CHRISTMAS HAT PARTY

Photographed at the Christmas Hat Party held at the Bridge Bar Fethard in aid of the CRC Santa Bear Appeal are L to R: Davy and Alice Tobin, Jane O'Dwyer and T.J. Tobin.

The total amount collected between the Hat Party and the Christmas Carol Singing was €764 which was presented to the Central Remedial Clinic on Monday 6th January. The CRC have expressed their thanks and appreciation to all who helped and supported this years event and also for our annual ongoing support for their Santa Bear Appeal.
The Central Remedial Clinic is a national centre for the care, treatment and development of children and adults with physical and multiple disabilities - over 4,000 children and adults attend the CRC free of charge each year. Although largely funded by the State, the CRC has a significant shortfall of £1.5 million annually which must be made up through voluntary donations and fundraising. Your support is vital, without it the Central Remedial Clinic would not be able to deliver such high standards of service.

HUNTING NEWS
The death has occurred of Mr Andrew ‘Sonny’ Goldsboro, Ballingarry, a life long follower and committee member of Ballylusky White Heather harriers. Huntsman of the pack, Donnie Slattery, blew the plaintive ‘Going Home’ call on the hunting horn at Sonny’s interment as a last farewell from his hunting contemporaries. Last Sunday’s meet was cancelled as a mark of respect.
The Ballylusky White Heathers harriers meet next Sunday, January 12th at Ballylusky, on Sunday 19th at Cappagh Cross, and on Sunday January 26th at Loughcopple.

NOT SO HAPPY ANNIVERSARY
This year 2003 marks the 50th anniversary of the introduction into Ireland of the awful rabbit disease myxomatosis, a highly infectious disease caused by a virus, leading to swelling of the mucous membranes and the formation of tumors similar to myxomas. For ten years at least the catching of rabbits by snare, trap, ferreting or whatever was widely followed by many young and not so young men in rural Ireland. A never-ending demand for rabbits in England saw many leave employment and go rabbit catching full-time. Indeed, Jimmy Sheehan from Killusty wrote a song on the subject, the opening lines were, “Three and nine for a rabbit, fifteen bob for four, no wonder the bunnies are being killed by the score.” Fifteen bob or shillings was a week’s wages for a man at that time.
Then came the Myxomatosis! Within a couple of years the rabbit population was almost wiped out, at least ninety percent of the total rabbit population were exterminated. They were regarded at that time as an agricultural plague. However, nature will not be mastered or tamed and within five or six years the few remaining bunnies built up immunity to the virus and slowly but surely made a comeback and are now almost as plentiful as ever. The demand, however, never did and Carr of Mallow in the seventies was the last rabbit exporter to visit the area buying rabbits. In better times, two local exporters of rabbits were Johnny Dempsey of Kilsheelan and Donald Aird, The Green, Fethard, who both travelled far and wide buying rabbits. Travelling musician, singer songwriter, ‘Pecker’ Dunne, wrote a monologue on myxomatosis that he performed regularly at his gigs, it was entitled ‘The Little Rabbit’ and detailed the horrific death that the virus caused.
Yes the myxomatosis is gone, the rabbits are back, and the agricultural problems their eradication was going to solve still remain. This week alone, the farming community felt obliged to stage a tractor parade protest to Leinster House to highlight their plight. The badgers are next on the list for extermination. Spreading Bovine T.B. is their problem. No doubt when they are gone, the problem will still be there and the loss added on to the billions already spent on the scheme. Yes indeed, nature will never be mastered or tamed!

FETHARD RUGBY CLUB
The Fethard rugby teams and supporters travelled to Waterpark last Sunday where the under-8s played very well in their match. It was a quick paced match in which it was apparent that the key to their success was their teamwork. In the 1st half we were leading 2-1 with an early try from Eoin Walsh and the later one from James Holohan. In the second half with stronger opponents, Waterpark scored, but that was to be their last with Gregory Henry and Philip Maher scoring two tries and some good runs from Colin Meagher. The final score was a 4-2 victory. The team was: Gavin Delaney, Eoin Walsh, James Holohan, Keith Bergin, Jack Devaney, Luke Keating, Colin Meagher, Philip Maher, Steven Tierney and Gregory Henry. In the second match they all played well and won 2-0 with tries coming from Philip Maher, Gregory Henry and Stephen Tierney.
The u-10 team was: Robert Maher, Matt O’Sullivan, Conor Kavanagh, Jack O’Connell, Joseph O’Brien, David Bergin, Kevin Hayes, Daniel Hickey, Paul Tierney and Andrew Kelly. At half time Fethard were winning 5-2. In the second half Waterpark came back much stronger and with a minute to go it was 6-5 to Waterpark but just before the whistle was blown Daniel Hickey scored a try to leave the score tied at 6 all. Matt O’Sullivan, Joseph O’Brien and especially Kevin Hayes all played very well.
The u-12s had a tough match. The team was Dave Gorey, Sam Manton, James Kelly, Shane Kavanagh, Paul Mackey, Colm Blackmore, Joe Kelly, Mike O’Hagan and J. P. McGrath. It was an enjoyable skilful match to observe with all the players playing well. Paul Mackey played very well. There was a lack of team work which can only be improved by regular training sessions. Training continues as usual on Saturday at 11am and there will be a blitz held in Cashel on Sunday.

