Queen’s flying visit!
Waiting for the Queen's visit through Fethard were L to R: Brian Palmer, Caroline Palmer, Judy Butler and Christopher Horsman.
Local residents were excited with the expectation of Queen Elizabeth II’s visit to Fethard on her way to Coolmore Stud. With the physical removal of litterbins, bottle banks and the sealing of all manhole and drain covers on the route through Fethard, expectations were even higher. To top this we had a ‘nerve centre’ for briefing hundreds of Gardaí and security personnel based in Fethard Ballroom for the period of the visit.
On duty in Fethard while waiting for the Queen's visit are Back L to R: Garda James Kavanagh (a Kildare senior footballer), Donal Fay, Annemarie Hennessy and Martin Brady all from Crumlin Garda Station. In front are local girls Molly O'Dwyer and Shannon Dorney.
On Friday morning, May 20, rumours of, “She’s definitely coming by car!” were just as quickly replaced with “No, she’s getting into a helicopter in Cashel!” The local Gardaí on duty questioned by the waiting onlookers appeared to be also non-the-wiser. But wait! At 11.57am we hear sirens approaching from the Cashel Road direction followed by a cavalcade of Garda motorbikes and black cars speeding through Fethard with flashing lights. Alas this few second’s excitement was the closest our expectations of seeing ‘Her Majesty’ in Fethard got to as text messages confirmed she had already arrived at Coolmore by helicopter.
So for the present and near future we’ll have to settle for Oliver Cromwell as the most famous or infamous English person to pass through Fethard!
Out for the Queen's visit in Fethard were L to R: Sheena (Fitzgerald) Ryan with her husband Denis Ryan and mother Mary Fitzgerald
New chairman for Fethard Macra Club
Fethard Macra held their AGM in Butler's, Main Street, Fethard on May 13. This has been a good year for the club here in Fethard, with many highlights such as having the Munster finals of the Macra national drama competition being held here in the Abymill Theatre in Fethard. The club also took part in many sporting and farming related competitions throughout the year as well as winning the public speaking round in south Tipperary.
The club officers for the coming year are as follows: Liam Cleary, Fethard (chairman); David Ryan, Mullinahone (president); Fiona Shanahan, Fethard (secretary); Pat Murphy, Lisronagh (treasurer); Noel Clancy, Drangan (public relations officer). We wish them all well for the coming year and thank last year’s chairperson, David Ryan, for his work throughout the past Macra year.
The South Tipperary round of the farm skills competition was held on the farm of David Ryan, Mullinahone, on Sunday, May 15. Four teams competed in the various disciplines of dairy stock judging, fencing, tractor driving and general agricultural knowledge. The Fethard team consisted of John McCormack, Stephen Tierney and Pat Murphy. Slievenamon, Dundrum and Rathkeevin were the other teams who took part. When scores were tallied Slievenamon emerged victorious and will now proceed to represent South Tipperary in the national semi-finals of the competition at the Clonmel Show during the summer.
Volleyball continues for all South Tipperary Macra members in Clerihan every Tuesday night at 8.30pm.
Tag rugby in South Tipperary will start shortly and Fethard hope to organise a team. Anyone interested should contact Liam Cleary.
For more information on Fethard Macra or to become a member, phone our new chairperson, Liam on 086 3998711.
Cottage for hire
Live, ride, walk, fish on private Tipperary country estate without upkeep costs! Open plan restored two-bed cottage
for hire, in walled garden, oil-fired Rayburn wood stove with rads, stabling available. For further details email: ponsonbyr@gmail.com
Fethard ICA
Ladies! A reminder that South Tipperary Federation Competition will be held in Halla na Féile, Cashel, on Thursday, May 26. Fethard Guild are taking part and we hope that as many as possible will come to support us.
Doors open at 7.30pm for viewing of tables. We will also have entertainment on the night.
Fethard & District Day Care Centre
Fethard and District Day Care Centre will hold their next ‘Senior Day’ on Friday, June 24, from 11am. Please note there will be no ‘Senior Day’ held in May.
The Day Care Centre will hold their annual Church Gate Collection in the parish on Saturday, June 4, and Sunday, June 5. Your support would be very much appreciated.
Fethard & Killusty Community Lotto
The numbers drawn on May 18 were: 2, 11, 14 and 26. We had no Jackpot winner and one ‘Match Three’ winner who received €150: Jim O'Meara, St. Patrick’s Place, Fethard.
The three following ‘Lucky Dip’ winners also won €50 each: Pat O'Meara, c/o Tom Purcell; Gerry Spillane, c/o Maria Murphy; and T. Delahunty, c/o Tom Purcell.
