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Irish Landmark Trust visit Fethard

Taking in the impressive view from Fethard’s Mural Tower are members of the Irish Landmark Trust and local representatives L to R: Tim Robinson (Fethard Historical Society), Tom O’Reilly (South Tipperary County Council's Housing Section’s Senior Executive Engineer), Cllr John Fahey; Margaret Quinlan (Consultant Conservation Architect); Labhaoise McKenna (Heritage Officer South Tipperary County Council); Mary O’Brien (Irish Landmark Trust) and Caroline Crowley (Irish Landmark Trust).

The Irish Landmark Trust has taken an interest in suitable properties in Fethard with a view to looking at their potential re-use as holiday accommodation. A local group welcomed Executive Director Mary O’Brien and Caroline Crowley from the Irish Landmark Trust and their consultant conservation architect Margaret Quinlan to Fethard on Tuesday 12th May. The welcoming committee was comprised of Cllr John Fahy, Fethard and Killusty Community Council’s representative Joe Kenny, Tim Robinson from the Fethard Historical Society and South Tipperary County Council officials — Heritage Officer, Labhaoise McKenna and Housing Section’s Senior Executive Engineer, Tom O’Reilly.



The group brought the visitors to parts of the Fethard Town Hall and to the Mural Tower in the Fethard Town Walls. The Irish Landmark Trust was interested to see the upper level of the Fethard Town Hall to examine its potential re-use as a holiday apartment. The Town Hall, also known as the Tholsel, is a medieval building dating to early 17th century and is one of the oldest surviving municipal buildings in Ireland. The Heritage Council have recently commissioned KPMG to undertake a feasibility study to find an appropriate end use for the building. An outcome such as a holiday apartment on the upper floor could potentially draw many tourists to the Medieval Town.
The visitors were very impressed with both the Town Hall property and the remarkable condition of the Mural Tower overlooking the Clashawley River in the town wall. Both are remarkable buildings with very attractive architectural features. The group also gave the visitors a run down of the various conservation projects undertaken in Fethard over the years.

The Irish Landmark Trust Ltd. was founded in 1992 with a remit to save interesting and unusual 'landmark' properties throughout the whole of Ireland and to re-use them, once restored, as good quality self-catering holiday accommodation. At its heart is the principle that the structure itself is of prime importance and any interventions must respect this.

Died Recently
The death has occurred on Wednesday 20th May of Tim O'Riordan, Barrack Street, Fethard.

Reposing at his son's residence at Killawardy, Killea, Templemore, on Thursday from 6pm to 9pm.

Requiem Mass in Holy Trinity Parish Church Fethard ot 11am on Friday 22nd May, followed by interment in Calvary Cemetery.

Badgers Table Quiz
The Badgers over 30s soccer and social club will hold a table quiz in Butlers Sports Bar on next Friday 22nd May at 9.30. All proceeds on the night will go to the Fethard Day Care Centre. So beat those recession blues by coming along on the night for a bit of fun and know that your money is going to a great worthy local cause. Beware! You may be asked to join us for more fun every Wednesday night in the Community Sports Field where we play five six or even eleven aside football, great exercise and fun.

Mick Aherne Annual Perpetual Trophy Dance
The Mick Aherne annual perpetual trophy dance in aid of South Tipp Hospice, will be held on this Saturday night 23rd May in Fethard Ballroom commencing at 9pm. There will be plenty of social dancing mixed with competitive dancing and we ask for everybody's support for this very worthy cause. Please come along, have some fun and support this great cause.

Bus Trip to Waterford Treasures and Ros Tapestry

The Ros Tapestry — After ten years in the making the acclaimed embroidered Ros Tapestries are going on display in a dedicated venue in New Ross. Teams of embroiderers gathered throughout the counties of Wexford and nearby Kilkenny to interpret the fifteen panels, researched in depth by Ann Griffin Berinstoff. Photographed above is Panel 12 Evening: The Lighthouse at Hook Head, here is one of William Marshals men overlooking the lighting of the beacon at evening tide, on the bottom right hand panel we see the ruins of the early parish church and a puffin, a native of the nearby Saltee Islands feed her young amid the sea pinks.

