Mass for the Youth of Fethard
Fr. Joe Walsh will celebrate 7:30pm Mass in the Augustinian Abbey on Saturday 25th February for the youth of Fethard, particularly those who are preparing for school and college examinations. The hymns at the mass will be sung by the pupils of Killusty National School, Nano Nagle Primary School and St. Patrick's Boys’ National School, together with students from Patrician Presentation Secondary School. This is the penultimate liturgical event of the Abbey 700 Years Celebration.

The concluding ceremony on 5th March will be a concelebrated Mass at 11:30am to commemorate the life of Blessed William Tirry OSA. A specially commissioned sculpture of Blessed William Tirry will be unveiled at this Mass by Fr. J. O'Connor OSA.

Died Recently
We record the death of Mrs Elsie (Ahearne) O'Dwyer, Derryluskin, who died on Tuesday 21st February.

Reposing at her family home at Derryluskin, removal took place on Thursday 23rd February, to Holy Trinity Parish Church Fethard at 7pm. Requiem Mass at 11am was on Friday followed by burial in St. Mary's Churchyard, Cahir.

Fethard Bridge Club result
On Wednesday 15th February we played the third round of the Club Championship and the results were:
1st Gross: Kay St. John and Rita Kane;
2nd Gross: Ellen Rochford and Suzanne Opray;
1st Nett: Bridie Lee and Rose Lonergan;
2nd Nett: Rita Holohan and Mary Delaney.

On Wednesday 22nd February, our game will be sponsored by FBD Investments, and on Wednesday next, 1st March, we start the first round of the ‘Player of the Year’ competition.  Anyone looking for a partner contact Annie O'Brien at Tel: 052 31862.

At Philip Donnelly Gig

Cha Morrissey (centre) home on holiday from Australia, is photographed above with his father, Davy Morrissey, St. Patrick's Place, and his uncle Francis Lonergan at Butlers Bar.

Frank Purcell 1942 – 2006
The people of Fethard were shocked by the sudden death of Frank Purcell on Monday 13th February. His family were deeply moved by the large number of people that travelled to Fethard to pay their respects from the four corners of Ireland and overseas, such was the popularity of the man.

Frank grew up in Jossestown, but spent most of his adult life in Dublin. He always retained strong ties with his native county and was very actively involved with the Tipperary Supporters Club and with his good friend, Babs Keating, who spoke so eloquently to the gathering of relatives and friends after the funeral.

Sports played a huge role in Frank’s life. As a young man he played with his local club, Moyle Rovers, and was very proud to have played on the junior football team that won the Tipperary South and County championships in 1959. He also wore the blue and gold jersey for the Tipperary minor football team. Passionate as he was about Gaelic games, he was equally passionate about horse racing and motor sports.

Frank worked all his life in the motor trade, winning the Bosch European ‘Salesman of the Year Award’ in the late seventies when he worked for Bosch Ireland. He later branched out on his own and formed, ‘Motorway’ in Blanchardstown, which he owned and ran with his daughter Ruth and his sons Derek and Gerard. He sold this business on to the Halfords Group last year, who also own 402 stores across the UK and Republic of Ireland, but stayed on as their Irish representative for another year.

A colleague recently described Frank as, “one of life’s true gentlemen”. Twenty-two years ago Frank gave up alcohol and since then had spent much of his time helping  others who had a problem with drink. He was always available to chat, coax or coerce members of what he referred to as, “the coffee club”, especially if one of the members felt like going back on the jar.

A chance conversation with a friend got Frank involved with Alice Leahy’s Trust charity for the homeless in Dublin. Many of Alice’s clients were also members of Frank’s ‘coffee club’ over the years. When Frank made his mind up to do something, he did it, and so the Trust Golf Classic was born at Slievenamon Golf Club in 2003. It has gone from strength to strength over the years and this year will be even stronger as Frank’s friends have vowed to make it bigger and better in his honour.

Frank will be sorely missed by his partner Annette, his daughter Ruth, his sons Gerard and Derek, his family and large circle of friends.  Interment took place in Calvary Cemetery. (VM)

At 'Loudest Whisper' Gig

Photographed at the 'Loudest Whisper' gig in Butlers Bar last weekend are L to R: Colm Hackett, Mary Morrissey, Noreen Morrissey, Danny Morrissey and John Lillis. Danny Morrissey, formerly from St. Patrick's Place, and his wife Mary, live in Fermoy and travelled to Fethard to hear the band.

