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Tuesday 18th March 2003

Previous Week's News - Forward Week's News
Gortnahoe & Glengoole - Killenaule - Mullinahone - Ballingarry


STAC ART WINNERS

Jean Hayden (centre), representing South Tipperary Anti-Incinerator Campaign, presenting prize to the overall winner in their recent art competition. The overall winner was Sara Flynn, a pupil of Fethard Presentation Patrician Secondary School. On presenting the prizes at Fethard school, Ms Hayden complimented the school on their high standard of entries as they also had three other prize winners in the competition. L to R: Christopher Thompson (3rd Under 15s), Sara Flynn (overall competition winner), Jean Hayden (STAC), Ciara Condon who accepted first prize under-15 on behalf of her sister Sara, and Ms Marian Gilpin (vice-principal). The third prizewinner from the school was Danielle Lawrence who came second under 18.

OFFER FOR FETHARD RUGBY CLUB
Paul Looby asked to pass this message on to the members of Fethard Rugby Club:

When my Dad was home recently, he brought some London Irish goodies. The Fethard club expressed a wish to link up with London Irish. I have been advised by John Flynn (Head of Rugby for the Amateur Club) that the U-12's are on tour in Dublin over Easter and would gladly meet up either with some of the officials from the Fethard Club or even to play a game whilst on tour. The same could be reciprocated on any trip to London by the Fethard club. John's email address is johnf@blackstone.freeserve.co.uk and I have sent him a copy of this email. Perhaps you could pass this on to the relevant person(s) within the Fethard club.

SR PHILOMENA O’BRIEN HONOURED

Anne Gallagher from Patchogue, New York, was chairperson for the St Patricks Day Dinner Dance in support of the St Ursula Retreat Center on Saturday, March 1st. At the dance, Sr. Philomena O'Brien (formerly from The Green Fethard) was honoured and joined by many of her past pupils from Howard Beach where she taught them during the late 1940s / early 1950s. They still have wonderful memories of their days in Our Lady of Grace School in Howard Beach and all could see how beloved she still is to them. Congratulations Sr. Philomena from all in Fethard!

HUNTING NEWS
The Tipperary Foxhounds brought their 2002/03 season to a close with a childrens’ meet at Kilcooley. Children of all ages enjoyed an excellent afternoons hunting in the vast woodlands of Kilcooley Estate. The quarry being hunted was sometimes in doubt, but Pat is quite adamant his hounds are true to fox and will not hunt anything else.

Huntsman Pat O’Brien in his first official season as huntsman has provided excellent sport throughout the season under very difficult scenting conditions. Pat O’Brien is acknowledged in Irish hunting circles as one of the greatest authority on hound pedigrees and hound breeding. Pat and his whipper-in, James O’Donnell, wish to extend their personal thanks and appreciation to all farmers and landowners over whose land they hunted during the season for their cooperation.

The Ballylusky White Heather Harriers hold their traditional end of season meet on St. Patrick’s Day in Drangan at 12noon. The committee wish to thank all landowners over whose land they hunted during the season.

YOUTHS SOCCER TABLE QUIZ
A Table Quiz will be held in Lonergans Pub at 9pm on Tuesday 18th March in aid of Killusty Youths Soccer Club forthcoming trip to Peterborough in May. Your support for this cause is asked by entering a team.

JUVENILE FOOTBALL TRAINING
Juvenile football training has now begun for under/12's and under/10's and under/8's at 2pm on Saturday, 15th March 2003 in the GAA Field. We look forward to seeing all our past members and especially welcome any new members that may wish to join.

Under/16 football training continues on Wednesday evenings at 6pm in the GAA Field.

Under/14 football training continues on Friday evenings at 6pm in the GAA Field.

All new members are welcome to come along to any of these training sessions.

FETHARD CUB SCOUT NEWS

On Saturday last 8th March, 11 cub scouts and two leaders braved the elements and hiked to Grove Wood, in preparation for investiture. The morning's activities of comprised of shelter building, which helped in working up an appetite for a lunch of sausages and bacon cooked on the traditional scout fire, before heading home.

Our weekly meeting have now moved to Friday nights from 6pm to 7.30pm in the Ballroom for anyone who is interested in joining.

