Thanks a Million!
On Tuesday 10th September 2013, Fethard Website passed another milestone when our page counter passed the 5,000,000 mark. I would like to thank all our readers and visitors who have made this site very popular and appreciated at home and abroad. The Fethard site now receives over 2,000 visitors per day as can be seen from the Statistics for last month, August 2013.

Fethard Website, dedicated to emigrants from the parish, had its first presence on the internet in January 1998 with a small site hosted on www.iol.ie/~fethard/ On August 12, 1998, fethard.com domain name was registered and ever since has remained the home of 'Fethard News' on the internet.

The site's first milestone was reached in February 2003 with over 500,000 visitors to the site and by January 16, 2005, the site had reached 1,000,000. Numbers continued to grow and on Wednesday, October 24, 2007, our counter exceeded 2,000,000.
Two years later, Wednesday, October 27, 2009, we reached 3,000,000 and another two years later, Wednesday, October 12, 2011, we exceeded 4,000,000.

Thanks a Million again for your support and encouragement in maintaining this community site, dedicated to emigrants from the Parish of Fethard and Killusty.

Boot Camp is back
Interested in getting into shape after the holidays? Challenge yourself to get fit by joining a great bunch of people who are out to do just that, in a atmosphere of fun and good spirit. Monday and Wednesday nights from 7 to 8pm, mixed classes at just €6 per session, and also for the first time we are running a morning session on Wednesdays from 10 to 11am.

Boot camp Tipperary is located in Rathkenny; just half way between Fethard and Drangan. For further details go to Facebook at Bootcamp Tipperary or at Fethard bootcamp. Or simply call or text Colm on 086 3502360.

Fethard Rugby Club

Munster Domestic Rugby Manager Ultan O'Calaghan provides instruction on scrum technique to Tim Daly, Thomas Murphy and Bill Phelan. Full training has now resumed on Friday nights at Fethard & District Rugby Club - new members always welcome.

‘Get on the Ball’ with Fethard Rugby Club this season as training has now commenced since Friday, September 6 and will continue every Friday night at Fethard Community Field. Minis age 6-12 start at 6.45pm and youths age 13-18 start at 8pm. Boys, girls and new members are always welcome.

Our annual ‘Cash for Clobber’ event is up and running again to raise much needed funds for the club. Please drop any items of unwanted clothing, footwear or soft toys up to the rugby club on Friday nights during training, or contact Alice at Tel: 086 0612306 or Mary 086 1688158. Thanks for your generous support.

Well Done Mick
Congratulations to Tipperary intermediate hurling boss Mick Ryan, Tullamaine, whose team retained the All-Ireland title by defeating Kilkenny by 2-14 to 2-11 at Nowlan Park on Saturday, August 31.

This was a great achievement for Tipperary and the management team of Mick Ryan, Michael Ferncombe, Eamonn O’Dwyer and Sean O’Meara who had to build a totally new team for this year as all those who played in last year’s final were ineligible for the 2013 championship.

Well done to all concerned with this excellent victory as it’s not often a team can come home from the lion's den in Nowlan Park and come away with a win.

Michael Ryan received the Fethard Butler’s Bar Sports Achievement Award for July following Tipp’s one point win over Cork in the Munster Intermediate final.

Fethard Bridge Club
Fethard Bridge Club will play for the Free Sub Gross on September 25 and the Free Sub Nett on October 2. Anyone interested in learning bridge should contact Eileen at Tel: 086 0781448. New members welcome.

Fethard sports achievement award nominees for August

Special guest, Sean Moloney (left), presenting the Butler's Bar Fethard Sports Achievement Award for August to M.C. Maher who accepted the award on behalf of his son Cian Maher who is presently working in New York. Also included is Mark Cummins (right) representing this month's sponsor Gleeson Wines.

Congratulations to Fethard native, Cian Maher, who was the August winner of Butlers Sports Bar Fethard Achievement Award. Cian captained the Tipperary Senior Hurling team who beat Galway by 2-18 to 1-17 in the New York Senior Hurling Championship final played in Gaelic Park. This was Tipperary’s first time winning in ten years bringing a long spell of Offaly dominance in the championship to an end.


