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Gortnahoe & Glengoole

The late Canon James Power
The death has occurred on Monday 9th March of Canon James Power, retired parish priest of Fethard & Killusty Parish.

Reposing at Holy Trinity Parish Church from 3pm to 7pm on Tuesday 10th March, followed by Mass.

Requiem Mass at 3pm on Wednesday 11th March followed by interment in the adjoining cemetery.



Community Council AGM Cancelled
As a mark of respect for the late Canon James Power, the Fethard & Killusty Community Council's AGM, due to take place on Tuesday 10th March, has been postponed until Tuesday 24th March at 8.30pm in the Tirry Community Centre.

Prayer for Lent at Presentation Convent
Why not make some space for prayer and quiet time during the season of Lent. All are welcome to come and pray with others in the Presentation Convent chapel on Monday, 9th, 16th and 23rd March at 7.30pm.

Died Recently
The death has occurred on 4th March of Mr Ajay Mehta, Ferrybank, Carlow, and formerly from The Valley, Fethard.

Reposing at McCarthy’s Funeral Parlour from 5pm to 6.30pm on Saturday 7th March followed by removal to Holy Trinity Parish Church Fethard.

Requiem Mass at 12.30pm on Sunday followed by burial in Calvary Cemetery.

Famine Service at Magorban Church

Photographed at the Annual Famine Service held during Lent in Magorban Church of Ireland are L to R: Terence O'Malley, Dean Philip Knowles and Patricia O'Malley.


Photographed at the Annual Famine Service at Magorban Church are L to R: Jim Trehy, Alice Walsh, Patrick Walsh and Billy Kingston


Photographed at the Annual Famine Service at Magorban Church are L to R: Suzanna, Amy and Rebecca Lalor.


Photographed at the Annual Famine Service at Magorban Church are L to R: Petronelle Clifton Brown, Anne Wilkinson, Margaret Kingston and Bronwen Carlin.


Photographed at the Annual Famine Service at Magorban Church are L to R: Richard Craig White, Rosemary Lalor, Patricia O'Malley and Terence O'Malley

Fethard GAA Club News
The County Senior & Minor Football Leagues continue and on Sunday last in Monroe our team put in a good performance in coming away with a share of the spoils on a scoreline, Fethard 0-6, Moyle Rovers 0-6. Our upcoming game on this coming Friday, 6th March, against Moyne Templetuohy takes place in Moyne at 8pm under lights.

The Nationalist Awards have taken a new departure this year with recipients, referees, and the general public attending under one roof on March 14th Sat at 8pm in Hotel Minella. Tickets at €50 may be booked from any club officer, strictly before 5pm on Monday 9th March.
The Intermediate Hurling County League will commence on 15th March with the South U21 B hurling championship also starting shortly.

Our U21 football season has come to an end and we would like to thank all those who gave their best during the few weeks
Please mark Friday 27th March in your diary, when our club, in conjunction with the Ladies football, will hold the presentation of medals for the 2008 Intermediate Hurlers and Junior A footballers in Slievenamon Golf Club. Tickets available from any club officer.

Fethard & Killusty Community Council
A Church Gate Collection for Fethard & Killusty Community Council will take place weekending 7th and 8th March in the parish. Your support is very much appreciated.

The Community Council will hold their Annual General Meeting on Tuesday 10th March at 8.30pm in the Tirry Community Council. All are very welcome to attend.

New Bebo Page for Fethard Youth Centre

A Bebo page has also been set up where members can get all the latest information on the Youth Café and meet other members. The address is: www.bebo.com/FethardY

Leader Training for Fethard Youth Centre
Fethard Youth Centre will commence a four session training course for adult volunteers and leaders on Wednesday 11th March at 8pm at the Youth Centre. This course is highly recommended for all volunteers willing to get involved in the running of Fethard Youth Café. The course will be run over four weekly sessions facilitated by Cora Horgan of Tipperary Youth Services.

