All-Ireland Champions
Congratulations to Fethard Patrician Presentation Secondary School who won the All-Ireland Volleyball final on 10th December. The team is: Sarah Hayes (captain), Sarah Conway, Carrie Sweeney, Mary Anne Keane, Lisa Anglim, Louiza Lima, Samantha Morrissey, Aisling Dwyer, Sarah O’Meara, Myra Nagy, Jean Anglim, Gráinne Horan, Lesley Looby, Laura Rice and Niamh Fanning (currently injured).
Class of 1994
A facebook group has been set up for members of the class of 1994. So if you were a class member at any stage please log on and join the group. We currently have about 20 members and are getting a few more all the time. We have organised a class reunion for the back room in McCarthy’s on 26th of December so if you are around come in for a few drinks and a catch up. Pass the word around to anyone you are still in contact with and hope to see ye all on the 26th.
Killusty Parents Association
Killusty Parents Association have organised a bag pack in Dunnes Stores, Davis Road, Clonmel on Thurs, Fri, Sat the 18/19/20 Dec to raise money for Killusty school funds. We are looking for volunteers to help out for a few hours over the 3 days. Anyone interested can contact any of the parents at the school.
Album Launch at the Abymill
Aidan Ward will launch his second album ‘Stones’ at the Abymill Theatre on Saturday 27th December. The album features fourteen top class musicians, including fellow Fethard man, Keith Colville, who was drafted in on bass and guitars.
Aidan has been playing all over Europe for the past two decades. Germany was his base for most of this time, but he has relocated to Ireland in the past few years, settling in Clifton in the heart of Connemara.
Aidan has come a long way since he bought his first guitar and forced sounds out of it under the guidance of his next door neighbour, musician John Shortall. He then fell in with a motley crew known as Space Related, a young Fethard band, a few of whom were competent musicians combined with a few chancers who just wanted to be in a band. Aidan and fellow band member Eddie Sheehan went on to record both as solo artists and with bands over the years and forge careers in the music industry.
The life of a wandering musician has its highs and lows and Aidan has had his fair share of both. This journey has given him the inspiration for his songs which have made it onto his two albums. Tickets for the gig in the Abymill are €10 and are available from McCarthy’s in Fethard. Support on the night is by Jack O’Sullivan, and who knows, maybe the members of ‘Space Related’ might get together for a song after 25 years if they’re all in town!
Carol Singing in aid of the Santa Bear Appeal
The annual Carol Singing in aid of the CRC (Central Remedial Clinic) will take place on Thursday 18th December, assembling at the Town Hall at 7.30pm. The CRC helps people in Ireland with disabilities realise their full potential. Please lend your support by looking out for Santa Bears on sale locally in shops.
From Nashville, Omagh and the Lee Valley
Music fans in Tipperary are in for a rare treat, when Jim Rooney, Mick Daly and Arty McGlynn play a gig in McCarthy’s in Fethard coming soon after Christmas.
Jim Rooney is doing a small tour of Ireland with his friends Mick and Arty. Jim is a highly rated producer from Nashville who has worked on Grammy nominated albums with John Prine, Iris De Ment and Nancy Griffith. He is probably best known to Irish audiences for producing Mick Hanly’s song ‘Past the Point of Rescue’ for Hal Ketchum which went to number one in the USA.
Mick Daly is already known to Irish audiences as one of the founder members of The Lee Valley String Band, who reached a new audience last year with their inclusion on RTE’s ‘Other Voices’. Mick was also one of the founder members of ‘Four Men and a Dog’, as well as one of the ‘Mary Black Band’.
Arty McGlynn is one of Ireland’s most popular and sought after guitarists. He has played with Planxty, De Dannan as well as most of the top Irish performers, such as Paul Brady and Christy Moore and spent seven years as a member of Van Morrison’s band in the eighties.
This rare musical treat will take place in McCarthy’s on Friday 16th January. The venue is small (back room in the bar), so it is advisable to purchase tickets early. They are €20 each and limited to 50. Call to McCarthy’s or ring 086 8119625.
St Vincent de Paul
The local conference of St. Vincent de Paul would like to thank most sincerely everyone who contributed to the church gate collection in the parish last weekend. The amount collected was a staggering (and record breaking) €2,753.42 for which we are truly grateful.
If anybody who has applied to us for Christmas help and has not heard from us by Friday 19th December please feel free to ring us and let us know. Out phone numbers are 31852, 31698 and 31354, all 052 prefix.
Room Three!
A Fethard man was sitting in his front room watching the television when he heard the key turn in his front door. This was normal in the said house. The key is always in the front door. The visitor proceeded through the next door and was heading for the stairs, when the gentleman watching the telly enquired which one of his family was passing, as any of his siblings would usually stick their head in the door to say hello as they passed.
“I’m okay”, said a voice back to him, “I’m in room three”.
“You’re not okay then”, came the reply, “You’re in the wrong feckin’ house!”.
The gentleman opened the door to greet the stranger who was on the way to room three. He then opened the front door and showed the stranger the door that he should have taken, which was the B&B next door.
