Opening Meet Tipperary Foxhounds

Huntsman Derry Donegan and Masters of the Tipperary Hunt making their way through Fethard's Historic North Gate

A record mounted field of 125 riders turned out on The Square, Fethard, on Monday last for the opening meet of the Tipperary Foxhounds, where the traditional Stirrup Cup was provided by Michael and Josephine O’Hagan, with at least double that amount of car and foot followers.  Following an address of welcome to all by Mr. Pat Maher MFH there was a joint blessing of the pack and followers by V. Rev. Fr. Breen PP and the Rev. George Knowd the hounds led by huntsman Derry Donegan and first-whip David Niven moved off to the traditional first draw at Rocklow.  The bog at Leahy’s Bridge proved blank, but the small covert at Ballybough held.  A fox from here ran through Aiden Mahers, John Halleys and Nevilles to the old Kilnockin Racecourse.  Drawing back through Rathvin which was blank hounds found in the screen at Rathcoole entrance.  This fox provided an excellent run to The Stables at Rocklow back through Rathcoole to the long Grove by the river where the bitch pack rallied him around it with great cry.  Facing him out at the top they simply flew to Powers Wood.  Hounds then hunted back from here to Ballintemple.  The main covert at Rocklow held a fox, which quickly got to ground.  One of a brace at Ardsallagh gate was hunted strongly back to Derryluskin where he got to ground, just ahead of hounds in the big badger sett.  A Short run from Prospect to the Barrettstown Cross-Redcity road concluded a top class days hunting in glorious weather.

‘Tosach maith leath na h-oibre’, so says the old Gaelic sean-fhocail.  If this is correct the Tipperary Foxhounds provided a very good start to the 2006-2007 season.  The new huntsman received many good wishes and good luck messages from the followers present on Monday.  Here’s hoping for many good days between now and the end of the season!

With the White Heather Harriers
The Ballyluskey White Heather Harriers concluded their Autumn Hunting at Crohane on Sunday last where foxes were in very short supply.  The historic White Heather Harriers, which are mentioned in Charles Kickham’s Knocknagow, hold their opening meet in Drangan on Sunday next, 5th November at 11am.  The members and friends monthly draw takes place in the Archway Bar on Tuesday night 7th November. Winners in the October draw were: 1st Prize – Conor Duggan, Drangan; 2nd Prize – Patricia McCormack, Ballyvadlea.

November Cemetery Rosaries
The rosary will be recited during the month of November in the following cemeteries:- Sunday 5th - Abbey Church, 3pm, and Everardsgrange, 3.30pm; Sunday 12th – Calvary, 3pm, and Peppardstown, 3.30pm; Sunday 19th – Rathcoole, 3pm, and Redcity, 3.30pm, and Sunday 26th – Killusty, 10.30am; Kiltinan, 3pm; Kilmaclugh, 3.30pm, and Tullamaine, 4pm.

County Heritage Day
An idea that was pioneered by the Fethard Historical Society in Fethard a few years ago is this year being held in Cahir, on Saturday 4th November, and the Society is recommending that people interested in Tipperary heritage should go along and enjoy the day.  The event, organised this year by the South Tipperary Community and Voluntary Forum, is being funded by Tipperary Leader and thus attendance is free to all participants. 

While the focus of the Fethard day was ‘Local History in Tipperary’, the Cahir event will concentrate on ‘Architecture in Tipperary’, and, for example, the Dovecote Project in Cahir will be outlined by Joe Walsh. The South Tipperary Heritage Plan will also be launched, and at three o’clock there will also be a Heritage Walk around the town itself. People should arrive at the Castle by 9.45am and all are welcome.

Unofficial World Record

Card player Sean Walsh, checking the map for his next venue in his attempt to qualify for the Guinness Book of Records by playing cards at a record number of venues.

Congratulations are due to Sean “Glamour” Walsh who, last week, achieved his target of playing cards in 200 different venues. He now has to present the paperwork to the Guinness Book of Records to have his achievement verified, and if nobody else has laid claim to the title, Sean will hold the title for playing in the most venues in the World. As this will take some time, he has decided not to stop travelling to venues that he has never played before, and thus he will increase his record with each visit.

So don’t be surprised when you open next year’s Guinness Book of Records at the entertainment section and see, alongside the Beatles, Elvis and other legendary record breakers, the face of Sean “Glamour” Walsh smiling out at you. Maybe it’s time for Sean to live up to the glamorous image and get ready for the big time. Get the white suit out Sean . . . it’s showtime! (—N Gawe)

The Well Golf Society
We had our second last outing of the season last Sunday at Cahir Golf Club and it proved to be our best attended event.  The format for the day was a champagne scramble and our members responded with some vintage displays.  With only three points seperating the top six teams, the handicap secretary nearly got it spot on.  Mind you, I said nearly, there is still a bit of fine tuning to be done!

