Arthur's spirit alive for stout-fest (by Conor Kane)
John and Roseanne Carroll and customers ready for Arthurs Day in Lonergan's Bar, Fethard, Co. Tipperary.
Watering holes across the country are gearing up for a stout-fest on Arthur's Day, Thursday 23rd September, but one Tipperary pub is going to more effort than most.
Known for its elaborate Hallowe'en and St Patrick's Day themes, Lonergan's pub in Fethard has gone all-out to celebrate the Guinness feast day. The popular bar is just 16 kilometres away from historic Cashel, which can claim strong links to the start of the Guinness brewing business and the famous drinks dynasty.
The Church of Ireland Bishop of Cashel in the 1760s was Arthur Price, an uncle of Arthur Guinness, who left his nephew £100 when he died in 1752. The young businessman invested the money in a brewery in Leixlip, Co Kildare, before going on to found the St James's Gate operation in 1759.
Getting ready for Arthurs Day in Lonergan's Bar, Fethard, Co. Tipperary. L to R: Joan Carroll, Ger Browne, John O'Connell, Jim Carroll, John Healan, Roseanne Carroll, Deirdre Dorney and John Carroll in front.
For the last couple of weeks proprietors Roseanne and John Carroll have been putting up black-and-white paper around their establishment, bunting, paintings of pints of stout, balloons and more in readiness for September 24. On Thursday there will be food to mark the occasion, singing by the Wiseguys and traditional music while customers are being encouraged to dress according to the Arthur's Day theme – in black and white.
In recent years, Roseanne and John have become renowned for their themed events in Lonergan's - going to great effort and expense to decorate their premises for big occasions - so their reputation made them automatic candidates to dress up for Arthur's Day.
"We're known for putting on a good party" Roseanne Carroll said yesterday, "so that's the reason why Guinness asked us to do it in Fethard. Even though it's only for a few hours on Thursday, we've gone all out and done it anyway. Patrons can expect a black-and-white themed experience if they drop in. "At Hallowe'en, we're known as the pub of the spirits, so we said maybe we'll have Arthur's spirit in the place," Roseanne said.
Liverpool supporters
Liverpool supporters photographed in Lonergan's after the 'match' L to R: James Curran, Darren Thompson and Darren Connolly.
Circuits are back!
Ladies & Gents group fitness class ‘Circuits’ will resume on Tuesday, 5th October, from 8.15pm to 9.15pm at Fethard Ballroom. Those attending must be over 18 years of age and all levels are catered for. The five-week Tuesday night sessions will cost €35 per participant. Instructor is Bobbi Holohan CEHF. All you need to bring along is a bottle of water and mat or towel. To book your place and for more information contact Bobbi Holohan on 087-2130414.
Patrician Presentation Jottings
David Hayes, who received eleven straight As in his Junior Cert results at Fethard's Patrician Presentation Secondary School is photographed above with Ms Marian Gilpin (Deputy Principal) and Mr Ernan Britton (Principal).
Welcome
As the school year begins, we extend a warm welcome to all our First Year pupils and to foreign students: Loreen Baude and Neele Drews from Germany, Cyril Faure from France and Anthony and Sean Clair from Texas.
Welcome also to two new Staff Members Ms. Aileen O’Shea, Career Guidance and Ms. Sinead Burke, School Completion Programme Co-ordinator. We wish them all success and fulfilment in our school. Best wishes to Mr. Liam O’Brian, Ms. Catherine Creed and Mr. Damian Byrne on their appointments to other schools. We thank them for their loyalty and contributions to Patrician/Presentation during the last school year.
Congratulations
Congratulations to all the Leaving Certs and Junior Certs of 2010 on their wonderful achievements in the State Exams. Special congratulations to David Hayes who achieved a remarkable 11 As in his Junior Cert. David is son of Mr. and Mrs. Michael Hayes, Coolmore, Fethard.
