Coolmore Family Day

'Molly Flowerpot' talking to Alex and Amy Roche at Coolmore Family Day held on 16th June 2007. CLICK HERE FOR MORE PHOTOGRAPHS

Died Recently
The death has occurred on Wednesday 4th July of Liam Connolly, St. Patrick's Place, Fethard. Reposing at McCarthy's Funeral Parlour from 6pm on Friday 6th July. Removal at 8pm to Holy Trinity Parish Church Fethard.

Requiem Mass takes place at 11am on Saturday 7th July followed by interment at Calvary Cemetery.

Summer Camp for Youths (12 to 15 year olds) - Book Your Place Now
Fethard Community Youth Project and Tipperary Regional Youth Services are joining forces to promote a Summer Camp for young people aged between 12 and 15 years of age.  This camp will take place during the last week of July (Tuesday 24th to Friday 27th) in the Sports Centre and other locations in Fethard.

The main focus of this summer camp will be the preparation of a Medieval-themed act to be performed at the Fethard Medieval Festival later in the summer on Sunday 26th August.

Now, before you say ‘Bah! History’, let us tell you this will be a summer camp full of possibilities: creating & wearing medieval costumes, making & using medieval weaponry, writing scripts and re-enacting battles.  And that’s only the ‘history’ bit!  There’s also bowling, a fun-sports day, a treasure hunt, remote-control cars, a barbeque and more. 

Application forms for this camp are available from the Community Office, Barrack Street and Newport’s Newsagents, Main Street.  Closing date for completed forms is Friday 13th July.  We advise that places on this camp are restricted to twenty-five which will be allocated on a first-come-first-served basis. 

This promises to be an exciting and interesting project, make sure to get your name in on time.

New Community Alert Group

Fethard's new Community Alert Committee elected at a public meeting on Thursday 28th June. Back L to R: Margaret Slattery (joint-treasurer), Sgt. Sean Sherlock, Crime Prevention Officer & Community Alert Advisor, Garda Liam Tobin (Fethard Station and Liaison Officer), Diana Stokes (joint treasurer). Front L to R: Margaret Quinn, Community Alert Co-ordinator, South-East Region; Cllr John Fahey, Chairman South Tipperary County Council; and Michael O'Dwyer (Chairman).

Fethard & Killusty Community Council hosted a very successful public meeting on Thursday 28th June to establish a Community Alert Programme for the Fethard area.  This meeting was addressed by Margaret Quinn, Community Alert Co-ordinator, South-East Region; Sgt. Sean Sherlock, Crime Prevention Officer & Community Alert Advisor; Garda Liam Tobin, recently appointed Guard to Fethard Station and Cllr. John Fahey newly elected Chairman of South Tipperary County Council.  This meeting was Councillor Fahey’s first official function as Council Chairman and his attendance was greeted with warm applause.

Margaret Quinn informed the meeting that Community Alert is for everyone, it is incumbent on us all to play our part and we can all do a little in our own way. Neighbourliness is the key to Community Alert.  Margaret stated that when a Community Alert Group is in existence it give confidence to people to report incidences or situations which attract attention.  Sgt. Sean Sherlock advised that it is the small things that prevent crime.  He continued by stating that the Gardaí require the support of Community Alert groups and indeed need their co-operation.  Both speakers commented on the turnout on the night and were delighted at the attendance.  It was decided that a Community Alert Group would be established and it was agreed that everyone in attendance would become a member of the group.

Following nominations from the floor the following officers were elected: Chairman: Michael O’Dwyer, Secretary: Margaret Slattery and Joint-Treasurers: Diana Stokes and Geraldine McCarthy. 

The inaugural meeting of Fethard Community Alert Group will take place on Wednesday 11th July at 8.30pm in the Tirry Community Centre.  There is an open invitation to everyone to come along and become involved – your community needs you, help make it a safer place.  We would particularly like to see people from outlying areas of the town coming along so that the benefits of the initiative will reach out to all the community.  It is envisaged that a ‘contact person’, residing in the vicinity, will be allocated to each geographical area e.g. roadway, townsland, cul-de-sac, estate, etc. to facilitate the co-ordination of Community Alert activities. 

ICA 80th Anniversary Celebrations

Cutting the cake at the Fethard ICA 80th anniversary celebrations are L to R: Aggie Barrett, Hannie Leahy (founder member) and La Curtin.

As many will know the Fethard ICA Guild can lay claim to be almost the oldest guild in the country, Bree in Co. Wexford being, we believe, the oldest.