Remember you can purchase your lotto ticket online at www.fethard.com. Buy seven weekly tickets and get one free! Check on the website for lots of special offers including a chance to win a full set of jerseys for your sport’s club. Next week’s Jackpot commences at €2,600 and the Jackpot sellers prize is €260. All proceeds go towards community work in Fethard.
Fethard GAA Club News
Our senior footballers are out on this Friday, May 27, in Clonmel at 7.30pm for Round 8 of the Clonmel Oil Senior Football. Fethard will face Clonmel Og.
Fethard Premier 12s team who reached the South Final in Semple Stadium
Our Premier 12s crew felt cheated after their day out in Semple Stadium. With no umpires, linesmen or scoreboard the South semifinal was by any standard a complete and utter farce. At half time, the referee had the wrong score and ignored our request to double check his score sheet with ours, which showed a five-point difference at half time.
At the end of the match the referee gave the game to Fethard (admitting he had made a mistake), but immediately changed his mind again and gave it to the opposition. You can imagine the heated debate that took place for some minutes, amidst two U12 panels, one panel elated and the other in tears. Adults become very verbal, surrounding the referee and it was obvious that this could progress into something more violent.
To avoid any progression of the situation, the two club managers agreed to play extra time, after which we again noted that the referee had got a wrong score compared to ours. The officers of Fethard Juvenile Club would like to complement all our players parents and supporters for their calm response to the situation at the time, even when faced with verbal assaults. Fethard put in an objection to the match and have asked for a replay in accordance with Rule 7.10. Emails were sent to both South Bord na nOg and the County Bord na nÓg.
The only response received so far was from one member of the Competitions Control Committee (CCC) on the South Bord na nÓg, confirming that they had received the email, and another from County Bord na nÓg to say that this is a matter for the South Bord. The South Bord na nÓg CCC secretary has yet to acknowledge receipt of email and emails relating.
The Juvenile secretary has also forwarded copies of the emails to both the Senior South Bord and County Bord. With the county finals taking place on May 21 at Semple Stadium, we are left feeling very disappointed and appear helpless in defending our lads and lassies who truly earned their place at the county finals day. We are going to continue to object to this match and will pursue it with honesty, dignity, by the rule book and with respect for all parties involved.
The Lotto Numbers drawn this week were 4, 7, 8 and 32. We had no jackpot winner and one ‘match three’ winner of €150, Brud Roche, Woodvale Walk. Our €50 ‘Lucky Dip’ winner was, Cian Morrissey, Tullamaine. Next week's jackpot will be €3,700. You can purchase a €2 lotto ticket from any Fethard GAA Officer or at local participating shops.
Exam Time
We wish all students taking exams at this time the very best of luck. Prayer is an effective tool to calm the mind. A sincerely performed prayer can make the mind quiet and focused within seconds. Mental strength is enhanced and depressions and stresses are reduced. Prayer of every religion, addressed to the Lord in whichever form we pray, creates a very conducive mental state for study.
School ‘Off The Wall’ yearbook on sale
Joint-editors of this year's 'Off The Wall' yearbook now on sale in local shops are L to R: Dylan Fitzgerald and Dion Butler.
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 €8 each. 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!
Ladies Football
Best of luck to Katie Butler, Jessie McCarthy and Ciara Tillyer and their Tipperary team mates as they take on Cavan next Sunday in the All Ireland U14 ladies football semi-final in Dublin at 1.30pm. Here’s hoping the girls can reach a historic All Ireland Final.
The Junior ladies take on Mullinahone this Saturday, May 28, in the Junior B league final. Wishing the girls and the management the best of luck as they bid to win back-to-back league titles at two different grades.
Well done to everyone who took part in our sponsored walk last Sunday morning on Slievenamon. Big thanks to Michael Tillyer and Maureen McCarthy for looking after the walk on the day.
Fethard Bridge Club President’s Prize results
At our President's Prize dinner held in the Fairways Restaurant at Slievenamon Golf Club on Friday, May 20, 2011 the following prizes were presented:
President's Prize: Alice Quinn and Berney Myles;
Committee Prize: Rita Kane and Kay St. John;
Club Championship (Kitty Hayes Memorial Trophy): Bernie O'Meara and Anna Cooke;
Player of the Year: Nell Broderick;
Individual Champion (Dick Gorey Memorial Trophy): Kay St. John;
Lucey Trophy: Eileen Ryan and Jim Lahert;
Suzanne Opray Trophy: Bridie Lee.
