Nano Nagle Readathon raises €2,307
Nano Nagle Sixth and Fifth Class pupils who raised €2,307.51 in their 'Readathon' project. Back L to R: Niamh McGrath, Kelly Fogarty, Kelly Fox, Emma Fleming, Katie O'Shea, Orlaith Delany, Danielle Breen, Stephanie Allen. Middle Row L to R: Ann Marie Hearty (classroom assistant), Bridget O'Reilly, Jane Holohan, Mary Ann Fogarty, Louise O'Donnell, Amanda Ryan, Claire Morrissey, Mary Jane Kearney, Orla Lawrence, Amy Lyons, Edel O'Sullivan, Rachel Prout, Ms Michelle Skehan (teacher). Front L to R: Jenny Pyke, Faye Manton, Audrey Tynan, Amy Grant, Laura Mullins, Jean Anglim, Aisha Tobin and Jane Kenny.
Fethard ICA Christmas Party
Fethard ICA Christmas Party will be held on December 14th in the ICA Hall at 7.30 pm. Everyone attending should assemble at 7 o’clock sharp. If there are any cancellations make sure to ring 052 31116.
Three of our members attended the federation meeting in Halla na Feile, Cashel, on November 30th. It was a very good meeting. Competition entries on the night, for a festive food tray, were beautifully decorated and the cakes, puddings, mince pies and mincemeat on them looked delicious.
Well done to all who took part and congratulations to the Newcastle Guild who won the lovely ‘Anne McGrath Cup’.
A Cheque for €650 was presented by the federation to the Alzheimer Society. This was proceeds from a table quiz held recently in the Clonmel Arms Hotel.
Patrician Presentation Secondary School
Joseph 2004 closed on Saturday night in Abymill Theatre. This year’s production involved 1st, 2nd, 4th and 5th years and all really enjoyed the “buzz” and the limelight.
David Sullivan, 6th year, won a gold medal in the Tipperary Athletics senior boys 200 metres. Mike Kelly was 5th in the same event. Bernadette Costello, 2nd year, was 3rd in the junior girls.
In the UCC Munster debating competition Sarah Kennedy, Mary Gorey, Davis Sullivan and Brian Kennedy spoke in Rockwell College last Tuesday evening. Brian Kennedy qualified as a single speaker for the next round. Congratulations and well done to all.
Ballroom Dancing
Photographed at the ‘Babe Maher and Danny Murphy Memorial Ballroom Dancing Competition’ at Fethard Ballroom last Sunday are L to R: Joseph Farrell (Castledermot), Sarah Corcoran (Killenaule), Bill Maher (Fethard), Bertie and William Corcoran (Killenaule).
Penitential Services for Christmas
The penitential service in preparation for Christmas will take place in the Parish Church on Monday 20th December at 8pm. There will be a penitential service in Killusty on Tuesday 21st December at 8pm. The penitential service in the Abbey will take place during the 7.30pm Mass on Saturday 18th December.
Christmas Hat Party
Photographed at the 6th Annual Christmas Hat Party at Bridge Bar Fethard are Back L to R: Bert Van Dommelen, Marianne Shortall, John Shortall, Colm McGrath, John Ryan. Front L to R: Bill Kennedy, John Fogarty, Margaret Gleeson, Veronica Butler and Philomena Shee.
The 6th Annual Christmas Hat Party in Aid of the CRC Santa Bear Appeal was held at Burkes Bridge Bar, Main Street on Saturday night, 4th December. We would like to thank our very kind sponsors, Roseanne Carroll from Oriental Gardens, The Square, Fethard, and Philip Butler, Butlers Sports Bar, Main Street, Fethard. A very special thanks to Martin Burke, Main Street Fethard for his sponsorship and food on the night, and to Philomena Shee who came up tops with her culinary delights. We would sincerely like to thank all those who could not attend on the night, but very kindly sent their donations. A sincere message of gratitude goes out to our judges who had very difficult decisions to make.
Photographed at the 6th Annual Christmas Hat Party at Bridge Bar Fethard are Back L to R: Jackie and Richard Horan, Carmel Darmody, Micheál and Noreen Horan.