COMMUNITY COUNCIL
The next meeting of Fethard & Killusty Community Council will take place on Tuesday 21st January at 8.30pm in the Tirry Community Centre.

BONNY BABY
Justin Nelson, in his ‘Down Memory Lane’ series of photographs each week in The Nationalist, has asked for identification of the mother and baby photographs taken at a baby show some forty years ago in Powerstown Park Clonmel. One of the photographs in last week’s edition is of Mrs Kitty Ahearne, Main Street, and her son Frank. Mrs Ahearn remembers the occasion well and she says her prize was a plentiful supply of Cow & Gate baby food. The prize certainly did not do Frank any harm as he is some baby now standing about 6 feet 2 inches and weighing around 14 and half stone.

WEDDING
The wedding took place at Killusty Church on St. Stephen’s day of Sarah, daughter of Mr Louis and Mrs Mary Coen, Killusty, to Mr Tony Shelly, Killenaule.

SOLVE THIS ONE!
The problems we are asked to solve through this column are certainly many and varied. This one is to settle a wager. Who was captain of the Killenaule senior hurling team, winners of the South Tipperary S.H. Championship in 1963. Our guess is Killenaule and Tipperary hurler Tom Ryan. Perhaps if the great man himself reads this he might get in touch.

FETHARD YOUTH CLUB
Fethard Youth Club held their annual Table Quiz in Joe Ahearns Pub and would like to thank those who made it such a roaring success, most sincerely. A huge thank you to Miceál McCormack who was our quizmaster for the night. Even Anne Robinson would have been impressed, but perhaps, by no means as lenient. A big thank you to Tom McCormack for giving us a run for our money in the questions he put together for us on the night. We would also like to thank those parents who actually turned up to support this worthy cause. Thanks must also go to Joe Ahearn for allowing us, yet again to use his premises

TIPPERARIANA BOOK FAIR
Fethard Historical Society will hold their annual Tipperariana Book Fair in Fethard Ballroom on Sunday 9th February from 2pm to 6pm. The society are also interested in receiving any unwanted books that you may have, please contact any of the committee who will arrange to have them collected and sold at the Historical Society’s second-hand book stall (proceeds to Historical Society). If you wish to have your own stall, please contact Terry Cunningham, Grangebeg, Fethard, Tel: 052 23402, to book a stall.

FRANKIE RAFFERTY
The death has occurred in London over the Christmas period of Frankie Rafferty. The late Frankie Rafferty came as a very young teenager as an apprentice jockey to Major Vigors in the 40s. A most popular local personality, having ridden a few winners he emigrated to England and drifted out of racing. He never lost his love for Fethard and visited periodically on his holidays to renew old acquaintances. His wish, through his friend Nellie Shine-Heffernan, was to be buried in Fethard. His wish will be carried out in the near future. Sympathy is extended to his wife and family.

TOM O’HALLORAN
Sincere sympathy is extended to the O’Halloran family. Kylenagranagh, Cloneen, on the death of Tom O’Halloran recently in Listowel. A Department of Agriculture official, the late Tom O’Halloran was a past-pupil of Fethard Patrician Brothers Secondary School. He was actually one of the original 37 pupils in the first secondary school for boys in Fethard, founded on 1st September 1941 at the request of Most Rev. Dr. Harty, Archbishop of Cashel and Rev. Canon Ryan P.P. The first teachers included Bro. Albert (principal), Bro Mark Lee and Bro Colman Burke, who replaced Bro Liguori Commins after a short period. Tom on his visits home regularly called to meet some of his old school mates by whom he will be greatly missed.

ST VINCENT DE PAUL
Fethard St. Vincent de Paul conference wish to thank all who subscribed to their Christmas Collection. The amount collected was a new record of €2,259.68 and we look on this staggering amount as your approval and endorsement of our work. Anybody in need of our help is asked to please contact any conference member.

