremony 8pm.
Good Friday Ceremony at 8pm and Stations of the Cross at 3pm.
Holy Saturday Ceremony 8pm.
Easter Sunday Masses at 8.30am and 11am.

Fethard Bridge Club
Fethard Bridge Club results of game played on Wednesday 29th March are: 
1st Gross: Nell Broderick and David O’Meara;
2nd Gross: Brigid Gorey and Betty Walsh;

1st Nett: Rita Kane and Kay St. John;
2nd Nett: Carmel Condon and Brendan Kenny.

Our game on Wednesday 5th April was cancelled as a mark of respect for the late Teresa Cummins who was buried on that day. A long-standing member of Fethard Bridge Club, Teresa will be greatly missed at our weekly game. She was always in good humour and ready for a laugh. As a keen bridge player Teresa travelled to neighbouring counties supporting charity games and local bridge congresses and she played at Kilkenny bridge congress just before she became ill. She was a great ambassador for the club at these many venues. She met many people through her card playing but she made many friends through her warm personality. There is no doubt but that St. Peter welcomed her with a pack of cards in his hand.

Ladies Football Club
Reminder the Duck Race in aid of Fethard Ladies Football Club will take place on this coming Easter Sunday. The ducks will take to the water at the convent bridge at 12 noon sharp and will float away to their destination via Watergate to the Mill bridge where prizes will be awarded to the first three and the last duck home. It is hoped that we will have a large turnout at the event. All sponsorship cards must be returned fully completed with money to chairman Joe Keane, 72 St Patricks Place by Saturday next 15th April.

Juvenile GAA Notes
Fue to a combination of bad weather and other events we were unable to play any of our games last week and, as a result, we now have a backlog of games to play. Our under-12 A football team will play this Saturday in Cahir at 12 noon. Bus will leave GAA field at 11am. Our under-14 A football team will play their first game, against Killenaule away, Thursday13th April.  Bus leaves GAA field at 6.15pm. Our under-14 hurling team will play on Friday 14th April against Mullinahone away, at 5.30pm.

In this year’s Féile, bus leaves GAA field at 4.45pm.

Our under-16 A football team will play Cahir in Fethard next Monday night at 7pm. all players to be in field at 6.20pm. We also have to play Moyle Rovers, Commercials and Carrick Swan in games to be rescheduled. Best of luck to all teams.

Our club would like to wish former chairman and committee member, Liam Hayes, the best of luck in his new business venture of hurley making.

Our deepest sympathy goes to the Kiely family of Cahir on the recent loss of their son Liam. Liam was a fabulous person, both on and off the field, who broke our hearts on many occasions in both football and hurling. His presence will be sadly missed. Finally with regards to an article which appeared in the Fethard Notes last week, where as some of the comments may have some foundation, we would like to point out that all our juvenile football teams play in the A competitions and by the beginning of next year all our juvenile hurling teams, with the exception of under-12s, will also be in A division. With regards to success, we may not have won a lot, but is success at juvenile level measured by what you win or by what you achieve?

Hackett Family Query
The following queries were received from Liam Healy, 28 Kempton Avenue, Ashtown, Dublin. 7. Tel: 01-8382292 (email: billandadahealy@esatclear.ie). Maybe somebody can help:

a) A family by the name of Hacket or Hackett perhaps in a place named Gambonstown. The family may have been landholders and perhaps came from the ‘Big House’.

b) I am trying to find a Catherine Hacket who owned land in Tinnekilly about 1780. She was married to an Anthony Thompson about 1766 in Thurles. I understand she died circa 1780. She had one child a daughter named Elizabeth who succeeded to the land when her father Anthony died in 1806. She married a d’Abbadie and held the land till her death in 1865 it then passed to her son Antoine. I would like to know her religion and where she is buried.

c) Would you know anything about the name d’Abbadie that owned land in Tinnekilly about 297 acres of it?

I have been purposefully brief as I do not want to waste your time but should you know something I can tell you more. I am engaged in historical/biographical research and the names and places above have come up in the work. If I can find Catherine Hacket and some detail on her, Fethard may have an added piece of history. I hope you can assist me

A Parting Glass!
A party of American tourists arrived in Fethard last week on a mission. They were looking for McCarthy’s bar and they were carrying a bundle of books under their arms. The books were all the same. They bore the title “A Parting Glass” by Eric Roth. Inside the covers were 41 pubs around Ireland that Mr Roth had chosen to represent the traditional pubs of Ireland. The American party were from Chicago and Fort Worth and were determined to have a drink or two or three in each bar in the book. On condition that the books were signed by the owners of each establishment as a memento of their visit.

Then they were off again. They had to find a bar in Cork before heading for Sligo and then back to Dublin to get to the three bars that were closed when they started their tour. We wish them well on their quest. Hope they remember some of it.

State-of-the-Art Science Lab
A new era in the study of science dawned at Patrician Presentation Secondary School, Fethard on Wednesday 8th March 2006. Students and teachers moved into their newly refurbished state-of-the-art science laboratories. After years of neglect, the Dept of Education finally granted the funding necessary to supply the school with facilities worthy of its students. The brightness, spaciousness and overall spick and span appearance of everything was immediately apparent to everyone. Students can now study science in a much more interesting and investigative manner. Every student can now carry out the required practical work themselves in groups of two or three. All equipment needed is available at each workstation and is the responsibility of each group.

Broadband access to the internet is also available to any student needing it for Science-related project work. Each laboratory is also equipped with a computer/laptop and digital projector so that students can reap the benefits of the vast selection of science education software available on the market. Very often, concepts that are difficult to grasp from textbooks make a lot more sense when they can be seen in action on a computer screen. Almost overnight, attitudes have changed. Before, science in our school was viewed by most students as monotonous, hard work, and something to be endured. Now they can see that, given the right environment / atmosphere, and supplied with the necessary resources, it is a whole new ball game. All of the subjects (Chemistry, Physics and Biology) are excellently catered for in the new facilities, and it augurs well for the study of science and science-related subjects for the future.

Died Recently
The death has occurred on Wednesday 5th April of Mr Gus Smyth, Tinakelly, Fethard. Interment took place in Cloneen.

Golf Classic
The Patrician Presentation Secondary School has been serving the needs of the local school-going population for over one hundred years. At present there is a major refurbishment project under way in our two Science Laboratories. This development will cater for the educational needs of our students in the years ahead. The financial outlay is as follows:

Total contracted cost €316,650.91;
Dept of Education & Science Grants €284,985.82;

School Commitment  € 31,665.09.
A major fund raising campaign is underway at present to meet this commitment. A Golf Classic and Raffle are planned for 5th/6th May 2006 at Slievenamon Golf Course, Lisronagh, Clonmel. Your support and assistance for this worthy endeavour is greatly appreciated. We trust you can help in one of the following ways.

1. Sponsorship of Prizes €250;

2. Sponsorship of team of three €150 (scramble);

3. Sponsorship of Tee-box / Green €100.

Cheques should be made payable to Patrician Presentation Secondary School. A stamped addressed envelope is enclosed for your convenience. We look forward to hearing from you and thank you sincerely in anticipation.