Dance Champions

All Ireland Champions Katie Allen and Rachel O'Shea (right) from 'On Your Toes' dance academy who won the under-8 'Rock n Roll' doubles dance competition in Trabolgan.

So You Want To Be An Actor?
South Tipperary County Council Arts Service is offering a fun fast paced workshop which will look at developing some crucial skills needed by young actors today. Facilitated by Shane Dempsey who runs Stagecraft, Clonmel and Fragments International Ensemble, London. Shane also teaches acting at E15 Acting School, one of the UK's leading drama schools and has recently returned from New York where he was invited to lead a series of theatre workshops.

The workshop for teenagers will take place at Fethard Youth Centre from 5pm to 9pm on Sunday, October 30, and anyone interested in taking part are asked to give their name to Joan O’Donohoe at Fethard Community Office, Barrack Street. Tel: (052) 6131000.

Fethard Players in Rehearsal
Fethard Players are currently in rehearsal for John B. Keane’s, ‘Year of the Hiker’, which will be staged in the Abymill Theatre from Friday, November 11, to Wednesday, November 16. Commencing at 8.15p. Booking at O’Flynn’s Menswear, Fethard. Tel: (052) 6131254 or 087 1604260.

Ladies U16s win semifinal

The Fethard Ladies team are through to the Under 16B County Final following their thrilling 2-14 to 4-3 win over Moycarkey Borris in the semi final on Sunday, October 16. Picture back left to right are Roisin O'Regan, Aine Phelan, Sophie Meehan, Katie Butler, Nell Trehy, Annie Prout, Ciara Tillyer, Hannah Stapleton, Aimee Pollard, Lorna Walsh, Karen Hayes, Aobh O'Shea, and Ruby Kennedy. Front row: Cliodhna O'Connor, Emma Walsh, Jessie Ryan, Niamh Shanahan, Lucy Butler, Ellen Walsh, Rachel Delaney, Jessie McCarthy, Aine Proudfoot.

Congratulations to the U16 B ladies team competing in the county Semi-final. The girls overcame a very strong Moycarkey Borris team on a scoreline of 2-14 to 4-3. This was a superb match that could have gone either way, but the Fethard girls dug really deep and played to the very best of their ability to grind out the victory. Hats off to the Moycarkey girls who fought really hard. Well done to the Fethard girls from all involved with you on the team; you should be really proud of yourselves. Roll on the final!

Unislim Classes
This year we have a new class and new leader, to help you lose those extra pounds before Christmas. Join me, Angela Fitzgerald, to help you with a healthy eating plan and tell you about our ‘Free Foods’ at the Unislim Classes held in the Tirry Centre every Tuesday evening from 6.45pm to 7.45pm.

Table Quiz for Day Care Centre

Setting the questions and keeping the score at Fethard & District Day Care Centre table quiz at Lonergan's Bar last weekend are Ladbroke's staff members L to R: Stephen Gough, Tara Dorney and P.J. Fahey.

Fethard and District Day Care Centre would like to thank Ladbrokes for organising last weekend’s Table Quiz in Lonergan’s Bar in aid of the centre. A sum of almost €800 was raised for which the committee are most appreciative.


The winning team at Fethard & District Day Care Centre table quiz at Lonergan's Bar last weekend L to R: Don McCarthy, Des Martin, Geraldine McCarthy and Michael McCarthy.


Photographed at Fethard & District Day Care Centre table quiz at Lonergan's Bar last weekend are L to R: Orla McCarthy, Conor McCarthy and Enda McCarthy

Hunting Notes
Tipperary Foxhounds are now nearing the end of a most successful autumn season. Hounds have been out four mornings weekly from late August with a few evening meetings included. One of the best mornings to date was at Grove on Saturday last, October 15.

Finding first in the grove at the entrance gate they hunted to nearby Knockbordan. Hunting well here for forty-five minutes they ran to Knockbrack junction and back to Kirby’s near the river.

Not finding in the long wood inside the estate wall by the Killusty road they found immediately on crossing the avenue at the back gate. An excellent hour or more hunting ensued here. Hounds circled down below Grove House back by the old kennels to where they found several times. A feature of this hunting was that while several foxes were afoot, hounds never split hunting in unison throughout.

Moving on to Coolmundry they found in the graveyard. Hunting well here they eventually forced their fox out on the bottom near Tinsley Bridge. They ran the cover on the bank back almost to Grove House. Turning right here they ran to Killusty road and right again to Tullow wood. Circled here a few times out at the far end to the Deerpark where they checked and were stopped at 11.30am as they had been hunting almost non-stop for three hours. This concluded an excellent morning’s sport thoroughly enjoyed by almost fifty mounted followers and almost as many on foot.

