Community rattled by lack of Government support for Youth
An emergency public meeting to discuss the lack of Government support for Fethard Youth Project was held in the Tirry Community Centre on Thursday 10th May. The meeting was chaired by Peter Grant who outlined the origins and background to the project. He reflected on the changes in society in relation to the present decline in the numbers of religious and guards in the town who heretofore provided a certain amount of activities and supervision outside their normal duties. In addition to this, the new culture of drink and drug use by younger age groups have contributed towards an increase in anti-social behaviour in our town.

Suzie O’Shea, Youth Officer with the Fethard Youth Project, then gave a presentation of her work achieved since she was appointed eight months ago. Youth representatives then spoke to those present of their good experiences while being involved with the project. Suzie was complimented from various community representatives for the trojan work she achieved in her eighteen hour per week appointment as Youth Officer. Cllrs John Fahey and Darren Ryan also expressed the importance of working with youth in today’s world were highly appreciative of Suzie’s work. Cllr Darren Ryan, speaking from personal experience said youth can easily go either way in society, and without some luck and the help and guidance from community and youth workers, their chances of surviving teenage years is made so much harder.  Cllr John Fahey committed his full support to the Fethard Community Youth Project and informed the meeting that he had made a formal motion to South Tipperary County Council to make a deputation to the minister to reconsider his decision not to fund the project for another year.

Liam Hayes stated that the FCYP is not something that has come out of nowhere in the past six months. The Community Council is totally committed to the project. They have purchased the Convent Hall at a cost of €80,000 and are ready to spend the same again renovating the hall to accommodate the youth of the parish in a safe, healthy environment for their development. Unfortunately, time and time again their applications made for government support have been turned down.

Fr. Tom Breen P.P. said it is disgraceful that communities like Fethard receive no help from the government. All the facilities in town such as the Community Centre, Ballroom, Abymill Theatre, Sportsfield, Day Care Centre have been built, funded and maintained by voluntary community work. He went on to say, “The present system does not support the efforts of local communities, instead they build more houses bring more people into the town, provide less Garda and provide no facilities.”

The way things are going now, it will all stop, and the government will end up with a much bigger problem to sort out. He suggested that our councillors and politicians will have to do a lot more because no one is listening and it will soon be too late.

Cllr Darren Ryan commented that Fr. Breen was a man speaking from the heart. “If community people go back inside their doors and do nothing, the country will come to a standstill.” He informed the meeting that he knew of a club within the county who had received €26,000 funding without any application form being filled in.

Lisa Kavanagh, Youth Officer South Tipperary VEC, addressed the meeting and agreed with Darren Ryan that it was not just Fethard but County Tipperary as a whole who have not been supported in terms of youth provision. She informed that herself and Fionuala McGeever, CEO VEC, are fully behind the efforts and offered their full support and help in the future.

Cllr Mattie McGrath complimented the efforts of the Fethard Community Council and continued by expressing his disappointment at the lack of funding for projects and commented that he was flabbergasted that this Fethard Youth Project was not given funding to enable it to continue. He committed his support to the project into the future.

Career Guidance teacher Denis Burke, said it was an awful shame if the magnificent work which has been done to date has to come to an end. Marian Gilpin, Deputy Principal Patrician Presentation Secondary School, informed the meeting that Suzie’s involvement has contributed much to the benefit of the school. She went on to ask why lots of finance is still available for the School Completion Programme and yet the activities of Suzie and the youth project have to be discontinued in June because of the lack of funding.

Michael O’Dwyer, Chairman Fethard GAA Club, asked what needed to be done immediately to enable Suzie and the project to be sustained. He urged the County Council insist that money be made available. Cllr John Fahey suggested that a deputation from South Tipperary County Council meet with Minister Haughey. Cllr Mattie McGrath agreed with this and offered to support this proposal at the next Council meeting on Monday 14th May.

Minister of State replies
On Saturday 12th May (following the meeting), Mr Sean Haughey, Minister of State, informed us in the following letter that the Fethard Youth Project would not receive funding:

“Thank you for your recent letter on behalf of Fethard Community Youth Project in relation to funding. Unfortunately, on this occasion it has not been possible to provide funding for the project due to the high level of existing commitments in the Youth Sector and the very large number of new applications for funding received this year, eighty three (83) in total.

Having regard also to the year-on-year costs of sanctioning new projects it was decided to sanction a maximum of three (3) new one-worker projects. The projects selected were Remember Us Youth Project, Co. Dublin, Belvedere Youth Project, Dublin City and the Curragh Youth Project, Co. Kildare.

I hope this explains the position.

With best wishes,

Yours sincerely,

Mr Sean Haughey, Minister of State".