FETHARD & KILLUSTY COMMUNITY LOTTO
The numbers drawn in the Fethard and Killusty Community Lotto on Tuesday 11th March were: 7, 15, 27 and 29. There was no Jackpot Winner and no 'Match 3' winner. Five 'Lucky Dips' were drawn and the following win €30 each:
Breda Ryan, Coolmoyne Cross, Fethard
Sharon O'Donovan, 20 Roaring Springs, Clonmel.
Audrey Devitt, Strylea, Fethard
Philly Kenny, Hillview, Fethard
Paddy McCormack, Kilnockin, Fethard

The three ‘Lucky Dip’ winners of €50 were:
Therese Barrett, The Green, Fethard
Carol Kenny, The Green, Fethard
Alice Moloney, Redcity, Fethard

The Jackpot remains at €10,000 and next weeks Jackpot sellers prize is €905.

PASTORAL LETTER
The 2003 Lenten Pastoral Letter from His Grace Most Rev Dr Dermot Clifford, Archbishop of Cashel and Emly, entitled “The Whole of Creation is Groaning . . .” concentrates on the environment. Dr. Clifford, at the outset, extols the beauty of Tipperary and Limerick, which reminds us of the following lines:

Were you ever in sweet Tipperary,
Where the fields are so sunny and green,
Where Slievenamon and the Galtees
Look down with a proudly mien.
‘Tis there you will see more beauty,
Than is on all Irish ground.
God bless you my sweet Tipperary,
For where would your likes be found!

Very many people are very concerned with our environment and its preservation and do all in their power to preserve and improve it, and pass it on to the next generation. The many Tidy Towns committees do trojan work in this regard, and Tipperary areas like Kilsheelan and Terryglass have succeeded in winning the supreme award of Ireland’s Tidiest Town. Local authorities also do their part in providing clean pure drinking water and a clean air environment.

However, others, too many others, are not quiet so particular. One has only to visit the bog road at Liskeveen near Littleton to see the destruction caused by indiscriminate dumping. Obsolete fridges, washing machines, cookers, prams and buggies, beds and bedding, and worse are scattered in abundance. All human life is certainly there!

The lower slopes of Slievenamon have not escaped either. A few clapped out and sometimes burned out motorcars are evident. Who would bother to travel almost two miles up the forest roads to dump household waste and two recently removed deerskins. ‘Sweet Slievenamon, you’re my darling and pride!”, how are you!

What do you do with teenagers who, standing feet from a litterbin, drop-kick their empty plastic bottles on to the middle of Main Street.

Sprays and chemicals of all sorts are in every day use. Fishermen are being confined to nine day per month fishing. Modern technology and boats with up to two-mile trawls have almost left the seas around our coasts as sterile as the once cod rich waters off Newfoundland, where preservation measures were brought in too late.

The American Indians who worship nature, have a saying, “When the last fish is caught, the last tree cut down, and the last river polluted, only then will man realise you can’t eat money!” Perhaps if we are not careful and get our act together, some of you may live to see that they were right!

FETHARD & KILLUSTY MUINTIR COUNCIL
The Muintir Na Tire Annual Church Gate Collection will take place in Fethard next weekend Saturday 15th and Sunday 16th March. Fethard & Killusty Community Council are affiliated to Muintir Na Tire who coordinate Community Councils in Ardfinnan, Cashel, Fethard, Tipperary and Cappawhite.

COMMUNITY COUNCIL MEETING
The next meeting of Fethard & Killusty Community Council will take place on Tuesday 18th March at 8.30pm in the Tirry Community Centre.

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 photograph was taken in the Fethard Arms after Fethard won the 1979 Junior Hurling League South Final. Back L to R: 'Bull’ Lonergan, Mary McCormack, Stephen McCormack, Michael Downes, Bridget Morrissey, Alfie Brett, Davy Morrissey. Front L to R: John Gazely, Michael Keane, Mick Dineen, and Miceál McCormack.

The junior hurlers of Fethard had earlier in the year surrendered their championship crown of 1978 but in this Junior League Final this disappointment was all forgotten. They had a seven points Win over Moyle Rovers but the exchanges were tough and the play over-robust which led to two players getting their walking papers. The result was never in doubt but in Rovers favour they battled all through and were unlucky for at least one goal more. Fethard had the edge in fitness and all-around skill. Michael O’Riordan and John Keane were Fethard’s absentees. Andy Fox emerged top scorer with 2-1 to his credit and was a constant worry to the Rovers backs. He got solid support from Micheál McCormack, Michael Healy and Noel Sharpe with Dick Prendergast, the two Daveys, Morrissey and Fitzgerald were well on top in the backline. Rovers had fine players in M. Looby, G. McGrath, P. Boyle and J. Russell. At the short whistle Fethard had 3-7 to 0-3 for Rovers and when the game ended Rovers had narrowed the gap to 4-7 to 1-9.