The Tipperary Foxhounds hold their opening meet in Fethard on Monday, October 31, at 11am.

Halloween at Lonergans!

John and Roseanne Carroll moving in a new troop of ghouls and characters for their annual Halloween display on their premises. This year sees a new 'Haunted Ballroom' with lots of surprises for those bold enough to enter. The annual 'Halloween Party Night' takes place on Sunday, October 30.

Fethard GAA Club News
A busy weekend awaits the Fethard GAA club which starts on Friday, October 28, in Tirry Centre where our Juvenile AGM takes place at 8pm and all are welcome. On Saturday, October 29, the Senior GAA Club will make a presentation to Eoin Fitzgerald, who represented Fethard on the panel of this year's successful Tipperary all Ireland Minor football team. The presentation will take place in the Fethard Arms at 10pm. We invite you all to attend.

This week, Saturday, October 22, will see the final day of the Mini GAA and U10 training. We thank all those who trained, helped and supported our younger GAA players. We have had a great year and hope to see you all and more next year.

Our sports lotto draw was held on Tuesday, October 11, in Lonergan’s Bar, Fethard, with a jackpot of €2,100. The numbers drawn were 12, 16, 26 and 28.  We had no jackpot winner and one lucky ticket ‘match three’ winner of €150, to Frank O'Connell, Coolmoyne. Our €50 Lucky Dip winner this week was Cian Morrissey, Tullamaine. Next week’s jackpot is €2,200 and the draw will be held on Tuesday, October 18, in The Fethard Arms.


Aidan Fitzgerald receiving the London Senior Hurling Championship Cup after captaining his adopted club Robert Emmets to victory in the County Final on Sunday, October 10.

Due to repeated requests for club merchandise, we will soon have a small stock of replica jerseys. Some have already been pre-booked, so the stock is running low. We will also have a small stock of ‘Beanie Hats’ (one size). Anyone interested can text our Juvenile Secretary, Ann Fleming, on 086 8963925 or you can leave a message on our Facebook site, Fethard GAA, leaving a message and contact details.

GAA Code of Ethics workshops are now available to anyone wishing to take part, they cost €10 per person and are a ‘must have’ if you are involved or intend to volunteer in the GAA with under 18 year olds. The course/workshop is certified by the Irish Sports Council and each participant will receive a certificate of attendance on the night. For more information you can contact Ann on secretarybng.fethard.tipperary@gaa.ie

Fethard & Killusty Community Lotto
The numbers drawn on October 12, were: 11, 13, 25 and 30. We had no Jackpot winner and one ‘Match Three’ winner who received €150: Catherine and Eamon Kennedy, Cois Falla, Fethard.

The three following ‘Lucky Dip’ winners also won €50 each: Gabriel Needham, Friarsgrange, Fethard; Monica Aherne, Prospect, Fethard; and Emma O'Donohoe, Friarsfield, Fethard.

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. Next week’s Jackpot commences at €5,750 and the Jackpot sellers prize is €575. All proceeds go towards community work in Fethard.

Annual Emigrants Newsletter
The annual church gate collection for the Fethard & Killusty Emigrants Newsletter will take place at Halloween next weekend, October 28 and 29. We ask for your support for this annual production, which is now in operation for over 50 years and posted free of charge to our emigrants and families living away from home. This year, with emigration again rising steadily, we depend on your continued support to provide this much appreciated service to our parish emigrants.

Donations can be handed in to Carmel Rice, Brookhill, Fethard, or Joe Kenny, Rocklow Road, Fethard, or alternatively put in an envelope with your name and address and handed in at our Church Gate Collection on the weekend before Halloween. All donations of €10 and over will be acknowledged in this year’s issue of the Newsletters.
All outstanding articles, photographs and items for inclusion in this year’s newsletter should be submitted before the end of October.

Award presented to Holy Trinity N.S.

Holy Trinity National School pupils, Ciaran Moroney and Patrick Shine, photographed with the school's 'Love Where You Live' project after receiving a cheque for €500 presented by Karen Mahon of Alupro Ireland and Patricia Oliver, Director of the An Taisce Education.

Pupils of Holy Trinity School, Fethard, were winners in the school section of the ‘Love Where You Live’ photographic competition run by An Taisce earlier this year. Ciaran Moroney and Patrick Shine represented their school at the presentation of prizes in The Greenhouse, Dublin, on Monday, October 10.  A cheque for €500 was presented by Karen Mahon of Alupro Ireland and Patricia Oliver, Director of the An Taisce Education Unit. The pupils were accompanied by Mrs Patricia Treacy and Mrs Maureen Maher.