Delighted with their Junior Cert Results at Fethard Patrician Presentation Secondary School are L to R: Mark Fogarty, Jack Byrne, Lucy Butler and Deirdre Dwyer.
Delighted with their Junior Cert Results at Fethard Patrician Presentation Secondary School are L to R: Molly O'Dwyer, Mary-Ellen O'Reilly and Chloe Byrne.
Transition Year
The 2010 -2011 Transition Year Group began the year with an afternoon - hike in Glengarra Woods, Cahir on Monday, September 6th. Their Work Experience Programme and Day Care Centre Programmes are already up and running for the year. A sincere thanks to all the local employers and to Ms. Geraldine McCarthy of the Tirry Centre for facilitating these programmes.
School Mass and Awards Ceremony
Preparations are under way for our Annual School Mass to ask God’s Blessing on the school year for all our school community. The Mass will be followed by the 2010 Awards Ceremony which recognises the academic excellence, the effort and the many achievements of our pupils during the past school year.
FUSE Youth Club
New members photographed at the FUSE Youth Club that started on Monday last at Fethard Youth Centre
The Fuse Youth Club for children from 5th class to 1st year, started up on Monday 20th September at Fethard Youth Centre and had a large attendance of over forty new members. The club will take place on Monday nights from 7.30pm to 9pm and the current leaders would appreciate more parents to come and get involved as leaders, even if they were prepared to come along one night per month it would be a great help. Those interested can come along on Monday nights or contact Martina at (086) 0881083 or Ruth at (086) 8615161 for further details.
All children attending must be registered and have the forms signed by their parents before they can become members. Registration forms were sent to the local schools earlier in the year and if your child still hasn't got one they are available at the club on Monday nights.
Again we ask parents or anyone interested in becoming leaders to please volunteer their services and help get this new FUSE Youth Club up and running.
Fethard Rugby Club
Fethard and District Rugby Club would like to thank the above ladies who 'Walked 4 Fethard' and completed the marathon in Thurles on Sunday last and to also to everybody who kindly sponsored them.
Fethard J2s took on the might of Waterford City on Saturday 18th September, which was a very tough and physical game from the onset with a lot of handling errors and penalties from the Fethard side. Whilst Fethard had a lot of possession they looked very uncomfortable on the ball. It was only when Paddy Teehan scored the first try, that Fethard seemed to settle into a rhythm. The Fethard scrum was good and solid but under pressure from a bigger Waterford side.
It was in the second half when Mush Dwyer was introduced that a bit of life came to the Fethard side, Mush sprinted 45 metres clear to score in the corner, a brilliant try, leaving both teams in awe of his speed. It was a lapse of concentration from the forwards that allowed Waterford City in for their first try, this was quickly answered by Paul Scully scoring a fine try.
Due to some sloppy tackling Waterford City scored another try, while this was a win for Fethard there is an awful lot of work to do, especially in the tackling. The final score was Fethard 15 and Waterford City 10.
Golden Wedding Anniversary
Congratulations to Sarah and Pat Mullins who celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary with family on 18th September. Back L to R: Patricia Hare, Catherine Doyle, Paul Mullins, Mary O'Dwyer, Margaret Smith. Front L to R: Danny Mullins, Sarah Mullins, Pat Mullins and Mamie Morrissey.
Congratulations to Sarah and Pat Mullins who celebrated their Golden Wedding Anniversary on the 18th September. Sarah is one of fifteen children born to the Murphy family from the Cashel Road, Fethard. Sarah is a very popular local character and worked for many years in the cloakroom at Fethard Ballroom.
In her earlier days Sarah was also a keen cyclist travelling the highways and byways around Fethard and always available to stop for a laugh and chat with anyone she met on the way. In 2006, Pat and family gave her a present of a new bike for her 80th birthday to replace her well-worn original with a more road-worthy model. We wish Pat and Sarah a very happy anniversary and many more years of happiness and health.