Photographed at the presentation of this months Sports Achievement Awards are L to R: Willie and Mandy Quigley, John and Veronica Fogarty

The award was presented at a function in Butlers Sports Bar on Friday night, September 6, by Mark Cummins, representing this month’s sponsor, Gleesons Wines.

Special guest on the night was Sean Moloney, Fethard. Sean won his first county football title with Fethard in 1957 aged 19 and won his last county title 21 years later. He also was a referee for many years and played for Tipperary in the 1955 All-Ireland minor final against Dublin.


Photographed at the presentation of this months Sports Achievement Awards are L to R: Sean Moloney with Ann and Hugh Lynch, Kilnockin.

Nominees for September 2013 are now being taken and can be handed in to Philip Butler at Fethard Sports Bar, Main Street, Fethard, before 6pm on Friday, July 26, or emailed to: sportsaward@fethard.com

Irish Girl Guide Collection
The Irish Girl Guides, Fethard will hold a church gate collection this coming weekend September 14 and 15. Your support would be very much appreciated.

St. Vincent de Paul
The local conference of St. Vincent de Paul invite applications for financial help from our education fund, from students or parents attending Third Level College courses in the 2013/2014 academic year. The fund is fairly limited but all applicants will be treated equally and confidentially. Application forms are available by contacting Tel: 6131852 or 6131698 and the closing date is October 1.

Parent/Minder Toddler group
Just a reminder that the Parent/Minder Toddler group will start up again on Thursday September 12, from 11am to 12 noon, in the Convent Community Hall. This is a community-based group and will only work if it is well supported.

It gives young children a chance to get to know each other before they start playschool and also gives adults a chance to get out of the house and enjoy a tea or coffee with some adult conversation. For more details contact Janice at Tel: 087 2475762

Epilepsy Ireland available for one-to-one meetings
Epilepsy Ireland Community Resource Officer, Joan Ryan will be available for one-to-one meetings with people with epilepsy and family or friends on Monday, October 7, between 10am and 1pm. This will take place in the Fr. Tirry Community Centre, Barrack Street.

Meetings are by appointment only. Contact Joan at 056 7789904 or email: jryan@epilepsy.ie or write to Joan Ryan, C/o HSE Office, St. Josephs, Waterford Road, Kilkenny.

Josie celebrates her 100th Birthday

100-year-old Josie Casey, Derryluskin, receives a huge round of applause at a special Mass in Holy Trinity Parish Church Fethard to mark the occasion of her 100th Birthday. Josie is photographed here with Fr. John Meagher OSA, Canon Tom Breen P.P. and Fr. Anthony McSweeney C.C.


Mary (Casey) Canty helping her mother Josie (Holohan) Casey cut the cake at her 100th Birthday Party celebrated at Fethard Convent Community Hall.


Josie (Holohan) Casey photographed with her family on the occasion of her 100th Birthday celebrated at Fethard Convent Community Hall Back L to R: Mary (Casey) Canty, John Casey. Front L to R: Michael Casey, Josie Casey and Gerard Casey.

Fethard & Killusty Community Lotto
The numbers drawn on September 4 were: 14, 15, 25 and 32. We had no jackpot winner and no ‘Match Three’ winner so the following drawn tickets received €50 each: Kaycie Aherne, Prospect, Fethard; Thelma Griffith, Crampscastle, Fethard; and Joan Barrett, Market Hill, Fethard.

The three following ‘Lucky Dip’ winners won €50 each: Dorothy Connolly, The Green, Fethard; Ann Looby, The Valley, Fethard; and Eileen Tobin, St. Patrick’s Place, Fethard.

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, September 11. The Jackpot is €4,750 and the Jackpot seller’s prize is €475. All proceeds go towards community work in Fethard.