The Youth Café will be open for members on Saturday afternoons from 3pm to 5pm for the time being while renovations are still taking place. Teenagers aged 14 to 19 are welcome to come along on Saturdays and register for membership. We will also accept applications from teenagers aged 13 years or attending 1st Year in Secondary School for limited membership available on special nights, to be decided at a later date.

Intending members are asked to bring along a €5 registration fee and proof of age. Membership forms are available from the Community Office in Barrack Street, Newport’s Newsagency, Patrician Presentation Secondary School and can also be downloaded from the Fethard website. CLICK HERE FOR MEMBERSHIP FORM

Fethard ICA Meeting
The monthly meeting of Fethard ICA Guild for March takes place on Tuesday next 10th March at the usual time of 8pm. We have a very interesting speaker on the night, Monique Cremer, representing the NaturaSleep company. Monique will demonstrate her natural pure wool products and talk about the benefits of her products in aiding a good nights sleep. Monique's visit to other Guilds has been very well received. The Red group are in charge of catering on the night.

Backroom Sessions presents Philip Donnelly

Philip Donnelly plays the popular ‘Backroom Session’ this month in McCarthy’s on Saturday 14th March. Philip spent many years as a top session guitarist in Nashville, playing and recording with the likes of Johnny Cash, the Everly Brothers, Townes Van Zandt, Nanci Griffith and John Prine. He became the only non-American to be offered a job in Elvis Presley’s band, only to be denied the job due to Elvis’ untimely death. Philip’s gigs are as entertaining for his stories as much as his music. Tickets for the event are available from McCarthy’s.
Future acts booked to play the ‘Backroom Sessions’ include Frankie Lane and Arty McGlynn with his wife Nollaig Casey.

HSE Community Games Quiz
Just a reminder that the County Final of the U-14 Quiz will take place in the Presentation Secondary School, Mitchell Street, Thurles, this Friday night, 6th March, at 7.30pm. Areas may send as many teams as they wish to this event, which comprises of a panel of 6 – team of four with two subs – but subs are optional. Competitors must be U-14 years old on 31st July, 2009, and must reside in the Parish. Teams cost €6 each and may be all girls, all boys or mixed.

Do get your pals together and have an enjoyable evening out. There will be ten rounds of ten questions – one picture round and nine rounds of general knowledge with one question concerning Community Games in each round. Medals will be awarded to the first three teams, with the first two teams going forward to the HSE National Finals in Athlone on the weekend of 22nd to 24th May.

Art and Model Making
County finals of Art and Model Making events will take place on Saturday, 4th April, in the Community Centre in Gortnahoe. Age groups for art are U-8, U-10, U-12, U-14, and U-16 boys and girls. Age groups for Model Making are U-10, U-12 and U-14 boys and girls. U-16 Model Making will be introduced on the national programme next year, 2010. All children interested in the Fethard and Killusty Area are please asked to get working on their entry as soon as possible as the closing date for area finals is Friday, 13th March. Entries will be collected in all schools on that day or may be handed into the Community Games Office on or before 13th March. Fee is €2 per entry.

Day Care Centre Table Quiz

Winners of the Fethard & District Day Care Centre Table Quiz for the second year in succession at Butler's Sports Bar are L to R: Denis O'Meara, Gerry O'Dwyer, Kevin O'Dwyer and John Lacey.


Photographed at Fethard & District Day Care Centre Table Quiz at Butler's Bar are L to R: Maureen Guirey, Helen Guirey and Brian Guirey.


Photographed at Fethard & District Day Care Centre Table Quiz at Butler's Bar are L to R: Conor McCarthy, Michael McCarthy, Orla Nagle and Geraldine McCarthy.


Photographed at Fethard & District Day Care Centre Table Quiz at Butler's Bar are L to R: Jimmy Roche, Mary Danaher, Johanna Corbett, Mary Fitzgerald and Des Martin.

Credit Union ‘Information Evening — a positive move
Fethard & District Credit Union held an ‘Information Evening’ in the Tirry Community Centre on Tuesday 24th February at 7.30pm. The purpose of the meeting was to secure an agreement from the large number of shareholders present regarding the ‘transfer of engagements’ with Clonmel Credit Union.