Fethard & Killusty Community Lotto
The numbers drawn on 15th September were: 1, 2, 12 and 18. We had no Jackpot winner and three ‘Match 3’ winners who received €50 each: Edwina Morrissey, Friar Street, Cashel; Robert Hackett, Cashel Road, Fethard; and Anna Bradshaw Cooke, St. Patricks Place, Fethard.
The three following ‘Lucky Dip’ winners won €50 each: Bridget Hayes, Main Street, Fethard; Thelma Griffith, Crampscastle, Fethard; and Darren O'Donohoe, Rochestown, Cork.
Remember you can purchase your lotto ticket online at fethard.com. Buy seven weekly tickets and get one free! Check on the website for lots of special offers. Next week’s Jackpot continues at €10,000 and the Jackpot sellers prize is €1000.
Information wanted
During the week of September 26 - 30, George and Diane Byrnes will be visiting Fethard and Moyglass. George is a descendant of James O'Donnell of Knockinglass (1757 - 1810) and is interested in meeting any other descendants of the O'Donnells of Knockinglass. His granduncle is the late Archbishop O'Donnell of Knockinglass. George and his wife have been here twice previously and had the opportunity to meet other distant relatives and found several landmarks related to the family. George and Diane will be staying at the Cozie B&B Tel: (052) 6132276.
Fethard Macra
There was a large turnout of around twenty people for the South Tipp round of the annual stock judging competition on Sunday 12th September. Members of Fethard Macra were some of those who took part, alongside members from several other clubs. Judging of cattle and sheep took place on the farm of Eamon Cooney, Grangemockler. An interesting and informative afternoon was had by all. We are still waiting for results.
Slievenamon Macra (based in Grangemockler) will hold a 'U-BET' night in Ballyneale on the 9th October in Josie O' Neill's bar starting at 9pm. Everyone, both Macra and non Macra are welcome to attend and take part in a great night of craic. For further details contact Mick on 086 0880780.
Fethard members had a great night out on Saturday 18th in Hotshots Bowling Club in Clonmel as part of the regional bowling competitions. Several more Fethard members are heading for club officer training in Ennis this coming weekend in order to learn more about their new roles within the club. We wish them all a great weekend.
A couple of members are currently busy rehearsing with the Slievenamon Musical Society for this years production of 'Me and my Girl' to be staged for four nights weekending 24th November. Anyone interested in auditioning for acting or singing parts should contact Pamela on 087 3283074 in the next week or so.
Next meeting of Fethard Macra takes place on Friday 8th October in Butler's Sports Bar. For more information see our Bebo or Facebook pages or phone David, our chairperson, on 087 9454384
Killusty National School Centenary
One of the photographs on display at the Killusty National School Centenery celebrations this one was taken in 1980 at the presentation of the Anti Litter Campaign trophy awarded to Killusty National School
On Sunday 3rd October, a once in a lifetime event will take place in Killusty – that’s the day we will celebrate the centenary of our beautiful little national school at the foot of Slievenamon. I say ‘little’ but that’s not quite right anymore. Thanks to government funding and a summer building project the school has almost doubled in size, so for those of you who have not been to the village for a while you are in for a pleasant surprise.
The centenary celebrations will begin with Mass and a play performed by the pupils of the school, in Sacred Heart Church Killusty at 12 noon then it’s over to the school for refreshments and a trip down memory lane. We are hoping that as many ex-pupils as possible will return for this special event. This is a great opportunity to reunite old friends and classmates, to share stories and memories, and who knows, we might even have a bit of music song and dance. If anyone has any school photos or memorabilia please bring them along.