Of course the night would not be possible without the wonderfully talented and creative competitions even though the numbers were smaller this year, the standard was very high indeed.
Prizewinners were: ‘Christmas Hat with edible Feature’, 1st prize Colm McGrath (Liquorice All-sorts and Chocolate Spaghetti) which everyone sampled; ‘Late into the Evening’, 2nd prize John Shortall (Hello Sweetie); 3rd prize, Philomena Shee (Cran-Berret).
In the ‘Christmas Hat Open Category’, 1st prize Veronica Fogarty; 2nd prize Bill Kennedy (Have a Quackin’ Good Christmas); 3rd prize, Bert Van Dommelen. Zaniest title on the night went to Margaret Gleeson, Thurles (Christmas Rose). Again Thanks to anyone who contributed in any way to making a great night. Looking forward to next year’s creations.
Pollution the ongoing problem If you fancy taking a rest as you stroll around Jesuits Walk, don’t worry about finding some place to sit down. A couch has been provided, free of charge, by an anonymous donor, just beside the railway bridge. All you have to do is jump from the bank of the stream to the middle where the couch lies in a few feet of water.
Unfortunately, this kind of dumping is commonplace all around our town. Fridges, washing machines, old cookers and televisions regularly end up dumped in a similar manner in ditches and wooded areas around the district. Some offenders even go to the bother of bringing their recyclable material as far as the recycling depot in the car park and then dump it beside the bins rather than taking a few minutes to deposit it.
The worst offenders of the lot are the ones who treat their car window as a waste disposal unit. Most of this rubbish is not visible until you walk along the roads, as the traffic blows the litter into the hedges and streams. One group of walkers were so disgusted that they brought a bin bag and collected the rubbish on the Killusty road. The bag was full by Mullinbawn, about a mile out the road.
Maybe we should follow the example of Nagano in Japan, a town that had a similar problem. They erected statues of the Buddha, staring straight at the traffic in the worst affected areas. It almost eliminated the problem overnight, as people were unwilling to litter with the statues looking at them. Or maybe we could just make a bit of an effort and use the bins and recycling units provided.
The Late Paddy McCormack
The late Paddy McCormack, Ballinure, whose death occurred on Monday 22nd November was a member of one of Fethard’s oldest families. Paddy whose family came from the Annesgift area was born in Main Street 83 years ago. The family moved to Ballinure when Paddy was just a boy, though he left Fethard at a very young age, a very big part of Fethard never left Paddy McCormack. During intervening years he kept fully abreast of current affairs in his native town.
A regular attendee of annual events such as Fethard Carnival, local dramatic and musical society productions and each St. Patrick’s Day he came to mass at Fethard Parish Church, especially to hear the boys of the Patrician Brothers National School sing the traditional St. Patrick’s Day hymns. His great love of all things Irish, especially our native games kept him fully aware of the fortunes of Fethard football and Coolmoyne hurling teams down the years. An outstanding hurler with his adopted New Tipperary Rangers, his brothers Sean, Jim and Tom also kept the local GAA flag flying high representing Tipperary at minor and junior level. His son Miceál is currently secretary of Fethard GAA Club and vice chairman of South Tipperary GAA Board.
Paddy McCormack was a member of the Irish Army during the emergency following, which he worked at Thurles Sugar Factory for 40 years. He also served as secretary of the Irish Ex-Servicemen’s Association O.N.E. for over 30 years. Many tributes were paid to his work on behalf of the organisation, in a eulogy given at his funeral by one of his O.N.E. contemporary colleagues.
The organisation provided a guard of honour at his funeral, and indeed there was a lesson for all in the most edifying manner, they removed, in military fashion, the tricolour from his coffin, giving our national emblem the honour and respect it should always receive. A bugler from O.N.E. sounded ‘The Last Post’ at his graveside. Paddy also played leading roles in Killenaule pantomimes produced by the late Conor Hogan P.P. His last resting place in Fethard, McCarthys’ Funeral Parlour, was the actual house in which he was born.
