St. Patrick’s Boys’ School win County final
Congratulations to St Patricks Boys School who won the Under-11 C hurling final against Upperchurch played in Semple Stadium on Thursday 9th June. The boys had three very close matches against Ballyporeen, Grange and Boherlahan to reach the final. Full match report later.
Broadband Update
On the basis of correspondence with Eircom, there have been substantive changes to the original GBS proposal submitted for Fethard. The changes relate to a number of issues, including the area that is covered by this proposed project, the number of households & businesses that will be capable of receiving a broadband service under this project, the details of the broadband service, the expected minimum speed that Fethard subscribers should experience, etc.
Taking these changes into account, Matthew Collins, Communications Development Division, Department of Communications, Marine & Natural Resources, asked if these changes are acceptable from the Fethard community's perspective. Taking in to account the proposed 'Wireless Broadband Service' for this area, which will service areas outside Eircom's proposal, it was decided to accept the following amendments:
Summary of Changes to Fethard GBS Proposal
- Service Coverage Area: The proposed service coverage area has changed. Broadband will now be provided to Fethard Town and surrounding area up to a 3 kilometre radius. This is unlikely to include Cloneen, Killusty, Knockbrit, or Moyglass which were included on the original map. A new map indicating the 3.5 Km radius was provided.
- Households/Businesses Covered: It is estimated that the Fethard Town plus a 3.5-kilometre radial area includes 501 households and businesses. Eircom believes that up to 400 of them will be able to get a broadband service, i.e. 80% of households and businesses in Fethard Town.
- Subscriber Projections: Eircom expects to have 120 broadband subscriber by month 12 of the project.
- Product Details: Eircom has doubled the download speeds that were originally included in the proposal. The uploading speed and contention ratio are unchanged.
- Downloading Speed: A subscriber in Fethard should expect to experience a lowest download speed of about 800 Kbps (where they have subscribed to a 1,024 Kbps, ie. 1 Mbps service).
- Customer Support: Information on customer support arrangements has been provided.
- Network Security: Information on network security has been provided.
- Wholesale Products: Further information is being prepared by Eircom about the full range of wholesale products available to other operators on the Fethard exchange.
At the Match

Fethard fans photographed at the senior hurling Munster semifinal match between Tipperary and Clare in Limerick last Sunday. Tipperary won and will now play Cork in the Munster final.

Colm’s Country
Fethard is one of the ‘stopping off’ points on a new tour, which takes tourists off the beaten track. The man behind the venture is local entrepreneur, Colm McGrath. The tours begin in Kilkenny and visit Kells, Kilree, Sliabh na mBan, Fethard, Cashel and Ballingarry, taking in monastic remains, castles, Celtic crosses, Sheela na gigs, amongst many other sights. Colm will be familiar to many as the man behind the medieval re enactment group which recently started up in Fethard.
Best of luck to him in his new venture. More information can be had from his website www.colmscountry.com or by contacting him on his mobile Tel: 086 3502360.
The Well Golf Society
The Well Golf Society results from last Saturday's outing to Rathdowney are as follows: Nearest the pin: Brian Mullins, Aiden Grant.
Ladies: 1st: Mary Kenrick, 2nd: Mary Stakelum.
Gents (18-24): 1st: Vincent Phelan, 2nd: Pat Woodlock.
Gents (1-17): 1st: Brian Mullins. 2nd: Joe Corbett. 3rd: Billy Phelan.
Our next outing takes place on Saturday 25th June to Abbeyleix Golf Club. This is another new venue for the society and according to those who have played it, it's one not to be missed.
Fethard Juvenile GAA Club

Fethard team and trainers above, and on the left is referee with two captains at the start of the game L to R: Tommy Sheehan, captain Fethard team, referee Keith Delahunty and Michael McCullagh, captain Commercials team.
The under/12 A Football South Final was played in Monroe on Tuesday 31st May and a great crowd attended. We were unfortunate to lose again to Commercials on a scoreline of 3-07 to 1-06. Playing against the wind in the first half we got a very bad start going 1-02 down in the first five minutes. We then settled and played some of the finest football one could see with Brian Delahunty, Frank O’Donovan, Ciarán O’Meara and Eoin Fitzgerald dominating the field. We got back into the game with points from Tommy Sheehan, Eoin Fitzgerald and a brilliant goal from Alan Lawrence. We were right back in the game at that stage but, just at half time and against the run of play, Commercials scored another goal to leave us 5 points down at the break, 2-05 to 1-03.