Fethard's 'Gaelic4Mothers' head for Croke Park
Fethard 'Gaelic4Mothers' team. Pictured Back L to R: Cathriona Davey, Patricia Fitzgerald, Aine Doocey, Noelle Ahearne, Anne Tillyer, Avril McGrath, Jacqui O'Flynn, Eleanor Roche, Carina Condon, Finola Anglim. Middle L to R: Anita Manton, Cabrina Roche, Linda Delaney, Teresa Grant, Pamela O'Donnell, Catherine Ryan, Liz McCormack, Annette Connolly, Sarah Lawless, Aoife O'Connor, Anne Marie Kenny, Donna Browne, Freda Hayes. Front L to R: Susan McCormack, Mary Maher, Bernadette Flanigan, Hazel Sheehan, Alice Butler, Caroline Sheehan, Tracey Lawrence, Kay Cummins, Theresa Hurley and Margaret Flanigan.
Fethard's ‘Gaelic4Mothers’– a group of mothers who came together this summer to learn the skills of Gaelic football, have fun, and increase their fitness at the same time – have been invited to play in Croke Park on Sunday 26th September, at the interval of the Ladies All-Ireland Final. Selected from over 700 clubs throughout Ireland, the Fethard ladies are thrilled with the prospect of representing their town and county on GAA's hallowed turf. This is an historic achievement for these women and for Fethard Ladies Football Club. Be sure to give them your support this week! We wish our girls and mentors the best of luck along with the two bus loads of supporters travelling with them on the day.
Our under-14 ladies played Moycarkey last Saturday in Littleton and, despite playing excellent football, were beaten in the end by a more stronger and physical team. Despite this loss the girls have qualified for the next stage of the competition and we wish them the best of luck.
Our ladies under-18 minor team made history last Sunday when they became our first minor team in the club’s history to compete in the championship. Fielding a very young team we defeated Western Rovers on the scoreline 2-04 to 1-06. Well done girls and keep up the good work.
Our Ladies Football Club are holding a sponsored walk up Slievenamon on Sunday 3rd October and we ask all our juveniles, parents and adult players to please get involved. Sponsorship cards are still available from club secretary, Maureen McCarthy.
Fethard Roadworks
Fethard necessary resurfacing road works taking place on Main Street over the past few weeks. The present work is only piecemeal as the road is due to be completely resurfaced next year as soon as work on the new water scheme for Fethard is completed.
Fethard Bridge Club
The results of Fethard Bridge Club game played on Wednesday 15th September were:
1st Gross - Tony Hanrahan & Monica Anglim;
2nd Gross - Anna Cooke & Bernie O'Meara;
Runners Up 3rd Gross - Alice Quinn & Bernie Myles.
1st Nett - Bridie O'Callaghan & Gabrielle Schofield;
2nd Nett - Mary Tierney & Betty Egan;
Runners Up 3rd Nett - Philly Kenny & Nora Lawrence.
On Wednesday next, 29th September, we play for the Free Sub Gross and the following Wednesday, 6th October, for the Free Sub Nett. Anyone looking for a partner contact Berney Myles at 6132038.
Clashawley Film Club
Anyone interested in joining a ‘film society’ in Fethard are asked to contact Suzanna Manton at Tel: 087 2345075. This year it is proposed to show the films at the forty-seated mini-cinema at Fethard Youth Centre. The films will be shown on Tuesday nights on the following dates: 5th October and 19th October; 2nd November and 16th November; 7th December and 21st December; 4th January and 18th January 2011; 2nd February and 15th February; 2nd March and 15th March.
Membership will cost €35 for each half-yearly membership, the first covering films shown from October to December 2010, and the second covering films shown from January to March 2011. Alternatively you can join for €70 which will cover the full year. Contact Suzanna for membership details and further information.