On a personal level Paddy McCormack will be sadly missed. Down the years I often had to write to him seeking local information. His knowledge of Fethard sportsmen, place names and families, for one who left his native town so young, was truly phenomenal. His replies were usually more of an epistle than a letter. Sincere sympathy to his extended family. Interment took place in Dualla Cemetery. Ar deis De go riabh a anam dilis. (T.N.)
Hunting News
The Tipperary Foxhounds had a very good run in the afternoon from their meet at Moyglass. Finding in the small plantation, they ran to the road towards Moyglass Hall. Swinging left handed and crossing the road on top of the hill, they skirted Knockinglass covert and hunted on strong to Mortlestown. Turning again left, the pack hastily flew through Rathmoley and crossing the Rathmoley road, hounds were stopped in fairly tight in the big plantation near Killenaule. This was a run with a three and half mile point in thirty-five minutes with scarcely a check. We have written before that, there is no such thing as a bad day’s hunting only some days are better than others. The White Heathers day at Golden on Sunday was clearly one of the others with a vengeance. Hounds did not find for an hour and a half and when they did, scent was non-existent. Hounds could not own the line for 100 yards. However, true hunting people take these dogs as they come. The Ballylusky White Heathers meet on Sunday next, December 12th at the Kennels, Sunday December 19th, Ballylusky, and on December 26th, St. Stephen’s Day, in Drangan.
Put Christ back into Christmas!
An invitation to praise, pray and prepare for the birth of Jesus. Put Christ back into Christmas by spending an hour in a pleasant prayerful environment Presentation Convent on Wednesday 15th December and Tuesday 21st December, from 8pm to 9pm each night. We would love to see as many as possible attend all age groups welcome. Please contact Sr. Winnie at the Presentation Convent if you need more information
District Nurse Retires
A presentation was made to Nurse Nora Lawrence on behalf of Fethard & District Day Care Centre to mark her recent retirement as public health nurse in the Fethard Area. Photographed at the presentation in Fethard are L to R: Maisie O'Meara, Chrissie Healy, Sr. Christine O'Byrne, Nurse Nora Lawrence, Mamie Morrissey, Thelma Griffith (Chairperson Fethard & District Day Care Centre) and Geraldine McCarthy (Day Care Centre Supervisor).
Fethard Community Sportsfield
Fethard Community Sportsfield committee have just announced plans for fundraising for further development of the field. Main priority at the moment is the cost of floodlighting the pitch, which will be of great benefit to the community. Young people and not so young are already using the facility for Athletics, Rugby, Soccer, and GAA and other events when required. Main feature of the finance programme for 2005 is a "Dog Night" which will take place in Thurles Greyhound Stadium on Saturday night, March 5th, 2005. This will be a great social evening out with racing, music and craic and the cost involved is at follows: Sponsoring a Race €300; Nominating a Dog €100. Advertising costs: full page €150 and a half page €80. Committee members will be contacting members of the community in the near future regarding the above. Even though the event does not take place until March it is vital that finance be collected as soon as possible as "the bills have to be paid". Anybody interested in sponsoring, advertising or buying or indeed who might to make a contribution of any kind to the fundraising please contact Valerie Colville, Secretary Finance Committee at 086-1704874. This field is providing the children of the locality with the opportunity to use sporting facilities and to use their leisure time constructively.
Progressive 25 results
Progressive 26 Results for game played on 3rd December. Winners on 12 games, Robert and Bernie Phelan. Runners up on 11 games, Hannie Leahy and Dennis O’Donnell. Table prize. Mary and Patricia Lee. Tickets, Lory Byrne, Tess Maher, Catering Staff. Rubber finals, Joe Kennedy and Alice Burgess, Alice Quinn and Teresa Cummins. Next game takes place in Fethard Ballroom on Friday 10th December at 8.30pm.
Blue Skies and Starry Nights and Santa Claus too!
Did you ever look up on a day when the skies are clear blue or on a starry night and notice the amount of commercial air traffic that passes over Fethard. You can count the vapour trails left by the planes by day or watch the flickering lights at night. The reason for this, though many wont believe it, is because Fethard is on the main aviation highway.
