Ned Kelly Gathering Festival Moyglass
The festival kicks off on Friday, July 26, with a cheese and wine reception in the Village Inn at 5pm. The official launch will be performed by Mary Fleming a direct descendant of John ‘Red’ Kelly. Mary featured on ‘Nationwide’ when RTE produced a feature programme on Ned Kelly. The launch will be followed by a short talk on the lives and times of ‘Red’ Kelly and Ned Kelly. This will be followed by a tour of sites associated with John ‘Red’ Kelly.  At 9pm a traditional music night will commence in The Village Inn, with Seanachai Walter Dunphy to entertain the audience. All musicians are welcome.


Lar Fanning as Ned Kelly during rehearsals for the Kelly re-enactment, helped by Liam O'Maoldomnaigh who directed rehearsals

Saturday July 27
A packed day of sports for boys and girls commences at 2pm in the Community Field. Races for all ages from U6 to U18. From U9 to U 12 has various race distances and Turbo Javelin. A Ned Kelly novelty race will also add to the entertainment. For more information please contact Kevin or Mark @ (086) 8231019/ (086) 8034185. All boys and girls are welcome to enter. Hot food will be available.

Vintage Tractor Run
Registrations for Vintage Tractor Run will commence at 2pm at Community Hall on Saturday and the run will take place at 3pm via Rocklow, Killenaule Road with stopover in Fethard. This year’s run is in aid of Fethard & District Day Care Centre, light refreshments for participants will be available at centre. Please subscribe to this worthy cause as they provide an incredible service to the older generation and help many people enjoy a better quality of life. The run will recommence via Red City, Coolmoyne, Mocklershill, Coleraine, Silverfort and back to Community Hall.

Old Moyglass School Reunion
A school reunion of those who attended the old school in Moyglass (the same building where ‘Red’ Kelly was baptised) has been arranged for 5pm at The Village Inn on Saturday. The event will be mostly informal to give past pupils the unique opportunity to meet and greet old friends, many of will not have met for many years. The years in question are from 1924 to 1964. The records were not available and the organising committee of Mary Kennedy Cleary 086-8068202, Michael Fahey 086-8226694 and Dan Lynch 085-8590987 worked long hours to compile a list. If you have not received an invitation due to lack of these records, or have any queries regarding the reunion please contact any member of the committee. In any case all are welcome so please attend. Food will be served. The stories of the old school are legendary and some of the pupils of the new school might like to attend and hear these incidents recalled.


Kelly decendents, Mary Fleming and Kathleen Fleming, looking forward to the Ned Kelly Gathering Festival in Moyglass this weekend

The Fureys and Davey Arthur
This legendary band will play in The Community Hall, doors 7pm. This is a wonderful opportunity to see and hear a group, who have travelled the world and have huge connections with Australia. Admission is €20. A Ned Kelly lookalike competition will take place and if you look like this famous icon, now is your chance to prove it. Entertainment will continue in the hall following the Fureys with bar extension in place.

We Looked Like Giants
This local band who were all Ireland finalists in the schools competition will play in The Village Inn on Saturday night and are sure to attract their huge number of followers to Moyglass. Ned Kelly will be proud of the name as he wore his armour and high helmet to make himself look like a giant.

Festival Sunday July 28
A  day for all the family to enjoy commences in the community field at 12 noon. Registration for Vintage static show will start at 10am and will have a harvest theme this year.  Jed O’Brien is bringing his huge display of model machinery. Food and Craft stalls will cover home cooking, vegetables and jams, cheese making, woodwork, and many more skills. Kids will be well catered for with bouncy castle, climbing wall, bungee trampoline, rodeo bull, etc. A full range of ice creams, cold drinks, popcorn, candy floss, teas, sandwiches and hot food will be available.

There will be live music with local girl band ‘A La Carte Behaviour’,’who were in the Munster final of school’s competition along with ‘Truancy’ which includes local celebrity Gavin Strappe who featured on the Pat Kenny Show recently and will be a star attraction. The dog show will commence at 2.30pm and the winner will receive The Moyglass Kennels perpetual cup.
Sean Tynan at rehearsal for the Kelly re-enactment on Sunday

A live re-enactment of the Kelly gang at Jerilderie will take place at 3pm, and this will include the gang arriving on horseback. A tug-o-war competition for The Ned Kelly Perpetual Cup will commence at 5pm. Numerous side shows including, greasy pigs, penalty shootout, sheaf of wheat and dunk tank also feature. The kids will also have face painting available during the day.
 