Tommy Sheehan heading for goal
With wind advantage in the second half, Commercials started better and scored first to stretch their lead to 6 points. Fethard dominated for the next fifteen minutes scoring 3 points, hit the post and had a ball cleared off the line. Time was running out and commercials surged up the field and score a goal to kill off any hopes of a Fethard win.

Fethard's Aaron Conran attacking Commercials defence
When the final whistle blew, Fethard had yet again suffered a defeat at the hands of their nearest rivals, Commercials. Fethard had many heroes on the night in our goalie, Gareth Lawrence, backs, Eoin Walsh, Ger Maher, Ciarán O’Meara, Ronan Fitzgerald. Frankie O’Donovan, Brian Delahunty, Jack Devaney, midfield, Eoin Fitzgerald, Eoin Dillon, forwards, Dylan Fitzgerald, Aaron Conran, Tommy Sheehan (capt), Cáthal Hurley, Alan Lawrence, Philip Maher, Michael Smith, Joe Morgan, Willie Morgan, and Andrew Maher. Thanks to Stephen O’Donnell, Paul Fitzgerald, Paul Dillon and Willie Lawrence, for their time and effort and hopefully it will be only a matter of time before this team will take home the honours. Our concentration must now go to the hurling.

Fethard's Alan Lawrence scoring a goal
Well done to Commercials we wish them the best of luck in the County we will be cheering them all the way to success.
Our under/6s, 8s, and 10s played commercials on Friday last in Marlfield. We travelled with 45 players and had a great evenings entertainment. This was the first time we fielded an under/6 team and it was great to see the stars of the future (many children of stars of the past) playing their first game for Fethard. We hope to have another outing in two weeks time.
There is an under/10 championship starting on the 18th June in football and hurling which will run consecutively for ten weeks, which is great to see. It is important that all players report for training. The under/10 managers are Willie Lawrence and Frank O’Donovan for football, and John Hurley and P.J. Ahearn for hurling.
The under/14 footballers played their last game on last bank holiday Monday and were unfortunate not to qualify for the semi-final. In fairness, size seemed to have been our biggest obstacle, as they played some brilliant football. Thanks to Willie Morrissey, Buddy Fitzgerald and Willie Quigley and to all the players for their effort throughout the year.
The under/16 hurlers played a challenge game against Killenaule and gave a very good account of themselves as they prepare for the championship. We hope this team will be in the knock stages later this year so keep up the good work.
There will be an under/12 hurling challenge against Moyle Rovers next Friday night in Monroe. All players are requested to be at the field at 6-15pm. The very best of luck to the school’s under/11 team who are playing in the school final in Semple Stadium in hurling this Thursday. Anyone looking for more information can contact club secretary Caroline on Tel: 086 1713502.
Fethard & Killusty Community Lotto
The numbers drawn on Tuesday 7th June were: 19, 26, 29 and 32. There was no Jackpot winner and no ‘Match 3’ winner. The following tickets were drawn and each won €50:
Sean O'Callaghan, St Patrick's Place, Fethard
Michael Russell. Drangan
Susan Carroll, Ballyrichard, Mullinahone
The three €50 Lucky Dip winners were:
Seamus Moloney, 7 Fr. Tirry Park, Fethard
Agnes Evans, 6 Congress Terrace, Fethard
Jimmy O'Sullivan, Main Street, Fethard
Next weeks Jackpot remains at €10,000 and the Jackpot sellers prize is €1,000.
Exams for Junior and Leaving Certs
Best wishes to all the students of Fethard Patrician Presentation Secondary School who started their Junior and Leaving Cert Examinations on Wednesday 8th June.
 Junior Cert Class. Back L to R: Alan O’Connor, Colin Bradshaw, Declan Doyle, Aaron O’Donovan, Lory Kenny, Cathal Gorey, 3rd Row; Stephanie Lawrence, Sinead Coffey, Patricia Cooney and Lisa Ryan. 2nd Row L to R: Amy Channon, Sophie Blake, Dean Grogan, Donna Burke, Joseph O’Connell. Front Row L to R: Paul McCarthy, Kevin Maher, Ciarán Leahy, David Ryan, Joseph Fogarty, Peter Garrett. Missing from photo: Chris Sheehan.
 Leaving Cert Class. Back L to R: James Smyth, Darragh Corbett, Brian Kennedy, David Sullivan, William O’Brien, Shane Walsh, Keith Phelan, Mike Kelly. 3rd Row; Adrian Allen, Colette Phelan, Tracey Coady, Sarah Kennedy, Siobhán Prout, Helen Frewen, Mary Gorey. 2nd Row; Paul Kenrick, Gerard Walsh, Ruth Corcoran, Linda Kenny, Roseanne Meaney, Sharon Duggan, Claire Tierney and Ciara Hickey. Front L to R: C. J. Taylor, Michael Leahy, Ms Marian Gilpin (Deputy Principal), Mr Ernan Britton (Principal), Tara O’Flynn and Damien Guthrie. Missing from photo; James D'Arcy, Chris Whyte and Sara Condon.
Drugs find in Fethard
Local Gardai, assisted by District Drugs Squad, seized a quantity of drugs in a house in Fethard last week. The raid was part of a planned operation, which involved three premises being searched. A file is now being prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions and charges are expected at a later date. We congratulate the Garda on their ongoing efforts to curtail this problem of drugs, which is infiltrating our local communities, and affecting both young and old.
Now that summer school holidays are approaching again, we remind parents to be ever vigilant as to the whereabouts of their young children and to report any suspicious activity, drugs related or not, to the local Gardai. With your help we can put a stop to this problem before it gets out of hand.
Sponsored Volleyball and Soccer Matches

