Fethard Community Youth Project Soccer League

Fethard Transition Years and the Killenaule TYs competed in the first game of the Fethard Community Youth Project’s Soccer League recently in Killenaule. It was a thoroughly enjoyable and enthralling encounter, which hung in the balance and could have went either way up to the final kick. Killenaule eventually prevailed by the odd goal in thirteen. Some impressive skills and talents were on display from both sides.

A good day was had by all who participated and on behalf of the FCYP I would like to thank all those who played on the day and all those who helped organize and run the event, including all those from the Patrician Presentation Secondary School in Fethard and Scoil Ruáin in Killenaule, also Colm McGrath and Walshe’s Bus Hire in Fethard.

Fethard ICA Guild
Fethard ICA meeting for March takes place on Tuesday next 13th March at 8pm in the ICA Hall on Rocklow Road. We have Nicola Wade of Tipp Toe Shoes coming to give advice on foot care and on the correct shoes for various foot problems. We are very pleased to have Nicola coming as there is much demand on her time. Non-members and former members are very welcome to join us for what will be a very interesting evening.

Catering by the ‘Red Group’ and the competition for this month is, ‘Your Favourite Shoes of Torture!’

Ladies Football
Fethard ladies football club wish to thank Michael Ryan (Tullamaine), Denis Burke, (Redcity) and Thomas McCarthy (Coolmoyne), who have offered their services to assist the club and save the day for our underage players. Training for the underage players will now commence this coming Saturday, 10th March, in the GAA Park at 11am. Please attend on time.

Fethard & District Community Sports Field
The community field in Fethard has been a great success since it was bequeath to the people five years ago.  During this time it has been invaluable to the different sporting groups in the area and they have had wonderful successes through their sporting endeavours.  It has benefited many children and their families from all parts of our community and beyond through athletics, soccer, football, rugby and the badgers.

Such has been its success that the field now needs to upgrade its facilities, it is proposed that a clubhouse would be built of a standard model incorporating changing rooms/showers plus general purpose room/gym.  The design would be such to allow any further building modules to be added with ease.  Submissions are been forwarded to the relevant agencies including lotto to obtain funding towards our clubhouse proposal.  However to obtain such funding we need to have 30% of the overall budget in our possession before any application can even be considered.

We were out selling door to door on Thursday night last and the people of Fethard once more stepped up to the mark in generously supporting this fundraiser.  The tickets at €100 are expensive but the people responded by digging deep as individuals or by forming small family syndicates to purchase one.  On behalf of all the clubs involved we say a big thank you, you all obviously appreciate the fact that up to 200 children weekly are being catered for and that the proposed facility is greatly needed.

Fethard Bridge Club
On Wednesday 21st February we played the third round of the Player of the Year, which was a change of partner, and the results were:

1st Gross: Alice Quinn and Margaret Mary McCormack;
2nd Gross: Nell Broderick and Mike Burke;

1st Nett: Rita Kane and Sean O’Dea;
2nd Nett: Suzanne Opray and Tony Hanrahan.

On Wednesday 28th February we played the fourth round of the Player of the Year and the results were:

1st Gross: Gemma Burke and Carol Kenny;
2nd Gross: Brigid Gorey and Betty Walsh;

1st Nett: Kathleen Kenny and Breda O’Grady;
2nd Nett: Rita Holohan and Mary Delaney. 

Anyone looking for a partner contact Berney Myles at 32038.

Fethard Heart Safe Programme
Our first defibrillator was placed on O’Sullivans Pharmacy on Saturday last having been kindly sponsored by Jimmy and Fionnuala. Their generosity is greatly appreciated. Paul Shanahan, one of our cyclists and major fundraiser, putt his talents to use in helping with the installation of the specially designed safes. Paul installed three on Saturday and we have three more to go. We are also very grateful to O’Brien’s Auto Body Repair for spraying the safes for us. It further reinforces the importance of family businesses to our community, as their businesses’ continue to support every initiative to make our community a good and safe place.

All our responders will be back for retraining on Saturday 24th March, which will take approximately 20 minutes.  You will be notified of your allocated slot by post.

Church Gate Collection
Fethard & Killusty Community Council will hold their Church Gate Collection on this coming weekend 10th & 11th March.  The Community Council is affiliated to Muintir na Tire and would appreciate your support.

Day Care Centre Table Quiz
The Day Care Centre ran a very successful table quiz on Friday 2nd March. There was a great turn out on the night with fourteen tables and wherever a space could be found. The questions were very ably prepared by Philip Butler who was also our quizmaster on the night, so a big thank you to Butlers. Also a huge thank you to the very many people who sponsored so many prizes for the winning table, runners up and the raffle for which we had in excess of 30 prizes. Thanks also to the sellers and buyers of the tickets, and to everyone who helped in any way. As there was so many it would be impossible to name everyone here and we would surely forget someone. The winning table was John Fahey, Gloria Walsh, Kevin O’Dwyer and Noel O’Dwyer. Runners up were Geraldine McCarthy, Michael McCarthy, Conor McCormack and Orla Neagle. The total raised on the night was €940 so well done everyone.