Fethard Macra
The last meeting of Fethard Macra took place on the October 10.
National club officer training took place in the Johnstown House Hotel in Enfield, County Meath on Saturday and Sunday, September 23 and 24. Several members from the club attended. In the past our officers have found this training invaluable for fulfilling their roles at club level. All who went this year found it a good experience once again.

The national final of the annual 'Know your Agriculture' quiz will be held on Friday, October 28, at the Macra National Rally in Cork which will be held in the Radisson Blu Hotel, Little Island. Our team from Fethard who recently won first place in the South Tipperary round will represent us. Also at the rally, Stephen Tierney, will represent South Tipperary at the under 23 beef stock judging and Michael Moclair will undertake the senior sheep judging on Sunday, October 30. We wish all who compete for the club over the weekend the very best.

The public speaking competition for South Tipp was due to be held on October 14 in Rathkeevin. Fethard were the only club in South Tipp to enter a team on the night and so proceed to the next round automatically.

Now that autumn is here and nights are drawing in, volleyball has begun on a weekly basis. All members are invited to attend. Games take place every Thursday night at 9pm in Clerihan hall. See you there!

The impromptu public speaking competition takes place in Fahey’s, Cashel, on October 22. Several members of our club are going to partake.

Congratulations to one of our younger members, Stephen Tierney, who was recently elected to be joint competition’s officer for South Tipp, alongside Nuala Farrell from Dundrum.

Here at the club we are on a recruitment drive for new members so if you think you would like to join why not come along to one of the many Macra events. There is something for everyone whether it be sport, drama or anything else. For more information or to become a member, phone our chairperson, Liam Cleary on 086 3998711

Raymond wins Eagle Eye Competition

Raymond O'Connor, Farranaleen, Fethard, photographed taking part at the European Farrier Competition hosted at Ted Channon's forge in Anglesea Street, Clonmel. Raymond won the Eagle Eye Competition at the event and is a third year apprentice at Coolmore Stud training under Stephen Foyle.

Patrician Presentation Jottings

Comhairle na nOg
Sixth Year Pupils Rachel Prout and Jane Fitzgerald with 3rd Year Christine Fitzgerald represented the school at the Comhairle na nOg meeting in Ballykisteen Hotel on Friday, October 14. Comhairle na nÓg are local youth councils, which give children and young people the opportunity to be involved in the development of local services and policies. Delegates from Comhairle na nÓg are elected to represent their local area at the annual Dáil na nÓg (national youth parliament).

Minor Football Success
Belated congratulations to Eoin Fitzgerald, son of Past Pupils Michael and Marie Fitzgerald, who was on the Tipperary Minor Football Panel. We wish him all the best in his football career and in the future.

Parents’ Newsletter
This year the school will issue a bi-monthly newsletter to parents to keep them informed of events in the school and of issues of interest to them. All parents should receive a copy of this newsletter this week.

Safety at Halloween
Gardaí Tony Neill, Alan Hayes and Tony McEvoy gave a very interesting presentation to all pupils last week on the dangers and the legislation associated with Halloween bangers and bonfires. They emphasised both public and private safety and also spoke about illegal smoking and litter.

Parents’ Association Meeting
The Parents’ Association Meeting took place on Monday, October 17th. We encourage all parents to keep in contact with their representatives in the school and to attend events organised by this very active association.

Awards Day
The School’s Annual Awards day will take place in the school on Friday next, October 21. The guest speaker will be Dr. Leanne Burke, daughter of Denis and Eileen Burke, Red City. There is an air of anticipation around the school as pupils speculate on the results of the best student award in each year group. Among the other awards will be a sport’s award, a literary award (the annual Fethard quill award), an art award, a business award and of course awards relating to success in both the Leaving Cert and Junior Cert Exams 2011.

Lunchtime Volleyball
Lunchtime Volleyball for pupils has resumed with some pupils refereeing the matches. This activity is enjoyed by all pupils, with all age groups getting involved in the matches. A league will take place later on in the year.

Gaelic-For-Mothers

Ladies from Team 1 who represented Fethard at the Gaelic-For-Mothers National Blitz in Dublin on Saturday, October 15. Pictured in the back row are Noelle Ahearne, Anita Manton, Liz Reddy, Aine Doocey, Patricia Fitzgerald, Ann Tillyer and Maureen McCarthy. Front row: Kay Cummins, Jackie O'Flynn, Annette Connolly and Cabrina Roche. Missing from this picture is their coach, Tom McCarthy.


