Pay a visit to 'Clothes Rack' on Main Street

The next time you're in Main Street why not drop in to 'Clothes Rack' as it's well worth a visit. Opening days are: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 10am to 12am and in the afternoon from 2pm to 4pm. You will find a lovely range of clothes, new and nearly new, all at great prices. The range in stock includes: ladies, gents, children, teens, baby, bed-linen, curtains, household and lots more.

So please drop in and say hello and have a browse around. All proceeds go towards local charities in the town.

Social Dancing at Fethard Ballroom
Dancing at Fethard Ballroom on this Sunday Night, January 19, to the music of ‘Patrick O’Sullivan’. All welcome to come along and enjoy a great night’s entertainment and social dancing. Dancing 9pm to midnight and admission is €7.

Parents’ Association thanks
The Parents association of Holy Trinity National School Fethard would like to thank most sincerely all those who donated their unwanted gifts to the school.

We would also like to thank everyone who visited our ‘pop up’ shop during the Fethard Business & Tourism Group festive weekend and supported us so generously.

Hunting News

Fethard hunt supporters photographed at the Tipperary Foxhounds New Year's Meet in Fethard

Finding at Ned Morris’s quarry from their meet at Lismolin on Wednesday last, hounds hunted to Wilford. Turning right-handed short of the road they ran towards Moonverrin, right-handed again here they hunted over the high road to the plantation in lower Crohane. Out of the cover they ran towards Ballyluskey and to ground at Mr John Ryan’s.

Back to Wilford they found in Barrys’. Some excellent hound work here as they carried the line through two very large sheep foiled fields. Hitting off again just short of the Lismolin / Ballingarry road they hunted at great pace down by Lismolin to Kyle Wood. This ancient woodland fairly re-echoed to their cry as they hunted around here for fifteen minutes. Away at the Drangan side they were hunting strongly towards Knockuragh where they checked just short on Mr Eamon Hall’s and were stopped at 3.45pm.

Wednesday was a day that had everything – good hunting over good country – great viewing for the car followers and glorious weather. What a good start to the second half of the 2013-14 season and here’s to more of the same.

Emily's Tea Room now open in Burke Street

Emily's Deli has now opened her new Tea Room in Burke Street, where you can avail of a wide selection of food. Drop in and have a look.

‘Health and Well Being’ course starting soon
A ‘Health and Well Being’ course will take place in Fethard Convent Community Centre on Tuesdays from 10am to 12 noon, starting on Tuesday, January 21, and will run for eight weeks. Topics covered include Healthy Eating, preparing meals for people with specific dietary requirements, cooking on a budget, ‘Colour Me Beautiful’, meditation and mindfulness to mention a few. Course Tutor is Eileen Bowden. Cost of course is €40 for eight weeks or €5 per class. Book early to avoid disappointment. Contact Margaret O'Neill on 087 6536374.

Fethard Tidy Towns
This is the time of the year that Fethard Tidy Towns look out for different types of flowering plants and bulbs to emerge from the hard ground, which includes narcissus, daffodils, tulips and primroses. Wallflowers are also beginning to grow at the moment. As it was a mild winter so far maybe a little wild and windy but we have seen a change in the evenings, staying brighter for longer already and this will mean more growing time for plants.

The Tidy Towns committee would like to thank Martin Shelly and Andrew Fox for their help during the past months. It is a great pity that employees starting under TÚS or CES schemes only get twelve months with us as we have had some great workers who we would also like to thank. Without these workers many of the projects that have been completed around our town wouldn’t have been possible.
I would also like to thank Lawrence Kenny for the use of his yard in Barrack Street. This yard is where we grow flowers and shrubs which are later planted in the town flower beds.

We have many more projects in the pipeline for 2014 and look forward to another prosperous year ahead. One of the first projects for 2014 is setting up a rainwater harvesting plant in Barrack Street. This will entail a tank area where water will be collected from the roofs and used to water flower beds, window boxes and the new trees at the Cashel road during the summer months. Rainwater harvesting is one strategy in the greater scheme of reducing domestic water use. By harvesting rainwater, we can be led to dozens of other practices that bring us into greater sustainability. The project will also be very cost effective when water meter charges are eventually put in place in Fethard.

Bake-Off Winners

Emma Cronin from Coleman who was the runner-up in the Christmas Bake-Off in Patrician Presentation Secondary School. Emma is pictured here with her Reindeer Queen Cakes.


Orla Walsh from Killusty who won 1st Prize in the Christmas Bake Off in Patrician Presentation Secondary School. Orla prepared Snowman Queen Cakes for the competition.

Fethard Ballroom AGM
The AGM of Fethard and Killusty Community Ballroom Ltd will take place in Fethard Ballroom at 8pm on Monday, February 3, 2014. All are welcome.

Pre-Baptism meeting
A Pre-Baptism meeting will be held in the Tirry Centre on Monday, January 27, at 7.30pm for parents who wish to have their child baptised during the following weeks. Please contact Fr. Tom Breen P.P. or Fr. Anthony McSweeney C.C. prior to attending.