Layoff of Participants on Community Schemes
An urgent meeting was called on Monday 26th February in Dundrum to discuss the future of Community Employment Schemes and the forthcoming participant layoffs. In the next few weeks ten schemes are up for renewal. There are 150 participants on the ten schemes, out of the 150 participants approximately 70 will be laid off with no prospect of ever returning to a FÁS Scheme. Our two schemes in Fethard will come under the same threat as they come up for renewal. We appeal to any one of you who feels strongly about this to lobby your local Councillors and TDs and get the capping lifted so that schemes will be able to continue for the foreseeable future.

Poetry Reading at Clonmel Library
As part of Ireland Library Week, poets Michael Coady and Tom McCarthy will give a reading at Clonmel Library at 7pm on this Thursday, 8th March. Admission is free and all are welcome.

Fethard GAA Club News
The Senior Football County League resumes on Sunday 11th March with an game away to Aherlow in Lisvernane at 2pm. The Minor Football County League game was not played last Sunday due to the pitch being unplayable. We continue this week with a game against Cahir, in Cahir on Sunday 11th March at 12noon.

Our Under 21 footballers had a walkover on Saturday last. In the next round they are out against Carrick Davins on Saturday 10th March in Kilsheelan at 4.15pm.

Club Membership fees, Adult €25 and Juvenile  €15, are now due to any club officer — Michael O’Dwyer, Mary Godfrey, Nicky O’Shea or Noel Byrne.

The Lotto Jackpot €3,900 was not won. There was no match three winners. The following tickets won €30 each: James Wade (Thomastown, Golden); Louis Coen (Killusty); Vera O’Connell (Cattaganstown, Moyglass); Maggie Thompson (Woodvale Walk); Jimmy O’Meara (Strylea). The €50 Lucky Dip was won by Denis O’Meara (St Patricks Place).

Community Games Art and Model Making Area Finals
Closing date for all entries in the Art and Model Making competition is Thursday 15th March. All Schools in Fethard and surrounding areas ie Killusty, Lisronagh, Rosegreen and Moyglass, will be visited that morning to collect entries from children living in the Parish of Fethard and Killusty. Children must be under the age specified on the 31st July 2007. Picture must have a sporting theme and be accompanied by entry fee of €2. Children residing the parish of Rosegreen, Lisronagh or Moyglass may enter through their own area secretary. Competitors are asked to please put their name, address, school and date of birth on the back of their entry. The county finals will take place in Fethard Ballroom on Saturday 31st March. Best of luck to all.

Fethard & Killusty Community Lotto
The numbers drawn on Wednesday 28th February were 1, 4, 15 and 20. We had no Jackpot winner of €10,000 and two ‘Match 3’ winners who received €75 each:

Catherine Keane, The Cottage, Monroe, Fethard;
Marty Davies, Farranshea, Fethard.

The three €50 Lucky Dip winners were: 

Ann Pollard, Anner View, Mullinahone;
Nellie Heffernan, Barrack Street, Fethard;
Anne Foley, 6 Fr. Tirry Park, Fethard.

Next weeks Jackpot remains at €10,000 and the Jackpot sellers prize at €1,000.

Abymill Play a Great Success
The Glengoole & Gortnahoe Drama Group performed two one-act plays, ‘Love & Acid Drops’ and ‘Dispensary Dan’, on Saturday 24th February to a full house in the Abymill Theatre. The audience were treated to two hilarious plays and if the laughter heard coming from the Abymill was anything to go by, the audience certainly appeared to enjoy the comedy, which was directed by Denis Heffernan and Pat Langton of Glengoole.

The proceeds of the night will be used towards setting up an Autism Specific School for South Tipperary. The South Tipperary Autism Support Group would like to express their sincere thanks to Glengoole/Gortnahoe Drama group and Pat Brophy for the presentation of the entire proceeds to our support group. The total raised on the night was €2448 which was fantastic. We would also like to thank Austin O'Flynn for the use of the Abymill, Christy Mullins (St. Patricks Place) and everyone who helped make the night a success. 

Cheltenham News from 50 Years ago
There was a big cheer in Cheltenham and Fethard in 1957 as local bred nine-year-old Linwell won the Gold Cup in Cheltenham at odds of 100/9. Linwell was also placed second in 1959 ridden by Fred Winter and won several other big races and point-to-points in Ireland.