Effectively this means that Clonmel will be taking over Fethard but the office in Fethard will not be closing, although it may have more variable opening hours. Mr. Ciaran Bishop, Business Unit Manager, Irish League of Credit Unions, along with Ms Marian Gilpin, President Fethard & District Credit Union, addressed the assembled shareholders and answered any questions that were put to them.

This move is a positive one, which will extend the options available to local members. The entire process is expected to take approximately six months to complete.

Fethard Ladies Football Club
Fethard Ladies Football Club will hold a meeting for U-14 and U-16 players in the GAA Dressing Rooms on this Thursday night, 5th March at 7.30pm. Please make a big effort to attend this meeting. The club is presently recruiting players in all age groups.

The Ladies Football Club is honoured to be associated with Sinead Delahunty and Barbara Ryan both of whom brought home All Ireland medals to Fethard last year. Both girls began their career with the club and, who knows, it may be your opportunity next.

Training will commence on this coming Saturday morning, 7th March from 11am to 12.30pm for all age groups. Please come along and be a part of this up and coming sport.

A Sponsored Walk is planned to take place on Easter Sunday, 12th April commencing at the Town Hall at 12.30pm. Cards are now in circulation for this fund raising event to help defray the annual expenses of running the club which can be very high. We are again appealing to your generosity to give us whatever support you can. Many thanks to all who have supported us to date.

Anybody interested in joining the club please contact Club Secretary, Joseph Keane at 052 31719.

South Tipperary Heritage Plan Public Meeting
Have your say on the Heritage of South Tipperary by attending a public meeting in Fethard on Thursday 12th March at 8pm in the Tirry Community Centre.



South Tipperary County Council and the South Tipperary Heritage Forum have started the process of developing a revised Heritage Plan for South Tipperary, to run from 2010 to 2014.

All interested individuals and groups are encouraged to take part in the participation process, to help identify heritage issues and needs at a local and regional level and to propose and discuss actions to address issues locally. Written submissions are invited and should be received by Friday 1st May 2009.

The Heritage Officer is also available on request to meet with groups or individuals on a one-to one basis, to discuss any issues relating to the Heritage Plan and to assist in the preparation of submissions.
Heritage is defined as including: monuments, archaeological objects, heritage objects, architectural heritage, flora, fauna, wildlife habitats, landscapes, wrecks, geology, heritage gardens and parks, and inland waterways.

For further information, contact Labhaoise McKenna, South Tipperary Heritage Officer, South Tipperary County Council, County Hall, Clonmel. Phone 052 613482.

Invitation to view ‘Black Gold’ at Tipperary Institute
All are invited and welcome to attend a screening of the film ‘Black Gold’ at Tipperary Institute on Friday 20th March at 8.30pm. The film, when reviewed by the Daily Telegraph stated, “Remarkable - a moving but scandalous story. Black Gold has extraordinary power!” As westerners revel in designer lattes and cappuccinos, impoverished Ethiopian coffee growers suffer the bitter taste of injustice. In this eye-opening expose of the multi-billion dollar industry, Black Gold traces one man's fight for a fair price.

Fethard and District Rugby Club
Our under-11s and 12s travelled to Kilfeacle to participate in a Blitz along with Dungarvan. Our under-12s took Kilfeacle in the first game and both teams produced a great Muster style game of rugby that finished in a draw. This was the hardest game of rugby our under-12s encountered all season and they responded magnificently to the challenge pulling off great tackles and running in five great tries. Kyle Walsh scored two, Tommy Anglim scored one, Shane Cleere scored another and James Harrington who worked extremely hard throughout was rewarded with his first try for the Club. Kieran White was also very good on the day as were all his teammates who put in personnel best performances.

Our under-11s then played Kilfeacle and ran in three great tries in the first half to lead by three tries to nil at the break. Kilfeacle upped their game in the second half when a combination of Fethard complacency and some hometown decisions conspired to beat Fethard on a score line of five tries to three. Ben Murray and Darren Prout were the scorers for Fethard with all the team playing exceptionally well, particularly in the first half.