Marathon Time Again
Monday 4th June marks the 25th Anniversary of the Flora Women’s Mini Marathon. 40,000 women have registered for this year’s event. Among the many participants from Fethard running, jogging and walking, to raise funds for diverse charities will be Presentation Sisters Juliana, Betty and Winnie. They are seeking sponsorship for their sisters in Zimbabwe who live and work in an extremely impoverished and oppressive situation at this time. 

Fethard Juvenile GAA Club
It has been a busy few weeks for the juvenile club with games played at all levels. Our under-12s have played two matches in their championship bid and were at home to Kilsheelan on Thursday of last week and came up against some very strong opposition. Although playing their socks off and showing great determination and teamwork, they were not to be the victors on the night

Their next game was away to Killenaule on Sunday morning of last week. They played a game that could have gone any way with both teams evenly matched throughout and were fortunate to come away with a 5 point win. This was a very exciting match to watch and we wish them well in their next game. There is still some room for improvement if they are to progress to the next round.

It has been an extremely busy time for the under-14s. This great team of young men played two games in the Peil. Their first match was against Kilsheelan and they came away with a great win. This win got them through to a final against Commercials where they gave it all they had and were not to be lucky on the night. Congratulations to Commercials who won the competition out.

The under-14s also played their last match away to Rovers in their South Championship bid and came away with a great win. They were to play Swan in the semifinal but received a walk over. They now await the results of the Rovers v Commercials match to find out who they will face in the final. We wish them the very best of luck, this is a great team who have the potential to go all the way.

The under-16 hurling training has been underway for a while now. This team had a challenge match at home last Saturday evening and played host to Boherlahan. It was a great match to watch with some wonderful hurling and they came away with an extremely convincing win. Hurling training for under-16s is now on Monday and Thursday evenings at 6.30 in the GAA field. Please make every effort to attend as the championship begins soon. Any queries please phone club secretary, Caroline Sheehan Tel: 086 1713502.

Fethard and Killusty Community Games
A reminder to all that the County Athletics finals will take place in CBS Nenagh on Sunday week 27th May. The following children from the area are qualified to take part. Two girls and two boys in each event.

Under-8 60m: Laura Butler, Rebecca Kenny, Mark Heffernan and Darragh Lynch.

Under-8 80m: Aisling Gorey, Isabelle Kennedy, Eric Fogarty and Jack Ward.

Under-10 100m: Annie Prout, Nicola Thompson, Jack Gleeson and Luke Grant.

Under-10 200m: Megan Hayes, Chloe Burke, Dean Dorney and Matthew Lynch.

Under-12 100m: Hannah Tobin, Kate Quigley, David Heffernan and Darren Needham.

Under-12 600m: Karen Hayes, Clodagh Bradshaw.

Under-14 100m: Aine Phelan, Shannon O’Brien.

Under-16 100m: Kevin Hayes.

Under-16 1500m: Adam O’Donnell and Eoin Prout.

Competitors are to arrange their own transport. Time of commencement will be published next week. All those travelling please pay entry fee of €2 to the Community Games Office, Grove Road, Fethard, before Friday 25th May, open between 10am and 2pm where pass to compete will be issued.

Fethard Ladies Football
The Ladies Football Club is very active at the moment with several matches going ahead. The under-14 team had a great game against Arravale Rovers which they won by 2-2 to 2-0. This team then had a draw with Clonmel Og in a most exciting game which resulted in scoreline of 1-8 to 3-2.

The under-10 team have played Mullinahone and Clonmel Og and are due to play Lattin Cullen in the GAA Park in Fethard on this Saturday morning at 11am, prior to the under-12 match also against Lattin Cullen due to commence at 11.30am.

Fethard GAA Club News
In the first round of the Intermediate Hurling South Championship played on Sunday 13th May, our team earned a well-contested draw on a scoreline, Fethard 1-15, Ballyneale 2-12. Considering we were trailing by six points with five minutes remaining, we pulled off a great result. Well done to all. The team was: Darragh Corbett, Tommy Gahan, Michael Aherne, Aiden Lonergan, Dean Tobin, Shane Walsh 0-1, Jamie McCormack, John P Looby 0-3, Michael Ryan 0-3F, Stephen O’Donnell 0-1, Aiden Fitzgerald 1-5, Eoin Doyle, Kenneth O’Donnell 0-1, Miceál Spillane, Brian Coen 0-1. Subs used: Declan Doyle and Richard Gorey. Our next game is not until the Bank Holiday Monday in June.

Our last Minor Football B game before the exams was played on Wednesday 16th May. As a result of a county re-fixture, the Senior Football South Championship game appears to be fixed for Saturday 26th May in Clonmel against Ardfinnan at 7.30pm.