On Sunday 1st July, we commenced our 80th Birthday Celebrations with Holy Mass, in the Augustinian Abbey celebrated by Fr. Tim Walshe OSA accompanied by the Rev. Barbara Fryday, who read the second reading. The ceremony was much enhanced by the beautiful singing of the Abbey Choir and wonderful accompaniment on the organ.


Committee members of Fethard ICA Guild photographed at their 80th Anniversary Celebrations held in Fethard on Sunday 1st July. Back L to R: Sheila O'Donnell, Rose Holohan, Breda Slattery, Kathy Aylward, Betty Lanigan, Kay McGrath, Marie Crean. Front L to R: Anne Horan (secretary), Ann Gleeson (president), Nora-Mai Kennedy (Federation President) and Phil Wyatt (treasurer).

After Mass we adjourned to our hall on Rocklow Road where a beautiful meal was served. We had a very large attendance of present and former members of ICA with lots of opportunity for old friends to have a chat and reminisce. We were honoured to have among our guests, Federation President Mrs Nora-Mai Kennedy and Federation Treasurer Mrs Mary Quinlan. Nora-Mai congratulated the guild on being the oldest in the South Tipperary Federation and said how honoured she was to attend such a happy occasion. She presented our President Mrs Anne Gleeson with a scroll of honour to mark the occasion.


La Curtin photographed with some of her Fethard ICA Friends over the years at the 80th Anniversary Celebrations held in Fethard on Sunday last. Back L to R: Josie Casey, Phyllis McDonnell, Aggie Barrett, Celia Byrne, Kay McGrath. Front L to R: Kitty Ahearne, Kathy Aylward, Hannie Leahy and La Curtin.

For many, the highlight of the day was a return visit from La Curtin. La served as president and secretary and in many other positions within the guild over the years. It was wonderful to see La entering the hall again. We thank her most sincerely for coming, as travel for La can be difficult. We thank and greatly appreciate the assistance of Joe Kenny in helping La to be with us. A sincere word of thanks also to those who helped in any way in the preparations leading up to the event. Without such help the day would not have been possible. We now look forward to celebrating many more birthdays in the years ahead.
L to R: Marie Crean, Phil Coffey (Carrick-on-Suir) and Phyllis McDonnell showing a beautiful patchwork quilt that will be raffled at the September South Tipperary Federation Meeting.

Aussie Visitors
The Attorney General of the State of Victoria in Australia, Rob Hulls MP, was one of the many Australian visitors to Fethard in the past week. Mr Hulls, Minister for Horse Racing in Australia (among other portfolios), paid a visit to Coolmore Stud and McCarthy’s while he was in Ireland. He also has another Fethard link. His former Chief of Staff and legal advisor is a lady who was born and bred in Fethard. Mr Hulls has recently appointed her to the position of Magistrate in Victoria. Her name is Fiona Hayes, daughter of Veterinary Surgeon Denis Hayes (a brother of Joe Hayes, Rathcoole) who emigrated with his family to Australia in the late seventies.  Many will remember Fiona and her brothers Ian and Niall who lived in what is now the home of Jimmy and Sally Hayes on the Cashel Road.

A few hours after they had left town, the second group of Australians hit town. They were the connections of the Australian mare ‘Miss Andretti’ that had impressed as a winner in Royal Ascot last week.  The majority shareholder in the mare surely has Irish blood flowing through his veins as he reportedly turned down an offer of eight million for the mare (his share cost him 80,000), replying that his business was doing fine and that he led a frugal lifestyle in general . . . so he was willing to enjoy the mare racing rather than the money.

Junction Festival from 7 to 15 July

Teenagers preparing for Junction Festival Space Time Machine Project at 'Chadwicks' venue

Clonmel Junction Festival has been running since 2001 and growing every year. It is unique in its ability to bring people onto the streets of Clonmel to celebrate the wealth of cultural activity. This year's nine-day festival of art, theatre and music takes place from 7th July to 15th July in Clonmel. CLICK HERE TO SEE FULL PROGRAMME OF EVENTS

One of this year's acts is Eleanor McEvoy who play's The Posthouse venue at 9pm on 12th July. Eleanor is promoted by Pat Tynan Media. Pat, formerly from Moyglass, is now based and runs his business from Ickenham, Uxbridge, Middlesex, England.

A musician and songwriter of note, Eleanor found success in 1992. Her song “A Woman’s Heart” featured as the title song on the Woman’s Heart compilation album which has since gone on to become the best selling album in Irish history, staying in the Irish Top 10 for over a year. Since then Eleanor has gone on to become one of Ireland’s most successful female singer songwriters.

