Youth Centre Official Opening 4th June
Cllr. Liam Ahearn, Chairman South Tipperary County Council, will officially open Fethard Youth Centre on Friday 4th June at 7.30pm.
Fethard Youth Centre is an ongoing project which began in June 2005 when Fethard & Killusty Community Council commissioned Tipperary Institute to undertake a ‘Youth Needs Survey’ in the area.
On 16th June 2005, a meeting facilitated by Margo Hayes (RAPID Co-ordinator Carrick-on-Suir) and Pat Holland (Commuity Development Officer), staff members from South Tipperary County Development Board was held. The purpose of this meeting was to discuss the situation regarding the provision, or lack, of community based facilities and activities for young people in Fethard and surrounding areas.

On 30th November 2005 a public meeting was held in the Abymill to present the results of the ‘Youth Needs Study’ and introduce the concept of a fully dedicated ‘Youth Centre’ in Fethard. Guest speakers at the meeting included Margo Hayes (Community and Enterprise, South Tipperary County Council); Catherine Corcoran (Tipperary Institute); Denis O’Brien (Foróige) and Philly Ryan (South Tipperary Community and Voluntary Forum). By December an action plan for youth was well underway involving all the relevant agencies.

Back in 2001 Fethard & Killusty Community Council had purchased the convent hall from the Presentation Sisters and as a result were now in a strong position to commence with the Youth Project. Over the next few years committee members visited various other youth cafes and centres all over Ireland to get planning ideas and advice on what best works in similar area. Applications were also made for funding and to the Department of Education and Science for a Youth Officer.
In April 2008, Matthew Tynan (Tynan Construction), was awarded the contract to refurbish the Convent Hall into a dedicated Youth Centre. The following year the centre was ready to be occupied.
Since April 2009, a group of eighteen volunteers have completed training as Youth Leaders and have helped supervise the youth activities to date. The centre is now well equiped with an internet café, cinema and presentation room, kitchen, which all help make the premisies self-sustaining while still offering much needed facilities for the youth of the area. The finished project cost well over €500,000 which was made possible by two seperate €100,000 amenity grants from South Tipperary County Council, a private donation from the Magnier Family of €100,000, local fundraising and proceeds from the Fethard Community Lotto.

The Community Council are proud to have such a facility now available for the youth of Fethard and invite all members of the community to come along on Friday 4th June to celebrate the official opening, commencing at 7pm.

Fired by Bees
Workshops have been taking place at Crampscastle Pottery for the exhibition Fired By Bees which will take place at the County Museum Clonmel from the 3rd to 19th June.

This multimedia exhibition is a homage to the honey bee and her bumbling relations. The exhibition is an initiative of the heritage office to highlight the vital and complex role the bee plays in the cycle of life. This colourful exhibition is part of the ‘B 4 Biodiversity’ campaign as part of International Year of Biodiversity.

Along with the ceramics from Doirin Saurus's Crampscastle workshops, Doirin has also invited artists who work in glass, silver, stone and felt. Amongst the exhibitors are Rory O Donohue (silver), Maura Whelan (glass), Diane Reid (porcelain), Una Ni Sheaghdha (felt) and Miriam Robinson (painting installation). Lyn Mather is creating a mandala.

The children from Killurney National School are also contributing a group ceramic piece of bees and flowers to the exhibition.

There will be talks and workshops during the course of the exhibition. Watch out for John Feehan's talk on the honey bee on the 10th of June at 7pm.

This project has been kindly supported by The Heritage Council and South Tipperary County Council Heritage Office. Please note that the Museum is closed 8th June.

Further info:
Labhaoise McKenna, Heritage Officer, South Tipperary County Council heritage@southtippcoco.ie or see www.southtippheritage.ie

Picture of the Past

Fethard Nano Nagle School Junior Infants Class, October 1989. Back Row L to R: Vanessa O'Donnell,Woodvale Walk; Kersty McCarthy, Kerry St.; Emmet Burke, Redcity; John Conway, St. Patricks Place; Ailish O'Connell, Coolmoyne; Paul Fogarty, Woodvale Walk; Ursula Lawrence, Woodvale Walk; Margaret Gleeson (teacher). Third Row: Kevin Lawlor,St. Patricks Place; Kevin O'Connell, Coolmoyne; Tara Ryan, St. Patricks Place; Tara Mullins, St. Patricks Place; Helena McCormack, Kerry Street; David Coughlan, Rocklow Rd.; Christopher Doyle, Woodvale Walk. Second Row L to R: Lar Looby,Woodvale Walk; Aaron Kelly, Drumdeel; Mark Hayes, Rathcoole; Anne-Marie Connolly, Main St.; Darren O'Meara, Woodvale Walk; Gillian Shine, Congress Tce.; Jamie McCormack, Woodvale Walk; Evelyn O'Connor,St. Patricks Place; Nicky Noonan, St. Patrick's Place. Front Row: Stacy Joy, Redcity; Gavin Ahearn, Monroe; Sabrina O'Dwyer, Woodvale Walk; Vincent Taylor, Rocklow Road; Emer Fogarty, The Green; Jodie Gilpin, The Valley. Absent from photograph: Wayne O'Driscoll, Rocklow Road; Richard Sayers, Woodvale Walk; Jim Ryan, Grove Road; Killian Cannon, Ballintemple; Aoife O'Meara, Spittlefield; and Michelle Coffey, Grove Road.

