Photographed at the raising of the first Green Flag at Holy Trinity National School are L to R: Brian Sheehy (Tidy Towns), Fr. Anthony McSweeney, Ann-Marie Harty, Rita Kenny, Willie Ryan, Margaret Gleeson, Joe Keane (Tidy Towns), Canon Tom Breen P.P., Mary Carroll (Environmental Officer), Maureen Maher, Patricia Treacy (Principal) and Sr. Maureen Power.

Pupils photographed at the raising of the first Green Flag at Holy Trinity National School Fethard

Good turnout for meeting to organise 'Green' reunion

The Back Green in the 1900s

A great turnout attended the meeting to organise 'The Green & Barrack Street Reunion' on last Wednesday night in the Tirry Centre. The reunion is planned for Saturday night, August 18, 2012, and will be held in The Convent Hall which was chosen for the audio/video facilities and as place that many attending will be familiar with from their early school years. Although this reunion is focussing on people and families that lived in The Green / Barrack Street area, it is open to all their friends and anyone interested in reminiscing about Fethard times past. It is also expected that this year's reunion will be a forerunner to other areas in Fethard having a similar reunion in years to come.

The ideas discussed on the night included the printing of a booklet to coincide with the reunion; a walking tour of The Green in the afternoon; a quiz trail based on the area; and a collection of memories and photographs that will be on display at the reunion.

The booklet will also include photographs and snippets of information relating to the The Green and Barrack Street. The reunion is part-funded by Fethard & Killusty Community Council and tickets (limited) will be available shortly from any of the organisers at €10 each which includes reception, refreshments and a copy of booklet.

The first meeting was attended by the following: Dolores (Shelly) O'Donnell, Mandy (O'Donnell) Lyons, Margaret (McCarthy) O'Donnell, Josie (Keane) Fitzgerald, Mary (Bowes) Healy, Kathleen (Keane) Maher, Nelly (Trehy) O'Donovan, Gemma (Kenny) Burke, Valerie (McCormack) O'Meara, Joe Kenny, Marie (Trehy) Leahy, Alma (Slattery) Pollard, Niamh (Kenny) Moroney, Joe Keane, Catherine (Newport) Kearney, Tony Hanrahan and Brendan Kenny. Apologies from Ann (O'Riordan) Walsh and Eileen (Carey) Connolly.

If you are interested in getting involved please give your name to Joe Kenny, Rocklow Road, Fethard, or by email to: joe@fethard.com

Music Extravaganza on July 8 in Fethard


An outdoor 'Music Extravaganza' and barbecue is planned for Sunday afternoon, July 8, in Lonergan's Beer Garden, The Square, Fethard, in aid of the Tipperary Branch of Irish Wheelchair Association. This event, brainchild of John and Roseanne Carroll, will feature all the top bands who regularly play in Lonergan's such as: 'Wig Wam Glam Band', 'No Recession', 'The Wise Guys', 'Midnight', 'La Chico', 'Leap of Faith', 'Mad Patsy', 'Sylvia from Hot Ice' and DJ and MC for the evening, 'Roger Brown', ex Centre Radio 1.01FM and Tipp FM. All the above bands have offered their services free of charge for this great cause and is very appreciated by all concerned.

Tickets for the event, from 2pm to 9pm, are €10 and available from Lonergan's Bar, Joe Kenny, John Ryan and also on the door on the day. Your support will be greatly appreciated.

50th Killusty Pony Show on July 7

On Saturday, July 7, Killusty Pony Show will celebrate its fiftieth year at the Showgrounds, Claremore, Killusty. Plans are well forward to celebrate in style. The Show Schedule contains 83 classes to be entered which cover all types, sizes and breeds of pony, in-hand, on the flat or over fences. Entries close on June 27, with Betsy O'Connor, Knockelly, Fethard, Tel: (052) 6131130. If you are not entered on the catalogue you will not be able to take part. Equitation and Performance Working Hunter can be entered on the day if you have missed the deadline.

While ponies are the focus in the six rings in operation, the show will also feature a Dog Show (fun), a history tent and a serious Fancy Dress Class. There is also a competition for 'The most appropriately dressed for a 1960s Show' which will be judged by a Killusty Pony Show graduate, Roz Purcell, Miss Universe Ireland 2010, from all on the showground's local primary schools are entering an art competition and entries will be on display.

Generous sponsors, many of whom have contributed to the success of the show over a long period, have seen to it that the Prize Fund is one of the best on the circuit. All that is required is that the weather stays clement enough to set up the field and commence judging at 10am. Killusty Show Committee look forward to welcoming all to the fiftieth show.

ICA Federation Day
This year's ICA Federation Day will take place in Halla na Féile, Cashel, on Thursday, June 28, doors open at 7.30pm. Fethard Guild is taking part and we hope that many of our members will support this project. We are asked to profile our guild's activities over the years. There will also be entertainment and teas will be served on the night.

The bus for our summer outing to Fota House and Cobh on Thursday, July 5, will leave from outside the Town Hall at 10am.

Fethard GAA Social prizewinners

Tommy Gahan and his partner Evelyn photographed at the Fethard GAA 125th Anniversary Dinner Dance

The following were the prizewinners and sponsors for the Club's 125th Anniversary social draw held at Clonmel Park Hotel recently.
1st Prize Johnny Fleming (weekend for two to any of the Brennan Hotels);
2nd Prize Carol Neville (Golf for two at The Mount Juliet Kilkenny);
3rd Prize P.J. Aherne (Golf for two at The Mount Juliet Hotel);
4th Prize Josie Fitzgerald (Hamper from Liam Sweeney);
5th Prize Ann-Marie Moroney (Hamper O'Sullivan's Chemist);
6th Prize Marie Fitzgerald (Hamper Kevin Coffey Better Deal Cash & Carry);
7th Prize Ann Fleming (Voucher Roisín's Hair Salon).
The organising committee would also like to thank the following people for all their help: Joe Kenny, Kieran Butler, John Kelly and The Clonmel Park Hotel.