Sr. Mary Taylor being presented with a cheque for €1,200, raised by 5th and 6th year students of Fethard Patrician Presentation Secondary School, proceeds of a sponsored volleyball and soccer match. The money will provide a secondary school education for two girls in Tanzania. The project was co-ordinated by teacher Mr Denis Burke. L to R: Sr. Mary Taylor, Mary Gorey and Shane Walsh.
Fethard ICA Guild
Fethard ICA held their annual general meeting on Tuesday May 10th in the ICA Hall on Rocklow Road and had a great turn out of members. The elected officers remain the same as last year: Nuala Delaney (President), Sheila O’Donnell (Vice-President), Anne Horan (Treasurer) and Anne Gleeson (Secretary). Information Officer, Nan Hackett, was in attendance on the night and for our social half-hour, we had a musical table quiz which was enjoyed by all.
Our summer outing takes place on Thursday 16th June, when we visit the National Stud, Japanese Gardens and St. Fiachraí’s Garden. We then go on to the Butterfly Farm in Straffan with an optional stop in Naas / Newbridge. Bus will leave outside the Town Hall, Fethard, at 9.30am. Our evening meal is organised for Hotel Montague.
Our next guild meeting will take place on Tuesday 14th June at 8pm in the ICA Hall. Our guest speaker will be Marie Mockler who will talk to us on ‘A stroll around a Cottage Garden’. Hostesses are the ‘Blue Group’ and the competition theme is ‘Selection from Hedge Rows’.
Celebrating 80th Birthday

