St. Patrick’s Day Mass

Fr. Tom Breen P.P. photographed with assistants after St. Patrick's Mass in Holy Trinity Church Fethard L to R: Charlie Manton, Allanah Coady, Katie Butler, Tommy Anglim, Fr. Tom Breen P.P. and Harry Butler.

There was a great turnout for St. Patrick’s Day Mass at Holy Trinity Parish Church on Tuesday morning last. The traditional childrens’ choir from Nano Nagle National School and St Patrick’s Boys School, accompanied by organist Goldie Newport, sang the Irish hymens in great voice throughout the ceremony. Fr. Tom Breen P.P. officiated and thanked the parishioners sincerely for their tremendous support and generosity following the recent death of Canon Jim Power, who will be dearly missed in the parish. He thanked Tossie Lawton, Canon Power’s housekeeper, for her many year’s dedicated service to Canon Power and to John Barrett for his help in transporting him to and from the church services as required.


Scout leader Bobby Phelan receiving a surprise presentation at St. Patrick's Day Mass in Fethard to mark his long time service to scouting in Fethard. L to R: John Cloonan (Cub Section Leader), Michelle Hammond (Scout Assistant), Philip O'Donnell (Scout Leader), Bobby Phelan (Group Leader), Dermot Culligan (Scout Leader), Mike McCarthy (Scout Leader) and John McCarthy (Scout Leader).

The mass was also attended by the local Boy Scouts troop, now in their 22nd year. A special presentation was made during the mass to long serving scout leader, Bobby Phelan, marked by generous applause. The local Girl Guides, Brownies and Ladybirds were also in attendance with their leaders and Fr. Breen thanked both groups for their support and appearance every year at St. Patrick’s Day mass.

We also wish all our readers a very Happy St. Patrick's Day!


Scouts and Cubs from the 27th Tipperary (Fethard & Killusty) Catholic Boy Scouts of Ireland photographed with leaders at the St. Patrick's Day Mass held in Holy Trinity Parish Church Fethard.


Fethard Brownies photographed at the St. Patrick's Mass in Holy Trinity Church Fethard. Back L to R: leaders Teresa Hurley and Catherine O'Donnell. Front L to R: Amy Brophy, Noelle O'Meara, Sara Slattery, Sally Nagle and Shannon Thompson.


Fethard Ladybirds photographed at the St. Patrick's Mass in Holy Trinity Church Fethard. L to R: Rose O'Donnell, Jennifer Phelan, Alison Connolly, Megan Hackett, Laura Kiely and Sinead Reagan.


Fethard Guides photographed at the St. Patrick's Mass in Holy Trinity Church Fethard. L to R: Molly O'Dwyer, Amy Tynan and Theresa Hurley (leader).


Photographed after St. Patrick's Day Mass in Fethard are L to R: Ann Heverin, Nellie Shortall, Catherine O'Shea and Rita Kenny.

Fethard Volleyball news
It’s been a great year so far for Fethard Patrician Presentation Secondary School volleyball teams at all levels, following the success of the senior girls’ team in the all-Ireland finals earlier this year.
Congratulations to the girls’ Cadette team (photographed below) who played in the All-Ireland finals on Thursday 10th March. Unfortunately, despite a valiant effort, they were beaten by an extremely strong Naas team on the day. Following a nervous start, the Fethard girls made comeback after comeback in the second set but could not inch ahead of the Naas team who held out in the end at 25-20. Well-deserved All-Ireland silver medals were received by: Aisling Dwyer (capt), Jane Kenny, Jean Anglim, Brigid O’Reilly, Katie Coen, Fiona Crotty, Jane Fitzgerald, Kelley Coady, Kelly Fogarty, Rebecca Fogarty, Niamh McGrath, Mary-Ellen O’Reilly, Hayley Ellis and Daiana Adamchek.



Fethard Junior girls progressed this week to the All-Ireland Junior A Cup quarterfinals, having played teams for Dungarvan, Tramore, Naas, Newbridge and two teams from Presentation Kilkenny in their previous rounds. They now face the top Leinster qualifier from Dublin in the next 10 days or so in a knockout for semifinals. Panel: Deirdre Dwyer (c), Daiana Adamchek, Lucy Butler, Hayley Ellis, Emma Hayes, Karen Hayes, Mary Ellen O’Reilly, Aobh O’Shea, Katie Baker, Aisling Costin, Christina Myler, Michelle Walsh, Tara Horan and Lyuba Novikova. Reserve panel: Sveta Novikova, Chloe Byrne, Molly O’Dwyer, Lucinda Carroll & Emma Morrissey.

The Junior Boys likewise reached the quarter finals in the Junior “A” cup, having played teams from Dungarvan, Mallow and Thurles in their qualifiers. They now face two teams from Dublin plus a return game against Dungarvan which, should they win, will see them qualify for the All-Ireland Semifinals on April 5th. The panel are: Dion Butler, Dylan Cahill, Dylan Fitzgerald, john Paul Fitzgerald, Ronan Fitzgerald, David Hayes, Brian Healy, Gerry Horan, Cathal Hurley, Michael McCarthy, James Maher, Adam O’Donnell, & Sean Whyte.

