Heraldic Walking Tour
Gerard Crotty will give a heraldic talk/walk on Fethard’s Coats of Arms on Sunday August 26th.  The talk will begin outside the Town Hall at 12pm and will proceed to Holy Trinity Church and the Augustinian Abbey.  Fethard has an abundance of interesting Coats of Arms and Gerard is working to produce an illustrated booklet on the subject to be published by the Historical Society later in the year.  Gerard has already visited Fethard on several occasions and whenever he spoke he enthralled his audiences with his enthusiasm for his subject and his depth of knowledge.  This is one of the many events planned for Walled Towns Day on Sunday 26th August.

Community Games
Fethard and Killusty Community Games area have the largest number of competitors and officials in the county travelling to the national finals of the HSE Community Games.  Our two artists are Roisin McDonnell, Ard Alainn, and Laura Rice, Everardsgrange. Athletes are Eric Fogarty, Barrack St., Darragh Lynch, Coolmore, and Adam O Donnell, Redcity.  Judo competitors are Padraig O’Shea, The Valley and Gary Bradshaw, The Green.  Girls Volleyball Team: Kelly Fox, Jean Anglim, Jane Kenny, Fiona Crotty, Grainne Horan, Kelly Fogarty, Aisha Tobin, Sarah O’Meara and Kelly Coady.  Boys Volleyball Team: Garreth Lawrence, Dean Sharpe, Darren Thompson, Damien Morrissey, Andrew Maher and Tony Myler.  Damien Byrne, Manager, Fiona Ryan, Asst Manager, Joe Keane, Co. Security Manager, Aobh O’Shea, Presentation Girl and Helena O’Shea and Patricia Bradshaw, National Judo Officials.  Programme of events for both events may be had from the community games office, Grove Road or may be downloaded from the website www.communitygames.ie.  We would like to take this opportunity to wish the very best of luck to all our competitors.  Bus will leave the GAA Park on Friday morning at 11am and will arrive home on Sunday night. 

The late Mick Aherne
The death occurred on Friday August 10th of Mick Aherne, Prospect, Fethard.  A stalwart of community life in Fethard for many years, Mick gave a substantial and notable contribution to a variety of activities in his adopted home.  Prior to being removed to Fethard Parish Church, on Sunday evening, his remains reposed in Fethard Ballroom, a place so special to Mick.  The unprecedented numbers who turned up to pay their respects bore testament to the high regard in which he was held.  Interment took place in Calvary Cemetery following Requiem Mass on Monday.  Sincere sympathy is extended to his wife Monica, sons P.J., Gerry and Michael, family, extended family and friends.  May he Rest in Peace. 

Two Continents, One Gospel: On-going Augustinian Mission Appeal
Two years ago, following a pastoral visit to Ecuador, Fr. Gerry Horan made an appeal on behalf of his Irish Augustinian colleagues working there.  Your generosity in July ’05 was outstanding and contributed greatly towards the daily provision of food for children who might otherwise remain malnourished.  The Golf Classic in 2005 enabled the Augustinians to fund a nutritious school meal project.  The Friends of The Abbey are hoping that our up-coming Golf Classic will secure the continuation of these school meals for a few years to come.

Fr. Gerry’s travels in the past two years have also taken him to Kenya, where the Irish Augustinians are making heroic efforts to better the situation of the local people.  The organising committee are hopeful that the Augustinian parish of Baba Doga will also benefit from this year’s fund raising Golf Classic and raffle.  To quote Fr. Gerry, “My abiding memory of both Ecuador and Kenya is the poor standard of living and the big difference which even a modest financial contribution can make.  Every cent collected two years ago went directly to our men in the field, something which will apply again on this occasion”.

The Friends of the Abbey are currently organising a Golf Classic at Slievenamon Golf Course on Friday 31st August 2007.  Format – a three-ball scramble.  Entry fee €75 per team.  For further information and entry forms, please contact any member of the committee:  Brendan Kenny, Paddy Broderick, Bernard Walsh, Agnes T. Evans, Kitty Delany and Mary Healy.  

Epsom / Fethard Cycle
We have had contact from Pete Townsend who will set off from Epsom in Surrey, England on the 27th August and over the course of the following five days will cycle to Fethard, arriving on 1st September.  This cycle is in aid of two charities: The Jack and Jill Foundation and Warspite Sea Scouts.  A fundraising party is planned for the The Well, Burke Street, to mark Pete’s arrival in Fethard.  More information is available on www.itsalongwaytotipperary.blogspot.com. 

