Fethard ICA Notes
Fethard ICA meeting for this month takes place on Tuesday l2th June, at 8pm as usual. The guest speakers for the night will be Tracey and Mary of the Fair Trade Association. They will outline the aims of their association in helping the poorest farmers of the world to get their produce directly to local shops in the ‘First World’, resulting in better prices for the producer and better products for the consumer. We will be able to sample the products they have for sale. Non-members are invited to attend. The yellow group are catering on the night.

South Tipperary Open Working Hunter Pony League
As the Showing season gets into full swing, four Tipperary Shows have joined forces to run an Open Working Hunter Pony League.  Points will be gained for placings in Open Working Hunter Pony Classes for 133 cms, 143 cms, 153 cms and Intermediate at the four Shows; Clonmel (1st July), Killusty (Saturday 7th July), Tipperary IPS (Sunday 8th July at Ballylanigan House, Mullinahone) and new this year Tipperary Show (August 4th - no Intermediate) and an embroidered rug will go to the winner of each league.  An open class is, as it says, open to everyone not just ponies with more than 50 IPS points.  All four shows require pre-entry to their classes so now is the time to ask for schedules and get your entries in.  It is hoped that many South Tipperary children will take this opportunity to gain experience and perhaps win a very attractive rug into the bargain as well as whatever prizes the Shows have to offer. Schedules can be obtained from Clonmel Show Secretary, Western Road, Clonmel, Killusty Pony Show Secretary Mrs. Betsy O’Connor, Knockkelly, Fethard, Co. Tipperary, Tipperary IPS Show Secretary, Mrs. R. Henry, St. Johnstown, Fethard, Co. Tipperary and Tipperary Show Secretary Mrs. P. Mansergh-Wallace, Grenane Hse, Tipperary.  If you are not in you can’t win.  Good luck to all who take up the challenge.

Corpus Christi Procession
This year’s traditional Corpus Christi Procession in Fethard will take place on this coming Sunday, 10th June. The procession will leave at 7pm from outside the Parish Church and conclude with Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament in the Abbey Grounds. Canon Power, speaking at Sunday Mass, requested a large turnout and particularly hoped that there wouldn’t be any local sporting fixtures coinciding with the time of this year’s procession.

Fethard & Killusty Community Lotto Results
The numbers drawn on Wednesday 30th May were: 9, 14, 20 and 30. There was no Jackpot winners and one Match 3 winner of €150:

Richard O’Donnell, 24 Woodvale Walk, Fethard.

The €50 Luck Dip winners were:
Tom Purcell, Burke Street, Fethard;
Kathleen Lyons, Drangan;
Bob Maher, c/o Tom Purcell.

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

Fethard GAA Club News
Our team are now getting ready to meet Clonmel Commercials with the next round of the county coming up on weekending 16th June. The Tipp senior footballers lost last week to Cork and the club players who donned the ‘jersey’ were Paul Fitzgerald, Cian Maher, Brian Coen, Benny Hahessy and Damien Byrne. They are all now back in training to prepare for this very important game against Commercials.

In the Intermediate Hurling second round against St Marys played on Friday 1st June we lost our first match for some time on a scoreline, Fethard 0-9, St Marys 2-12. The team was: Kieran Treacy, Tommy Gahan, Michael Aherne, Michael Carroll, Jamie McCormack, Michael Ryan 0-4f, Shane Walsh, John P Looby 0-2, Christopher Sheehan, Aiden Fitzgerald 0-2, Stephen O’Donnell, Richard Gorey, Dean Tobin, Miceál Spillane, and Eoin Doyle 0-1. Subs used were: Declan Doyle for Tommy Gahan, Johnny Leahy for Richard Gorey, Adrian Lawrence for Dean Tobin, William O’Brien for Shane Walsh (inj). We will have to win next time out if we want to qualify for the last four.

Best of luck to Aiden Fitzgerald with the county intermediates hurling team against Limerick this coming Sunday.

Thanks to all who supported our County Board Draw and to our promoters who have maintained the numbers participating in the draw at over 400. We had no winner in the May or June Draw held in Templemore last Friday with both draws for the ‘Pathfinders’ going to Borrisokane and Borrisoleigh. Best of luck to all in July.

Our lotto jackpot €5,200 was not won. The numbers drawn were 9, 18, 25 and 30. We had no ‘Match Three’ winner. The winners of €30 draws were: Nicky O’Shea (Tullow), Esther Breen (Barrack St), Miceál Spillane (Tullamaine), Tony Smith (106 Irishtown Clonmel), Tamara Doyle (Woodvale Walk). The €50 Lucky Dip was won by Nicky O’Shea (Tullow).

Fethard Juvenile GAA Club
Under-10 footballers travelled to Clonmel Og on Friday evening of last week for a challenge match and came away with a great win. There were some fantastic displays of football by some of our younger players and we thank Clonmel for their hospitality.

Under-14s played the final in their south championship on Sunday evening of last week against Clonmel Commercials in Monroe and were not fortunate on the night. These young men played their socks off and the final score was by no means a reflection on the way that they played. Congratulations to Commercials on their win. It was really wonderful to see the support that turned out on the day to shout these young men on. The club would like to thank them all for coming and many thanks also to the trainers for the time and effort that they have put into the team.