Dinny Walsh, Knockbrack, Fethard, was 80 years old on May 25th 2005. Dinny is photographed here dancing with Peggy Hartigan at a special celebration held for him in Fethard Ballroom.
Multi Agency Meeting
A multi-agency meeting, organised by Margo Hayes, RAPID Coordinator, will take place in the Tirry Community Centre, Fethard at 11.30am on Thursday, June 16th, to examine a number of issues apparent in the Fethard town and Environs including youth issues and the lack of a youth service/workers. The meeting will be attended by members of Fethard and Killusty Community Council and invited representatives of involved Public Bodies, organisations and local groups.
RAPID stands for Revitalising Areas Through Planning Investment and Development. This government programme is funded through the Department of Community Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs. RAPID aims to improve the quality of life and make opportunities available in 45 of Ireland’s most under resourced Towns and Cities.
St. Patrick’s Boys’ School reach final
Congratulations to St Patricks Boys School on reaching the Under-11 C hurling final which will be played in Semple Stadium on Thursday 9th June. The boys had three very close matches against Ballyporeen, Grange and Boherlahan. They fought hard and fully deserve to reach the final against Upperchurch.
Team members are: John Gartland (captain), Cathal Hurley, Garreth Lawrence, Ger Maher, Ronan Fitzgerald, Brian Delahunty, Dylan Fitzgerald, Ciaran O’Meara, David Gartland, Eoin Walsh, Andrew Maher, Vincent Lawrence and Gerard Gorey.
Killusty Pony Show
With a month to go until the forty-second Killusty Pony Show on the 2nd July, plans are well in train to repeat the success of last year’s Show. At a recent meeting of the Show Committee, attendees heard that the Schedules were printed and ready to be posted, judges were booked for all six rings and essential services were almost all in place.
As with so many long-lived organisations, Killusty Pony Show is finding a dropping off among long-term supporters, partly age related. The next generation for whom Killusty was provided in their youth are not coming forward to shoulder the burden of organising the Annual Event. Killusty went from a one ring affair at its inception catering for mainly local ponies to what it is now-seventy classes, six rings with entries from all over Ireland.
Killusty was the first all pony show in the calendar predating the Irish Pony Society and it is a mark of the esteem in which it is held that it is one of only three ‘double points’ Shows on the IPS calendar. If any of that next generation are just ‘waiting to be asked’ they would be more than welcome at the next Killusty Meeting in the Tirry Centre Fethard on 17th June at 8:30pm.
The schedule for this year’s Show contains classes for almost all variety of pony and rider. The in-hand ring for young stock, broodmares and purebred Welsh and Connemara Classes also has a class for coloured ponies.
The Show Pony ring also includes Side-saddle classes along with the height classes. When these classes are finished, equitation classes follow where the rider is judged and not the pony. The young entry of the pony world are comprehensively catered for in their own ring with lead-rein, first-ridden and mini-equitation classes being judged as well as the local handy pony class and the special lead-rein class for children under 10 on ponies of any height. The Show Hunter ring has Novice and Open classes for ponies of all heights from 133cms, to 158cms.
The Working Hunter ring caters for these same ponies over fences. A further ring for Performance Working hunters includes a class for ‘Green Working Hunter’ the fences are 2’ and any pony or rider may take part in this class but if they do they may not take part in any other working hunter class with the same pony on the day of the Show. After these classes are completed, Equitation Jumping Classes follow where the rider is judged and not the pony.
A Fancy Dress competition and a Dog Show complete the day. Such is the popularity of these competitions that it is hoped to have a separate ring available so that they may start as soon after lunch as it is possible. The setting at Claremore, Killusty could not be better as it looks out on Slievenamon in all its glory. All are welcome to attend and experience the unspoilt atmosphere of one of the premier shows in Ireland. Schedules are available from Betsy O’Connor, Knockelly, Fethard. Entries close finally on June 25th for most classes.
The Performance Working Hunter Classes and Equitation classes can be entered on the field on the day, as can the Dog Show classes.
Fethard & Killusty Community Lotto
The numbers drawn on Tuesday 31st May were: 5, 12, 17 and 20. There was no Jackpot winner and three ‘Match 3’ winners. The following won €50 each:
Tom Kearney, Killusty, Fethard
Margaret Dunne, c/o Seamus Moloney
P.J. Lonergan, The Square, Fethard
The three €50 Lucky Dip winners were:
Ian O'Connor, 44 St. Patricks Place, Fethard
Nicky O'Shea, Tullow, Fethard
Bernard O'Donnell, 24 Woodvale Walk, Fethard
Next weeks Jackpot remains at €10,000 and the Jackpot sellers prize is €1,000.
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