HAPPY NEW YEAR

Fethard celebrated the New Year in great style and this year we visited Lonergan's Bar to take some photographs.

FETHARD GAA CLUB
On Sunday 29th December, we held our Annual General Meeting in the Abymill Theatre, Fethard. Our president Fr Tom Breen P.P. opened the meeting with prayers for our Gaels who departed this life in 2002, with particular mention of Cly Mullins and Mick Quinlan. The Secretary presented a comprehensive twenty-one page report on the years events with special mention of the unique record of winning three county under 21 A football titles in a row, also our intermediate hurling and senior football south titles, and our under 21 A football achievement of four south titles in a row.
The officers for 2003 are as follows: Chairman, Mick Aherne; Secretary / Pro / Insurance, Noel Byrne; Treasurer, Nicky O’Shea; Joint Vice Chairman, John Hurley and Dick Fitzgerald; Assistant Sec, Caroline Sheehan (Sec Juvenile Club); Assistant Treasurer, Mary Godfrey; Field Development Officer, Denis O’Meara; Youth Officer, Denis Burke; Coaching Officer, Tommy Sheehan; Oifig Na Gaeilge, Ailish O Siochain; Scór Officer, Martha Sheehan; County Board Delegate, Gus Fitzgerald; Joint South Board Delegates, Noel Byrne and Mick Aherne; County Football Board Delegate, Tommy Gahan. The following, along with the officers, make up the committee: Austy Godfrey, Jim Williams, M.C. Maher, Jimmy O’Shea, P. J. Aherne and Pat O’Donnell. The chairman of the Juvenile Club is also a member of the committee.
Our annual dinner dance will take place on Saturday 1st March. Tickets can be booked from any officer of the club and please book early to avoid disappointment. The presentation of four cups, team medals plus other presentations will take place on the night.

RUGBY CLUB
Fethard travelled to Clanwilliam in Tipperary on Saturday last. The u-8s team played well in a tough and physical game. Fethard had a slow start with Clanwilliam getting a try in the first minute and later another try but hope wasn’t lost and at the end of the first half Fethard came back with a try from Keith Bergin. In the second half it was a quick paced game with an early try from both teams. A delighted Gavin Delaney scored this. Eoin Walsh and James Holohan defended well and near the end of the game Shane Power scored a try to level the teams 3 all. The team was Jonathan Yates, Eoin Walsh, Shane Power (1), Jack Devaney, Keith Bergin (1), Cian O’Connell, James Mackey, James Holohan, Gavin Delaney (1), Luke Keating and Thomas Anglim.
The u-10 team was Matt Sullivan, Conor Kavanagh, Jack O’Connell, William Power, Robert Maher, Andrew Yates, Paul Mackey, Joseph O’Brien, David Bergin and Luke Mulcahy. They all played and tackled well in this match. Joseph O’Brien and Luke Mulcahy played very well. Fethard drew with Clanwilliam 4-4. The try scores came from William Power (2), Conor Kavanagh (I) and Andrew Yates (1).
The u-13s had another tough game against Clanwilliam in which they played very well. They played three ten-minute sides in which Fethard finished level pegging with Clanwilliam with a score of 6-6. The team was Dave Gorey, Sam Manton, Jack O’Sullivan, Gavin Yates, James Kelly, Shane Kavanagh, David Kelly, J.P. O’Donovan and Joe Kelly. Tries came from Dave Gorey (1), Gavin Yates (1). Jack O’Sullivan (2) and J.P. O’Donovan (2).

FETHARD YOUTH CLUB
Fethard Youth Club recently held their annual Table Quiz and Church Gate Collection and would like to thank people for their generosity, especially the older generation of our town who gave to this great cause very generously.
No re-opening date has yet been set but plans are underway for our New Years Party, we will inform our members when we will re-open. New leaders are urgently required and if you have 2 hours to spare any Saturday night please come down to the Ballroom from 7.10pm to 9.10pm, we would be delighted to see you there.

THIS WEEK'S - 'PIC OF THE PAST'
If you have an old photograph of interest to our readers why not email it to us and we will include it on next week's 'Pic of the Past'

This is one of many old Fethard photographs posted by Mick Flynn (Bradford). Mick is trying to identify the people in these photographs and would appreciate some help.

DIED RECENTLY
The death has occurred on December 22nd, in Bansha Nursing Home, of Mr Jimmy Butler, formerly of The Green and St. Patrick’s Place. Interment took place at Calvary Cemetery.
The death has occurred in London on December 23rd of Mrs Peggy O’Connor, nee O’Shea of St. Patrick’s Place Fethard. Interment took place in London.