The Waheys and The Wake
A Ned Kelly cookout with music by the very popular Clonmel band The Waheys will commence at 7pm at The Village Inn. The festival will draw to a close with an Irish wake in the Village Inn. We would love people to arrive in old dress for the wake and recreate the atmosphere of an old Irish rural wake. If you have a chalk pipe bring it along.

Piano Students perform in Griffith College Dublin

Hayley Ryan, one of the three students selected to perform at the semifinals of the annual Leinster School of Music Excellence Awards

Congratulations to three young musicians taught by local piano teacher Stuart Clooney who were selected to perform at the semifinals of the annual Leinster School of Music Excellence Awards on July 6.  Imogen Kavanagh, Katie Whyte and Hayley Ryan were nominated by the examiner during their piano exam held in Fethard, for excelling in a particular piece of music and so competed in the competition including the top young musicians in the country. Finalists will be chosen to proceed onto the competitions final stage in September. Well done to the girls for getting this far and best of luck with progressing further. 

Fethard Juvenile GAA
Fethard Cúl Camp takes place from August 19 to 23 and the final club registrations will take place on this Wednesday at 6.30pm and on Saturday at 11.30am in the GAA park. This is an opportunity to try on the kits to aid correct ordering of sizes as we have been informed that it will not be possible to facilitate exchange of kits.
All are very welcome to attend this week of fun, games and the opportunity to make new and lasting friendships.


Fethard team and coaches, overall winners at the Skerries Harps Hurling Festival Tournament

Success at Skerries Hurling Tournament
A determined bunch of young Fethard hurlers took part in the Skerries Harps Hurling Festival Tournament on Saturday, July 20, and came away as overall winners with two wins and a draw. Fantastic weather greeted the boys who took part in this tournament. Four teams took part, the hosts Skerries Harps, Ballyboden St Endas, Cashel King Cormacs and Fethard. The tournament played ten minutes each half.
Our U10s were out as well on Saturday, taking part in the South Board Football tournament in Kilsheelan. Our team showed great ability and gamesmanship as they won two games and narrowly lost in two others.
Well done to all who represented the club so well over the weekend and a sincere thank you to their mentors for their time and dedication.

Happy 90th Birthday Mamie

Mamie Morrissey (front), St.Patrick's Place, Fethard, photographed with members of her family on the occasion of her 90th Birthday celebrated in the Convent Hall Community Centre. L to R: Benny, Ann, Sarah, Patricia, Patsy, Philomena, David, Paula, Majella, Declan and Mary.

6K Fun Run and Walk in Cloneen
Cloneen Sports & Social Club invites you to take part in a 6K Fun Run and Walk, which will take place on Sunday, July 21. Registration will take place at Cloneen Hall from 10.30am, with runners starting at 11am and walkers a short time later.

Entry fee is €10 per person and all runners, joggers, fun runners and walkers are more than welcome. The route will include Ballyhomuck, Kylenagrannagh, Ballyvadlea, Garrankyle and Cloneen with marshals and water station along the route. Refreshments and sandwiches at Cloneen Hall after the event.

Kiltinan Graveyard
Cleaning at Kiltinan Graveyard will commence at 7pm on Wednesday, July 31. All volunteers welcome. For further information contact Seamus Barry on Tel: 086 2547162.

Killusty Soccer Club Golf Classic
Killusty Soccer Club will hold a Golf Classic on Sunday, August 4, at Slievenamon Golf Club. The cost per team of three will be €60. For tee times you can contact the golf club at (052) 6132213.

National Indie Excellence Award for Tom’s book
Tom Weston's book, ‘Feathered: Being a Fairy Tale’ has recently won the 2013 National Indie Excellence Award in the Young Adult Fiction category. Earlier this year Tom gave us five hardback copies of his book to give away as prizes on this website for which we were extremely grateful.

Tom’s editor is Carmel Trimble (nee Millett), St Johnstown, Fethard, and it was actually stories from Carmel’s childhood in the Castle Inn, on Watergate Street, which inspired this novel. The book is the 3rd in the award winning series called the Alex and Jackie Adventures. Alex and Jackie are two teenage sisters from California, who get involved in mysteries involving ghosts, vampires, etc. The series is targeted to reading ages of 10 and above.

‘Feathered: being a fairy tale’ is set for the most part in our town of Fethard, and many of the Fethard landmarks are referenced in this story of the Book of Kells, Vikings, Banshees and the Tuatha Dé Danann.

Congratulations to Tom on his award as the criteria for recognition are stringent and include overall excellence. This award celebrates the highest achievements in self-publishing, a sector of the industry that has grown exponentially in recent years. Click to read more

If you would like to buy the book it's now available from Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.com in hardback and paperback.



