Pheasant Pluckers
The Pheasant Pluckers will play in McCarthy's Back Room tonight, Friday, 18th March. So please drop in if you're in the area and like listening to live music.
Happy St. Patrick's Day
We would like to take this opportunity to wish all our readers, at home and throughout the world, a very Happy St. Patrick's Day.
Fethard Community Games Art Winners
Nano Nagle Primary School medal winners in the Fethard Area Community Games Art and Model Making Competition 2005. Back: Nicole Looby, Bridget O'Reilly, Katie O'Shea, Faye Manton, Jane Holohan. Middle: Jane Kenny, Evie O'Sullivan, Aobh O'Shea, Emma Hayes. Front: Jennifer Rice, Amy Sweeney, Cassandra Needham, Áine Proudfoot, Megan McCarthy. Well done girls. We are very proud of you all.
Fethard & Killusty Community Council
The next meeting of Fethard & Killusty Community Council will take place on Tuesday 22nd March at 8.30pm in the Tirry Community Centre. We would like to thank all who supported our Church Gate Collection last weekend. A total of €635 was collected for which we are most grateful.
Fethard Sisters take a stroll
The three Murphy sisters out for a stroll on The Green, Fethard, during the week L to R: Sarah Mullins, Mary Morrissey and Margaret Smith.
Congratulations Nuala
Congratulations to Nuala Sheehan on graduating from St James Hospital and Trinity College Dublin with a Diploma in Nursing. Nuala is photographed on the right with her mom, Ann Sheehan, from Clarebeg, Killusty, at the graduation ceremony in Trinity on February 16th 2005.
Nuala is currently working in St James Hospital and continuing with her studies.
Performing Arts Project for The Abymill
The Summer Academy of Performing Arts will be running workshops for children aged between 9 - 16 in dance, drama and music during school summer holidays. The initial course will run from Monday 11 July until Friday 22 July, with further courses planned depending on demand.
The organiser, Liam Lankstead, is a musician and music teacher with over 25 years experience of working in Ireland, UK and other European countries. He will be working alongside both of his drama and dance teacher colleagues.
The course will run for a period of 2 weeks (10 working days) from 10am til 4pm, Monday to Friday with a daily registration beginning at 9:30am. There will be a one hour lunch break each day and children can bring a packed lunch or one can be provided on site for a small fee.
The course covers a comprehensive introduction to drama, dance, and music. The children will be taught in a safe environment within the theatre in small groups of up to 15 per group and receive tuition in each subject on a daily basis.
There will be a make-up and presentation session with a professional photo shoot within the two weeks. The children will also have the opportunity to record their own CD in the second week of the course.
The aim of the course has been specifically designed for young people who wish to experience what it is like to pursue a career in the Arts and Entertainments Industry. The children work towards a specific goal and on the final day, there will be a performance at the Abymill Theatre by the children for friends, family and the general public. Each child receives a Certificate of Achievement upon successful completion of the course.
Application Forms will be available through the Abymill Theatre, Austin O'Flynn and local schools or by ringing 052-32007 from the beginning of April 2005 for the July 2005 Summer workshops.
Fethard Bridge Club
Bridge Results for game played on Wednesday 9th March.
1st Gross Teresa Cummins and Alice Quinn
2nd Gross Rita Kane and Kay St. John
1st Nett Ann and Sean O’Dea
2nd Nett Mary Lucey and Rosemary Lalor
Anyone looking for a partner contact Annie O’Brien, Tel: 052 31862.
Daffodil Day in Fethard
Buying daffodils on 'Daffodil Day' in Fethard on Friday last, 11th March are L to R: Pauline Morrissey and Esther McCormack.
Pupils from Fethard's Patrician Presentation Secondary School helping out with the sale of daffodils outside Fethard Post Office on 'Daffodil Day' last Friday. L to R: Christopher Thompson, Mike McCarthy, Sarah Mai Ahearne, Michael Fleming and Jonathan Hall.
Buying daffodils on 'Daffodil Day' in Fethard are L to R: Philly Kenny, Anne Fleming and Veronica Wilkinson.