Eleanor McEvoy is one of the leading singer songwriters of her generation, she is also a fine and much respected multi-instrumentalist in both contemporary and traditional music. From her early career honed and developed in Ireland, Eleanor has gone on to become an artist and performer known for her stunning live performances resulting in a devoted world wide fan base.

Her critically acclaimed canon of work spans numerous albums, singles and appearances on a multitude of compilation albums and studio session. Today she is recognised as Ireland’s most successful female singer songwriter having enjoyed personal chart success and numerous cover versions of her own songs.

Two locals travelling to Tanzania
Carmel Rice, Brookhill, and Mary Cloonan, Killenaule Road, have very kindly volunteered to support the work of Playing for Life in Tanzania in September this year. Both will be part of a group of Irish people participating in a programme that will include the building of a community/sports centre in Arusha, south of Kilimanjaro. The group will also provide short training courses in such diverse areas as IT training, sports, bookkeeping, and chutney and jam making. Another group of Irish people will provide a short course on drama and music and Playing for Life will provide the instruments need for a brass band and jazz group for a local group.

The project is being developed in a newly created parish that is under the care of the Palatine fathers and is in a very deprived slum area of Arusha. The skills learned will be used to increase the capacity of the local community to help improve the living conditions of the parishioners. The parish is called the Esso parish and caters for between 50,000 and 60,000 people desperately in need of assistance. The provision of the centre, the short courses, and the creation of the musical and dramatic groups will enable the parish to raise funds by using the newly acquired skills, and by providing entertainment for commercial businesses in Arusha. The drama/music group will also provide a much need outlet for the energies and talents of the large number of unemployed youth of the parish.

Carmel and Mary have agreed to raise a minimum of €5,500 each to support the work of Playing for life in Tanzania. Playing for Life depend greatly upon the generous giving of time, skills sharing and financial support of people like Carmel and Mary, and urge people to assist them in reaching their fundraising target.

If you would like to know more about Playing for Life and their great work you should visit their web site, www.playingforlife.ie or Tel:  045 881607 and they will be delighted to discuss any aspect of their work with you.

Sadels Restaurant Closed

Proprietor Sadels Restaurant, Catherine O’Sullivan, photographed with customers, staff members past and present, at their closing down party last Sunday night in Fethard.

Sadels Restaurant, formerly opened in 1991 as J’s Restaurant at Lwr Main Street, closed its doors on Sunday night 1st July. Proprietor Catherine O’Sullivan was joined by customers, staff members past and present, at a farewell party to show appreciation to Catherine and her staff for their long and dedicated service to the restaurant since it first opened. The premises is owned by McCarthy’s Hotel who are now going to renovate the restaurant and incorporate it into their own pub business.

Thanks for your help
Sr. Winnie would like to thank sincerely all those who supported the Presentation Mission in Zimbabwe, through sponsoring herself and Sr. Juliana in the woman’s mini-marathon on 4th June. All those who took sponsorship cards door-to-door, to the workplace or among friends, and the generous donors, contributed in no small way to the astounding total of €3000. Over the next few months that money will bring many rays of sunshine and hope into the lives of many people weighed down at present by the oppressive Mugabe regime.

Sponsored Cycle to Lourdes 2008

Taking part in the Irish Children's Pilgrimage Cycle from Dinard in the North of France to Lourdes, a distance of approx 600 miles, are Back L to R: Brendan Kenny, Tom Quinn, Paddy Boyle, John Lonergan, Bobby Power. Front L to R: Sr. Betty Cagney, Bridget Fitzpatrick and Stephanie Keating. Missing from photo are Kevin Coffey, Eugene Walsh and Ralph Callaghan.

The Irish Children's Pilgrimage Trust was first set up in Easter 1972 by a small group of twenty-eight people. The trust covers the cost of the young people selected to travel from all over the country and each young person costs approx €900 to bring to Lourdes. In 2007 five hundred children with special needs, accompanied by five hundred adult carers, were able to take part on that special journey to Lourdes.

To help raise funds to bring these young children to Lourdes eleven locals have decided to take part in a cycle from Dinard in the North of France to Lourdes, a distance of approx 600 miles, on the week before Easter 2008.

All participants taking part in the cycle are required to raise €2,500 for the trust. With this in mind a Golf Classic has been organised for Slievenamon Golf Club on Friday 27th and Saturday 28th July 2007. A team of three will cost €150 including a meal. You can also sponsor a Tee Box for €50 or any donation you may wish to make would be appreciated. If you wish to be associated with this venture please contact Brendan Kenny at Slievenamon Golf Club Tel: 052 32213.

