New ‘Haunted House’ on The Square

Martin Shelly meeting some of the guests in Lonergan's Bar's 'Haunted House' now open for Hallowe'en visits!

Lonergan’s Bar in Fethard, now famous for its Halloween décor, has been invaded by ‘ghosts and ghoulies’ who have gone one step further this year by not only taking over the entire bar and adjacent laneway, they have now taken up residence on the complete first floor where things go ‘bump in the night’ among scenes of a ghoulish Halloween . . . not for the faint-hearted.

An arrangement has been settled with the new ‘ghosts and ghoulie’ inhabitants who have agreed to behave and allow visitors to their new home in Lonergans but it is recommended that parental guidance is applied before young children are allowed into the haunted house which is now open for visits. All proceeds raised from visits to the ‘haunted house’ will be forwarded to the Children’s Ward at South Tipperary General Hospital.



This ‘Halloween Weekend’ will also see some terrific entertainment with music from ‘Terminal 2’ on Friday night, ‘The Wigwam Glam Band’ on Saturday night a ‘Monster Fancy Dress Party’ on Sunday with music by the very popular ‘Hot Ice’. Lots of prizes for the best costumes.

Don't Forget – Clocks Go Back this weekend
Don’t forget to set your clocks back by one hour at 1am on Sunday, October 27, and gain an extra hour for that extended lie-in this Halloween Bank-Holiday weekend.

Died Recently
The death has occurred on Tuesday, October 22, of Mr Joe Ahearne, Fethard Arms, Main Street, Fethard.

Reposing at McCarthy's Funeral Parlour, Main Street, Fethard, from 5.30pm to 7.30pm on Wednesday, October 23, followed by removal to Holy Trinity Parish Church, Fethard.

Requiem Mass at 11am on Thursday, followed by interment at Calvary Cemetery, Fethard.


Senior Day at Fethard Day Care Centre
Fethard & District Day Care Centre will hold their ‘Senior Day’ from 11am on this Friday, October 26. All seniors welcome.

First Responders training in lifesaving skills

Participants from Slievenamon Golf Course who took part in the recent 'First Responders' lifesaving training skills programme at Fethard's Tirry Centre. L to R: Liam Hayes (instructor), Brian McNally, Louise Lalor, Heather Bailey, Marie Quirke, Brendan Kenny, Nora Ryan, Gabor Kiss, Ethna Cleary and Jimmy O'Sullivan (instructor).

Training of First Responders has commenced recently in Fethard and will continue over the coming months. The Fethard programme is affiliated to Ms Lorna Murphy's Pre Hospital Training Services in Nenagh for certification and validation purposes. Your community instructors, Mr Jimmy O Sullivan and Mr Liam Hayes, are both certified by the Irish Heart Foundation and the American Heart Association, insuring that training adheres to the latest international protocols and best practice.

Successful participants in the training course will receive an internationally recognized certificate that is valid for two years but most importantly are taught lifesaving skills covering CPR, AED use and choking first aid.

Persons and clubs interested in training should contact Jimmy at O'Sullivan’s Pharmacy, Fethard, to arrange a mutually suitable date. Trainees are asked for a donation of €20 towards the cost of certification and help towards the upkeep of the training equipment, all surplus money will be donated to Fethard and District Day Care Centre.

Ned Kelly website launch in Moyglass
A website, nedkellyireland.com, to help promote tourism around our area and cater for the worldwide interest in Ned Kelly’s Irish roots will be officially launched in The Village Inn, Moyglass on next Friday night, October 25. All are welcome and there will be live traditional music night to help create atmosphere.

Fethard Ladies Football

Fethard's Gaelic 4 Mothers team travelled to Portmarnock on Saturday, October 19, to compete in the All-Ireland blitz organised by the Ladies Gaelic Football Association. Many thanks to Prior Park Service Station and Irishtown Autos in Clonmel, to Butler's Sportsbar and Fethard Ladies Football Club for their support in helping the 'Mothers' compete. (Photos by Kieran Butler)


The Under 16 Ladies Football team reached the County Final on Sunday, October 20. Leading by a single point with just moments to play, Fethard were denied a victory by a last gasp goal from Lattin Cullen. Well done to the girls for their superb performance.,

Table Quiz for Day Care Centre
A table quiz in aid of Fethard & District Day Care Centre will be held in Butler’s Sports Bar on Friday, October 25, starting at 9pm. Your support would be very much appreciated.

Emigrant’s Newsletter Church Gate Collection
The annual church gate collection for the Fethard & Killusty Emigrants Newsletter will take place at Halloween bank-holiday weekend, October 26 and 27. We ask for your support for this annual production, which is now in operation for over 50 years and posted free of charge to our emigrants and families living away from home.