Begrudging Thief
A number of robberies and attempted robberies were carried out on what appeared to be a quiet Wednesday night in Fethard and the neighbouring countryside. Complaints from the victims listed broken windows, the theft of fuel, a chainsaw, quad bikes among other items. The lowest crime of the lot included the theft of something that most criminals wouldn’t bother to steal. The criminal stole a steering wheel. Why he, she, or they, did this, nobody knows. It wasn’t an expensive Formula One type wheel loaded with the latest technology. It belonged to a fairly clapped out 1989 registered jeep.
The only reason that anyone can come up with is that the thief failed to hotwire the jeep and decided in true begrudging fashion that if he or she couldn’t move the vehicle, then nobody else was going to move it either. Either that, or there is somebody out there that collects steering wheels as a hobby.
(N Gawe)
Fethard & Killusty Community Lotto Results
The numbers on Tuesday 15th March were: 10, 13, 22 and 24. There was no Jackpot winner and one ‘Match 3’ winner who received €150:
Toby Collier, c/o McCarthy's, Fethard
The three €50 Lucky Dip winners were:
Joseph Bowes, Kilconnell, Fethard
Margaret Croke, St., Patrick's Place, Fethard
Marianne Butler, c/o John Shortall, The Valley, Fethard
Next weeks Jackpot remains at €10,000 and the Jackpot sellers prize is €1,000.
Fethard Historical Society
Due to Easter, the next meeting of Fethard Historical Society will take place on Tuesday 22nd March upstairs in the Abymill Theatre at 8.30pm. The society’s annual general meeting will take place on Tuesday 26th April in the same venue. All are welcome.
What’s Up
A person could almost certainly sit completely naked on their roof in most towns and villages in Ireland without anybody noticing. Most of us don’t look any higher than the objects that we perceive on the street. To test my theory, I stuck my head out of a skylight overlooking a street and said hello to a neighbour of mine. He looked left and right and gave up, so I repeated the greeting. He knew my voice so he began treating the search for me as a game. Again he looked left and right, and pounced behind a van to see if I was there. No sign of me. “Where are ya, ya . . .”. I missed the last word as a car went by. “Up here”, I replied. He looked up for the first time.
It isn’t until after a storm that people warn each other about dangerous roofs, and then most of us look up. It’s a bit like looking up after a golfer has shouted “FORE”. Not recommended. There’s a whole new world up there. A world of chimneys. Before the men in white coats come to take me away for even mentioning these everyday appendages to houses as interesting, take a look up. Some date back to medieval times, one of which had smoke bellowing out its chimney recently for the first time in years. Others, like the tall red brick one on the Valley, let us know that a factory once operated on the banks of the river. Another is held together with what looks like a wrapping of sacks and rope. Take a look up, it’s an interesting world up there.
(N Gawe)
Award for David Gorey
Congratulations to David Gorey, a pupil at Fethard Patrician Presentation Secondary School, who won 1st Prize in the Intermediate Category of the Student Enterprise Awards 2004/05 for his ‘Enchanted Wood’ business idea at the county finals held on 11th March. David, following in his father’s footsteps, set up his woodcarving business within the Student Enterprise Awards programme, which is run in association with Tipperary SR County Enterprise Board.
Fethard Judo Club
Fethard Judo Club attended the Mini Mons competition in Kilkenny on the 20th February and the following members were successful in winning medals.
Gold medals were won by: Gary Bradshaw, Robert Guiry, Natalie Cahill and Lorraine Feery. Silver medals were won by: Gerard Gorey, Anthony Curran and Aobh O’Shea. Bronze medals were won by: Jack Stapleton, Katie Stapleton, Sophie Meehan, Hannah Stapleton and Tom Sharpe. Well done to all who participated in this event. Keep up the good work.
Fethard GAA Club News
The under-21 B football South semifinal takes place this weekend on Sunday 20th March at 2pm in Clonmel against Ballyporeen.
Our division 2 adult league game was played last Sunday in Fethard against Clonmel Og and we came away with a victory on a scoreline, Fethard 1-13, Clonmel Og 1-4. This was a fast free flowing game with some lovely scores taken at ease by a much-improved Fethard fifteen since the first game of the League back in February. The back line, particularly the full back line, made some great stoppages, interceptions and counter attacks for the full game. Most to the fore were Shane Walsh, James Smyth, Diarmuid Burke, John Fitzgerald, and Paul Kenrick. Our dominance in the first half was very clear as we led at half time, 0-6 to 0-2, with 3 wides. We were very guilty in this half of lobing nine chances into the Clonmel Og goalie, who was a very capable keeper, and he alone kept the scoring tally down. The team was: Glen O’Meara, James Smyth, Shane Walsh, Connie O’Flynn, Diarmuid Burke, Darragh Corbett, Brian Burke 0-1, Jamie McCormack 0-1, John Hanrahan 0-2, Kevin O’Donnell 0-1, Brendan Brett 0-3 (2F), Paul Kenrick 0-4, John Fitzgerald, John Leahy 1-1. Subs used were: Mike Kelly, Gavin Aherne and Damien Donovan. Our next game in this competition is at home to Ballylooby/Castlegrace on weekending 26th March.