Their hurling championship begins shortly and we can only wish them the very best of luck

Congratulations to Aaron Conran and Brian Delahunty on representing South Tipp on Saturday last week in the under-14 hurling championship in Thurles and were fortunate on the day beating Mid-Tipp to take home the plate.

Congratulations also to Dylan Fitzgerald on representing South Tipp in the Southern and District Schoolboys Soccer in the DD Cremmins Tournament played in Cooke Park, Tipp Town. They played a two-day tournament and came away the victors on the day. Any queries please phone club secretary Tel: 086 1713502.

Three gold and one silver for Fethard Athletes
A number of athletes from Fethard and Killusty area travelled to Nenagh last weekend to contest the County Athletics Finals and the area were absolutely delighted with the fine performances put by all competitors especially the two little seven-year-old boys Darragh Lynch, Coolmore and Eric Fogarty, Barrack St., who won under-8 60m and 80m finals, and to Adam O’Donnell, Redcity. who won the 1500m. 

The final between Darragh Lynch and club mate Mark Heffernan, who won the silver medal, was so close it was a battle all the way to the line. Mark Heffernan won his heat, Darragh was third in his heat but pulled out all the stops where it really mattered. Eric Fogarty won his heat and his final in fine style beating PJ Tunstall, Moycarkey Borris, and John Carroll, Ballina.

Adam O’Donnell is a very promising long distance runner who is having a wonderful season at the moment and showed his stamina winning from Kieran Purcell Gortnahoe and John Crowe Tipperary Town. Our two qualifiers ran very well. Jack Gleeson, Coolmore, won his heat and finished 2nd in the semifinal, Luke Grant was  2nd in his heat and 2nd in the semifinal, beaten by Eoin Hoctor, Clonmel, who won the gold medal. The lads were all part of the 100m final which had to be run twice which is very hard on finalists.  Kate Quigley and Hannah Tobin were 2nd and 3rd in their heats of under-12 100m.  Aine Phelan ran exceptionally well.

As always in a very competitive event, our neighbours out in Ballyvaden, both won bronze for Killenaule Moyglass area. Hannah Trehy was 3rd in under-16 high jump, her sister Róisín was 3rd in under-14 long jump.  Both girls are members of Fethard Athletic Club.

Darragh, Eric and Adam will now represent Tipperary at the HSE Community Games National Final, which will take place in Mosney on the weekend of 24 to 26th of August.

We would encourage any competitors who are not already members of Fethard Athletic Club to please join the club now as coaching will be very beneficial to them.  Contact Fintan Rice at (052) 31670 who trains in the Fethard Community Sportsfield every Monday and Wednesday evening from 6.30 to 7.30 pm.  The three winners are also asked to please hand in photocopy of their birth certificate and a passport type photo to the Community Games Office, Grove Road, immediately.

Fethard Community Sportsfield Draw
The monster draw for funding for further development of Fethard Community Sportsfield took place in the Abymill on Friday night last.  This was an open draw for attractive prize money totalling €20,000.   Legal advisor, Suzanna Manton, welcomed the attendance and wished everybody the very best of luck.  In her address Suzanna outlined current plans for the field, which include provision of proper changing rooms and showers. Proceeds from the draw will go into a fund which will be used in conjunction with an application for a Capital Grant in 2008 from the Dept of Arts, Sport and Tourism.  There was wonderful community spirit and support for this venture.

On behalf of the committee, Suzanna thanked everybody who sold tickets, purchased tickets and assisted in any way.  Several people put in a tremendous effort but special thanks must go to Jimmy O’Sullivan and Paul Kavanagh whose brainchild this was to begin with. Great credit must go to these two gentlemen who co-ordinated the whole operation to such a successful conclusion. Mr and Mrs Magnier, Coolmore, were also complimented on their generosity in providing the field which is being used to full capacity at the moment. Tribute was paid to Mr John Halley for assisting us to cater for the overflow.  Proceeds from the draw are in excess of €75,000 at the moment.  Last but not least thanks to Rev Canon James Power who did the honours of drawing the tickets for the following lucky winners: 

1st prize €10,000 Frances Harrington, Railstown, Fethard. 2nd Prize €5,000 Michael Hayes, Coolmore, Fethard. 3rd Prize €2,500 Anthony Hayes, Burke Street, Fethard.  Five prizes of €500 each went to the following: Lucy, Katie, Harry and Sally Butler, Kilnockin; Fethard Branch of IFA; Ellen Morrissey 12 Barrack Street; Michael Conway 65 St Patricks Place; David Tierney, Ballydoyle, Rosegreen. Congratulations to all the winners.

Visit to High Crosses enjoyed by all
On Saturday 2nd June Fethard Historical Society organised a day tour with Pat Looby, visiting the high crosses on the Tipperary /Kilkenny borders, which included Ahenny, Kilkieran, Killamery and Kilree. The group also went to admire the great biblical high crosses of Castledermot and Moone.

The group visited the cross at Moone, which depicts the twelve apostles. Carved from granite, it stands over seventeen foot high, making it the second tallest high cross in the country.