Fethard GAA Club News
In our county league game on Sunday last in Fethard our under 21 football team played Eire Og, coming out on the wrong side on a scoreline, Fethard 0-4 (0-3) to Eire Og 4-12 (3-3). The team was: Glen O’Meara, Darragh Corbett, James Smyth, Connie O’Flynn, Mike Kelly, Alan Burke, Paul Kenny, Jamie McCormack, William O’Brien, Darren O’Meara 0-3f, Richard Gorey, Shane Aylward, Ronan O’Meara, Damien Donovan, Paul Kenrick 0-1f. Subs used were: John Leahy, Christopher Sheehan and Liam Frewen. Next Sunday 26th February, we play Golden in Fethard at 12 noon.

Best of look to our under-21 team who play Ballingarry in Killenaule on Saturday, 25th February, at 3.30pm. Extra time will be played in the event of a draw.

The South Board Draws for 2006 were: Senior Football v Carrick Swans; Intermediate Hurling 1st Round v Ballyneale; Junior A Football v Ballingarry; Junior B Football v Killenaule; Junior B Hurling v Kilsheelan; Under 21 Football v Ballingarry; Under 21 Hurling v Bye; Minor Football v Bye; Minor Hurling v Newcastle. The Under 21 Football starts this weekend and the Under 21 Hurling and Minor Football are next to follow with a suggested date after St Patrick’s Day.

The Lotto Jackpot of €5000 was not won. We had five match three winners last week who received €30 each: Denis O’Meara (St Patrick’s Place), Larry Keogh (c/o The Castle), Tony Maher (56 Woodvale Walk), Liam McGrath (Thurles), and Jimmy Dalton (Coalbrook). The €50 Lucky Dip winner was Joe Walsh (Two Mile Borris). The numbers drawn were: 8, 9, 17 and 28. The tickets were sponsored by Dawn Fresh Foods Fethard.

At the recent adjourned AGM and the Juvenile AGM a decision was taken to increase the promoters for our Lotto and we are requesting that any volunteers who are willing to help please contact Gus Fitzgerald, Tel: 087 2590817 this week. Thank you for your support.

Clashawley River at Watergate

View of Clashawley River at Watergate Bridge

With the White Heathers
Last Sunday’s meet at Cappagh Cross turned out to be a rather eventful sort of day. The hunting, which started out not so well, finished with a flourish. The gorse at Kylenagranagh Hill held a fox, which was not inclined to leave it. Hounds hunted him in stretches up and down the covert for almost an hour. Finally he decided to leave at the far end. Richard viewed him away and when eventually hounds were laid on, they hunted him over the top down towards the Priestown road. Turning left-handed here, they hunted to the old Dublin road where they were at fault after 15 minutes. Donnie cast them forward, right and left, but to no avail.

The large plantation near Kickham’s Tree provided an excellent run. A fox being hunted in covert was quickly away towards the Five Eyed Bridge. Hounds were away on much better terms this time and fairly flew with great cry to the plantation near Isairtkieran Cemetery. Scent in the covert seemed to be very poor and he was given best. This run was a very fast twenty-five minutes.

The Barrettstown White Heather Harriers hold a joint meet with the Jessfield Harriers in Ballingarry on Sunday next, 26th March, at 11am. Great reports are circulating on the hunting prowess of Seamus Kelly’s pack and we look forward to a great day’s sport in Ballingarry on Sunday.

Visitors to Fethard

Johnny Culligan, formerly from Market Hill, Fethard, photographed above with his wife Joy, while home on holiday from New Zealand where he has resided for the past 32 years. Johnny was last home in 1996.

Fethard Juvenile GAA Club
Fethard Juvenile GAA Club’s AGM took place on 13th February. Officers elected were Tommy Sheehan (chairman), Caroline Sheehan (secretary), and Anne Fleming (Treasurer). Games will get underway soon and training times will be confirmed for the under-12s next week. Under-16s are currently training on Tuesday night at 7pm and Sat nights at 6.30pm under Tommy Sheehan. All training will be confirmed by text.  Under-14 football training takes place on Tuesday nights at 7pm.

The Managers for teams are as follows: U-12 football, Michael Hayes and Willie Lawrence; U-12 Hurling, John Hurley and Tommy Morgan; U-14 Football, Willie Morrissey; U-14 Hurling, John Hurley; U-16 Hurling, Liam Hayes, Jim McGrath, Martin and Ian O’Connor.

Membership is now due and can be paid to the managers at training. Those not paid up will not be covered by insurance and therefore will be unable to play. Anyone wishing to know more details can contact the secretary on Tel: 086 1713502.