School of Irish Dancing
Seven times world champion, Michelle Lawrence, will be starting a school of Irish Dance at the Convent Community Hall Fethard every Tuesday from September 10, at 3.30pm for children of all ages. Michelle’s dancers have competed at many competitions and taken home numerous 1st place prices from the Mini Munster Championships over the last two years and now have two teams traveling to the All Ireland Championships in Belfast this October. For more information ring Michelle at 087 7827730.

Yoga Classes commencing soon
Yoga Classes will take place in the Tirry Community Centre in Fethard on Monday nights, commencing on Monday, September 23, for beginners / intermediate. Yoga offers numerous benefits and covers a broad range of physical, emotional and wellness issues, it benefits the mind, body and spirit. Booking is essential as numbers are limited. Enquiries to Peg at 086 3027927.

Supervised Evening Study
As in previous years, it is hoped to run supervised evening study for all Patrician Presentation Secondary School pupils this year. The service which runs from Monday to Thursday from 4pm to 6pm is supervised by teachers and allows the pupils to study in an exam-like atmosphere. We encourage exam pupils in particular to avail of this service.

However, provision of the service may depend on the numbers opting for it and we will be in contact with the relevant parents in due course.

Killusty F.C. lose local derby

Killusty soccer team who lost 1-0 to Moyglass in their Second Division League game played in Moyglass. Back L to R: Darren Connolly, Colm Coen, Dan Lonergan, Jamie McCormack, Adam Lyons, John Needham, Noel Walsh, Eoghan Hurley, Glen Maher, Mark Prout. Front L to R: Kieran Allen, Adrian Lawrence, Dave Conway, Karl Maher, James Carroll, Ronan Maher and Martin Coen. Children in front are L to R: Jake and Matt Coen.


Moyglass soccer team who beat Killusty 1-0 in their Second Division League game played in Moyglass. Back L to R: Denis Fahey, Matthew Tynan, Keith Phelan, John Lacey, Nial Murphy, Michael Lacey, Jack O'Connell, William O'Brien, Dermot Buckley. Front L to R: Joey Lacey, Gavin Morrissey, Michael Kelly, Michael Griffin, John Hickey and Ciaran O'Connor.


L to R: Adrian Lawrence (Killusty) and Michael Lacey (Moyglass)


L to R: Michael Lacey (Moyglass) and Adam Lyons (Killusty)

Fethard on TG4 this Sunday
Spillane an Fánaí is a heart-warming and revealing six part entertainment series presented by singer/ songwriter John Spillane. The first program will be broadcast on TG4 at 10pm on this coming Sunday, September 15, and will feature Fethard.

While out and about around the town, locals tell John about Cromwell, Sheela na Gigs as well as uncovering for him a surprising link with Obama’s desk in the Oval Office and a connection to the Australian bandit Ned Kelly.

Fethard GAA Sports Lotto
There was no jackpot winner in this week’s GAA Sports Lotto. There no match three winners so the following drawn tickets won €30 each: Michael Gould, Claremore; Linda Aherne, Prospect; Bob Maher, Barrack Street: Josie Fitzgerald, Kiltinan; and Ann Butler, Main Street, Fethard. The €50 Lucky Dip winner was Billy Byrne, c/o Merry’s Clonmel.

Next week’s jackpot is €8,000 and the draw takes place in The Well, Burke Street. You can purchase lotto tickets of any committee member. Remember if you’re not in you can't win. Thanks again for all the support. It is much appreciated.

Fethard Community Playground

Taking a break from the installation of equipment at Fethard Playground which is due for completion by the end of September are L to R: Mykola Kucherak and Denis Kelly.

Our new playground is progressing well and installation of the equipment will be completed this week. Surfacing is scheduled for next week and we are expecting a completion date by the end of September. Excitement levels among the younger Fethard population are growing and we hope the playground will provide many hours of enjoyment for our children for many years to come.

We have been fortunate to obtain grant aid from both South Tipperary County Council and South Tipperary Development Council, without this funding our playground would still be just a dream. It is up to us as a community to ensure that once the playground is in place that it is properly looked after, supervised and maintained for the future. With this in mind, there will be a meeting in the Tirry Centre on Tuesday, September 17, at 8pm to discuss the future operation and management of the playground. A representative from South Tipperary County Council will be in attendance to offer advice. If you want this playground to be looked after properly in the future, please come along to the meeting, all are welcome. We need people to join a playground committee, but if you're not interested in joining a committee we also need volunteers to help out in other ways. Please contact Carmel at 087 6851046 if you have any queries.

