Stella Days – nine nominations in IFTA's shortlist
Albert Nobbs, The Guard and Stella Days have each picked up nine nominations in the shortlist for the 2012 IFTA's to be held on Feburary 11. All three films will contest for Best Film, along with Terry McMahon's psychological thriller Charlie Casanova, with the same four films competing for Best Script after nods for John Banville & Glenn Close (Albert Nobbs), John Michael McDonagh (The Guard), McMahon (Charlie Casanova) and Antoine O'Flaherta (Stella Days). READ MORE FROM SCREENDAILY.COM

Stella Days Trailer

A small town cinema in rural Ireland becomes the setting for a dramatic struggle between faith and passion, Rome and Hollywood and a man and his conscience. STELLA DAYS is the story of a man, a story about the conflict between love and duty, hope and faith, and between the excitement of the unknown and the security of the familiar. It encapsulates the dilemma of Ireland in the mid-1950s - on the cusp of the modern but still clinging to the traditions of church and a cultural identity forged in very different times. READ MORE

Hunting News

Tipperary Foxhounds arriving by Fethard Town Wall at their meet in Fethard in January 2. (photos by Larry Kenny)

The hunting news from a hunting point of view for the start of 2012 is not the best. Foxes seem to have taken a New Year vacation becoming very difficult to find and when found not to easy to hunt.

Tipperary Foxhounds had a field on 120 mounted followers for their meet at Fethard on January 2. Just one fox was found at Mr Hugh Holohan's stud at Grangeduff. Hunting across Rathcoole laneway above the graveyard they ran to Crehane's Grove and from there to Power's Wood where they lost him.


Marion Goodbody with some refreshments for Huntsman Derry Donegan at the Tipperary Foxhounds meet in Fethard on January 2

Thursday at Poulmucka they found a brace. The first they caught on top after a reasonable run, the second got to ground after a short time.
80 mounted children turned out for the children's meet at Kilcooley on Saturday. Drawing the heavily wooded estate for two hours they failed to find and had a very rare blank day. That's hunting however, true hunting men and ladies true sports that they are, take each day as it comes remembering, "There is no such thing as a poor day's hunting, only some days are just better than others."


L to R: Fionula Gleeson and Megan Coen at the Tipperary Foxhounds meet in Fethard on January 2


Jenny Butler handing out seasonal refreshments at the Tipperary Foxhound's meet in Fethard on January 2


Photographed at the Hunt in Fethard on January 2 are L to R: Harry Swan, Tim Hyde, Jack O'Leary, Susie Osborne, Ben Osborne and Megan O'Leary

With the White Heathers
Having drawn Morgan's, Grangebeg and the Blackthorns blank, hounds eventually found in the gorse under the road at Carriceenseanróg. They hunted across the road at Mr Tony Slattery's entrance to Mr Bill Lalor's, re-crossing the road here they hunted to the railway line at Murphy's where a poor scent faded and they lost him.

Drawing back to the far end of Lalor's they found again. Ran to Purcell's where he got to ground in a drainage pipe.

Much could not be done with a fox from the railway line at Monroe. From Rathcanty they hunted to Quinlan's glen and from here to the Tailor's Boreen cross where they lost him.

Speaking of blank days, the White Heathers had a blank day from Cloneen on their bye day on Thursday, December 29. This entailed the huntsman, whipper-in and younger followers walking from 11am to 4.30pm zigzagging from covert to covert they must have covered at least 10 miles.

From their good day from Ballylusky before Christmas an American visitor had whatever corresponds to a pedometer on a human on his horse working from a satellite. This showed he covered almost 20 miles during the course of the day's hunting. Not too bad on horseback but even half that distance is a fair journey on 'Shank's Mare'.

Ballylusky White Heather Harriers meet next at Ballylusky on Sunday, January 15, at 11am.

New Year's Eve

Helena McCormack and her visiting friends photographed on New Year's Eve in Fethard.


Photographed on New Year's Eve in Fethard are L to R: Tommy Gahan, Evelyn Skehan and Shane Walsh

Fethard Macra News
Well 2011 has been a great year here in Fethard Macra. We gained some new and very enthusiastic members and unfortunately lost a few old ones too! There are many things lined up for the new Macra calendar for 2012 involving our own club so we are all looking forward to the year ahead.

Fethard automatically progressed to the provincial competition after opposing team Dundrum pulled out from the recently scheduled South Tipperary debating round which was due to be held in Rathkeevin. The next round will be held sometime in March.

The north west of Ireland's annual Macra 'King and Queen' event takes place in the Sligo Park Hotel, Sligo on the January 21. There is a special room rate including dinner and entertainment for €49. Anyone interested can contact the North West Macra PRO.

Congratulation's are in order to Una Shanahan and her husband, Martin Raftice who were recently married in Fethard on December 28 followed by a reception in Langton's in Kilkenny. Una and Martin have been heavily involved in their respective Macra clubs over the years both in Fethard and Mullinavat. We wish them all the best in their future together and many of us from the club were delighted to attend the ceremony on the day which was a lovely occasion enjoyed by all. We wish the new Mr and Mrs Raftice all the best in the future.
For more on Fethard Macra or to become a member, phone our chairperson, Liam Cleary on 086 3998711.