This year, with emigration again rising steadily, we depend on your continued support to provide this much appreciated service to our parish emigrants. Donations can be handed in to Carmel Rice, Brookhill, Fethard, or Joe Kenny, Rocklow Road, Fethard, or alternatively put in an envelope with your name and address and handed in at our Church Gate Collection. All donations of €10 and over will be acknowledged in this year's issue of the Newsletters. Donations can also be made online at the following web address: www.fethard.com/donate/


Fethard Post Office 'Telegram Boy' Michael Kiely c.1961. One of the articles featured in this year's Emigrant's Newsletter.

Fethard Players start rehearsals
Fethard Players are currently rehearsing a wonderful play ‘Miss Rose White’ by Barbara Lebow, which will be staged in the Abymill Theatre from Wednesday, November 20, to Sunday, November 24.

The television film adaptation of the 1985 play, first aired on April 26, 1992, received five Emmy Awards as well as the Humanitas Prize in the 90 minute category - an award intended to promote human dignity, meaning, and freedom.

Died Recently
The death has occurred on Sunday 20th October 2013 of Paddy Craddock, 45 Willowmere Drive, Thurles.

Deeply regretted by his wife Kathleen (formerly Kathleen Kenny, Drumdeel, Fethard), sons, daughters, grandchildren, great-grandchild, daughters-in-law, sons-in-law, sisters-in-law, brother, nieces, nephews, relative and friends.

Rest-in-peace.

Interment took place in St Patricks Cemetery, Thurles.

Library to open at the Convent Community Centre
The new Public Library will be officially opened in the Convent Community Centre on Tuesday night, October 29, at 7.30pm. The committee would like to thank all you donated books and helped in any way to set the library up. All are invited and welcome to come along to the official opening on Tuesday, October 29.
We also have lots of new events happening in the centre in November, including cookery classes and First Steps Online training computer course. Don’t forget to get your parties booked early. The hall is also available for mid-week parties as well as weekends

Fethard Racquetball Club

Fethard's young racquetball stars L to R: Emma-Jayne Burke, Robert Hackett and Megan Hackett.

Congratulations to three of our up and coming young stars from Fethard racquetball club, Emma-Jayne Burke, Megan and Robert Hackett. All three were selected for an Irish squad which took part in an international competition over four days in Wexford during the summer.

This tournament featured the best Irish players as well as competitors from Bolivia and Venezuela. This was a fantastic experience for our trio who witnessed some epic games on the court. All three gained great experience and Megan managed to win the U10 singles and had further gold success in U12 doubles with Emma-Jayne.

Major credit is owed to Noreen Hackett and Eoin Tynan for developing this talent. Training will now recommence for the new season very soon. Thanks to all our local sponsors for their support during this tournament.

Fethard GAA Club News

Michael Ryan, Tipperary Intermediate winning manager, receiving a GAA club presentation from Jimmy O'Shea (right) at Burke's Bridge Bar.

The club would like to thank everyone who subscribed generously to our church gate collection recently. Our activity with combination team, Anner Gaels, yielded a draw in the U21 hurling championship against Moyle Rovers. Score finished: Anner Gaels 3-9, Moyle Rovers 1-15.

At a well-attended function in the Bridge Bar our Junior footballers were presented with their medals from Jimmy O’Shea. On the night Michael Ryan, the Tipperary Intermediate winning manager also received a presentation from the club.


Fethard GAA Junior Team receiving their medals in Burke's Bar

The numbers drawn in GAA Community Sports lotto this week were 15, 18, 21 and 22. We had one match-three winner who received €150: Nicky O’Shea, Killusty.

Our €50 lucky dip winner was Megan Coen, The Green, Fethard. Next weeks jackpot is €8,600 and the draw will take place at Butler’s Bar on Tuesday, October 22. Thanks to all for the continued support. Remember you can buy your tickets from any committee members or sellers that you know and if you’re not in you can't win.

Fethard U11s play at Heineken Cup

Fethard U11 rugby team photographed at Thomond Park

On Saturday evening last at Thomond Park our Fethard U11s took to the pitch against Douglas in what can only be described as thoroughly enjoyable game as the 20 thousand spectators would testify. The game started briskly Douglas running hard but were met with stern tackles from Luke Fox and Aidan Fitzgerald. The quick thinking of Michael Scully and Tobby Collier lead to a great run from Sean Ryan who passed the ball back in for Michael to register the first try on the board. Douglas responded well and rucked up the field to score a fine try of their own, A determined Fethard led by captain Michael Scully mauled their way up the pitch leading to a mighty try scored by Conor Walsh. Douglas came right back and it was Robert Wall who covered back and stopped them scoring an equaliser. This tackle by Robert earned a mighty cheer from the crowd.