The Lotto Jackpot of €1,100 was not won. The numbers drawn in the Fethard Arms were: 1, 2, 13 and 20. We had no match three winners. Lucky Dips of €30 each went to Kay O’Riordan (Cloran), Marian O’Gorman (Thurles), Vera O’Connell (Moyglass), Aiden Fitzgerald (Kiltinan), Margaret Fitzgerald (Monroe). The €50 Lucky Dip going to Canon James Power (Cashel Rd).
The Late Dick Wall
One of the great stalwarts of GAA and Coolmoyne for over 20 years (1940-1960s), Dick Wall, Tullamaine, passed on to his eternal reward on Friday 11th March at St. Laurence's Nursing Home, Mockler's Hill. The esteem in which he was held was shown on Sunday night last with the large turn out for the guard of honour into the Parish Church in Fethard. Dick was a hurler of the highest calibre who loved the game more than most and also a notable footballer in his time. He was interred on Monday 14th March in Calvary Cemetery after a fine an eloquent oration at the graveside by non other than our own Tony Newport with praise of a gentleman, on and off the field of play, who gave no quarter and expected the same on the field of play, and who lived for the GAA and dogs.
To his brother Jack, family and friends we offer our condolences at this time. Go Ndeanai Dhia Trocaire Orthu.
Killusty Soccer Club
Tipperary Cup, Quarter Final, Cahir Park 0, Killusty 2.
Killusty’s love affair with the Tipp Cup continues after this away win in Cahir. First half goals from Colm Coen and a rare headed goal from John Noonan sent us on our way. In the second half Cahir tried hard to get into the game, and even though this wasn't our best performance we did enough to deserve this victory. We now look forward to the semi final draw, and another chance to re live former glory days, when The Village took on the best, and won.
Fethard Ladies Football Club
The recently postponed function and presentation of medals to winners of the Junior C League has now been rescheduled for this Friday night, March 18th in the Fethard Arms at 9pm. After medal presentation enjoy the disco by local DJ Ian O’Connor. Admission is €5 and all are welcome. Your support would be very much appreciated.
The AGM of the ladies football club will take place in the near future. Date to be announced at the function.
Fethard and Killusty Community Games
Local games committee have entered a total of ten teams for this years county team events: U/10 mixed GAA, U/11 Hurling, U/11 Mixed Rugby, U/12 Girls GAA, U/12 Boys Soccer, U/13 and U/15 Boys Indoor Soccer, U/15 Boys and U/16 Girls Volleyball and U/14 Juvenile Quiz. The first county final of the year is the cross-country event which will be held in Thurles Crokes field on Friday 1st April at 7pm. All our athletes please take note of this date. Entries on the night.
Fethard will host the county final of the Art and Model Making Event for the third successive year in the Ballroom on Saturday 2nd April commencing at 1pm. Results of local Art and Model Making events will be published next week.
The County Final of the under 14 quiz will be held in the Presentation Secondary School, Thurles on Wednesday night, 6th April at 7pm. We encourage people to get their teams together now for this entertaining event, a panel of 6, consisting of a team of four and two subs. Competitors must be under 14 on July 31st. A minimum of four competitors is required on a team. Entry fee is €6 per team. Our quiz team finished in 4th place last year. Perhaps we will have better luck this year and make it to National Finals in Mosney in May.
With regard to the other teams, draws were made last week and the following are first round games U/10 GAA v Carrick on Suir, U/11 Hurling v Powerstown Lisronagh, U/11 Rugby v Ballingarry U/12 Girls GAA v Cahir U/12 Boys Soccer v Clerihan U/13 and U/15 Boys Indoor Soccer both v Clerihan. Further details from our secretary, Bernard Feery, Tel: 052 31023.