Fethard Historical Society still have some places available on their bus outing to Waterford Treasures and Ros Tapestry on Saturday 23rd May. If you would like to come along you can book with either Colm McGrath 086 3502360 or Dóirín Saurus 052 31936. The bus leaves from outside the Town Hall, Fethard at 10.30 sharp. The fee which includes entrance and guided tour to both museums is €25 for Fethard Historical Society members and €28 for non-members.

Off The Wall 2009 on sale

Pupils from Patrician Presentation Secondary School preparing to leave Delphi Adventure Centre after a fun packed few days. L to R: Niall Rochford, Ms Fogarty (teacher), Jane Kenny, Joseph Thompson, Jean Anglim, Tommy Sheehan, Fiona Crotty, Kelly Fogarty, Niamh McGrath and Rebecca Fogarty. The transition year pupils are now back in full swing promoting this year's edition of the school's 'Off The Wall' yearbook.

The annual publication of Fethard Patrician Presentation Secondary School’s yearbook, ‘Off The Wall’ is now on sale at the school and in local bookshops at €10 each. The Transition Year pupils, who produce the publication, took a well-earned break at Delphi Adventure Centre and are now back to promote the yearbook before their summer holidays. This year’s issue is packed with articles and full colour photographs of school classes and events. These collectors’ items are a credit to the transition year students and their editorial team who compile the information and raise funds for publication. Get your copy now!

Fethard and Killusty Parish area masses
The annual area Masses will take place soon in the parish and all are invited to come along and take part. The first Mass will take place at 7.30pm on Thursday 28th May by Fethard’s Town Wall at The Valley. On 3rd June Mass will be celebrated in Tullamaine graveyard; 10th June at Community Sportsfield (Killenaule Road); 17th June at Kilmaclugh Graveyard. All masses start at 7.30pm.

Anyone for Africa? — now is your chance of a lifetime

Over the past few years many Fethard people have experienced the trip of a lifetime travelling as volunteers to Africa with the Irish charity ‘Playing for Life’. Playing for Life is a charity founded by RTE sports personality Tracy Piggott with the aim of providing Vocational Education and Training for underprivileged people across the globe and to deliver sports programmes as a means of creating awareness of the dangers of HIV AIDS amongst young people.

This year Playing for Life has ongoing and new projects in Malawi (October), Kenya (August), Tanzania (October) and Pemba Island (July). If you would like to be part of any of the teams visiting these projects contact Seamus Hayes, Kilconnell, Fethard, Tel: 086 2307330 or seamushayes@iol.ie or visit the website www.playingforlife.ie
Playing for Life needs builders, nurses, accountants/bankers and IT trainers. Participants will be asked to raise sponsorship and be prepared to travel to one of the African countries for two weeks.

Local people who have already travelled to Africa with 'Playing for Life' include: Seamus Hayes, Maurice Moloney, Tom Anglim, Joe Kenny, Eddie Sheehan, Mary Cloonan, Larry Kenny, Nuncie O'Dwyer (Clerihan), Honor Davern (Cashel) and Adrian Dooley (Cahir).

Fethard Bridge Club President’s Prize

Fethard Bridge Club President's Prize winners 2009 L to R: Gemma Burke (President) with winners Frances Burke and Breda Walsh.

On Wednesday 13th May we played for the President’s Prize and the results were:
President’s Prize Winners: Frances Burke and Breda Walsh;
Committee Prize Winners: Alice Quinn and Berney Myles;
1st Nett: Mary Quirke and Fr. John Meagher;
1st Gross: Carol Kenny and Gemma Burke;
2nd Nett: Ann O’Dea and Rosemary Lalor;
2nd Gross: Brigid Gorey and Betty Walsh;
3rd Nett: Philly Kenny and Margaret Mary McCormack;
3rd Gross: Kay St. John and Rita Kane;
4th Nett: Carmel Condon and Brendan Kenny;
4th Gross: Nell Broderick and David O’Meara;
5th Nett: Kay Walsh and Rose Lonergan;
5th Gross: Anna Cooke and Bernie O’Meara;
6th Nett: Tony Hanrahan and Noreen Evans;
6th Gross: Annie O’Brien and Marie Delaney.
Player of the Year (O’Flynn Trophy): Carmel Condon;
Club Championship (Hayes Trophy): Alice Quinn and Berney Myles;
Individual Champion (Dick Gorey Memorial Trophy): Betty Walsh;
Improved Player (Suzanne Opray Trophy): Carmel Condon;
Lucey Trophy: Brigid Gorey and Betty Walsh.