Through a huge community effort we successfully raised over €19,000 for this project, lets make sure that this effort continues and that we have a well run playground for a long time to come.

Fethard Youths Soccer

Watching the the Second Division local derby league game between Moyglass F.C. and Killusty F.C. are L to R: Grace Coen, Leah Coen, Hannah Dolan and Rachel Prout

A meeting with a view to forming a Fethard Youths Soccer Club will be held in the Convent Community Hall at 7pm on Wednesday next, September 11. We are looking to see how many people are interested in becoming involved and to look into getting support and ideas for sponsorship.

Arrangements to use the Community Field on the Killenaule Road have been agreed in principle and we plan use the pitch on Monday and Wednesday nights for training and on the weekends for home matches.

The Tipperary Schoolboys League has also offered full support and John Earle is willing to come to Fethard and give certified coach training free of charge. He has recommended to start of with an under 11s team and recruit kids of the ages 8 and 9 so that they would go through the club up to an under 12s team.

The club will be open to everyone and for anyone involved to have a say in how they want it to grow. Don’t forget to come along to the Convent Hall at 7pm on this Wednesday, September 11, and help bring soccer back to Fethard after 40 years. For further information contact Tara Moriarty at Tel: 085 8612882

Development of Fethard Town Park

Jesse McCormack and Ross McCormack celebrate as Fethard strike the Thurles Og net in their 6-3 to 5-4 victory in the U14 County Semi Final on Saturday, September 7.

A meeting took place in Fethard on Tuesday August 20 to discuss progress on the transfer of lands for a town park from South Tipperary County Council. The following were in attendance: Joe Kenny, Edwina Newport, Cllr. John Fahey, Mary Godfrey, Michael O’Dwyer, Bill O’Sullivan, Patricia Treacy and Ms Kathleen Prendergast, Economic Development Officer, South Tipperary County Council.

Discussion ensued in an open and frank manner and the following points were highlighted:

• The Community Council indicated they are willing to establish a trust for the transfer of a lease of the land. The trust could include members of the organisations that have already engaged in the process so far and wished to share the usage of the park including all the local schools, the childcare group, the GAA, and would be also open to other organisations and groups such as the scouts, or running club as were previously identified.
• The Acorn Childcare Group would be contacted to establish their wishes to be allocated land when it may be required by the group in the event of a funding stream opening up.
• Fethard GAA would establish their preference for involvement in the project based on the following two options: (A) The out-right purchase by the GAA, of part of the site, from the Council. (B) To support the Community Council in their efforts to take a lease on the land and share use of the land from training purpose with the wider community.
  

Once there was clarity regarding the parties involved, a finalised drawing would be prepared and submitted by the Group.  Consideration would be given in this to traffic management issues near the schools and will ensure walking access across from one side of the site across to the schools is catered for.
A meeting with the interested groups will be held in the near future.

St. Vincent de Paul
The local conference of St. Vincent de Paul invite applications for financial help from our education fund, from students or parents attending Third Level College courses in the 2013/2014 academic year. The fund is fairly limited but all applicants will be treated equally and confidentially. Application forms are available by contacting Tel: 6131852 or 6131698 and the closing date is October 1.

Harvest Festival this Sunday
This year’s Harvest Thanksgiving Festival will take place at 7.30pm on Sunday next, September 15, in Holy Trinity Church of Ireland, Fethard. Everyone is welcome to attend this annual service in the historic Holy Trinity Church, entrance on left hand side of the Town Hall. Refreshments will be served

Fethard & Killusty Community Council
A committee meeting of Fethard & Killusty Community Council will take place on Tuesday, September 17, at 8.30pm in the Tirry Community Centre, Barrack Street.

Killenaule Festival 14th-15th September

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

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.