Killusty 'Night Out'
A night out for all Killusty people is taking place on Friday, January 27, in the Clonmel Park Hotel, cost is €40 per person for meal and dance. Anyone with Killusty connections is more than welcome to attend. For more information and booking contact 052 6132653 or 087 9795025 as soon as possible as we need to confirm numbers with the hotel soon.

Wedding Anniversary

Jimmy and Kathleen Barry of Tullamaine who recently celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary. The happy couple were married in St. Michael's Church in Mullinahone on 4th January 1962.

Fethard Community Lotto
Fethard Community Lotto will hold their next draw on January 11, 2012. Remember you can also 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 Jackpot commences at €7,250 and the Jackpot sellers prize is €725. All proceeds go towards community work in Fethard.

Bunny Hop starting back soon
Bunny Hop is an hour of music with movement for babies and young children. Little people love interacting with others of same or similar age, at Bunny Hop we have an hour of stimulating fun in which to do so.
Bunny Hop, music and movement 0-4 year olds will be starting again in Fethard on Monday, January 23, at The Youth Centre/ Internet cafe /Old Convent Hall from 10am to 11am. All welcome. For enquiries and to join us contact Nicola at 087 6742401.

Fethard GAA News
As we move into a new year the various committees are meeting to set up their stalls for the coming seasons activities. If the grapevine is anything to go by we are in for a wonderful season ahead, team managements have called a meetings to discuss the preparations that they have set in place, to insure that all players are aware of their obligations to the club as to their membership and conduct for 2012.
Due to the seriousness of injuries that might happen while playing, all players again this year will be obliged to have their membership paid before they will allowed to play.

Our deepest sympathy to Danny and Rita Kane and family on the recent sad death of their daughter Linda in Kinvara, Co. Galway. May the sod rest lightly on her body.

Due to falling numbers of players this year in minor and possible u/21 hurling and football, it appears that we will now field as an amalgamation. More about that later when we have a clearer picture on the situation. Apologies for the non-appearance of the Lotto results for the last few weeks, gremlins in the works, but here they are now.

Lotto numbers drawn on December 6 were 9, 11, 20 and 21. No jackpot winner and four 'Match Three' winners who received €40 each: John O'Connell, Strylea; Martin Burke, Main Street; Vera O'Connell, Cathangstown; and Martha Sheehan, Garrinch. The €50 Lucky Dip was won by Kay O'Riordan, Cloran.

Lotto numbers drawn on December 13 were 7, 20, 22 and 32. No jackpot winner and no 'Match Three' winner so the following five drawn tickets received €30 each: Cian Morrissey, Tullamaine; Teresa O'Meara, Cashel; Josie Fitzgerald, Kiltinan; Cora McGarry, Barrack Street; and Paul Fitzgerald, Kiltinan. The €50 Lucky Dip was won by Tom Purcell, Burke Street.

Lotto numbers drawn on December 20 were 8, 13, 22 and 28. No jackpot winner and no 'Match Three' winner so the following five drawn tickets received €30 each: Caron Duffy, Merrys & Co. Clonmel; Emma Fitzgerald, Monroe, Fethard; Nicky O'Shea, Tullow, Fethard; Martha Williams, Killusty; and Mary Godfrey, Derryluskin, Fethard. The €50 Lucky Dip was won by Keith Woodlock, Rathdrum.

Lotto numbers drawn on January 3 were 4, 14, 25 and 26. No jackpot winner and no 'Match Three' winner so the following five drawn tickets received €30 each: Paddy Tierney, Cork; Tony Maher, Barrack Street, Fethard; Fiona Ryan, Tullamaine; Vicky O'Gara, Wicklow' and Gerry Ahearn, Tullamaine. The €50 Lucky Dip was won by Nancy Ryan, Tullamaine.

Next week's Jackpot is €3,300 and the draw will take place in Butler's Sportsbar on January 10. Our thanks to Clonmel Oil for sponsoring the tickets.

Kumar Mehta's 40th Birthday at the Fethard Arms

















Fethard Rugby Club News
Our U17s kicked off the Development League at home against Galbally. A very competitive game was played between two evenly matched teams with Fethard winning 7-5 on the day. It was not a day for the backs to shine as the ground conditions were very sticky with Fethard spending most of the match in the Galbally half and yet unable to score.

Our forwards put in a huge tackle count with Joey Purtill getting 'Man of the Match' for his efforts. Adam Kealy dominated the line outs with Liam O'Brien and Ger Gorey lifting. Ger scored a great forwards try to level the match after Galbally scoring in the first half, Shane Cleere converted the try to win the game for Fethard. Welcome back to Joss Murray who had a good game. Well done to all the players for their efforts, training continues every Friday.

Died Recently
The death has occurred on Monday 9th January, of Celia Byrne of Cois Falla, Fethard, and formerly of Killerk, Fethard.

Reposing at McCarthy's Funeral Home, Fethard on Tuesday, 10th January, from 6pm until removal at 7.30pm to St. Michael's Church, Clerihan, to arrive at 8pm. Funeral Mass on Wednesday, at 11am, followed by burial in the adjoining cemetery.