When the group stopped at Ahenny they were greeted by Councillor John Fahy and a group of proud local residents, as well they might be. The crosses at Ahenny are particularly impressive in their beautiful graveyard setting. Leo Cody, a local resident, produced one of the best surprises of the day, a plaster cast of a panel from the north cross at Ahenny. The cast was made in 1909 by an Italian man who stayed with Leo's grand-aunt while studying the crosses.

The Historical Society members were delighted with the turnout and everyone enjoyed a most interesting day.

Fethard Scout Notes
Better late than never! We’ve had a busy two months in Fethard Scouts. Belated congratulations to Gerry Horan and Brian Delahunty who won the under-14 team event in the county orienteering on March 25th, which was held in Cahir.

Next up was the county hike on 28th April, which celebrated 100 years of scouting. The hike was well attended (200 plus) and took in the cross overlooking Clonmel and Carey’s Castle.

All the while, preparations and training were taking place for the County Shield, which took place in Mellary from the 4th to 6th May. No trophy this time out, but the weekend was enjoyed by the scouts that attended.

This brings us up to date with our hike last weekend taking in two of the lakes in the Galtees as well as the summit of Galtymore. This fantastic hike was enjoyed by all. The troop is now looking forward to Camp ‘07 which will be held in Fethard-on-Sea this year. Fingers crossed for good weather!

Successful Race Night
The Board of Management and the Parents Association of St. Patrick’s Boys School combined forces to organise a fundraising race night in McCarthy’s Hotel on Saturday 19th May.

The results were as follows:

Race 1, sponsored by Carroll Picture Framing, Meagher’s Garage, South East Scaffolding and WG Prout Plumbing was won by Michael O’Riordan’s ‘OR Ironworks’.

Race 2, sponsored by Centra,, Allen Meats and A&B Tynan was won by ‘Town & County’ jointly owned by Susan Archdeacon, Conor O’Donnell and A.B. Ryan.

Race 3, sponsored by AIB, Wallace Coaches, Dawn Foods and Clonmel Glass & Mirrors, saw ‘Ballydine Star’ beat its opposition for K. Doherty.

Race 4, sponsored by Coolmoyne Couriers, Treacy Stables, The Lantern and McCarthy’s Hotel, brought joy to the Hayde family when ‘Three Ms’ won convincingly.

Race 5, sponsored by O’Sullivan’s Pharmacy, John Pollard Ltd., Manton Solicitors and Fethard Electrical Wholesalers, resulted in a dead heat between ‘Hally’s Comet’ owned by John Hally and ‘Chancing my Arm’ owned by Frank O’Donovan.

Race 6, sponsored by Killerk Foaling Management, Fergal Murray Car Sales, Premier Concrete and Clonmel Oil, saw ‘Monty’s Biscuit’ lead the field home to the delight of the Manton family.

Race 7, sponsored by O’Brien’s Auto Repairs, Colm Hackett, Sue Ann O’Donnell and Larry O’Keeffe’s Furniture, ‘Kaiser’s Revenge’ confounded his critics by winning the silverware for his owner Helena Delany.

Race 8, sponsored by Kilnockin Construction, Dr. Owens, Cleanrite and Clonmel Glass & Mirrors, was won by Caroline Brastock’s ‘Snowy’, undeterred by the hard ground and high temperature.

Race 9, sponsored by Manton’s Launderette, Dr Condon and Miceál Maher Construction, proved that ‘Molly Malone’, owned by Anita Maguire, was streets ahead of her rivals in Saturday’s race.

Race 10, the auction race, was sponsored by Fethard Juvenile Rugby Club, Ward’s Garage and Hayes’ Bookmakers, was won by ‘Classroom Devil’ purchased by A. Purcell.

The committee wish to thank sincerely those who donated items for auction. Artist Peter Curling donated a print, ‘Early Morning in Cheltenham’, which was kindly framed by Carroll’s Framing. Rugby memorabilia proved very popular among our bidders. Pat Ryan donated green fees for Cahir Park Golf Course. ‘War of Attrition’ made his ‘guest’ appearance in the form of a signed photograph donated by trainer Michael ‘Mouse’ Morris.

We greatly appreciated the donations received from businesses and supporters. Thank you also to the pupils’ families who bought horses and attended our race night, making it a very successful social evening.

Voting clarification
We are happy to report that some concerned reader has taken the bother to help us to understand some of the voting difficulties that had arisen locally in this year's election:

"I read the submission about the problems with the polling station in Fethard and can confirm that this was mirrored across the country. I would just like to clarify the situation with other EU voters though.

   * Irish citizens may vote at every election and referendum;

    * British citizens may vote at Dáil elections, European elections and local elections;

    * Other European Union (EU) citizens may vote at European and local elections

    * Non-EU citizens may vote at local elections only.

It would seem illogical that a person from one EU country (i.e. UK) would be entitled to vote but that someone from another (e.g. Finland) would not. So to clarify that the Irish resident who is not an Irish citizen but is from another EU country other than the UK would not have been entitled to vote this time around but will be entitled to vote in the 2009 local and European elections."