Santa in Fethard
Santa Claus arriving at Lonergan's in Fethard where he will meet children on next Sunday afternoon from 2.30pm to 5pm. Photographed with Santa are Laura Stocksborough, Andrea Carroll and David Stocksborough.
Children will have the opportunity to meet Santa in Fethard on Sunday next 14th December and the following Sunday 21st December when he visits the ‘Winter Wonderland’ at Lonergan’s Bar on The Square from 2.30pm to 5pm. Who knows . . . it’s one of the few places you can be guarenteed a ‘White Christmas’!
Fethard Day Care Centre
Fethard & District Day Care Centre would like to thank all their sponsors and all who contributed in making their Christmas Bazaar a great success.
Spiritual Preparation for Christmas
Advent is a time of spiritual preparation to celebrate the real meaning of Christmas.
Put some time aside for prayer and personal reflection during this time by joining in an hour of prayer at the Presentation Convent at 7.30pm on next Monday evening 15th December. This is our last night of prayer before Christmas so please encourage your family and friends to come along as well. All are welcome.
Three Beer Monsters Syndicate
Congratulations to the ‘Three Beer Monsters Syndicate’ - a.k.a. Val O'Dwyer, Jason Nevin and Eoin Doyle, whose greyhound ‘Malibu Sooty’ won in Clonmel last Thursday night. The ‘Monsters’ lived up to their name by celebrating in various local hostelries following Sooty’s win. Continued success to all!
Hunting News
Drawing down through Ballinlough towards Jossesstown, from Lisronagh on Monday, foxes were difficult to find in this area usually holding well. After hunting a circle from Slievenamon Golf Course to the Killerk-Donoughmore Road hounds moved to Orchardstown. Finding in the glen they hunted across the road swinging left-handed by Orchardstown House they ran to Donoughmore where they lost him. The covert at the Ha’penny Bridge proved blank. They finished the day with a short hunt in Mr. Bill Carroll’s.
Hounds did not find in Golden until they reached the Old Quarry, on the Suir banks, putting him quickly to ground. Moving on to Cloughleigh Hills where they had some good hunting around the gorse coverts on the Quarry Hill and at the Radio Mast. From Ballinahinch on Thursday a good day was enjoyed. Drawing below the Cashel Road they found in Con Ryan’s, hunted down to Kelly’s where they lost him across the road by Mr Tim Hyde (Jnrs.) Stud Farm they put to ground by Ballinahinch Castle. Crossing the road at Kelly’s they found again in O’Dwyers. They hunted very well down to Ballygriffin. Running a right-handed circle their fox ran back to O’Dwyers where they caught him. At Mr John Thompsons, Kilmore, they found near the house. They ran through Kilmore where they caught him heading towards Lasna Wood. At the wood hounds found quickly and were hunting well in the wood where they were stopped in failing light at 4.15 after a good day.
Rugby Club Christmas Social
Photographed at Fethard Rugby Club's Christmas Social are L to R: Catherine Pratt, Lucy Townsley, Gillian Collier, Kylie Woodham, Sophie Wall and Melissa Stokes.
Photographed at Fethard Rugby Club's Christmas Social are L to R: Polly Murphy, Tres Abbott and Jack Malone
Photographed at Fethard Rugby Club's Christmas Social are L to R: Jacqueline and James Hayde, Pat and Aileen Walsh.
Photographed at Fethard Rugby Club's Christmas Social are L to R: Finola Anglim, Beatrice Dolan, Margaret O'Donnell and Margaret Gleeson.
Photographed at Fethard Rugby Club's Christmas Social are L to R: Deirdre Grace, Mary Shanahan and Mary Tierney
Thanks for your support!
Sr Winnie wishes to thank most sincerely all those who helped in any way to make the recent bazaar in aid of the Presentation Sister’s Mission in Zimbabwe a huge success.
The knitting club members proposed and planned the event and were busy preparing for many months as were members of the ICA whose help was also enlisted.
To each and all, together with the ticket sellers, those who supported on the day, and those who gave generous donations, ‘sincere thanks!’ Almost €2,400 will be sent to Zimbabwe at the end of December.
With the White Heathers
Having put back their meet at Ballyluskey on Sunday last the Ballyluskey White Heathers on arriving at the meet still too much bone in the ground for hunting. Deciding to give the hounds an exercise run in Whelan’s plantation they hunted for thirty minutes when Donie decided to call it a day. The Ballyluskey White Heather Harriers meets for the Christmas period are as follows: Sunday 14th December, Fethard (Kerry St. Car Park); Sunday 21st, Peppardstown House; December 26th, St. Stephen’s Day, Drangan and Sunday 28th, Loughcopple.
Winners in the White Heather Harriers December monthly members and friends draw were: 1st Prize (€200), Mr Dan Cummins, St. Patrick’s Place and 2nd Prize (€100), Ms Catherine O’Flynn, Woodvale Walk. Next draw on Tuesday 6th January. Subscription €5.