St. Patrick’s Night Draw for Hospice

Making the draw at the Fethard Hospice Support Group's St. Patrick's Day raffle held at The Castle Inn were L to R: Denis Burke, Kathleen Coen and Irene Sharpe.

Fethard Hospice Support Group wish to thank everybody who supported their draw held at the Castle Inn on St. Patrick’s Night in aid of South Tipp Hospice. The total amount raised will be published next week and is believed to be well in excess of €4,000. The draw winners are as follows: 1st Prize €250, Pat Morrissey, Cappaghmore, Cloneen; 2nd Prize €150, Mary O'Connor, Cloneen; 3rd Prize €100, Denise Condon, Ballynattin, Mullinahone; 4th Prize Box of Chocolates, Robert Kennedy, Ballyneale, Carrick-on-Suir; 5th Prize Easter Egg, Niall Prendergast Burnchurch, Killenaule.


Photographed at the Fethard Hospice Support Group's St. Patrick's Day raffle held at The Castle Inn were Back L to R: Paddy Anglim, Brud Roche, Noel Sharpe, Kathleen Coen, Mattie McGrath TD, John Pollard. Front L to R: Irene Sharpe, Kathleen Connolly and Caroline Hall.


Photographed at the Fethard Hospice Support Group's St. Patrick's Day raffle held at The Castle Inn were L to R: Josie Prendergast, Mattie McGrath TD, and Declan Prendergast.


Photographed at the Fethard Hospice Support Group's St. Patrick's Day raffle held at The Castle Inn were Esther Breen and Willie Fitzpatrick.

Nationalist GAA Awards 2008
Our congratulations go to Paul and Aiden Fitzgerald, Kiltinan, for their unique achievement in receiving Nationalist Player of the Year Awards for 2008. Paul received the Footballer of the Year and Aiden received the Intermediate/Junior Hurler of the Year at the awards night held last Saturday March 14th in Hotel Minella before an attendance of over 250. This was a great honour for the Fethard GAA Club and also a first for brothers to receive the award on the same year in its 31 years history. With particular poignancy the brothers’ uncle, John Keane, also received the Footballer of the Year award in 1979, thirty years ago.

Other Fethard football award winners were Abe Kennedy (1978), Dinny Burke (1983), Michael O’Riordan (1984), Michael Fitzgerald (1991), Willie Morrissey (1997 and 2001) and Aiden Fitzgerald, creating his own record of his award as he also won it in 2006. It was a great night for family, parents Gus and Josie Fitzgerald, brother John and sister Edel, uncle Davy, friends and all those club players and supporters who attended the presentation and had a very enjoyable evening.

We also extend our sincere congratulations to Christopher Aylward (Clonmel) who received the Intermediate/Junior Footballer of the Year 2008. Christopher is a grand child of John & Kathy Aylward, Roebucksland, Grove, Fethard.

Celebrating birthday at Lonergans

Celebrating Mandy's birthday and the pre-St. Patrick's Day celebrations in Lonergan's Bar on 16th March were L to R: Laura Lyons, Alice Feery, Sinead Lee, Lorraine Feery, Wendy Allen and Mandy Allen.

Fethard GAA & Ladies Football Medal Presentation 2008
Presentations of medals will take place at a function to be held on Friday 27th March in Slievenamon Golf Club. Tickets are available at €10 from Jimmy O’Shea (Chairman), Mary Godfrey (Secretary), Nicky O’Shea (Treasurer), Patsy Lawrence (Vice Chairman), Gus Fitzgerald (PRO) or from Ladies Football committee members, Joe Keane and Thomas McCarthy.

There was no jackpot winner in the GAA Sports Lotto. The numbers drawn were 7, 21, 23 and 28. We had three ‘match three’ winners of €50 each to: Martha Williams (Killusty, Fethard), Arthur Daly (St Patricks Place, Fethard), Jimmy Connolly (Main St, Fethard). The €50 Lucky Dip was won by Josie Fitzgerald (Kiltinan, Fethard). We thank AIB for providing the tickets.

Our game in the County Senior Football League against Thomas McDonaghs due to be played this weekend is called off as our opposition has now withdrawn from the County League.

Fethard beat Arravale Rovers in Intermediate Hurling

L to R: Tom Keane (Fethard) and Arravale Rover's goalkeeper Thomas Gleeson in the Intermediate Hurling League 'B' Round 1 game between Fethard and Arravale Rovers played in Fethard.


Christopher Sheehan (Fethard) hitting towards goal in the Intermediate Hurling League 'B' Round 1 game between Fethard and Arravale Rovers.


Fethard's Johnny O'Halloran breaking through with the ball


Fethard's Aidan Lonergan striking the ball


Fethard's Shane Walsh winning the ball.


Photographed at the Intermediate Hurling League 'B' game between Fethard and Arravale Rovers in Fethard are L to R: Jim McGrath and Martin O'Connor.


Photographed at the Intermediate Hurling League 'B' game between Fethard and Arravale Rovers in Fethard are L to R: Rebecca McCarthy, Jessie McCarthy, Annie Prout and Megan McCarthy.