Died Recently
The death has occurred on Saturday 30th June of Mr Michael Tierney, Bannixtown, Fethard. Interment took place in Killusty.

The Death has occurred of Patrick ‘Paddy’ Grant, Fr. Tirry Park, Fethard. Interment took place in Kilfeacle.

Fethard GAA Club News
The senior football county championship replay with Commercials in Kilsheelan on Sunday last was a one-sided affair with Fethard winning on a scoreline 1-12 to 0-6. In so doing we are now at least in the county quarterfinal and if we win the 2007 south title would go straight into the county semifinal. Well done to all involved. The team was: Paul Fitzgerald, Damien Byrne, Michael Aherne, Ian Kenrick, Benny Hahessy, Cian Maher, Glen Burke, Aiden Fitzgerald 0-5 (2f, 2/45m), Eoin Doyle, Chris Sheehan 0-1, Stephen O’Donnell 0-1, Jamie McCormack, Conor McCarthy 0-2 (1f), John Paul Looby 1-2, Ken O’Donnell. Sub used Miceál Spillane 0-1. Our next game will be in the south championship at a later date,

Best of Luck to our players Paul Fitzgerald and Cian Maher who will be involved in the Tommy Murphy Cup starting this Saturday 7th July in Ardfinnan against Clare at 7pm.

We had a great start in the Minor B Hurling competition on Monday 26th June when we beat Skeheenarinka on a scoreline 3-17 to 1-8. The team was: Mathew Fitzgerald (Barrack St), Gavin Fitzgerald (Cashel Rd), James Kelly (Rathvin), Kieran O’Connell (Coolmoyne), Tom O’Connell (Coolmoyne), Eoin O’Connell (Coolmoyne) 0-1, Adrian Lawrence (Woodvale Walk), Dean Tobin (Woodvale Walk) 0-3 (2f), James O’Keeffe (Rathvin), Alan O’Connor (St Patrick’s Place) 1-2, Declan Doyle (Strylea) 0-1, Aaron O’Donovan (The Valley) 0-1, Kieran Ryan (Slievenamon Close) 0-2, Christopher Sheehan (Woodvale Walk) 1-7, Jonathan Fleming (Red City). Subs used: Joe Fogarty 1-0, and Michael Fitzgerald. Our next game will be played on Monday 2nd July, report next week.

The club gave a walkover to Cahir on Saturday 30th June when they were unable to field a team in Junior A Football. We implore all those who wish to play in 2007 football, other than senior, to come to the field on training nights Tuesdays and Fridays. Our next match is due up shortly.

We also expect to be out shortly in Under 21 B Hurling, check sports page for fixtures. The Intermediate Hurling against Davins is provisionally fixed for weekending 8th July. Check sports page.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of Fethard, Killusty and Coolmoyne GAA loyal supporters who are presently unwell.

Our Lotto Jackpot €5600 was not won. The numbers drawn were 9, 24, 25 and 27. We had no match three winners ao the following tickets won €30: Mary Dolan c/o Mandy Quigley (Red City), John Breen (9 Barrack St), Niamh Thompson (Woodvale Walk), Michael Ryan (Tullamaine), and Cathriona Williams (Killusty). The €50 Lucky Dip was won by Niamh O’Meara (Derryluskin).

Last week’s results were no jackpot winner and no match three winner. The numbers drawn were 11, 17, 18 and 28. The following tickets won €30 each: Willie O’Meara (Killusty), Liam O’Dwyer (c/o Erin Foods Thurles), Claire Landy (Killusty), Paul Dillon (Tullamaine), and Ger Manton (Main St). The €50 Lucky Dip was won by Claire Moloney (Red City).

We would like to thank most sincerely Clonmel Oil for providing the Tickets for the last few months.

Fethard & Killusty Community Lotto Results
The numbers drawn on Wednesday 4th July were: 20, 24, 25 and 27. There was no Jackpot winners and no Match 3 winner so three tickets were drawn and the following won €50:
Bridget Hayes, Main Street, Fethard;
Sean Evans, 6 Congress Terrace, Fethard;
Patrick Looby, The Valley, Fethard.

The €50 Luck Dip winners were:
M.J. Croke, c/o XL Stop & Shop, Fethard;
Anthony Coffey, Burke Street, Fethard;
Majella Drea, Strylea, Fethard.

Next week’s Jackpot continues at €10,000 and the Jackpot sellers prize is €1000.