Summer Activity Wednesday in Fethard
Summer Activity Day will take place in Fethard Convent Community Centre on next Wednesday, July 31, which will include a great day of fun and activities for boys and girls age 4 plus. The activities will start at 10am and continue to 4pm. The cost is €10 per child and lunch will be provided. Places must be pre-booked you can do this on our Fethard Convent Community Hall Facebook page or by ringing Janice on 087 2475762, Jimmy on 086 3088049 Pamela on 086 8743752 or Dee on (052) 6132277.

Don’t forget the Convent Community Hall is available at an hourly rate for birthday parties or any social occasion. To make a booking or a general query phone Joan at (052) 6131000 or Pamela at 086 8743752.

Open Day at Lisronagh

Sparkles Teeth Whitening Offer
Sparkles Whitening will return to the Convent Community Hall with an amazing special offer – for only €50 you can get your teeth whitened on Saturday, July 27. To book your place contact us on 085 7547092. Places are limited for this offer so make sure you book early.

Pilgrimage to Holy Year Cross on Slievenamon
A date for your diary – this year’s annual pilgrimage to the Holy Year Cross on Slievenamon will take place on Sunday, August 11, with the usual starting time of 1pm.

Pre-Baptism Meeting
A pre-Baptism meeting will be held in the Tirry Community Centre on Monday, August 12, at 7.30pm for parents who wish to have their child baptised during the following weeks. Please contact Canon Tom Breen P.P. (052) 6131178 or Fr. Anthony McSweeney C.C. (052) 6131187 prior to attending.

Fethard & Killusty Community Lotto
The numbers drawn on July 17 were: 6, 18, 27 and 32. We had no jackpot winner and one ‘Match Three’ winner who received €150: Margaret Dunne, Ballycullen, Mullinahone.

The three following ‘Lucky Dip’ winners won €50 each: Maura Ryan, Woodvale Walk, Fethard; Peter Nagle, Coolmoyne, Fethard; and Ray Condon, c/o Kathleen Connolly.

Remember you can purchase your lotto ticket online at fethard.com. Buy seven weekly tickets and get one free! Check on the website for lots of special offers. Next week’s draw takes place on Wednesday, July 24, and the Jackpot is €3,700 and the Jackpot seller’s prize is €370. All proceeds go towards community work in Fethard.

Social Dancing at Fethard Ballroom
Dancing at Fethard Ballroom on Sunday Night, July 28, to the music of ‘Gerry Walsh’. All welcome to come along and enjoy a great night’s entertainment and social dancing. Dancing 9pm to midnight and admission is €7.

Articles for Emigrants’ Newsletter
We are now inviting submissions of articles and photographs for inclusion in this year’s Emigrants’ Newsletter. The Newsletter covers all generations of emigrants and it would be nice to have articles covering all age groups. The item need not be long. It might recall a funny incident, a local character you remember, a particular event, school time or any other recollection that may surface. So please consider putting pen to paper, or voice to recorder, and submit an article for this year’s issue. Photographs, current or old, are also very welcome.

Articles or photographs can be submitted to Joe Kenny, Rocklow Road, Fethard, or by email to newsletter@fethard.com

Killusty Pony Show 2013

Photographed at this year's Killusty Pony Show are L to R: Barry Walsh, Marie Kent with Lily Mai Walsh (front) and Pat Culligan.

It was difficult to believe as another sparkling day dawned as ponies headed to Killusty that the Show could be blessed with a second gorgeous day as it headed into the second half of its Century. Sadly the trend of diminishing entries continues after reaching a peak of 310 ponies last year. The quality remains high, however, and there is tremendous local support both in terms of entries and from sponsors who stick by the show despite the recession.


Enjoying the sunshine at this year's Killusty Pony Show are L to R: Mary Maher, originally from Abbey Street, Fethard, and her daughter Annie

Deirdre Smithwick, one of the very longest supporters of Killusty Show went away with a spring in her step after a win in the yearling Show Pony Class which led to a Reserve Championship in the Youngstock section to Martin O’Sullivan’s Absolute Heartbreaker followed by a Broodmare Championship with Kilcreene Coral, the latest in a long line of very successful ponies. Gillian O’Shea will have her name on the Lydon Cup for the best local entry for a second year in succession. You might think the day couldn’t get any better but Deirdre also took home the Bank of Ireland Cup for the champion foal, Kilcreene Snapdragon. 1981 was the first time her name went on this class and it is to be hoped the 2013 will not be the last. The Connemara broodmare winner, Joanne O’Connor’s Greyrock Finisterre was the Reserve. Martin O’Sullivan and Absolute Heartbreaker went on to win the Welsh Championship as well as the youngstock equivalent which must have made his journey back to West Cork seem shorter than usual. Margaret Greene’s Goldengrove Hermione was reserve champion Welsh. A very well filled Connemara section saw Greyrock Finisterre take the Championship from Joan Vaughan’s Kippure Sabrina which came from the Ridden Connemara Class for riders over 16.