Fethard & Killusty Community Lotto Results
The numbers drawn on Wednesday 8th August were: 1, 14, 18 and 22. There was no Jackpot winners and no Match 3 winners. Three tickets were drawn to win €50 each:

Helen Grace, Barrack Street, Fethard;
Damien Trehy, The Green, Fethard and
John Slattery, Barrettstown, Fethard.

The €50 Luck Dip winners were:

Brendan Breen, Fethard;
Thomas Keating, Cloneen and
David Mackey, 2 Friars Field, Fethard. 

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

Tipperary Show Working Hunter League
The Tipperary Show Working Hunter League results were finalised at Tipperary Show last week.  The League commenced with Clonmel Show on the 1st July, continued with Killusty Show on the 7th and the Tipperary IPS Show at Ballylanigan, Mullinahone on the 8th August.  In hindsight it was very fortunate that all these shows were able to go ahead given the very inclement weather which forced cancellations all over the country, Tullamore being only the latest victim.  After all the calculations were carried out the rugs, which carry the Tipperary Shows League logo, will be going to the winners as follows: 133cms, Patricia Burke's Golden Grove Maurice; 143cms, Lady N. Colthurst's Rylane Kelly.  153 cms, Ginny Hutton's Murphy Himself and Intermediate, Tom McGuinness' Gentleman Jimmy.  It is interesting to note that both Rylane Kelly and Murphy Himself are purebred Connemara ponies and in both cases these ponies won points at three of the four shows.

Fethard GAA News
Intermediate Hurlers fixture versus Kilsheelan was postponed as a mark of respect to our former Club Chairman, Michael Aherne, Prospect, who passed to his eternal resting place over the weekend.  We extend our deepest sympathy to his family at this time.  Go ndeana Dia trocaire ar a anam. 

Intermediate Hurling resumes on this Sunday, 19th August, in Monroe when we play Ballybacon-Grange at 7pm.  South Senior Hurling Final, Killenaule v Ballingarry takes place on this Sunday 19th in Fethard at 3.30pm.  A very large crowd is expected so we request your support and assistance on the day.  Please contact our Chairman, Ml. O’Dwyer, or any club member if you are available to assist. 

Minor B Hurlers had a great victory in the South Semi-final on Friday last, played in Kilsheelan, on a score-line Fethard 5-14, Carrick Davins 1-1.  Our young boys gave a first class display of all that is good about the game of hurling.  The future looks very bright indeed on this positive note and the hope of a South Title on Friday 24th August v. Carrick Swans in Kilsheelan at 6.30pm.  Team: JP McGrath, Gavin Fitzgerald, James Kelly, Kieran O’Connell, Tom O’Connell, Eoin O’Connell, Adrian Lawerence, Dean Tobin (0-4f), James O’Keeffe, Alan O’Connor (1-5), Declan Doyle (1-1), Aaron O’Donovan (0-1), Matthew Fitzgerald, Christopher Sheehan (1-3), Kieran Ryan (1-0).  Subs: Cathal Gorey (1-0), Joe Fogarty and Michael Fitzgerald. 

Minor Football B South Semi-final takes place this Saturday, August 18th, in Kilsheelan at 5.30pm. 

Under 21 B Hurlers played on Wednesday, 8th August, in Clonmel.  After a good first half a lack of the field took its toll in the second half on a score-line Fethard 2-5, Ballybacon-Grange 2-12.  This gives us a second chance when we play Cahir on Sunday 26th August in Ned Hall Park at 6.30pm. Team:  Daragh Corbett, Mike Kelly, Declan Doyle, James Kelly, Paul Kenrick, William O’Brien, Adrian Lawerence, Peter Gough, John Leahy, Dean Tobin (0-4f), Richard Gorey, Alan O’Connor (0-1), Michael Fleming, Edmond Sheehan (1-0), Christopher Sheehan.  Subs: Liam Ryan, Glen O’Meara (1-0) and Tom Gilpin.

Junior B Hurlers have no further participation in the South Championship. 

Lotto Jackpot, €6200, was not won.  Numbers drawn were 13, 14, 17 and 20.  There was one match three, €150, won by Rita Doyle, Woodvale Walk.  €50 ‘Lucky Dip’ was won by Philly Kenny, The Green.  We would like to thank Harrington Developments for sponsoring the Tickets.  

Thank You from The Irish Pilgrimage Trust
Sincere thanks from The Irish Pilgrimage Trust to the very generous people of Fethard & Killusty for the wonderful support given at the recent Church Gate Collection at which €878.46 was collected.  The Trust takes young people, with special needs, to Lourdes at Easter every year.  Quite a number of young people from the area have travelled with the Trust.  Application forms are now available for future trips.  Would you like to nominate a young person?  If so, contact Sr. Betty at Presentation Convent or phone Marie-Therese at 051 646074.