Fethard Youth Café volunteer training
Fethard Youth Café volunteer training continues on this Thursday night, 19th March, at 8pm when Cora Horgan and Catherine Doyle from Tipperary Regional Youth Service will undertake the second night’s training module on ‘Running a Youth Café’. The topic last week, delivered by Pauline Cummins (Youth Officer), was on ‘General Policy’ which covered rules, recruitment, health and safety, incident reporting, bullying, equality and anti-racism. We had fifteen adult volunteers attending: Bobbi Holohan, Joe Kenny, Marian Noonan, Tina Conran, Fiona Cleverley, Rita Kenny, Brian Sheehy, Marie Murphy, Edwina Newport, Kyle O’Donnell, Irene Sharpe, Paul Shanahan, Ger Manton, Brud Roche and Kathleen Connolly. New adult volunteers are very welcome to come along on this Thursday night and missed training sessions can be also undertaken at a later date.

The Youth Café will be open on Saturday afternoons from 3pm to 5pm while renovations are still taking place. We expect to start officially opening on some weekend nights within the next few weeks, when it will be strictly ‘Members Only’.

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

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.

Community Council AGM
Fethard & Killusty Community Council's AGM, will take place on 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 next Monday, 23rd March at 7.30pm.

Catex Chef Awards for Michael
Congratulations to Michael Kearney, Head Chef in Kellett’s Restaurant in McCarthy’s, on his recent awards in the Catex Exhibition in Dublin. Michael was on the team representing Chefs from the South East of Ireland, members of the World Association of Chef’s Society, in the competition for international awards. The competitions took place at the RDS in February, with over 500 chefs competing in the various categories. Michael was the overall winner in the senior pasta category, runner up in the Irish chicken and Irish pork category and was highly recommended in the game section. He also took the overall hygiene award for his kitchen.

Michael previously won an International gold medal in the venison category. Michael has just celebrated his first year as proprietor of Kellett’s. Well done once again to Michael on his awards.

Fethard & Killusty Community Lotto
The numbers drawn on 11th March were 7, 8, 11 and 13. We had no Jackpot winner and two ‘Match 3’ winners who received €75 each:
John Maher, Kilnockin Road, Fethard;
Danny Croke, Killenaule, Thurles.
The three following Lucky Dip winners received €50 each:
Pat Brett, Drumdeel, Fethard;
Paddy Ryan, 22, Alden Grove, Douglas, Cork;
Pat Brett, Drumdeel, 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.

Fairtrade ‘Black Gold’ film 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 traces one man's fight for a fair price in this eye-opening expose of the multi-billion dollar industry.

This is a follow up to Fethard & Killusty Community Council’s recent introduction to Fairtrade and Transition Towns and is hosted at Tipperary Institute by Mathew Mather as part of a Transition Town program. There will also be a short meeting and informal discussion after the meeting. Again, all are welcome to come along.

Fethard & District Day Care Centre AGM
The annual general meeting of Fethard & District Day Care Centre will take place on Thursday 26th March at 8.30pm in the Tirry Community Centre. We invite all to come alone and in particular new volunteers willing to help and get involved in the many wonderful services provided for the elderly in our parish by the Day Care Centre. For further information contact Geraldine McCarthy at (052) 32917.

Talk for Adults and Parents
A talk for all parents and interested adults on ‘Personal Safety – Internet & Mobile Phone Safety’ will take place on Monday 23rd March at 8pm in the Patrician Presentation Secondary School, Fethard. The topics addressed on the night include: (a) Our changing world and culture; (b) Teenagers and technology / mobile phones; (c) Language and terminology; (d) Benefits and disadvantages of the internet; (e) Social networking online phenomena e.g. Bebo, YouTube; (f) Internet safety; (g) Advice for parents.

The presenter for the evening is Ms Anne Jones, Regional Development Officer, South East SPHE (Social, Personal and Health Education) Support Service. For further information contact Anne Dwyer on 086 2043803.

Donnelly Dazzles
Guitarist Philip Donnelly showed the capacity crowd in the latest Backroom Session in McCarthy’s why he is regarded as one of Ireland’s finest guitarists. Philip entertained the audience for over two hours with songs and stories from his career which has spanned the decades since he started out in Dublin in the 60s. He has graced the stage and studio with many legends of world music, including Johnny Cash, Emmylou Harris, Townes Van Zandt, and as he said himself at the gig, Fethard’s own ‘Pheasant Pluckers’ whom he first jammed with in McCarthy’s over 20 years ago.

Philip was joined for a few songs by Shay Fitz who plays with him in their band, Foul Play. There were rumours that Philip’s good friend John Prine was going to make a surprise guest appearance, as he had done only two nights previously in Kinvara, but unfortunately it proved to be just a rumour. Not that it mattered as the audience were more than satisfied with Philip’s skill on the guitar and his humorous ‘gift of the gab’ between songs.

Philip has promised to return later in the year for a special outdoor gig to celebrate the Summer Solstice. We look forward to his return.