Summer bridge continues in the Bridge Centre, Clonmel on Wednesday evenings commencing on 27th May at 7.30pm and in Ballinure on Thursdays. All are welcome.


Club Champions 2009 L to R: Berney Myles, Gemma Burke (President) and Alice Quinn


Player of the Year 2009 Carmel Condon (left) receiving her prize from Gemma Burke (President)


Winners of Lucey Trophy 2009 L to R: Gemma Burke (President), John Lucey who presented the trophy, winners Brigid Gorey and Betty Walsh

Fethard and Killusty Community Games
Area Athletics will take place in the GAA Park on this Saturday, 23rd May at 2.30pm. Events are for boys and girls U8 60 and 80m U10 100m and 200m; U12 100m and 600m; U14 100m and 800m; U16 100m and 1500m. All competitors must be under the age specified on 31st July, 2009. Medals will be presented to 1st, 2nd and 3rd in each event with the 1st and 2nd in each race qualifying for the County Finals which will take place in Templemore on Sunday 14th June. Entry Fee is €2. There will also be a race for children U6 and over 4 and special race for tots U4.

New Arrival

Congratulation to Ada and Roger Mehta on the birth of their baby daughter Adrianna. Roger is photographed below with fellow musician Seamus Hayes who also has his hands full with his three month old girl Iris.

Fethard Juvenile GAA Club News
We are delighted to offer our members the facility of the VHI Cúl Camp this year. This camp will run from 24th to 28th August inclusive. Registration has already commenced online and spaces are limited. Parents are advised that they can also register with the Juvenile Club on Friday 22nd May in the dressing rooms in the GAA field from 7.30pm to 8.30pm. The cost is €55 per member, €100 for a family of two and €135 for a family with three children.

Update on missing trophies — after searching through the Annual Fethard Newsletters of years gone by, our present secretary was able to find that the Danagher Cup and Brother Albert Cup and Plate were last played for in November 2002. Some of these winners would now be Under-16 and minor players so maybe this will ring a bell as to where they might be now! We would love to be able to organise another home event especially this being the 125th anniversary of the GAA. Please contact our club chairman, Fran Conran, if you have any queries or any knowledge of the whereabouts of our trophies.

The Stuart Mangan Appeal
On this Thursday, 28th May, from 4.30pm to 9pm, a special ‘Discount Evening’ will be held by Town & County Interiors and Opera on The Square in aid of the Stuart Mangan Appeal. There will also be a cheese and wine reception and a raffle. A percentage of all proceeds from the evening will go directly to the charity.

Stuart Mangan attended school in St Colman's College, Fermoy; Rockwell College and University College Cork. On Saturday April 5th 2008, while playing rugby with his club in London, Stuart, aged 25, suffered a sudden but devastating spinal injury. Sadly this sporting accident has left Stuart totally paralyzed from the neck down and he will require 24-hour care for the rest of his life.

Fethard GAA Club News
With no fixture in Intermediate Hurling at the weekend due to weather and with our Minor A footballers having completed their year, we now turn our attention to the South Senior Football Championship, Round 2 against Clonmel Óg, to be played next Tuesday 26th May at 7.30pm in Kilsheelan. We also wish Paul and Brian the very best of luck in the first round of the Munster Senior Football Championship to be played in Thurles next Sunday 24th May against Limerick. There is free admittance to all Under-16s as stated on the GAA website.

On this coming Saturday 23rd May, we take on our neighbours St Patricks in Ballingarry at 7pm in the first round of the Junior A Football championship. This is a repeat of last years final and, as last year’s champions, should start favourites.

The County Board Draw is in full swing so we thank you again for your continued support. If you wish to join for €100 a year, with two cars in first draw, please contact any club officer: Jimmy O’Shea, Mary Godfrey, Nicky O’Shea, or any club promoter.
We would like to thank all those who supported the Church Gate Collection last weekend in aid of the Disabled Drivers.

On Saturday last in Grangemockler there was a fine turn out for the Michael Hogan (Bloody Sunday) Mass Wreath laying ceremony and lectures. All those present had a most enjoyable evening. We should also remember the Fethard club representatives who played on that ‘Bloody Sunday’ day on 21st November 1920. We had The ‘Scout’ Butler in goal, Ned Shea (captain) at full back, and Gus McCarthy at left corner forward.