Our Annual General Meeting will be held at 7pm on Wednesday, May 25, and will be followed by our last game of bridge for the season.
Rural Broadband Scheme
South Tipperary T.D. Tom Hayes has warmly welcomed the opening of applications for the new Rural Broadband Scheme, as part of the Jobs Initiative.
“The roll-out of the scheme will provide employment in the medium-term, while meaning that we are creating a rural economy and infrastructure that is capable of supporting jobs. Rural areas must have access to broadband to be able to survive in business and create jobs. The scheme will cater for any customers who are presently unable to get broadband, who live locally (all areas in South Tipperary fall under the classification the Department have made for rural areas). Only areas not included in the National Broadband Scheme will be covered by this new scheme,” Tom Hayes said.
This first phase involves inviting and processing applications. The Department will be accepting applications from 9 May 2011 until 29 July 2011. The application form can be found on the Department’s website, on my website, and from my office on (062 62892) or tom.hayes@oireachtas.ie
The expected roll out of this service is to commence in early 2012. The Scheme should be completed by the end of 2012 at the latest.
“After years of delays and issues with broadband roll-out in South Tipperary, I am very pleased that this new scheme will enable communities and houses not connected to broadband to have their services upgraded.”
Audit of Fethard Pub Music
An audit of Pub meeting is taking place in South Tipperary by the County Development Board. The purpose of the audit is too identify where live pub music is taking place so that this resource can be used to promote tourism in the county.
Margo Hayes, Community & Enterprise, would appreciate if Fethard pub owners would take a few moments to fill out a simple questionnaire, available at Fethard Community Office, by email from fethardnews@gmail.com or DOWNLOAD HERE. Margo can collect the completed form at your premises at your convenience. Alternatively, you could post or drop in the questionnaire to Margo Hayes, Community & Enterprise, Carrick-on-Suir Town Hall, Carrick-on-Suir, Co. Tipperary.
X Factor in aid of Re-Hab
Lonergan’s Bar in Fethard are organising their own ‘X Factor 2011’ competition which will support ReHab in Clonmel. A special marquee is being erected to accommodate the large number of contestants expected to compete for the €2,000 prize fund on offer.
All types of entertainment acts are welcome to enter by contacting John or Roseanne Carroll at Tel: (052) 6131447 or 087 9567658. The closing date for entries is Sunday, May 29. First heats take place on Sunday, June 5. The competition is supported by Bulmers, Gleesons, Heineken, Diageo and Tipp FM.
First Communion
Receiving their First Holy Communion in Fethard were L to R: Rachel O'Loughnan, Megan Ryan, Kaylin O'Donnell and Alison Connolly
Congratulations to the following boys and girls from the parish who received their First Holy Communion on Saturday, May 14, in Holy Trinity Parish Church, Fethard: Molly Curran, Ryan Butler, Micheál Spillane, Rachel O'Loughnan, Cian Hennessy, Ciarán Moroney, Michael Conway, Matthew Burke, Ryan Walsh, Alison Connolly, Patrick Shine, Kaylin O'Donnell, Shane Neville, Josh Nevin, Nell Spillane, Ethan Coen, Cathal O'Mahony, Megan Ryan, Annica O'Connor, Sam Quigley, Kyle Allen, Jennifer Phelan and Dean Keane.
Exam Time
We wish all students taking exams at this time the very best of luck. Prayer is an effective tool to calm the mind. A sincerely performed prayer can make the mind quiet and focused within seconds. Mental strength is enhanced and depressions and stresses are reduced. Prayer of every religion, addressed to the Lord in whichever form we pray, creates a very conducive mental state for study.
Students go 'Stone Mad'
Pictured above is Philip Quinn (left) with students from the Patrician Presentation Secondary School at his 'stone mad' carving workshop. (Photos by Pat Looby)
Students from the Patrician Presentation Secondary School, Fethard, attended a stone carving workshop, run by Philip Quinn at his 'Stone Mad' studio in Holycross near Thurles last Friday. Killenaule man, Philip, brought students through the stone carving process in various stone such as local blue limestone, granite and sandstone and each student came away with their own unique piece based on their own design.
'Stone Mad' studio offers weekend, week-long and evening workshops for individuals or groups in a relaxed, country setting. More information on Philip's workshops can be got at www.stonemad.ie
Students from the Patrician Presentation Secondary School at Philip Quinn’s 'stone mad' carving workshop.
Dance in Aid of Hospice
A dance in aid of South Tipperary Hospice will be held in Fethard Ballroom on Saturday, May 28, from 9pm. Your support would be much appreciated for this worthy cause. Admission is €10.
|