EARLY DINNER
Early risers passing the Convent Bridge on Christmas Eve morning saw that Fethard’s resident otter had partaken of an early Christmas dinner. A fine freshly run salmon of around 12lbs lay dead in the reed bed. The partially eaten fish — the head had been eaten— showed the otter trademark.

HUNTING
With much improved scenting conditions, local packs had very successful hunting over the Christmas period. The Tipps had an excellent day following their traditional Stephen’s Day meet at Lismolin, as had the Ballylusky White Heather harriers from their meet at Drangan. The Ballylusky White Heather Harriers meet on Sunday next, January 5th, at 12 noon.

DEATH OF NOTED FOOTBALLER
The death has occurred on December 23rd of Cly Mullins, Mockler’s Terrace, Fethard. The late Cly Mullins was regarded by all who saw him play, as one of Fethard’s best footballers of all time. The late Gus McCarthy when asked who he considered to be Fethard’s best player replied, “That is almost an impossible question to answer, but of this I have no doubt, for a sheer football brain, Cly Mullins is the best that ever pulled a blue jersey over his head”.
Cly gave almost twenty years service to the Fethard senior football team. He won the respect on not alone his fellow Fethard team mates, but also of his contemporary opponents on the field from Old Bridge, Commercials, Loughmore, St. Patrick’s, Kilsheelan, Ardfinnan to mention just some of the clubs he played against. His dedication to Fethard may be gauged by his remark on receiving the Fethard GAA ‘Player of the Past’ award. This was the only occasion when Cly was ever heard to say a few or indeed any words in public. He said, “When I first received a Fethard senior football jersey as a teenager, I made up my mind that it was going to take a great man to take it off me.”
A sportsman supreme, he hardly ever committed a deliberate foul. It may come as a surprise to many to learn that Cly’s idol and model as a boy was Dick Allen. He certainly could not have a better one for sportsmanship and fair play. While football was Cly’s first love he was an all round sportsman, all games came easy to him and good judges have stated that had he had the same interest in hurling as he had in football, he was definitely senior county team material. Cly also excelled at badminton, never beaten during a long career in a singles game. He was Tipperary’s first Munster badminton championship winner in 1952. An outstanding tennis player, he was a member of the great Fethard tennis teams of the 1950s which could take on and beat some of the best teams in Munster.
When he retired from active games, he took up fishing. Following a few lessons from John Sayers he quickly mastered the art of dry fly fishing and was soon a regular winner in club competitions.
Cly played all games, including the game of life, strictly by the rules. Deeply religious, he attended 8 o’clock Mass daily in the Abbey Church. He was never known to speak an ill word of anyone and had not much regard for anyone who did so. Sixty years in the employment of J.F. O’Sullivan & Co. Ltd, he worked for three generations of Fethard’s well-known pharmaceutical family, during which, up to his present illness patiently borne, he never missed a day at work.
Grantland Rice, the doyen of American sports writers, wrote some 80 years, “When the great recorder comes to mark against your name, he marks not if you won or lost, but how you played the game.”
No doubt when the great recorder came to write against the name of Cly Mullins he will mark as played fairly and squarely on the field and off, and tell him to enter the narrow gate to enjoy the eternal reward his exemplary life merits. His coffin was adorned with club and county colours, and a badminton racquet as a tribute to his prowess on the badminton court. Interment took place at Calvary Cemetery. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dilis.

SIMPLY THE BEST
When you have got the best you cannot get better was certainly true of the Mary Coughlan concert in the Abymill Theatre before Christmas. Ms Coughlan certainly proved, if proof was required, that she deserves her title as ‘best lady singer of the blues’. Her rendering of such all time favourites as ‘Rough Rain’, ‘Heartbreak Hotel’, ‘Walking away from me’ and many others were positively brilliant. Mary’s accompanist, James Delaney, one of the great musical families — the Delaney family of the Slate Quarries — was an outstanding performer in his own right. He received several bursts of prolonged spontaneous applause for his brilliant playing on the keyboards.
Mary Coughlan’s supporting artiste, local girl Jewel Burke accompanied by Seamus Hayes, opened a few eyes and won a number of new fans following her performance. Jewel in her programme sang three songs she had composed herself and the audience were loud in their praise of her rendering with such feeling of the perennial Christmas favourite, ‘O Holy Night’.
Mary, in thanking her wonderful audience with which she built up a wonderful rapport from her very first number, expressed the wish that the Abymill management would have her back again. If the wonderful reception she received is anything to go by, that wish should be granted. Jewel Burke must also be a must on any return programme. Perhaps next time she may be given a little longer on stage.