Photographed at this year's Killusty Pony Show are Back L to R: sisters Rosie and Gini Quirke, originally from Kiltinan. Front L to R: Sam Austin, Clara Quirke, Lily Quirke and Lucy Austin.

Open Show Pony Lead rein winner
Josephine O’Driscoll’s Amesbury Bumble Bee, the Open Show Pony Lead rein winner added to a long list of achievements when taking the Dr. P.J. Stokes mini Championship with Melanie Marnane’s Llanant Barcud in reserve. There are great numbers in the mini classes but they do not seem to be graduating to the larger ponies but perhaps the trend will improve in the future. Mimi O’Grady riding her mother’s Doonkinane Slash won the O’Brien Cup for the Local Riding pony championship with Michael Mead’s Hanora’s Little Gem in reserve.


Betsy O'Connor looking after entries at Killusty Pony Show

Show’s most populated classes
From the most populated classes of the show, the Handy Pony and Special Lead rein classes, Sophie Wall’s Cloonlyon Blueberry came 3rd in the Handy Pony 4-8 yrs with Andrew Wall doing the steering and went on to win the Handy Pony 9-12 with Robert Wall in the saddle . There was also a family double in the two divisions of the Special Lead-rein as Bianca Lennon led Jack Lennon on Ebonyflash Miss in the first division and turned around to lead Lucy Lennon on llanfrecha Desire in the second division.

The Show Hunters seem to be going the way of the Show ponies if numbers are anything to go by. That said, Lorna Twomey’s Valmore Irish Mist (which traces its breeding back to Killusty and Gus Keane) is a truly lovely type and a deserving champion with Emer Cunneen’s Tyn-y-cae Gold Kite in reserve. The 133 Novice Show hunter Walter’s Moonlite Casino claimed the Novice championship with Olive Hackett’s Money’s Pippa in Reserve.


Sophie Burke on 'Gooch' at Killusty Pony Show

Working Hunter
Numbers in the Working Hunter ring could have been affected by the proximity of Tattersall’s Pony Club Eventing qualifier on Sunday and, for some, a long week or two at Pony Club Camp. The Novice championship was taken in some style by Sally Sweeney’s Jack Magic with daughter Sive doing the steering Jerome Casey’s Calvin ably ridden by Heather taking the reserve. The Open Working hunters made up in quality for what they lacked in numbers, Michelle Sheridan’s multi award winning Mocklershill Lucky Lady with Shannon in the saddle captured the championship with Joan Vaughan’s Kippure Sabrina ridden by Kirstie Connell in reserve.


Pat Culligan making a presentation to long-time supporter of Killusty Show, Jean Santry, who is getting married in the near future.

For the first time, there were sufficient numbers to provide a cash reward for the Intermediate (in order for a money prize to be awarded in a championship at Killusty there must be 15 contesting the division) Worthy winners of the Championship were Justine Fay’s Colorado 111 fresh from dual triumphs in Charleville with Angela Nugent’s Muffin steered by Calvin in Reserve. The Performance Working Hunter Championship was taken home by Alyssa O’Neill’s Rathkenny Lacewing with Jacinta Kennedy’s Sadie and daughter Lucy in reserve.


Mark Kearney, Clogheen, on his pony 'Buttons' at the Killusty Show

If the special lead rein and Handy Pony classes were the most densely populated the Performance Jumping class wasn’t far behind. Winners in each of the three divisions were Sally Nagle on Benny, Sophie Bourke on Gooch and Kirsty Connell on Kippure Sabrina. From thence to the equitation jumping and after a long day in the sun the final championship for the Tate Croome-Carroll Memorial Cup was decided. Alyssa O’Neill rounded off a great day by pipping Luke Coen for the Cup. All that remained was to clear off the field and return Killusty to its bucolic best for another year until the first Saturday in July 2014.


Amber Marnane on her pony at the Killusty Show


Verona and Vera Madigan at the Killusty Show


Frank Williams leading 'Golden Grove Glitz' in Class 15 at the Killusty Pony Show.


Noel Byrne making a presentation to Jimmy Williams at the show.


Some of the entries in the Fancy Dress at Killusty Show.

Items for Fethard News and Website
Items for inclusion on the weekly Fethard News page on The Nationalist can be emailed before noon on Mondays to news@fethard.com or delivered by hand to Joe Kenny, Rocklow Road, Fethard.