A combination team of the under-12s and 11s then took on Dungarvan and won by five tries to one with Fethard doing all the scoring in the first half and Shane Cleere, Ciar O’Connell, Darren Prout and Kyle Walsh getting on the score sheet. All our young players did us proud today playing great rugby and should face Cashel and Thurles with confidence next week.

Great turnout for ‘Fairtrade’ evening

As part of their Challenge to Change project, Fethard Nano Nagle National School hosted a Fairtrade and Sharing Fair Sale in the school on 24th February. The sale was a huge success due to the great support and generosity shown by the local community. Several hundred people attended the sale and purchased over €2,000 worth of products on sale at the event.


The Good Shepherd Sisters from Waterford were delighted with their sale of ‘Sharing Fair’ products which well exceeded €1,000. This money will go a long way in countries where a family of four can live on the equivalent of €2 a day.


The Fairtrade range of goods were also very popular, especially the chocolate, teas, coffees, juices and luxury hampers. Hopefully the enthusiasm and zeal of the pupils involved in the Challenge to Change project will carry well beyond Fairtrade Fortnight and spark a new awareness for purchasing Fairtrade goods whenever possible.


Nano Nagle School would like to thank all who helped plan the event and all of those who supported Fair Trade on the night and ‘Made it Happen!’


Marianne Shortall (left) looking at some of the 'Sharing Fair' goods on sale from Mary Walsh at the Nano Nagle 'Challenge to Change' sale at the school. Marianne also coordinated a beautiful shop window display of Fairtrade goods on Fethard's Main Street to highlight the availability of Fairtrade products in our local shops.




Photographed at the Nano Nagle National School's 'Challenge to Change' project highlighting the sale of Fairtrade and 'Sharing Fair' goods are L to R: Carly Tobin, Aimee O'Donovan and Róisín McDonnell.




Photographed at the Nano Nagle National School's 'Challenge to Change' project highlighting the sale of Fairtrade and 'Sharing Fair' goods are L to R: Ms Denise Meehan, Niamh O'Meara, Molly Proudfoot, Ms Lorraine De Lacey, Hanna Tobin and Ms Rita Kenny.




Photographed at the Nano Nagle National School's 'Challenge to Change' project highlighting the sale of Fairtrade and 'Sharing Fair' goods are L to R: Aine Proudfoot, Jane Morrissey and Kiya Burke.


Photographed at the Nano Nagle National School's 'Challenge to Change' project are L to R: Mary Butler, Alice Butler, Fr. Tom Breen P.P., Mary Shanahan and Lucy Butler.


Photographed at the Nano Nagle National School's 'Challenge to Change' project are L to R: Katie Butler, Shannon Dorney, Kelly Keating, Jessie McCarthy, Emma Keating and Chloe Burke.


Rita Walsh tries on a 'Sharing Fair' hat for size.


Photographed at the Nano Nagle National School's 'Challenge to Change' project highlighting the sale of Fairtrade and 'Sharing Fair' goods are L to R: Laura Ryan, Kelly Keating, Jessie McCarthy and Katie Butler.

Photographed at the Nano Nagle National School's 'Challenge to Change' project highlighting the sale of Fairtrade and 'Sharing Fair' goods are L to R: Jennifer Rice, Kate Quigley and Eboni Burke.


Ms Maureen Maher busy serving at the Fairtrade sweets and chocolate stall.


Photographed at the Nano Nagle National School's 'Challenge to Change' project highlighting the sale of Fairtrade and 'Trade Fairly' goods are L to R: Fintan Rice, Mary McCarthy, Ann Darcy and Laura Rice.


Photographed at the Nano Nagle National School's 'Challenge to Change' project are L to R: Annie Prout, Emma Walsh, Jane Morrissey and Anastasia Blake.


Well done to the teachers and pupils of Nano Nagle National School's 'Challenge to Change' project for highlighting Fairtrade and 'Sharing Fair' products in Fethard and in doing so also helped less fortunate people living in our world receive a fair price for their work.