Heritage Officer reappointed
Congratulations to Labhaoise McKenna who was reappointed as Heritage Officer with South Tipperary County Council for another two years.

Labhaoise is very dedicated in her roll and has worked on many projects in Fethard over the past two years. She also plays a major role in organising the Fethard Walled Towns Medieval Festival which will take place again this year on Sunday 22nd August.

Fethard Ladies Football Club
Congratulations to our junior ladies on winning the County Junior C league final last Tuesday with a 1-06 to 0-03 victory over Gortnahoe in Ballingarry. Captain Edel Fitzgerald accepted the trophy on behalf of Fethard and we look forward now to the championship.

Congratulations to Ciara Tillyer, our under-14/16 goalkeeper who played in goal for Tipperary primary games team last Sunday in Thurles. Well done Ciara.

Our under-12s had a good win last Wednesday night beating Ballyporeen on a scoreline of 2-03 to 2-01.We still have two games left in the second phase of this competition.

Training for all under-8s, 10s and 12s continues every Saturday morning from 11am to 12. All new girls welcome.

A meeting will be held next Friday night, 28th May, in the GAA field at 7pm for all girls interested in playing minor football this year. It is hoped to enter this grade this year.

Fethard enter National Tidy Towns Competition

Mr Frank Donaldson, Tourism & Heritage Consultancy, photographed in Fethard to discuss the preparation of a three-year-plan for Fethard Tidy Towns. The meeting was held in the Tirry Community Centre. Back L to R: Ann Cooney, Rosemary Purcell, Tom Tobin, Cllr. Jimmy O'Brien, Fionnuala O'Sullivan, Edwina Newport, Ger Manton. Front L to R: Joe Keane, Frank Donaldson and Brian Sheehy. Also in attendance were Cllr. John Fahey, Rosemary O'Donnell and Joe Kenny.

Fethard Tidy Towns committee would to thank all who supported their Table Quiz last weekend. All funds will go towards purchasing equipment for the tidy towns. We have entered Fethard in this year’s National Tidy Towns competition. It’s 23 years since Fethard last entered the competition and if everyone makes a little extra effort we can hope to do well.

A lot of good work has already been completed around town on flower beds, trimming back trees and shrubs, and cleaning along the river walk. We also organise a ‘litter pick’ on Wednesdays at 7pm and on Sundays at 9am which is open to all to come along and help. So please do come a long and don’t just leave to the same few! We would ask all to keep a look-out for ‘litter bugs’ around the town and remind people to please take note that, if you bring your bottles or cans to the bottle bank, you are required to empty them in the bottle bank and not leave your cardboard boxes or plastic bags behind.

The national tidy towns adjudicators will visit Fethard town area within in the next six weeks so we ask people to sweep and clean around your homes and neighbourhood. The committee will also be available to help you whenever we can.

A meeting was held last week with Mr Frank Donaldson, Tourism & Heritage Consultancy, to discuss a proposal for preparation of a three-year-plan for Fethard tidy towns. The committee have decided to go ahead with the preparation of this action plan for the 2010 to 2012 period.

A church gate collection for Tidy Towns will take place in the parish w/e 12th and 13th June. The committee would like to thank all who have helped in any way so far.

Senior citizens return home from Ballybunion

Fethard senior citizens photographed on their return from a week's holiday in Enniscorthy. The holiday was organised by the Fethard and District Day Care Centre.

Fethard GAA Club News
Fethard lived to fight another day in the South Championship when on Sunday last in Monroe they came back from defeat to win on a scoreline, Fethard 1-10, Cahir 0-10. All four teams in the group now go into the final round level on points. Team: Paul Fitzgerald, Shane Aylward, Michael Aherne, Ian Kenrick, Tomás Keane, Aiden Lonergan, Gavin Fitzgerald, Cian Maher 0-1, Michael Dillon 0-1, Kenneth O’Donnell 0-1, Brian Coen 0-6 (4f), Alan O’Connor, Carl Maher 1-0, Eoin Doyle 0-1, Darren O’Meara. Subs: John P Looby, Christopher Sheehan and Jason Nevin.