The results are as follows:
1st place: Joe Corbett, Sean McGreevy and Colm McGreevy.
2nd place: Shay Coen, Tony Aylward and Des Delahunty.
3rd place: (B9) Patsy Hartigan, Sean Aylward and John Phelan.
Nearest the pin: Des Delahunty and Mary Kenrick.

Our thanks to Cahir Golf Club for the use of their course which despite the recent adverse weather, was in excellent condition.  Thanks also to their patient club members who allowed us the extra time that we needed.  Thanks to Mary Stakelum and Joe Corbett for all their help, and last but not least, to our chief organiser Michael Kenrick.

Our final outing of the year takes place on Sunday December 3rd at Slievenamon G.C. with a 12 noon tee-off.  As previously stated, only society members who have played at least one outing this season are eligible.

Halloween Fancy Dress

Contestants pictured at the Halloween Fancy Dress Party held in Butlers Sportsbar on Saturday 28th October.  Front Row L to R: Marianne Shortall, Fiona Dorney, Anne Browne (Winner) & Joan Carroll.  Back Row L to R: Tony Maher, Majella Lonergan, Helen Needham and John Shortall.

Fethard and Killusty Community Lotto Results
The numbers drawn on Wednesday 25th October were 6, 20, 22 and 23. There was no Jackpot winner and three ‘Match 3’ winners who received €50 each:
P.J. Holohan, Abbey Street, Fethard
Maria Clavin, c/o Kevin Barrett, Redcity, Fethard
Larry Keogh, c/o Butlers, Fethard

The three €50 Lucky Dip winners were:

Maria Murphy, Coleman, Fethard
Mark Leahy, Garrinch, Tipperary Town
Thomas Shine, Monroe, Fethard.
This weeks Jackpot is €7,950 and the Jackpot sellers prize is €795.

Fethard Ballroom
Social and Ballroom Dancing classes, conducted by Maurice O’Connell, continue in the Ballroom, weekly on Thursdays at 8.15pm.

Fethard & District Rugby Club
Our under 16’s played host of Waterpark on Sunday morning last and those of us who were there were entertained by Rugby played with great intensity and great skill from both sides.  It was end-to-end stuff with both teams being denied at the line on a number of occasions by tremendous defending.  The tackles being put in were of the Thomond Park variety, and the tackle of the day award must go to Damian Barry, this young Drangan man displayed such skill, bravery and tenacity, that one would imagine he was playing rugby since kindergarten.

Our first score came on 15 minutes, when our forwards rucked and mauled from the halfway to release the backs, when an inspired piece of thinking from Shane Kavanagh found Adrian Lawrence with a beautiful Ronan O’Gara style cross field pass to send him in at the corner.  Adrian narrowly missed the connection.  We were then subjected to ten minutes of continuous Waterpark pressure but Fethard stood strong and denied them a score.  A penalty yielded us a line out on their 25, our hooker Kevin Hayes found Colm Dunne in the line out and the ensuing maul saw Joey Kelly flash across the line for our second try.  This was Joey’s best game at No. 8, working extremely hard all day, his team play, support play, attacking play, defensive play, was faultless throughout.  Adrian narrowly missed the conversion, we broke at half time with a ten point advantage.

Waterpark really piled on the pressure in the second half, and were literally parked on our 25 for the remainder of the game, our lads defensive work was tremendous on the day and Jonathon Fleming impressed with a number of very effective tackles to keep Waterpark repulsed.  Kevin Hayes and Andrew Kelly both of whom played very well, were substituted by Mark O’Sullivan and Michael Power, the fresh boys helped galvanise our forwards who were soaking up most of the pressure.  Our props Stephen Heelin and David Hall had a tremendous game and proved their strength throughout, never yielding an inch to this big Waterpark pack. 

Waterpark did breach our defences with ten minutes remaining, following one of the few poor decisions by our lads on the day, when they opted to run from deep within our half rather than seek the safety of touch.  With encouragement from their coaches however, our lads were not going to yield this one up, and from the kick off our team attacked which yielded a penalty that was duly converted by Adrian Lawrence.  Our lads tails were up now, and our next attack saw quick ball from our scrum half and captain William Power flash across the backline to release Johnnie Moroney, who had the maturity of thought on crossing the line at the corner to touch down under the posts, giving Adi an easier conversion.  The final score was Fethard 20 – Waterpark 5.  The coaches were very pleased with this win seeing it as a great team performance, but as coaches do they see tremendous room for improvement particularly with on-field decisions and the intensity of the tackling from the forwards.  These improvements can only be made with the full squad at training every Tuesday and Friday night.

