Fethard Ladies Football

Photographed at the Fethard Ladies Football Club medal presentation function are (left to right): Maureen McCarthy Secretary, Kate Davy captain U12 County Champions, Canon Tom Breen Club President, Mary Jane Kearney captain Minor County Champions, John O'Gorman Tipperary County Board, Anita Manton chairperson Fethard Ladies Football Club, and Cathy O'Donoghue Tipperary County Board.

The AGM of the Fethard Ladies Football Club was held on Friday, January 27. The following officers were elected: Chairperson and vice-chair, Anita Manton and Kay Ryan; Secretary and vice-sec, Maureen McCarthy and Cabrina Roche; Treasurers, Alice Butler and Audrey Conway; and Kieran Butler PRO. A committee was also elected on the night, and their first meeting will take place on February 3 at 8pm. Joe Keane was elected life President of the club, along with Canon Tom Breen. Sincere thanks to all outgoing officers for their efforts in guiding the club to such great success over the last year.

Book Time in Fethard
The month of February brings out the 'bookworms' all over Tipperary and all eyes turn to Fethard for the annual Tipperariana Book Award and Book Fair. The fair has gone from strength to strength since it was first held in 1996 and all is ready for Sunday, February 12, next when book dealers and book buyers and browsers make their way to Fethard ballroom from 2pm to 6pm.

Fethard native wins Book of the Year

Willie Hayes, winner of Fethard Historical Society's 'Tipperariana Book of the Year' award for 2011 for his book, 'Holycross, The Awakening of the Abbey', photographed with his wife Maureen at a special reception held in the Abymill Theatre, Fethard on Saturday 28th January.

The organisers of the book fair choose 'Holycross The Awakening of the Abbey' by Fethard native William Hayes as their 'Tipperariana Book of the Year for 2011'. It was a very happy occasion on Saturday night last, February 28, in the Abymill Theatre when William accepted his award in the company of his family and friends.

The Holycross book is a worthy winner indeed. It is an amazingly detailed record –told in a very readable way- of the quite fantastic project of bringing a ruined abbey back to life in the 1970s. John Cooney, speaking on behalf of the Selection Committee commented on the very apt title of the book and the word 'awakening' and that the project and now the book awakens us all to the beauty of the abbey and especially its wonderful stonework.


Dóirín Saurus, Fethard Historical Society, presenting the society's annual 'Tipperariana Book of the Year' award for 2011 to William J. Hayes for his book, 'Holycross, The Awakening of the Abbey', at a special reception held in the Abymill Theatre, Fethard on Saturday 28th January.

William Hayes, in his address, told of his joy of being back in his home place and of receiving the award for his Holycross book. He acknowledged that it was an unique record of a restoration of an ancient building but that it was an honour for him to have been part of such a historic project.


Photographed at the presentation of Fethard Historical Society's 'Tipperariana Book of the Year' for 2011 to William J. Hayes for his book, 'Holycross, The Awakening of the Abbey', at a special reception held in the Abymill Theatre, Fethard on Saturday 28th January, are Back L to R: Fr. Tom Breen P.P. Holycross; Fr. Celsus Tierney C.C. Holycross; Marie Moclair; Molly Moclair; Joe Hayes. Front L to R: Maureen Hayes, William J. Hayes and Mossie Hayes.

Books and Help wanted
As already mentioned last week, the Historical Society will gladly accept donations of books that they will then sell at their stall at the fair. Books will be collected if required or books can be left into the Ballroom on Friday night, February 10, from 8pm to 11pm or on Saturday, February 11, from 2pm to 5pm.

Also if anyone would like to help with the setting up of the book stalls on the Friday evening or Saturday afternoon, or to help out on the Sunday then do contact the organisers by emailing bookfair@fethard.com, or contacting 086 3905373. See also www.tipperariana.com

Poetry Launch

The late Rudi Holzapfel (left) talking to Willie Hayes at the Tipperariana Book Fair in Fethard in 2001

A commemorative selection of the poetry of Rudi Holzapfel will take place in the Abymill on Saturday, February 11, the night before the book fair. Most in Fethard will not have known Rudi ,who died in 2005, but it was he who coined the term 'Tipperariana' and he was with the book fair from the beginning until his untimely death. He lived in Cappawhite and ran a bookshop in Tipperary town and he was also a very good and recognised poet. His family will be present on the night when the Fethard Historical Society will host the event, beginning at 8.15pm and all are welcome.

With the White Heathers
A fox found in the big plantation at Garraun from the Coleman Cross meet on Sunday last could not be persuaded to leave and was left after 45 minutes good covert hunting. Finding again at Milltown Lore they hunted to the roadside covert above the four cottages. From here they crossed the road to Long's where hounds fresh found and split. One lot stuck to their original fox and caught him on top near the road. Brought back they were laid on with the others that were still hunting in covert.
They hunted to the Lowesgreen Rathmacarthy road and back to the covert and to ground. Hounds had a good hours hunting here. Crossing the road they drew from Castleblake right back to Coleman and did not find again, finishing a good days hunting at 5.30pm.

The Ballylusky White Heather Harriers meet on Sunday next, February 5, at Coolbawn Cross at 11am.

Fethard Youth Centre Bookings
Fethard Youth Centre are now taking bookings for drama, sewing, music therapy, self defence, computer courses for beginners and beauty care/health. Cinema now available for kids movies. Contact us at either the youth centre office Tel: (052) 6132612 or manager on mobile 087 9403914.