The Fethard League title holders were: S. McCormack (goal), Martin Cuddihy, D. Fitzgerald, C. Looby, D. Morrissey, D. Prendergast, P. Kenrick, Phil Byrne, S. O’Gorman, Noel Sharpe, Pat Byrne, Andy Fox, Michael McCormack, M. Healy and Noel Byrne.

FETHARD – RAILSTOWN WEDDING
The wedding took place in Rome on February 14th of Ann Marie, daughter of Mr Denis and Mrs Chrissie O’Meara, Grove Road, to Richard, son of Mr George and Mrs Betty Corcoran, Railstown, Cashel. The happy pair, to whom their many friends will join in extending best wishes, met of Valentines Day, became engaged on Valentines Day in Paris and were married on Valentines Day in Rome.

The death took place of Ann Marie’s grandmother, Mrs Mary Ahearne, Baron Park, Clonmel, on February 20th.

FETHARD GAA CLUB
Last weekend saw the playing season for 2003 begin in earnest when on Saturday 9th March, in Fethard, we played the first round off the Under-21 A Football and on this occasion, the final score was Fethard 0-10 (0-6), to Killenaule 2-4. The team was: Ronan Maher, Ian Kendrick, Diarmuid Burke, Paul Hackett (capt), William Harrington, Glen Burke, Shane Walsh, Jamie McCormack, Owen Doyle, Michael Dillon 0-7 (6 frees), Alan Burke, Darren O’Meara 0-1, John Hanrahan, Brian Coen 0-2, and John Noonan. Subs used were: Ronan Allen, Pat Looby, Emmet Burke, and Shane Aylward.

On this Sunday l6th March, we play Clonmel Commercials in Ardfinnan at 12 noon in the next stage of the competition.

On Sunday 9th March our senior footballers played the first round off the County League in Fethard, resulting in a final score of, Fethard 1-6 (0-2), J. K. Brackens 1-6 (1-5). The team was: Tommy Gahan, Nicky Murphy, Michael Aherne, Philly Blake, Tomás Keane, Cian Maher, Michael Carroll, Kenneth Byrne, P. J. Aherne, Karl Maher 0-1(F), Miceál Spillane, Willie Morrissey 1-0, Conor McCarthy 0-2, Tom Anglim and Alan Phelan. Subs used were, Brian Coen 0-3 and Owen Doyle.

On this Sunday 16th March we play Galtee Rovers in Bansha at 4pm in the second round.

South Tipperary Championships Draws

Senior Football
Fethard v Commercials (preliminary round) winners play Ardfinnan

Intermediate Hurling 1st round
Fethard v Kilsheelan / Kilcash (8 rounds and top 4 reach semifinals)

Junior A Football (Group B) 1st game
Fethard v Commercials (Ballylooby, Newcastle, Cahir,) top 2 x over,

Junior B Football (Group A) 1st game
Fethard v Mullinahone (Kilsheelan, Commercials, Clonmel Og, Newcastle, Carrick Swan). Top 2 x over.

Junior B Hurling (Group B) 1st game
Fethard v Ballybacon Grange ( Fr Sheehys, Ballingarry, Killenaule, St Marys)

Under 21 B Hurling (knockout)
Fethard v Moyle Rovers (9 teams)

Under 21 A Football (losers group) in progress.

Under 18 (Minor) B Football (Group B) 1st game
Fethard Bye (Carrick Swan, Mullinahone, Ballyporeen, Clonmel Og) Top x over.

Our Lotto Jackpot of €7,700 was not won. The numbers drawn were, 6 12, 14 and 17. We had one match three winner of €150, Pat Sheehan (Killusty) Our €50 Lucky Dip went to Phil Breen (Grawn, Ballingarry).

PARENTS’ ASSOCIATION TABLE QUIZ
The Parents Association of the Secondary School, Fethard, will hold their Annual Table Quiz in the Secondary School on Tuesday 25th March at 8.30pm. Proceeds will help sponsor two students as youth helpers with the Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes in June. Your support is appreciated.

A Raffle is also held in conjunction with the Table Quiz. It is customary to have prizes for both the quiz and raffle sponsored.

FETHARD ATHLETIC CLUB

Ballycotton 10K
Over 2000 athletes took part in this ever-popular event which took place last weekend in conditions which were far from conducive to fast running. Pat Heffernan, our sole representative, battled the elements and stomach cramp to finish in 23rd place in a time of 55 minutes 07 seconds. This was the top performance from a Tipperary athlete on the day and it is an indication of this athletes high standards that he was more than a little disappointed with his race.