The South Board centenary cemetery visitations continue in Cloneen on Saturday 26th May for Tom Keating, Sec Fethard Club (1928-1930), and on Sunday 27th May in Calvary Fethard, starting after 11am mass, for Dick Cummins (Life President South Board 2000-2005); John Keating (Chairman South Board 1955 and Chairman Fethard Club 1937-1950,1953-1954); Sean O’Shea (South Board Chairman 1928 -1936, Club Chairman 1927-1936 also Club Secretary from 1914, 1920-1927). Ned Kenrick (Secretary South Board 1909-1910 and also Secretary Club 1911-1913) will be honoured in Red City graveyard.

Please continue your support for our County Board Promoters who are calling door to door in the parish. Tickets are €100 for 12 months or €10 monthly.

Our Lotto Jackpot €4,900 was not won. There was no match three winner and €30 was won by the following: Rita Doyle (Woodvale Walk Fethard), Con /Rita Doyle (Woodvale Walk Fethard), Ned Connolly (Garrinch Fethard), Colin Bradshaw (Woodvale Walk Fethard), Sharon O’Meara (Cedar Grove Fethard). The €50 Lucky Dip was won by Dick Fitzgerald (St Patrick’s Place Fethard). We would like to thank Clonmel Oil for providing the tickets.

Fethard & Killusty Community Lotto Results
The numbers drawn on Wednesday 9th May were: 2, 21, 23 and 30. There was no Jackpot winners and one Match 3 winner who received €150:

Olwyn Wall, Chapel Lane, Fethard.

The €50 Luck Dip winners were:
Geraldine Whelan, 40 Kickham Place, Mullinahone;
Maura Ryan, 10 Kilnockin View, Fethard;
Michelle O’Farrell, c/o Gaules Pub, Fethard.

Next week’s Jackpot continues at €10,000 and the Jackpot sellers prize is €1000.

Fethard Bridge Club President’s Prize

On Wednesday 9th May we played for our President’s Prize and the results were:

Winners: Marie Delaney and Annie O'Brien;

Winners of the Committee Prize: Rita Kane and Kay St. John.

Rest of the winners on the night of the president's prize:

1st Gross: Frances Burke and Breda Walsh;

1st Nett: Nora Lawrence and Madeleine O'Donnell;

2nd Gross: Carmel Condon and Tony Hanrahan;

2nd Nett: Mary Quirke and Fr. John Meagher;

3rd Gross: Alice Quinn and Berney Myles;

3rd Nett: Bridie Lee and Mike Burke;

4th Gross: Bernie O'Meara and Anna Cooke            ;

4th Nett: Anne Connolly and Eileen Frewen

5th Gross: Gemma Burke and Carol Kenny;

5th Nett: Joan Kelly and Anne Ryan;

6th Gross: Brigid Gorey and Betty Walsh;

6th Nett: Kathleen Kenny and Breda O'Grady.

Club Championship and winners of Hayes Trophy: Alice Quinn and Berney Myles;

Player of the Year and winner of the O'Flynn Trophy: Alice Quinn;

Individual Champion and winner of the Dick Gorey Perpetual Trophy: Alice Quinn;

Most Improved Player and winner of the Suzanne Opray Trophy: Breda Walsh.

A Dog’s Life
If you need advice about dogs or horses, there is no town in Ireland better than Fethard to find a resident expert. Spare a thought for the local syndicate who were given advice after their pedigree chum kept his consistent record in race performance by finishing second last twice in a row. This time the hound excelled himself and entertained the audience, who sent him off favourite, by playing with the dog that finished last on the run up to the line.

One wag suggested that a lead implant in the ear might sort the problem out . . . to be administered by shotgun. Let’s hope that this dog fares better in his next race!

Outing to High Crosses
Fethard Historical Society will host a full day guided tour of high crosses from Athenry to Moone with Pat Looby. A bus will leave the Town Hall at 10am on Saturday 2nd June and the price per person is €15. Please bring picnic. We will stop for dinner. To book phone 052 31936 or 086 350 2360.

Local Band Showcase Gig
Three bands will take to the stage in the Abymill Theatre on Friday 8th June in a showcase of local talent. First up are a young band ‘Zero Tolerence’. They are all in their early teens and cite Thin Lizzy and Led Zepplin among their influences. The second band are another rock outfit, ‘The Autocats’, who played the same venue last year supporting Aiden Ward and have notched up quite a few local gigs over the last year. The final act are a local band, formerly known as ‘The Dukes’, but due to a split in the band over musical differences, have changed their line up and are now known as ‘Rootless’. Their set is an acoustic one in the vein of Damien Rice. Tickets for the event are €10 and can be bought from the band members or from McCarthy’s Bar.