Fethard Bridge Club
The results of Fethard Bridge Club game on Wednesday, January 11, were:
1st Gross: Betty Walsh and Monica Anglim;
2nd Gross: Nell Broderick and David O'Meara;
3rd Gross: Anna Cooke and Bernie O'Meara.
1st Nett: Bridie Lee and Mike Burke;
2nd Nett: Joan Kelly and Breda O'Grady;
3rd Nett: Mary Tierney and Betty Egan.

The results of our game on Wednesday, January 18, were:
1st Gross: Berney Myles and Alice Quinn;
2nd Gross: Brendan Kenny and Carmel Condon;
3rd Gross: Carol Kenny and Gemma Burke.
1st Nett: Marian Walsh and Sean O'Dea;
2nd Nett: Anne Connolly and Eileen Frewen;
3rd Nett: Kathleen Kenny and Ann O'Dea.

On January 25 we started our Player of the Year competition which will finish on February 15. Anyone looking for a partner contact Berney Myles at 6132038.

Fethard & Killusty Community Lotto
The numbers drawn on January 25 were: 8, 22, 26 and 29. We had no Jackpot winner and one 'Match Three' winner who received €150: Breda Nolan, Ballinure, Thurles.

The three following 'Lucky Dip' winners also won €50 each: Margaret Lawlor, Mockler's Terrace, Fethard; Tony Maher, c/o Arthur Daly; and Eleanor Roche, Kilnockin View, Fethard.

The next Lotto draw will take place on January 25, and 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 week's Jackpot commences at €7,700 and the Jackpot sellers prize is €770. All proceeds go towards community work in Fethard.

Fethard GAA
This week and in the foreseeable future, the lotto committee led by John Fitzgerald are making a huge effort to promote the GAA Sports Lotto in the town and surrounding parish. As we are all aware finances are tight and we must make an all out effort to keep our club and players in the best position to help them reach the desired objective – winning a championship this year. Membership fees are slowly rolling in, keep the dribble going The grapevine tells me we are in Junior B Football and U21 B Football this year.

The lotto numbers drawn on Tuesday, January 24, were 5, 11, 28 and 32. We had no Jackpot winner and one Match Three winner who received €150, Milo Burke, Fethard Road, Clonmel. Our €50 Lucky Dip winner was Jim Williams, Killusty. Our next draw takes place in Gaule's Bar on Tuesday, January 31. Jackpot is €3,600. Our thanks to Clonmel Oil Ltd for sponsoring the printing of tickets.

Fethard & District Rugby Club
Fethard U7s
Under 7s unfortunately had no teams arrive to play last Sunday. However, they had a great training game and well done to all who braved the rain. The team of Andrew Wall, Eoin O'Dwyer, Louis Ryan, Luke Dolan, Luke Fitzgerald, Luke Ryan, Mark Neville, Michael James Phelan, Padraig Duggan and Tom Smyth are a great bunch of players who make rugby enjoyable.

Fethard U8s
The Under 8s played out of their skin against Nenagh and Thurles. Their first game against an evenly matched Nenagh team it was a joy to witness with fine tackling from the team of Charlie Cummins, Connor Neville, David McCormack, James McCormack, James Ryan, Johnny Gleeson, Michael Long, Michael Ryan and Padraig O'Dwyer. A large number of tries were scored in this game as they put their skills from training into practice. Fethard then met an extremely strong Thurles side and upped their game to put in a fine performance. Keep up the great play.

Fethard U9s
Fethard played a blitz against Thurles and Nenagh last Sunday. They were two very competitive matches with Thurles winning the first match and Fethard winning the second against Nenagh. Great play by T.J. Murphy, Toby Collier, Eoin Ryan, Aiden Fitzgerald and great tackles by Robert Wall, Sean Ryan, Robert Barton, Oran Ryan, Shane Neville, Luke Fox, Conor Ryan, and tries well taken by Josh Rowan, Oisín Smullen and Eoin Ryan.

Fethard U10s
The U10s had two games, the first against a strong Thurles side; time and again both teams found their menacing drives and rolling mauls resulted in only turnover ball. Scores did come though and Fethard had the lead at half-time. The second half was more entertaining with some brilliant well-worked team play from Fethard left Fethard victorious.
Two early scores from a good Nenagh side left Fethard rocking on their heals, they recovered, however, and came back magnificently to record their second comfortable victory of the day, well done Mathew Burke, Ethan Coen, Darragh Fitzgerald, Aoife Fitzgerald, David Gunn, Jack Hassett, Angus MacDonald, Lucy Murphy, Cathal O`Mahoney, Richard Robinson, Andrew Slattery, Eoin Walsh and Ryan Walsh.

Fethard U11s
U11s blitz at home on Sunday proved to be very successful, despite atrocious conditions. The first match against Thurles was a one sided affair with tries from Conor Vaughan, James Phillips, Peter Wall and Ciarán O'Dwyer and ending with an 8-1 victory for Fethard. Our second match against Nenagh was a more even affair with a final score of 3-2. Tries were scored by Conor Vaughan and James Phillips, with great support play from Paddy Gaynor, Will Ruttle, Adam Kirby, Garry Delaney, Declan Hayes and Eoin. Well done lads!

Dates for the diary
Please note the following Mini's fixtures in the next two weeks. Next Sunday, February 5, we are at home to Waterpark. Please be there at 10.30am for 11am kick off time. The following week the mini's are away to Galbally for a Blitz on Sunday, February 12, for an 11am kick off. Thank you so much for all the fabulous food following the Blitz on Sunday. We really appreciate all the hard work of the coaches and parents. For all other teams (U13s and up) please check with your coaches on Friday night at training for match details.