A special thank you to all the parents for their help and support on the day, and to Robert Barton and Cillian O'Keeffe for supporting the team.

Introduction to the ‘Internet Age’
Muintir na Tire have secured funding to provide an IT training programme at Fethard’s Convent Community Centre entitled BeneFIT4. This is an 8-hour training course and participants will be provided training in the following: sending and receiving email; using search engines; conducting online transactions; using social networking; using online TV playback or podcasts; and on-line banking.

In current everyday life digital inclusion (or whatever you want to call it) is essential. Not only essential for the individual who wants to participate, but essential for the economy and for society at large. Just look around you at all the digital technologies that we routinely use today – at work, at home, in education, while travelling, shopping, banking, socialising and accessing information. The computers, mobile phones, the internet, online social networks, televisions, office equipment, chip & PIN machines, railway ticket machines, etc. These are the technologies you and your children need to be able to use in order to participate in 'internet society’.

The course is aimed at the target groups below which research has shown are most likely to benefit from acquiring ‘internet knowledge’:

• Older people (defined as aged 55 or over)
• Unemployed people
• People who have had less formal education or who have no formal qualifications
• Disadvantaged people – which may include:- people with disabilities, those living alone – particularly in rural areas, single parents, travellers, ex-prisoners, immigrants
  

If you would like to avail of this training or know somebody who might be interested in it please let us know. We would hope to run a morning course and an evening course, run over four weeks of two-hour training sessions. Contact Pamela at Tel: 086 8743752 or Joan at Fethard Community Office Tel: (052) 6131000.

Fethard Bridge Club results
The results of Fethard Bridge Club game played on Wednesday, September 18 were:
1st Gross: Carmel Condon and Brendan Kenny;
2nd Gross: Rita Kane and Kay St. John;
3rd Gross: Berney Myles and Alice Quinn;
1st Nett: Breda Walsh and Frances Burke;
2nd Nett: Anna Cooke and Bernie O'Meara;
3rd Nett: Gemma Burke and Eileen Frewen.

The results of our game played on Wednesday, September 25 were:
1st Gross: Eileen Frewen and Betty Walsh;
2nd Gross: Marie Delaney and Mary Tierney;
3rd Gross: Nell Broderick and Anna Cooke;
1st Nett: Alice Quinn and Berney Myles;
2nd Nett: Eileen Ryan and Jim Lahert;
3rd Nett: Ann and Sean O'Dea.

On Wednesday, October 2 we played for the Free Sub Gross and the results were:
1st Gross: Betty Walsh and Monica Anglim (Winners)
2nd Gross: Rita Kane and Kay St. John
3rd Gross: Carmel Condon and Ann Slattery
1st Nett: Anna Cooke and Madeleine O'Donnell
2nd Nett: Philly Kenny and Breda Walsh
3rd Nett: Betty Egan and Mary Tierney

On Wednesday, October 9 we played for the Free Sub Nett and the results were:
1st Nett: Nell Broderick and David O'Meara (winners);
2nd Nett: Madeleine O'Donnell and Noreen Evans;
3rd Nett: Anne Connolly and Eileen Frewen;
1st Gross: Berney Myles and Alice Quinn;
2nd Gross: Monica Anglim and Betty Walsh;
3rd Gross: Anna Cooke and Bernie O'Meara.
On October 23 we play for Hallowe'en prizes. Anyone looking for a partner contact Berney Myles 6132038.

Macra na Feirme Gathering of members past and present
Past members of Cashel Macra na Feirme are organising a gathering of Macra members past and present in Halla na Feile Cashel on Friday, November 1, 2013. They are inviting past and current members of Macra branches in Co Tipperary to join them on the night for a ‘Mini Field Evening’, including a three-course meal and some dancing to music provided by Sam O’Doherty.

It promises to be a night of nostalgia and chat meeting people with whom we shared the joys of our younger days and the response has been fantastic. If Macra members from Fethard would like to join us they will be very welcome and they will be certain to meet old friends from past times and hopefully renew friendships that may have weaned due to the passing of the years. Teams of four will be charged €120 (€30 per person) to include the meal and dancing and all the ‘side shows’. Any profits from the night will be donated to South Tipperary Hospice.

Tickets for individuals or teams are available from Seamus Hayes, Kilconnell, Tel: 086 2307330.


Macra members photographed at the launch of the South Tipperary Macra Masquerade New Year's Eve Ball 2013. L to R: International Miss Macra 2013 Gemma Goulding (Laois), Tommy O'Donnell (Munster Rugby), Emma Flynn, Michael Moclair (Chairperson South Tipperary Macra), Donnacha Ryan, Nuala Farrell and John Murray.