‘Wahoo’ for the Abymill

Wahoo members L to R: Frances O'Hanlon, Michael O'Grady, John Bermingham, Billy Carrigan and Evan Grace. Also in the band is Billy Barron. The musicians will perform in the Abymill Theatre on Friday 3rd March at 8.15pm.

Posters have been appearing all over town bearing the strange name, ‘Wahoo’, above a motley bunch of musician’s images. They will perform in the Abymill Theatre on Friday 3rd March at 8.15pm. But who are they? Where do they come from? What do they play? What’s with the name?

In 2005, Mullinahone guitarist, John Bermingham, was asked to put a group together for a charity concert in the Watergate Theatre Kilkenny. He called on friends from diverse musical backgrounds to help out. Many of them had played together in various combinations over the years but never collectively as a band. The result was a magical musical experience which held a capacity crowd spellbound.

The group’s repertoire comprises both traditional, bluegrass and original material. Revolving around the Uileann pipes, mandolin, flute, banjo, guitar and piano, Wahoo seamlessly blends the old with the new. The audience are taken behind the source of songs and tunes with anecdotes and imagery. That’s where the name comes in!

In 1863, John Ryan and his brother Michael emigrated from Killenaule to the United States and they eventually settled in a little town in Nebraska about the same size as Fethard. Many years later John Ryan went on to became County Sheriff and wrote many letters to his sister in Ireland. A morsel of his legacy survived but 80 years later it was enough to send his great grand nephew on a five thousand mile odyssey from Mullinahone in search of the Sheriff.

Through a mixture of luck and perseverance John Bermingham found the final resting place of his great grandmothers brothers in Wahoo Nebraska. An instrumental  piece of music composed in their honour conjures up images of their adopted home on the American frontier and its plaintive melody will be one of the pieces featured in the Abymill concert.

Recently two of the group’s members John Bermingham and Evan Grace entertained the Fethard Historical Society at their ‘Tipperariana Book of the Year’ presentation. The same two musicians swap their guitars for football boots every Wednesday night to line up out with the Fethard Badgers Soccer Team. One wag was heard to comment, “I hope they’re not so slow on stage”.

John Bermingham from Mullinahone has appeared many times in the Abymill as guitarist for the Hogan Musical Society and for Marian Gilpin’s Patrician Presentation Secondary School shows. He has enjoyed many sessions with the Fethard ‘Pheasant Pluckers’ and lists John Shortall among his earlier musical influences.

The other members of ‘Wahoo’ are: Evan Grace from Piltown, Co. Kilkenny, a multi instrumentalist who sings, plays guitar, mandolin and banjo. Evan travels extensively throughout Europe and is fast making a name for himself in a variety of musical genres.

Billy Carrigan on Uileann pipes from Clara, Co. Kilkenny, played for many years in Liam Lawton’s orchestral group.

Billy Barron originally from Ballingarry is well known in the Fethard area. Billy plays electric guitar and flute and has been dazzling audiences for many years with his deft finger work.

Michael O’Grady, another Kilkenny man and veteran of the showband era, is a pianist and keyboard player. Michael was a founder member of the band ‘Tweed’, sings the blues and weaves a magical tapestry with the haunting collaboration of keyboards and pipes.

Frances O’Hanlon from Cloneen has appeared many times on stage with the Sliabh Na mBan Musical society in a variety of lead roles. She can interpret songs from many different styles of music and put her own unique stamp on them as well as layering the other songs with subtle harmonies.

Mike wins €10,000 Community Lotto Jackpot

Mike Burke, Redcity, Fethard, winner of the Fethard & Killusty Community Lotto Jackpot of €10,000. L to R: Joan O'Donohoe, Fethard Community Office; Jimmy Connolly, Treasurer, Fethard & Killusty Community Council; Mike Burke, €10,000 jackpot winner; Philly Kenny, seller of the winning ticket who received €1,000, and Maura Ryan, Fethard Community Office.

Congratulations to Mike Burke, Redcity, who won the €10,000 Fethard & Killusty Community Lotto Jackpot on Wednesday 15th February. Mike is a great supporter of the community and was a popular winner of this Jackpot. Previous Jackpot winners were Phil Tobin, Fr. Tirry Park, and Paddy Cooke, St. Patrick’s Place.

The numbers drawn were: 7, 11, 22 and 23. The winning ticket was sold by Philly Kenny, The Green, who received €1,000 sellers prize.

The three €50 Lucky Dip winners were:

Gretta O'Dwyer, Red City, Fethard
John Russell, Drangan
Maura Trehy, The Green, Fethard

Next weeks Jackpot will commence at €5,000 and the Jackpot sellers prize will commence at €500.