Hunting News
Drawing up towards Killusty, from Loughcopple, on Monday, hounds had a short circle from ‘The Carrigeen’. Finding in Ms Power’s, they ran across the road by the slippery bank and to ground in the river. During this hunt, car and foot followers were given the opportunity to see a stag at bay. A deer disturbed during the hunt, probably surprised at the crowd on Loughcopple Bridge, stood in the river at the Islands just above the bridge. Having attempted to butt a hound which came a bit close he travelled upstream towards the Castle.

An interesting fable is an explanation given for how Fethard got its name. The story goes, as a deer being pursued by hounds took refuge on a cleft high up on a stone quarry, onlookers are said to have exclaimed, “Féach ar an Fíodh Árd” (look at the high deer), and the name stayed with us, or so the story goes. The official Fethard crest shows a stag at rest on a small knock or hillock under some trees.
Monday’s hunting concluded with a fast forty minutes from Quinlan’s. Over the Tailor’s Boreen the fox ran to the point-to-point course, crossing the road here, right-handed again through Shanballard, almost to Annsfort. Re-crossing the road below the railway bridge, he again swung right to Prout’s, checking here for the first time following a good cast they hit the line once more. Crossing the road again they ran through Murphy’s to the old railway line at Carrigeenseamróg where they lost him.

From Delaney’s Cross, on Thursday, hounds did not find on the left of the road back to Rathroe, near Killenaule. Crossing to Monslatt they found immediately. Running to the plantation on Flanagan’s Hill, over the slate quarry they ran through here and right-handed to Kylenahone. Crossing the lane they ran through Maradyke, across the road through Earlshill. Swinging left here they ran to Kennedy’s Hill, over the Ballynonty / Glengoole Road and to ground on the boundary hedge on the Ballynonty end. This was a very fast run with the field doing their best throughout to keep in touch. The gorse and covert on Knockanure Hill held a brace. Following good covert hunting they had one away on the far end. Scent had deteriorated a lot but hounds stuck well to their task. The foot-followers who remained on Knockanure had a wonderful view of some excellent hound work as hounds worked the line down through Maradyke Hills and to ground in Ballynonty Covert.
Foxes were hard to come by from Poulmucka on Saturday. They did, however, leave two brace to ground. A circle from the Lagoons and back to ground in the covert and a quick twenty minutes from Ms Claire Ryan’s in the afternoon finished the day.

Fethard & Killusty Community Lotto
The numbers drawn on 25th February were 12, 24, 26 and 31. We had no Jackpot winner and one ‘Match 3’ winner who received €150:
David Kane, c/o Rita Kane, Kerry Street, Fethard.
The three following Lucky Dip winners received €50 each:
Nicky O'Shea, Tullow, Fethard;
Darren O'Donohoe, Rochestown, Cork;
Mary Kenrick, Burke Street, Fethard.
Next week’s Jackpot continues at €10,000 and the Jackpot sellers prize is €1000.

Cheltenham Preview to mark Ladbrook’s opening
A Cheltenham Preview and party night will be held at Lonergan’s Bar on this Thursday night, 5th March, to pre-celebrate the official opening of the new Ladbrooks Betting Office which takes place on the following morning, Friday, 6th March. All are welcome to this party night with prizes and great music supplied by the fabulous ‘Wise Guys’.

The legend Luke Kelly
Chris Kavanagh and The Patriots will perform the legend of Luke Kelly in Cloneen on Sunday 15th March, and by all accounts, this is a show not to be missed if you are a Luke Kelly fan. This guy really has an uncanny resemblance to the late great Luke Kelly and rattles off all his songs including the favourites, Raglan Road, The Rare Oul Times, Monto and many more. This two and a half hour gig is a wonderful night’s entertainment. Tickets for the gig are only €10 and can be had by ringing 086-0834208.

'Hens' finish up at Butlers
Bride to be, Sue Gaskin, photographed with friends at her 'hen party' that ended up at Butler's Bar, where they stopped off on their way travelling from Cloneen to Clonmel.