Cummins brothers win FBD All-Ireland GAA Golf Challenge
12 September 2010; The Tipperary / New York team consisting of, from left to right, Gerry O'Reilly, Mike Curran, Owen Cummins and Donal Cummins, with Adrian Taheny, Director of Sales and Marketing, FBD, and Sean Kelly, Event Patron, after victory in the FBD All-Ireland GAA Golf Challenge 2010 Final. Faithlegg House Hotel & Golf Club, Faithlegg, Co. Waterford. Picture credit: Diarmuid Greene / SPORTSFILE
Tipperary claimed a third All-Ireland title in the space of a week when Premier County ex-pat brothers Eoin and Donal Cummins led New York’s Tipperary GAA club to a stirring victory in the 11th annual FBD All-Ireland GAA Golf Challenge in Faithlegg County House and Golf Club in Co Waterford this past weekend (September 11 and 12). Alongside their team-mates Westmeath man Gerry O’Reilly and Waterford native Mike Curran, the Fethard siblings made it a hat-trick of national crowns for the county and in turn became the second US team to take the Waterford Crystal trophy back across the Atlantic Ocean, emulating the feat of the Big Apple’s Waterford GAA club in 2007.
Played over two days on a four-ball better ball format with three-quarter handicaps, the Tipperary GAA club’s superb winning points total of 176 matched that of the previous champions, Mayo’s Claremorris GAA club. It was made all the better by just how close they were run by Tyrone’s Carrickmore GAA club who finished second with 168 points over the two days. The Tipperary club had led the Ulster champions by a single point after the first day’s action on Saturday when just six points separated the top four teams – Tipperary GAA club 83,Carrickmore GAA club 82, Parnells GAA club 80 and Fermoy GAA club 77.
The Cummins brothers managed to get to Thurles on Saturday evening to take in their county’s under-21s’ emphatic All-Ireland final victory over Galway and that glory seemed to inspire them as both their partnerships improved on their opening day scores. Eoin Cummins and Mike Curran set the ball rolling when they posted a stunning 46 points total but that was later improved on by Donal Cummins and Gerry O’Reilly who managed to register a remarkable 47 points score. On receiving their All-Ireland trophy and gold medals on Sunday evening, captain Eoin Cummins was understandably emotional after following up on Tipperary’s senior and under-21 hurlers’ All-Ireland titles. “This is a huge honour for the Tipperary GAA club in New York,” said Cummins. “We watched Tipperary beat Kilkenny last week and then the under-21s beat Galway on Saturday and now we’ve done our bit. You could say the three-in-a-row has now been done! “The Waterford club showed the way to go when they won the Challenge title three years ago. Eugene Brophy led that team and he’s been onto us ever since to represent New York with honour and I’d like to think we have now. I dedicate this title to him.”
Carrickmore had no complaints about finishing runners-up but could hold their heads high, especially Michael Bradley and Seamus McCartan who put together a 44 points score. Ryan Daly and Brendan McCartan’s final day tally of 42 points was also commendable. Munster champions Fermoy and Leinster kingpins Parnells, led by former Monaghan captain Brendan Brady, swapped positions on the second day with the Cork men taking third place and Dubliners finishing fourth. Connacht champions Sarsfields GAA club gained some consolation by improving on their sixth position after day one to move into fifth spot with Chicago qualifiers John McBrides dropping into sixth and final place. However, the Windy City representatives, led by Mayo native Billy Heneghan and Dubliner Barry Tinley, were certainly the winners off the course with their bonhomie and revelry. All-Ireland GAA Golf Challenge organising chairman Liam Daniels was delighted with this year’s final. “For the second year running, we’ve had fantastic scores and thoroughly deserved winners,” said Daniels. “It gives me great pleasure to congratulate the Tipperary GAA club on a resounding success."
The FBD All-Ireland GAA Golf Challenge is about competition just as it is a social event for Gaels from here and in the US. The friendships made between the competing clubs down through the years are lasting ones and I’m sure that will be no different between these clubs.” Final Results: 1. Tipperary club (New York) 176 points (83 first day and 93 second day); 2. Carrickmore (Tyrone) 168pts (82 and 86); 3. Fermoy (Cork) 160 (77 and 83); 4. Parnells (Dublin) 155 (80 and 75); 5. Sarsfields (Galway) (75 and 79); 6. John McBrides (Chicago) 150 (77 and 83). |