Our U-21 hurlers made their exit from the championship in the quarterfinal when neighbours St. Pats defeated them in Monroe last week on a scoreline, Fethard 0-10, St Patricks 2-8.

Upcoming fixtures: County League Semifinal on Saturday 25th May against Ardfinnan at 4pm in Ardfinnan.

Our Lotto Jackpot of €2,400 was not won. We had no match three winner so the following tickets won €30 each: Louis Coen (Killusty, Fethard), John Fitzgerald (Kiltinan, Fethard), Josie Fitzgerald (Kiltinan, Fethard), Edel Fitzgerald (Kiltinan, Fethard), and Mick Burke (Red City, Fethard). The €50 Lucky Dip went to Brian Walsh (Baptistgrange, Lisronagh). Thanks to AIB (Main Street, Fethard) for supplying the tickets.

Juvenile GAA Club

South Champions, Fethard under-12 football team photographed following their win over Grange in the south final played in Cloneen.

Our U-12s brought home a second south title to Fethard in as many weeks. Well done and congratulations to the team on winning the south title in a thrilling game against Grange in Cloneen on Monday evening last week. It was a nerve wrecking game for these lads as they had previously played Grange and lost. This time they held their nerve and strength of character and won 2-6 to 0-6. Well done to their trainers and coaches and to all the parents and people who travelled to support them. Another great proud day for Fethard parish — presently experiencing an increased sense of pride in its GAA club.

On Monday 24th May the team travelled to Dundrum to play the county semifinal against Clonakenny. The final score was Fethard 1-3 Clonakenny 0-8. This was a great game lost by 2 points with nothing between the teams. It could have gone either way right up to the final whistle. The team can be proud of what they have achieved and lost nothing in defeat but gained a lot of admiration from a large Fethard support. We wish Clonakenny well in the final.

Parents are asked to please note that the GAA Cúl Camp is also approaching and we are pleased to announce that Annette O Donovan will be co-ordinating with our club secretary. If you have any queries regarding the Camp you can contact either who will be pleased to answer any questions you may have.

Please also be advised that there has been a Fethard GAA page set up on Facebook. We would like you to know that this is not an official site set up by the Fethard GAA Club committee. We cannot vouch that the information being put up is always correct. Fethard GAA’s own web page will be up and running shortly with all relevant news, match reports, fixtures and photographs taken by the clubs official photographers.

We would also like to wish all those members undertaking their leaving and junior certificate examinations shortly the very best of luck.

Cool Kids

Local Fethard girls enjoying a cooling paddle in the Clashawley River on Sunday last. L to R Courtney Walsh, Leslie-Anne Prendergast, Róisín Mc Donnell and Amy Needham.

Fethard Bridge Club
Results for Fethard Bridge Club game held after the AGM on 19th May: 1st Gross, Alice Quinn and Betty Walsh; 2nd Gross, Frances Burke and Breda Walsh; 1st Nett, Rita Kane and Kay St. John; 2nd Nett, Eileen Frewen and Anna Cooke.

At the AGM the following officers and committee were elected: President, Carmel Condon; Vice President, Anne O’Dea; Secretary, Brendan Kenny; Treasurer, Anna Cooke; Asst. Treasurer, Rita Kane.
Tournament Directors: Alice Quinn, Betty Walsh, Frances Burke, Gemma Burke, and Marie Delaney. Committee members: Ellen Rochford, Nell Broderick, David O’Meara, Tony Hanrahan and Kathleen Kenny. Partner Facilitator: Berney Myles.

Summer Bridge continues at the bridge centre, Clonmel every Wednesday evening at 7.30 and in Ballinure on Thursdays.

Garda Helicopter lands in Moyglass

Pupils from Moyglass National School photographed in front of the Garda's Irish Coast Guard Rescue Helicopter.

Fethard & Killusty Community Lotto
The numbers drawn on 19th May were: 12, 14, 17 and 22. We had no Jackpot winner and no ‘Match 3’ winner so the following drawn tickets won €50: Paula Marshall, Fr. Tirry Park, Fethard; Jessica Winters (online ticket); James O'Brien (Snr), Priestown, Drangan.
The three following Lucky Dip winners received €50 each: John Pollard, Rocklow Road, Fethard; Mary Keane, Knockelly, Fethard; and Liz Paradine, c/o Rita Kane, Kerry Street.

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