Originally, pilots navigated by following a map, looking out for landmarks, and used a compass and watch to estimate their position. None of these navigational aids were worth a curse if the pilot entered a cloud. He’d be better off with a bible, a bottle of whiskey and a parachute. The pilot who first crossed the Atlantic alone in a single engine aeroplane, Charles Lindbergh, had to use his parachute twice while flying the mail across the USA. Safety was paramount for both passenger and crew, so as air traffic increased, a system of beacons was developed. Initially, these consisted of bonfires in certain parts of the USA, to guide the pilots, but here again the absence of cloud cover was necessary. Soon, as technology became more advanced, radio frequencies were being used and a vast network of beacons was erected worldwide to guide aeroplanes by day and by night. One of these beacons sits in a little shed on the south side of Slievenamon. A large mast rises from the roof of the building sending it’s signal out to the approaching aircraft, directing them safely across the skies to the next beacon until they reach their journey’s end.
Our younger readers might be interested to know that it is widely believed that Santa Claus uses this beacon when flying around the world delivering his gifts each Christmas. Take a look up for this traffic yourself on the next crisp clear day or night. If you’re lucky enough, you might just see, as well as aeroplanes, the red glow of a very famous reindeer’s nose! Just watch out for the droppings.
Killusty Soccer Club’s ‘Battle of The Brains Table Quiz’
We knew that table quizzes were popular in Fethard, but even so we were amazed and delighted by the turnout to our quiz last Thursday night. With such a large crowd the final result was always going to go right down to the wire, and that’s how it proved to be. In the end however, the team of Philly Croke, Jim Halpin, Eoin Whyte and Paul Hackett just scraped home ahead of the super team led by Davy Maher. We must take this opportunity to thank both teams for their generous sporting gesture. Thanks also to our hosts, Philip and Ann Butler and their hard working staff who looked after us so well. To everyone who helped out on the night and to those who donated prizes for our raffle, your support as always is greatly appreciated.
Badgers are not in hibernation
Badgers over 30s soccer and social club are still going strong and getting stronger. Though we have not been seen of late on the community field does not mean that we have gone away of disintegrated. In fact the opposite is true. We have simply retreated indoors. Our winter venue is headquarters of Moyle Rovers in Monroe. Still Wednesday nights but at the later time of 9pm. Since moving indoors some weeks ago we have happily been getting good games of 5-6 aside. Those interested in Christmas party night please inform organizer next Wednesday night, proposed night is Thursday 16th December.
Fethard Living History
On Sunday 21st November, as part of our monthly gathering, a small group of us visited Richard Linstead ad his forge out at Saucestown. Richard gave us a very interesting demonstration on how the different types of arrowheads were made, explaining how they were used for a variety of purposes in warfare and hunting etc.
After what seemed an effortless four minutes of tapping the red-hot iron and sparks flying, the craftsmen produced for our inspection and shiny new medieval projectile. A couple of us then found out, just how tricky the operation is as we tried our hand repeating the exercise. Ann Marie’s delicate touch was proficient enough while this poor archer should have been laughed off the field.
All in all this particular field trip to the forge was a very worthwhile, interesting and enjoyable one which all enjoyed. Thanks again to Richard Linstead for giving of his time, expertise and great hospitality.
The gathering will be Sunday 19th December. Please mark your calendar now so that you don’t miss out. New members always welcome, contact Colm on 086-3502360.
St Vincent de Paul Society
Our Annual Collection will be held on this coming weekend at all masses in Fethard and Killusty parish. We ask for your continued support for our organisation, which deals with any person who comes in need to us in the spirit of Blessed Fredrick Ozanam our founder. We rely on your generosity and this has always been forthcoming and we hope it will also be this year.
In the spirit of complete transparency we wish to state that we spent the following amounts in the past year in helping all who came to us. Food Hampers/ Christmas help €4,039; Cash assistance to families €6,100; Furniture / Bedclothes €829; Clothes €160; Fuel/ Firing €2,818; Donation to head Office €320; Help for First Communion / Confirmation €1,050; Holiday for Senior Citizens €3,625; Education Projects €500; Expenses, Photocopying, Postage etc, €47.70.
We can of course only give what we receive and we ask for your donation as a vote of confidence in our work. Anybody who has not yet applied to us for Christmas help can still do so by contacting us at any time.
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