Fethard & Killusty Community Lotto
The numbers drawn on October 16 were: 8, 13, 20 and 24. We had no jackpot winner and two ‘Match Three’ winners who received €75 each: Patricia Treacy, Strylea, Fethard; and P.J. Lonergan, The Square, Fethard.

The three following ‘Lucky Dip’ winners won €50 each: Bill O'Sullivan, Main Street, Fethard; Joan Barrett, Market Hill, Fethard; and Eleanor Sheehan, Kilsheelan, Clonmel.

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, October 23. The Jackpot is €5,650 and the Jackpot seller’s prize is €565. All proceeds go towards community work in Fethard.

Christmas Shoebox Appeal


The Christmas Shoebox Appeal is an Irish project that promises to get your 'Christmas Shoebox' into the hands of a needy child in Eastern Europe. All they ask is for you to fill a shoebox with a range of simple Christmas gifts, and drop it off at your local drop off point in Fethard before November 11. All you need to do is get an average size shoebox (or a plastic storage container would also be great), and wrap it with Christmas paper. Choose who you'd like to receive your gift – a boy or a girl, in one of three age groups: 2-4 years, 5-9 years or 10-14 years. For further information contact Monica Pollard, at Centra Foodmarket, Fethard, or by Tel: 087 1258591.

South Tipperary Health and Wellness Information Evening
Are you serious about maintaining good health? Then take a look at our extensive natural range of health and skin care products for all ages. Wonderful gift ideas for the festive season, all budgets catered for. Come along to our information evening on Wednesday, October 23, at Fethard Convent Community Hall, starting at 7.30pm. For more information call Amy Tel: 087 7510886 or email aocaloe@hotmail.com

Fethard and District Rugby Club
Fethard U9s travelled to Nenagh last Sunday morning and pitch conditions were perfect. Fethard did not waste any time in putting a score on the board between Padraig O'Dwyer and Tomas James Ryan who worked well together throughout their game. David McCormack and Robbie Noonan were great ball carriers and also set up a number of tries. Newcomers Elle Luke and Daithi Hogan are a great asset to the team with fearless tackling and great off loads. Training continues for all ages on Friday evenings at 6.45pm. The minis play away to Waterpark on Sunday, October 27, for U7s up to U11s for a 10.30am kick off. The U12s play Monday, October 28, away to Bruff. Please contact your player’s coach if you are not receiving regular texts.

A depleted U10s side put up a great show with great tries by Michael Long, Ben Ruttle and James McCormack. It was all round good teamwork by Michael Ryan, Daniel Boland and Stuart Luke that secured a well-deserved draw.

Fethard U12s, with 10 players only, played their hosts Nenagh and Ballina, who brought two teams and Keith Wood to run the touchline. A lack of commitment in the tackle against Ballina’s first team and no willingness to ruck saw Fethard on their heels but fighting hard to earn a hard won lead at the half. The second half saw a degree more composure with Sam Quigley O'Dwyer making several strong drives, Mark McCormack throwing passes and Angus MacDonald's catching and running saw the lead extended to win, but not by much.

Ballina's second team came on fast and furious with no respite for Fethard. Fortunately Fethard had Eabha Fitzgerald on their side who time and again recovered the ball and drove on gaining valuable ground. Fethard's lack of tackling allowed the opposition back into the game with one notable exception – David Gunn whose tackling was sublime. The loss of Ethan Coen to injury added to the workload for the rest of the team but they gave all and emerged comfortable winners in a scrappy close.

Tired now and with their hosts Nenagh replete with full complement of subs, Fethard looked vulnerable and lost all shape on the pitch. Nenagh ran around them twice to score and Fethard seemed too tired to make even a half-hearted tackle. Heads down and in complete disarray Fethard offered only token resistance to Nenagh's third score, and at the half the fear was that it would become a rout.

In the second half Fethard somehow found a determination not to go down without a fight and in one of the most stirring 10 minutes of rugby the crowd witnessed Fethard stood up and took the game by the scruff of the neck, suddenly they knew how to tackle, miraculously they rediscovered the art of rucking and scored once, twice, three times with no answer from Nenagh. Then on the stroke of full-time, a fourth and final try sealed a fantastic victory for this tiny band of warriors.

Darragh Lynch captained Fethard U14s away to Clonmel last Sunday. Patrick Scully broke through Clonmel’s tough defence to score Fethard’s first try. Jack O’Rourke scored a great individual try taking the ball from the base of the scrum and going over in the corner. In the second half Fethard had to defend which they did well with great tackles coming from Cameron Bailey, David McCormack and Dylan St John. Final score was: Clonmel 12, Fethard 48, with tries from Patrick Scully (7), Jack O’Rourke (1), and conversions from Peter Wall (2) and Darragh Lynch (2). Well done.

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.