The Well Golf Society
To say we were amazed and delighted with the turnout last Saturday would be an understatement. In spite of the rugby and a few other distractions, thirty golfers made it to Mitchelstown for our first outing of the year. With nearly one quarter of those being new members, the season ahead looks like being bigger and better than last year.
The results are as follows:
Nearest the pin: Darragh Corbett and Donal O’Grady.
Ladies: This was a close run thing between the two Marys, but with a better back nine, Mary Stakelum just edged out Mary Kenrick.
Gents: 1st place Brendan Kenny, 2nd Ernie Makim, 3rd Brian Mullins (back 9), 4th Kevin Ryan, 5th Andy Donovan.
We would like to thank Mitchelstown Golf Club and compliment them on their beautiful course. Thanks also to Hon Secretary Frank Roche for all his help, to Jennifer for the wonderful meals and to the friendly and helpful clubhouse staff. We will be back!
Our next outing takes place on Sunday 17th April to Tipperary Golf Course with tee off at 11.30am. Tickets are now on sale for our annual Easter draw, as well as a first prize of a super hamper, we also have some excellent prizes including mini hampers, meal voucher, tickets to the races, plus many more. Tickets cost just €2 per line and are available from most members, tickets are also on sale in The Well. With ten per cent of our sales going to The Fethard Day Care Centre your support is doubly appreciated.
Jimmy remembered at Cheltenham
The late Jimmy Ryan, Watergate, photographed with Fossett’s Circus ringmaster Marian Fossett when the circus paid their annual visit to the town back in 1999.
Christopher J. Fell, Stourbridge, UK. Contacted us with the following message.
“As a regular reader of your excellent website and a very good dear friend of the late Jimmy ‘Buckie’ Ryan, I thought I would keep you informed.
As you know Jimmy was a regular at the Queens Hotel Cheltenham. His room, was were ever he laid his Stetson hat. Well he will never be forgotten and in his honour we are holding a ‘Jimmy Ryan Memorial Dinner’ at Queens Hotel Cheltenham on Wednesday 16th March 2005, in the brand new conservatory, were dinner will be served at 8pm for 8.30pm. All 36 tickets have been sold and his friends from the hotel have all agreed to attend which should be a great night, As the Irish say, a great crack will be had by all.
He was a great friend and it was an honour to have known him. Cheltenham and the Queens Hotel will never be the same without him.”
A Shower of Dancers
“Is there something going on in here “, asked the elderly man as he walked through the door of the pub. ”All I saw when I hopped out of the car was a line of young wan’s arses at the window. They’re all trying to peep under the curtain”. The girl behind the bar told him, with great excitement, that Spandau Ballet were in the bar. He asked if they were a shower of dancers, only to be told that they were a very famous pop group. So famous that he had never heard of them. They were, at the time, very well known if you happened to listen to pop music. The elderly man was reassured that the presence of the stars wouldn’t interfere with his viewing of the races on the television and that the line of arses would have to wait outside if they wanted their heroes autographs. Content with this information, he ordered a large bottle of stout, pulled out the racing page and studied the form. He wasn’t interested in the dancers at the other end of the bar.
They were celebrities at the time. You couldn’t open a teenage music magazine without seeing their faces peering out. And like hundreds of other bands, they became yesterdays news as some new challengers to their pop throne kicked them aside. The two brothers in the band turned to acting and at least one forged a successful second career in that genre. As for the rest of the band, I’m afraid they seem to have disappeared off of the celebrity calendar. I doubt if they returned to the same bar today if they would attract a second glance, let alone the aforementioned line. I wonder if any of them became dancers!
(N Gawe)
Badgers AGM
The 'Badgers' over 30 sports and social club (soccer) will hold their annual general meeting on Friday 18th March at 8pm. The meeting will be held in the lounge of Butler's Bar, Main Street, Fethard, where we hope members will make a night of it and make up for the missed Christmas party. Up to now we've had some great competitive games played indoor at Monroe, but with spring in the air and summer around the corner, it's time to make the move outdoors again and use the Community Sportsfield on the Killenaule Road.
All are invited to our meeting on Friday night, especially those of you who have been waiting for softer ground and open air. New members are always welcome.
Country Markets
The Country Markets Ltd will hold their 'Easter Market' on Holy Thursday, 24th March, at the Town Hall from 8am to 11am.