Our lotto jackpot was not won. We had no match three winner so €30 each went to Anthony Leo (Bob Fitzgeralds, O’Connell Street, Clonmel); Lindsey McGrath (Merrys, Clonmel); Craig Barry (Merrys, Clonmel); Roisín Blake (Killenaule); and Martin Coen (Fethard). The €50 Lucky dip was won by Michael Dillon (Tullamaine, Fethard). Thanks to AIB for providing the tickets.

Backroom Sessions Presents Frankie Lane

Frankie Lane was the lead singer with the legendary Fleadh Cowboys, a group that enjoyed a huge following in the 1980s. Their shows at the Olympia started the ‘Midnight at the Olympia’ sessions, where Frankie’s stunts for the finale became a thing of legend. They finished each show with the song ‘Old Flames’, and though Frankie could be heard singing, he often wouldn’t appear on stage with the band, only to emerge half way through on one of the side balconies and then proceed to defy death whilst climbing along a ledge to the top of the speakers, which would shudder and shake while Frankie belted out the remainder of the song to the roaring audience. He was born to entertain.

The popularity of the Fleadh Cowboys earned them support slots with Bob Dylan, U2, Emmylou Harris, the Pogues and BB King.
Frankie is no stranger to Fethard, having played here with the Fleadh Cowboys, Paul Kelly and on a number of occasions with Eleanor Shanley. This is his first solo show here, and he plays the Backroom Session in McCarthy’s on Friday May 29th. Tickets are €15 from McCarthy’s.

Dublin City Ramblers

The ever-popular Dublin City Ramblers will pay a return visit to Fethard on Saturday 6th June when they appear open air at Lonergans. Tickets are €12.50 each available at the bar. The Dublin City Ramblers have thrilled audiences worldwide with their unique blend of ballads, folk, humour, wit and foot-tapping music. Their impressive career has spanned more than thirty-five years, with over thirty albums, top ten hits, several awards for best Ballad/Folk Group and, to top it all off, eight gold albums. It is certainly no wonder that they are classed as Ireland’s number one group!

Volunteers function at Slievenamon Golf Club

Photographed at Fethard & Killusty Community Council / Fethard & District Day Care Centre volunteers function at Slievenamon Golf Club are L to R: Michael Walsh, Kay Walsh, John Pollard, Pauline Morrissey, Geraldine McCarthy, Des Martin and Jimmy Connolly.


Old Coolmoyne school friends Maureen Whyte and David Woodlock photographed at Fethard & Killusty Community Council / Fethard & District Day Care Centre volunteers function held at Slievenamon Golf Club.


Jimmy Connolly, Chairman Fethard & District Day Care Centre, making a presentation to Thelma Griffith to mark her dedicated voluntary service over the past 14 years to Fethard & District Day Care Centre. The presentation was made at a special Community Council volunteers function held in Slievenamon Golf Club on 14th May.

Fethard and Killusty Parish area masses
The annual area Masses will take place soon in the parish and all are invited to come along and take part. The first Mass will take place at 7.30pm on Thursday 28th May by Fethard’s Town Wall at The Valley.
On 3rd June Mass will be celebrated in Tullamaine graveyard; 10th June at Community Sportsfield (Killenaule Road); 17th June at Kilmaclugh Graveyard. A date for Calvary Cemetery will be announced shortly. All masses start at 7.30pm.

Fethard Ladies Football Club
A Table Quiz in aid of Fethard Ladies Football Club will take place in Butlers Bar on Friday night 29th May 9pm. Table of four will cost €40. Please put your thinking caps on now and organise a table to support this worthy cause. Reminder that fees are now overdue and any outstanding must be paid immediately.

Fethard & Killusty Community Lotto
The numbers drawn on 13th May were 5, 19, 20 and 27. We had no Jackpot winner and one ‘Match 3’ winner who received €150 each:
Margaret Gleeson, Ballyvaden, Fethard.

The three following Lucky Dip winners received €50 each:
Richard O'Brien, Rocklow Road, Fethard;
Ml. & Paul Walshe, Barrack Street, Fethard;
D. O'Meara, c/o Arthur Daly.
Next week’s Jackpot continues at €10,000 and the Jackpot sellers prize is €1000.