Team 2 who represented Fethard at the Gaelic-For-Mothers National Blitz in Dublin on Saturday, October 15. Pictured in the back row are Linda Delaney, Tracey Lawrence, Caroline Sheehan, Carina Condon, Freda Hayes, Eleanor Roche, Cathriona Davey, Anne Marie Kenny and coagc Michael Ryan. Front row: Noreen Sheedy, Mary Ryan, Theresa Hurley and Alice Butler.


Fethard Gaelic-For-Mothers celebrating in The Castle Inn after returning from the National Blitz in Dublin

Fethard Rugby Club
Want to know more about Mini's Rugby? On Friday, October 21, we are very pleased to have a rep from Munster Branch coming to give an introduction. This is a great opportunity for parents to get an insight into the rules of the game.

Fethard J2s secured a great 14-9 win over Clonmel in the Gleeson League on Saturday last. Clonmel started strong and took the lead with two penalties. Fethard then settled and seemed to have the upper hand leaving the halftime score 6-3 to Clonmel. A solid scrum in the Clonmel 22 saw a blind side move sending Willie Power in the corner, Doyler converted well. Clonmel got another penalty to leave the score 11-9 and a nail biting 20 minutes remained. Fethard held out brilliantly under constant pressure and were awarded a penalty to leave the final score 14-9. This was a great team performance and the introduction of Jimmy O'Brien, Cliff O'Halloran, David Kelly and Mathew Fitzgerald worked very well. Training continues every Tuesday and Friday night at 8pm.

Fethard U7s enjoyed a wonderful morning of rugby at Waterpark.  The team of Tom Smith, Padraig Duggan, Louis Ryan, Padraig O'Dwyer, David McCormack, Michael James Phelan, Thomas Ryan, Robin O'Shea, Andrew Wall worked well together and scored plenty of tries against Waterpark.

The Under 8s were small in numbers but they made up for it with their skills of passing, rucking over and tackling. Great play throughout the whole game by Michael Long, James Ryan and James McCormack for constantly recycling the ball. Charlie Cummins and Connor Neville put in tackle after tackle through out the game. The Under 9s saw plenty of good tackling by Robert Wall, Toby Collier, Craig O’Shea, Michael Scully, Conor Walsh. Tries were scored by Oisín Smullen, Sean Ryan, Shane Neville, Aaron Denny, Josh Rowan and Eoin O’Dwyer (captain). A great win for Fethard. Training for U7s- U13s on Friday at 6.45pm.

The Under 11s played two great games against Waterpark. In the first game Fethard ran out wining by five tries. The second game was a closer affair with both teams scoring five times. Training continues every Friday evening at 6.45pm with new players always welcome, for further information Tel: 086 8388205

Fethard U13s had a free week and are looking forward to seeing everyone at training on Friday. Our match on Sunday is away to Waterford City in the League, coaches will have details at training.
Fethard U17s travelled to Waterford City for their second league match with a squad of 21 players. Waterford city had a big strong team but the Fethard players were well able to hold their own. Adam O'Connell scored 4 tries and Shane Cleere scored 1 try and 2 conversions to bring the score at half time to 29-0 in Fethard’s favour.

The second half was all defence with Waterford City camped on the Fethard try line for the final 20 minutes of the match. Well done on a great defence from Kieran Whyte, William Ryan, Robert Horan, Cathal O'Donnell, Adam Kealy, and James Burns keeping Waterford City scoreless. Training Tuesday and Friday nights.

South Tipperary Military History Society
South Tipperary Military History Society will hold this months lecture in Kickham Barracks, the Lecture will be on Gallipoli and will be given by Mr Richard Howley, there will be a tour of the museum prior to the lecture, so anyone intending to come would need to be at the Barracks at 7 30pm. I would ask people to make the effort as a mark of support to the personell of Kickham Barracks. So hopefully see you all on Tuesday, October 18 !

Thanks another million!
On Wednesday 12th October 2011, Fethard Website passed another milestone when our counter passed the 4,000,000 mark. The site now has an average of 2,528 visits per day (September 2011) from people all over the world, including home. These visits, when converted to hits, amount to a staggering average of 34,301 hits per day.

Annual Emigrant's Newsletter
Work on the production of this year's Annual Emigrant's Newsletter has now commenced. We invite anyone interested in submitting articles or photographs for this year's issue to contact Joe Kenny, Rocklow Road, Fethard, Tel: 052 6131663 or by email: newsletter@fethard.com

Club secretaries are asked to submit their annual reports and photographs as soon as possible.

If you would like to make a donation towards this years issue, you can do so securely online here MAKE A DONATION All donations over €10 will be acknowledged in this year's Newsletter.