Special Training Session
The club has organised a training session to focus on technical track events such as long jump, relays, starts and sprints. This will take place next weekend March 15th in the Dr. O’ Callaghan Sports Complex from 4pm to 6pm. Top local athlete and National record holder for the long jump, Jacqui Stokes Freyne, will be present to give her expert coaching advice. All juvenile members should avail of this opportunity to improve their jumping and sprinting skills. A bus will leave Fethard from outside the GAA field, at 3.30pm and return at 6.15pm. Affiliation fees of €10 are now overdue, please bring same to one of our regular training sessions which take place on Mondays and Wednesdays at the GAA Field from 6.30pm to 7.30pm. Entry fees for the upcoming County Indoor Championships are also due (€1 per event).

LADIES FOOTBALL CLUB
Fethard ladies football club have now affiliated to the county board. We have entered in the following grades, u/16, minor and junior. We are still short of players in the u/16 grade. Any girls in the 13 to 16 yrs age bracket please contact our secretary, Jennifer Keane at (052) 31719. Registration fee must be paid before commencement of training for insurance purposes. Training will take place in th GAA field on this Thursday night 13th March at 7.15pm. All are welcome.

FETHARD BRIDGE CLUB
On 19th February we played for prizes sponsored by Brigid Gorey and Betty Walsh and the results were:
1st Nett: Philly Kenny and Margaret M. McCormack
2nd Nett: Margaret Hackett and Berney Myles
1st Gross: Teresa Cummins and Alice Quinn
2nd Gross: Brigid Gorey and Betty Walsh

Bridge results for 26th February are:
1st Gross: Margaret Hackett and Berney Myles
2nd Gross: Rita Kane and Kay St. John
1st Nett: Joan Kelly and Anna Ryan
2nd Nett: Frances Burke and Breda Walsh.

On Wednesday next, 12th March, we will be playing the second round of the Player of the Year for which you pick your own change of partner. Anyone looking for a partner contact Annie O’Brien Tel: 052 31862.

FETHARD RUGBY CLUB
On Sunday morning last we played host to Waterpark under-8s and under-10s, and Carrick-on-Suir under-10s and under-12s in the new community sports field in Fethard.

The under-8s played their hearts out but were unable to contain a fine Waterpark side. Notable performances were given by Luke Keating, Cian O’Connell, James Holohan, Eoin Walsh and Colin Meagher.

The under-8s played two great games and emerged victorious in both by the narrowest of margins. The forwards played very well, with Mark Ronan, Michael John Murphy and Matt O’Sullivan making great runs while also managing to recycle the ball. The backs defended very well with Johnny Grassick in particular making many try saving tackles, well assisted by Andrew Kelly, Luke Mulcahy and Joseph O’Brien. Try scorers on the day were, Daniel Hickey, Conor Kavanagh, Paul Tierney, Jack O’Connell, Mark Roan and David Bergin.

The under-12s continue to improve and fought back well after going behind by two tries, to win the game by 4 tries to 2. A great performance was given by the new Eoin O’Connell, well assisted by Shane Kavanagh, William Grassick and Josh Hally. The try scorers were Mike O’Hagan, Seamie O’Keeffe, Jack O’Sullivan and Joe Kelly.

The club held a very successful race night on Thursday 27th February and our thanks to all who supported, sponsored races, or who helped in any way to make the night a success.

Training continues on Saturday mornings at 11am. On Sunday morning next we hold a blitz for under-10s and under-12s with visiting teams from Waterford City, Cashel and Clonmel.

PATSY DIXON
Paying a brief visit to Fethard last week was Patsy Dixon. Patsy, a native of Co. Wexford, was employed for a period in the early 1950s at Barrys of Tullamaine, when he took a keen interest in local GAA affairs.

Local juvenile footballers, lacking official juvenile GAA competitions, organised local challenge games. Patsy was manager of the Kerry Street team, known then as ‘The Mau Maus’. Who remembers their keenly, sometimes too keenly, contested games against their opposition, ‘The Holy Terrors’. This sporting event was sponsored each year by J. O’Brien, an emigrant in America who put up a cup for the winners of the competition on an annual basis. Both teams were picked from the youth of the town up to 14 years (approx.). These were very serious affairs and the interest generated by them, together with the sporting prowess contained therein, rivalled that to be found in any Munster Final between Cork and Tipperary or any All Ireland in the 70’s between Kerry and Dublin. The reward for the winner of these local “massacres” was a 2/6d cup purchased in Woolworths. To have won any of these matches and to be presented with a cup was equivalent to winning an Olympic Gold medal. Some of the players engaged in those games went on to give sterling service to Fethard GAA Club in all grades.

Patsy wishes to be remembered to all players on both teams of that era, to all his GAA friends he did not meet, and especially to Sean Walsh, Dick and Jack Wall.

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