Fethard Tidy Towns

Taking a short break from ongoing Tidy Towns maintenance work in Fethard are L to R: Michael 'Magic' Ryan and Joe Keane (Chairman Fethard Tidy Towns)

Fethard Tidy Towns would like to thank all those who put up hanging baskets and window boxes. Flowering tubs have now been put in the Augustinian Abbey, the Holy Trinity Parish Church and the Church of Ireland grounds. All flowerbeds have now been planted, wild flower beds are beginning to bloom, these beds were planted on March 20 last. The wild flowers will give a great array of colour throughout the town for the coming summer months. This work could not be carried out without our team of workers - Michael Ryan FÁS, John O'Donnell TUS, James Roche TUS, also our Youth Centre TUS staff, Nicholas Casey, Jonathon Hall and Christopher Thompson. We would like to thank them all for litter picking, painting the Ballroom front, planting of flowers, shrubs, and preparing hanging baskets.

Fethard Tidy Towns would also like to congratulate the Holy Trinity National School for receiving their first Environmental Green Flag Award.

We sincerely thank all those who contributed to the litter picking on the way into town and we really appreciate everyone's assistance with the control of litter and prevention of graffiti vandalism in the town.
Finally the committee would like to thank all those who contributed to the recent Church gate collection and for the donations received from The Augustinian Abbey, the Church of Ireland, Fethard Historical Society, The Brodeen Stitchers and McCarthys Hotel.

Fethard Ladies raise funds for charity

Fethard ladies who raised money for various charities by taking part in the 30th running of the Flora Women's Mini Marathon in Dublin. The Flora Women's Mini Marathon is the biggest all women's event of its kind in the world. It has grown from its beginnings in 1983 with almost 9,000 participants to a staggering 40,057 women participating in 2011. Back L to R: Eleanor Condon, Cora Breen, Majella Daly, Patricia Breen. Middle L to R: Amy Pollard, Lizzy Reddy, Maura Ryan, Pattie Thompson, Lizzie Thompson, Mary Sheehan. Front L to R: Ann Marie Kenny, Eleanor Roche, Cabrina Roche, Trish Brady and Monica Pollard (co-ordinator).

Fundraising Day for Kitale Charitable Trust

A fundraising day will be held at Glanbia Country Life, Fethard, on Saturday, June 30, in aid of Richard McCormack's 'From Tipp to Kenya' Kitale Charitable Trust. Richard from Dunguib, Killenaule, is aiming to raise the €10,000 required to build a new dormitory for the Kitale girls' school in Kenya. On the fundraising day, Glanbia Country Life will donate 20% of all plant sales, the ICA will have a Cake Sale and there will also be a raffle. As Richard says, "Your donation is their foundation."

Richard has been personally involved in the African country of Kenya in the Kitale region over a number of years. He has also connections with a very well known Kiltegan missionary, Fr Michael Dillon, who has spent his life there.

While in Kenya, Richard lived for part of his time high up in the mountains in a small village called Chipemal, originally Fr Michael's parish. Through his involvement in the local girls' school he noticed the obvious necessity for a dormitory. The teachers and others in authority were already aware of how essential this was but because of their impoverished situation there was no prospect this project would ever be undertaken. Consequentially with the help of his friend, Freda Hayes, they decided to form a charity trust with a view to raise money for this worthy cause. Through Freda's connections with Glanbia Country Life in Fethard they have now established their kind support.
All money raised will go directly to the building of the dormitory and with an assurance that only local labour in Chipemal will be involved in this project, hence also giving local employment.

Over the coming months other fundraising events will be organised to help reach their goal of raising €10,000 to build this dormitory.

Eugene running Waterford Marathon for Autism
Fethard athlete Eugene Walsh is currently in training for the Waterford Marathon which takes place on 30th June. Eugene is taking part to raise funds for Autism research and would really appreciate anyone who would like to sponsor him for this worthy cause.

Fethard Hospice Support Group
Fethard Support Group for South Tipperary Hospice will hold their Annual Church Gate Collection in Fethard, Killusty and Moyglass weekending June 30 and July 1. The support group are very grateful for your tremendous support in the past and look forward to your continued support this year.

Walk on Fire – Fethard 21st July


Next month, Fethard will be hosting a firewalk event in the grounds of the Youth center. Its not something that happens often in Ireland let alone a town like Fethard! This will involve Volunteers walking over hot coals in aid of the Happy Africa Foundation. On the day, there will be music/DJ, fire performers (breathers/jugglers) food and face painting for kids. An event not to be missed!

The Happy Africa foundation works with communities all over Africa to improve local facilities. The money raised will go towards community projects ran by volunteer Cassandra Beattie who moved over there last year and has done much needed work with locals in Thanda, South Africa.

The group is currently taking more volunteers. If you are interested in taking part in the firewalk and being part of this rare event please contact Kyle on 086 7394493 or e-mail tippfirewalk@gmail.com. The facebook page has lots of information on firewalking, and the projects being run by the Happy Africa Foundation.

Irish National Division 2 Swimming Competition

Wish the very best of luck to Abaigeal Maher who is competing in the Irish National Division 2 Swimming Competition this weekend in the University of Limerick Sports Arena.