Linwell was bred by the Delaney family in Redcity, owned by David Brown, trained in England by Charlie Mallon and ridden by Michael Scudamore (senior). Linwell’s dam, Rubia Linda, was previously owned by the late Dr. P.J. Stokes (senior) and was ridden in her early racing days by well-known Fethard racing character, the late Paddy Anglim, Knockelly. She was then sold to the late Jim Delaney, Redcity, for breeding and her first foal was the 1957 Gold Cup winner Linwell. Chris Mackey looked after both horses at Delaney’s.

Hayes demands more Gardaí for Fethar
Local TD, Tom Hayes, has called on Minister for Justice, Michael McDowell to allocate additional Gardaí to Fethard. Deputy Hayes recently raised the matter with the Minister in the Dáil.

He said: “At present Fethard has one Sergeant and one other Garda who was appointed recently.  In my view, Fethard needs greater Garda resources than this.  I have received numerous representations from people who are concerned about issues such as anti-social behaviour and crime.  In my experience, a strong Garda presence is an excellent deterrent and also allows people to feel safer in their homes and businesses.”

“Just because crime levels are higher in more urbanised areas shouldn’t mean that towns and villages in rural Ireland are neglected. I am calling on Minister McDowell to increase the allocation of Gardaí in Fethard.”  

Hunting News
Rain may not stop play in hunting as in cricket, nevertheless, the recent heavy rain certainly did not help matters. On Monday 19th February in Cahir Park in very heavy rain hounds found in the Park and hunted out to Rochestown where he got to ground. Drawing all the coverts in Rochestown estate they failed to find, which is most unusual. The second fox found was being hunted well when the modern bugbear of hunting, a strong electric fence, brought this run to an abrupt end.

Drawing across the road they found again and had a fast twenty minutes through Mr English’s and Myles, and on to Whytes where he got to ground. They failed to find again though drawing on in the rain until 3.30pm.

If the rain did not help matters, in Cahir it proved a worse hazard from Silverfort on Wednesday 21st February where they had a completely blank day. Hounds failed to find all day which had veteran followers failing to recall a day when hounds failed to find.

Thursday 22nd February from Darcy’s Cross hound found in Ballynattin and ran by Moorstown Abbey towards the Fethard Rosegreen road. Turning left-handed here they ran by the Lagoons to the Cashel Clonmel road at Castleblake. Doubling back the fox ran to the Lagoons covert. Hunting him well in covert, hounds soon had him away at the lower end and running back towards Moorstown he got to ground in a drain.

Drawing Garraun, Walls held a brace. Hounds were quickly laid on the fox which crossed Garraun avenue to Barrettstown. Crossing the road he ran to the stables on the Fethard Barrettstown road, which he crossed. Hounds were now hunting well and running towards Prospect. Swinging right-handed they ran through Barrettsgrange down by Barrettstown Castle towards Redcity where once again a strong electric fence brought a very good run to a premature end.

Hounds, though hunting well with great cry in the big plantation at Walshes, Coleman, could not get their fox to leave and were stopped. A good day’s hunting in much better conditions.

Tipperary Foxhounds End Season
The Tipperary Foxhounds finished their season on Saturday last 3rd March with their meet at Horse & Jockey. Fifty-five riders, around treble the usual number of followers for a ‘Jockey’ meet, turned out. A typical day’s hunting from here was enjoyed. Hounds hunted well all day with good cry in the vast bog land forestry plantations. The many juvenile followers had a great afternoon jumping the especially provided handy jumps on the old railway line.

A very special well done to the Tipp’s new huntsman, Derry Donegan, on the good sport provided during the year. Derry came from the Kildare’s. A stranger in a strange land, he had to make his way through the Tipperary county without the help of even a whipper-in with local knowledge. Derry stated that the hounds will be better next season.

The penultimate meet of the season at Loughcopple on Thursday also provided a good day’s hunting. The day could not have concluded better than with the excellent ‘Hunt Tea’ provided at Knockbordan House by Ms Di Stokes and her daughter, Ms Jacqui Freyne.

The end of the season is once again with us,
The sound of the horn has faded away
May we all meet again when once more it echoes,
Through the woods of Tipperary on a bright autumn day.

 Gallant Tipperary the best pack in the land,
Long may we thrill to their music so grand,
Echo through valley o’er hillside and lea,
Long may the hounds rally to ‘Tally-Ho Gone Away!’

—EAN

With The White Heathers
The Ballylusky White Heathers brought the curtain down on the 2006/07 season with their meet at Ballinard on Sunday 4th March. The White Heathers wish to thank sincerely all landowners over whose land they hunted during the year. Thanks also to all who hosted joint meets and lawn meets during the season.

The White Heathers annual draw, for which subscriptions are now being taken, takes place in the Archway Bar, Drangan, on St. Patrick’s night.

We greatly appreciate the contact made by former followers of the Tipps and White Heathers. One lady, now resident far far away from her native Tipperary, says, each week she relives her days over Tipperary countryside with the Tipps, maybe we should say, not so long ago!