New Hairdressing Salon
Good wishes and best of luck to Ms Stephanie Culligan who has moved her hairdressing business from The Green to a state-of-the-art Salon at Main Street. Surely there is no excuse now for the ladies of Fethard district not being the best groomed, and dressed, ladies in the county if not the country. Main Street now boasts no less than four ladies hairdressing salons, two beauty parlours and a very high class ladies fashion boutique.
Vintage and non-vintage welcome in Moyglass
Coolmoyne and Moyglass Vintage Club are having their Christmas Party in The Village Inn in Moyglass this Saturday 13th December. All are welcome, you don’t have to be a member of the Vintage Club. You don’t even have to be vintage yourself to come along and enjoy this free night of music, food and craic. But you must of course be over 18. If you are lucky enough to look younger, please bring ID!
Community Games Book out now
The long awaited book ‘History of Community Games in County Tipperary 1968 to 2008’ was launched last week in Horse and Jockey Hotel and is currently on sale in the following shops in Fethard: Newport’s Newsagents Main Street, Meagher’s Londis Kerry Street, and Kenny’s Centra Supermarket The Green, at the modest price of €10. This publication would certainly make a nice little gift for Christmas and is well worth reading. It has all the results from 1970 to date from all National finals.
Tom Butler, Coolanure, was there in 1970 with local competitors Richard Fallon, Pierce Dillon, Conor Lonergan and Ger Maher. There is an interesting photograph of the girls volleyball team who won gold medals in 1974. Patrick McDonnell won a silver medal in the shot putt in 1975. It appears Fethard and Killusty area held their own all down the years with competitors in Athletics, Art, Model Making, Gymnastics, Judo, Swimming, Boys and Girls Volleyball etc. The book also contains numerous photographs and is certainly a trip down memory lane. Make sure you get your copy now.
Shea Family at Cloneen Graveyard
Today I came across the Cloneen Graveyard Survey posted on the Fethard site and saw that No. 43 had two Philip Shea listed.
I've been looking where I could contact someone to do some research for me in that area but haven't found anyone so far. I've traced my ancestors back to Philip Shay born c. 1774 in New York or New Jersey, USA. All census records list him and his descendants (until the last century) as Irish. In my research, I've been told that Philip is not a common Irish Christian name and was also pointed in the direction of County Tipperary. Most families carry the paternal name so this looks like a good place to start looking. To your knowledge, is there any place where I can find out more about the Shea family buried at the cemetery you have surveyed. Any direction you can provide is much appreciated. Thank you, Connie Shay (email: connielynnshay@hotmail.com)
Burncourt and Fethard Water Supply Schemes approved
Deputy Mattie McGrath is delighted that the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Mr John Gormley, T.D. has today December 3rd, approved South Tipperary County Council’s design review proposals for the Burncourt and Fethard Water Supply Schemes.
Both schemes are being funded under the Rural Towns and Villages Initiative measure of my Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2007 – 2009, at a combined cost of €15.3 million. The works to be undertaken will include the construction of new water treatment plants, new service reservoirs, the development of existing and new water sources and ancillary services and some networks improvements to boost the water supplies in the south east and west of the county.
The objective of the Burncourt and Fethard schemes is to produce and deliver good drinking water, provide adequate storage and ensure that the distribution system is adequate to supply the whole region. These schemes will greatly improve the quality and reliability of the water supply serving large areas of South Tipperary and will provide a much better level of service to all consumers, as well as catering for future development.
Extra Christmas Prizes for Fethard & Killusty Community Lotto
From Wednesday 3rd December Fethard & Killusty Community Lotto will be giving extra prizes for 3 weeks. We will hold 3 free draws for turkeys and 3 free draws for hams each week for tickets entered. The last lotto draw before Christmas will be on Wednesday 17th December. We take a two week break over Christmas and the New Year and resume on Wednesday 7th January. Our thanks to everyone who has supported the lotto throughout the year and we look forward to your continued support in 2009. We would also like to specially thank our online players at home and away. It is great to see people who have moved on still supporting their community.
The numbers drawn on Wednesday 3rd December were 7, 12, 27 and 32. We had no Jackpot winner and one ‘Match 3’ winners who received €150:
Noelle Doyle, Woodvale Walk, Fethard.
The three €50 Lucky Dip winners were:
Marie O'Sullivan, Main Street, Fethard
Alice Quinn, Burke Street, Fethard
Eileen White, Drangan
The three ‘Christmas Ham’ winners were:
Liam Foran, Strylea, Fethard;
Monica O'Shea, Woodvale Walk, Fethard;
Pat Looby, The Valley, Fethard.
The three ‘Christmas Turkey’ winners were:
Noel Maher, Barrack Street, Fethard;
Tom Delahunty, c/o Tom Purcell;
Kitty O'Donnell, Slievenamon Close, Fethard.
Next week’s Jackpot continues at €10,000 and the Jackpot sellers prize is €1000. You can now play our lotto online from your own computer by visiting fethard.com |