Club News
A Table Quiz to support these fine Rugby Players is being held on Thursday 31st November in Martin Burke’s Bridge Bar.  Great to see so many parents at the match, if each one of you organised a table the Quiz would be a great success…(that includes you Grandad Pat!)  Our first club constitution is drawn up and will be ratified at an EGM, tentatively fixed for Thursday 23rd November.  Rumour has it that a trips may take place in the New Year to England and Wales . . . watch this space.  Our friends from Badeau, in Wales visit us over Easter.  Senior Club membership s now being accepted, application forms are available from club Officers. 

Fethard GAA News
In the Junior A Football South Semi Final played last Saturday, we had a lot to do going down 7 points in the final quarter. We nearly pulled it off, only to loose in the end by a single point on a scoreline, Fethard 1-7, Ardfinnan 2-5. The team was: Ronan Maher, Paul Hackett, Diarmuid Burke, Connie Flynn, Michael Carroll, Alan Phelan, Ronan Allen, Damien Byrne 0-2, Kevin O’Donnell, PJ Morrissey 0-1, Jason Nevin 0-4f, Richard Gorey, Paul Kenrick, John Fitzgerald 1-0, Shane Aylward. Subs used were: Shane Kenny and Alan Burke.

In the Senior Football Relegation Match we’re down to play Killenaule in Golden on Wednesday 1st November at 8pm. Congratulations to Aherlow on winning their first County Senior Football title since becoming a senior team in 1996 and the best of luck in the first round of the Munster Club Championship against Fr Caseys (Limerick). Aherlow appeared in four county finals, losing to Fethard in 1997, 2001, and to Commercials in 2003.

Our Lotto Jackpot of €2400 was not won. The numbers drawn were 7, 19, 21, 22, with four match three winners of €40 each to Mike Conway (St Pats Place), Edel Fitzgerald (Kiltinan), Tom Purcell (Burke St), Sean Kelly (Rathvin). The €50 Lucky Dip going to Theresa Walsh (Ballypatrick).

The previous week’s numbers were 1, 12, 13 and 21. There was no match three winner with the  €50 Lucky Dip going to Kate O’Shea (Woodvale Walk), and €30 each to Mary Newport (Congress Tce), Catherine Kearney (The Green), Dick Fitzgerald (St Pats Place), Marie Smith (The Well), and Mike Shine (Fethard).

The lotto results of two weeks ago were, numbers drawn, 4, 9, 19 and 27. €75 each to Con Doyle (Woodvale Walk), John Walsh (c/o Premier Foods Thurles) and the €50 Lucky Dip going to Frank Coffey (Burke St). All tickets were kindly sponsored by Harringtons Developments

Our sincere sympathies are at this time with the McCormack Family (Monroe) on the death of Tom. Go ndeanai trocaire ar an ainmeachta.

Fethard Players stage ’12 Angry Men’

Fethard Players cast photographed at rehearsal of their production of "12 Angry Men" which will be staged in the Abymill Theater from Sunday 12th November to Saturday 18th November, with the exception of Thursday 16th November. Tickets are €12 each with a special priced Family Night on Monday. The play starts at 8.15pm and tickets can be booked at O'Flynns Menswear, Fethard. Tel: 052 31254 or 087 1338961. Back L to R: Tommy O'Brien, John Fogarty, Joe Hanley, Anne McGrath, Colm McGrath, Marian Gilpin. Front L to R: Angela Dillon Whyte, Gerry Fogarty, Mary O'Connell, Anne Connolly and Jimmy O'Sullivan. Also in the cast are Liam O'Connor and Eoin Whyte.

Fethard Players will stage their production of "12 Angry Men" in the Abymill Theatre from Sunday 12th November to Saturday 18th November, with the exception of Thursday 16th November. Tickets are €12 each with a special priced ‘Family Night’ on Monday. The play starts at 8.15pm and tickets can be booked at O'Flynns Menswear, Fethard. Tel: 052 31254 or 087 1338961. The play, using a mixed cast, is produced by Austin O’Flynn.

12 Angry Men is the gripping, penetrating, and engrossing examination of a diverse group of twelve jurors (mostly middle-aged, white, and generally of middle-class status) who are uncomfortably brought together to deliberate after hearing the 'facts' in a seemingly open-and-shut murder trial case. They retire to a jury room to do their civic duty and serve up a just verdict for the indigent minority defendant (with a criminal record) whose life is in the balance. The film is a powerful indictment, denouncement and expose of the trial by jury system. The frightened, teenaged defendant is on trial, as well as the jury and the American judicial system with its purported sense of infallibility, fairness and lack of bias. One described how the workings of the judicial process can be disastrous: "Life is in their hands — death is on their minds! It explodes like 12 sticks of dynamite."