GAA Sports Lotto
Welcome back as we start another Sports Lotto year we wish everybody a happy New Year. Our first draw of the year took place on Tuesday, January 7, and there was no winner of the jackpot. The numbers drawn were as follows 2, 12, 16 and 28. We had two ‘match three’ winners who received €75 each: Sharon O’Meara, 8 Cedar Grove, Fethard, and John Fitzgerald, Kiltinan. The €50 lucky dip was won by John Tobin, 10 Fr Tirry Park. Next week’s jackpot is €2,800 and the draw will take place on Tuesday, January 14, in The Well bar. Thanks for your support.

Fethard & Killusty Community Lotto
The numbers drawn on January 8 were: 2, 6, 18 and 26. We had no jackpot winner and three ‘Match Three’ winners who received €50 each: Carmel Murphy, Crampscastle, Fethard; Margaret Walshe, Barrack St., Fethard; and Maggie Napier, The Green, Fethard.

The three following ‘Lucky Dip’ winners won €50 each: William Connolly, The Green, Fethard; Dermot Darcy, St. Patrick's Place, Fethard; Con Hurley, The Green, 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, January 15. The Jackpot is €7,150 and the Jackpot seller’s prize is €715. All proceeds go towards community work in Fethard.

Presentation on how CCTV technology may work in Fethard
Fethard & Killusty Community Council, in conjunction with the local Gardaí, are investigation the possibility of installing new CCTV technology in Fethard in order to help combat the upsurge in rural criminality. A presentation by one of Ireland’s leading companies, SafeTown, to explain how their security technology works in other towns similar to Fethard, will take place on Tuesday, January 28, at 8pm in the Tirry Community Centre. All are welcome to attend this public meeting.

Christmas Goal Mile
Belated thanks to all who helped and who participated in the Christmas Goal mile for 2013. It turned out to be a lovely day and almost perfect for runners and walkers alike. Sadly one of our participants had a nasty fall and we extend our best wishes and a speedy recovery to Karen Walsh of Burke Street. On a positive note we took in more than any other this year and €1,025 was raised on the day. Hopefully all of this will get to the people and places it is most needed. Happy New Year to one and all, look forward to seeing you all again next year.

Rugby fundraiser in Killenaule
On Saturday, January 18, Fethard Rugby Club are holding their first Table Quiz fundraiser of the year in Ardagh House, Killenaule. Looking forward to a great night and we hope it will be very well supported. Tables of four cost €20 and there will also be a raffle and spot prizes.

Died recently

The late Tom Cummins photographed a a boy with his parents Willie Cummins and Catherine Cummins, Saucestown.

The death has occurred on Friday, January 10, of Tom Cummins, Knockballinira, Goatenbridge, Ardfinnan, and formerly of Saucestown, Fethard. Suddenly at his residence. Deeply regretted by his loving wife Ellen, daughter Isobel, son-in-law Aidan, brother Michael, sister-in-law Eleanor, niece and nephew, relatives and friends.

Reposing at his residence this Sunday from 2pm until 6pm, with removal on Tuesday morning to The Island Crematorium Ringaskiddy Cork for private service. Family flowers only please. Donations in lieu if desired to Paws Animal Service.

Fethard & District Rugby Club
Fethard seniors faced Kilfeacle on Saturday evening last in the next round of the Gleeson League. It was ideal conditions for rugby and both teams played some fine open rugby in a game that could have gone either way but Fethard emerged victorious by 12 points to 9, with Declan Doyle landing four penalties for the Fethard side. The game was a very even contest with Fethard dominating the line out with Nicko Hoynes doing very well. Chris Large, just back from injury, carried a lot of ball and was well assisted by Kieran Power and Kevin Pollard. John Ryan, William Power and Shane Kavanagh were very solid in the backs. Next week were away to Garryowen on Saturday at 2.30pm, which turns out to be a top of table battle and a very important game for Fethard.

Fethard U16
Fethard U16s played Kilfeacle at home on Sunday morning as both teams prepare for their Pan Munster games coming up over the next few weeks. Conditions were less than ideal but both teams put in a great effort in a game that ended 17 all. Andrew O’Connell was first to score and Michael Gaynor and Bill Phelan followed up with tries. Jake Murphy, Ned Grogan and Jack Grace were others to perform well on the day. We have been grouped with Bruff, Dolphin and Castleisland in the Pan Munster, details of matches to follow.

Fethard U9
The U9s were depleted in numbers but not in heart as they showed great courage and strength against a bigger and stronger Clanwilliam team. This didn't deter them with serious tackling from David McCormack, Louis Ryan, Andrew Wall also some brilliant running on the wings from Padraig O'Dwyer and Sam Rowan who was stepping up from U8s We had very good defensive play from Luke Ryan, Tom Smyth and great robbing of the ball by the brilliant Michael James Phelan. Well done to all.

Fethard U10
The U10s visited Clanwilliam and played one short match against Kilfeacle in atrocious conditions. Fethard started brightly with a Ben Ruttle try. Kilfeacle responded, breaching Fethard's defence to level the scores. After the restart Fethard took control of the game with great tackles by Michael Ryan and Johnny Gleeson. Paul O’Connell style tackles by James McCormack set up ferocious driving forward by Charlie Cummins and James Ryan. Daniel Boland laid off the ball to Ben Ruttle to score two more tries to complete his hat trick and wrap up the game.

Fethard U11s
Our U11s travelled to Clan on Sunday last to play both Clanwilliam and Kilfeacle in what can only be described as terrible conditions heavy rain and strong winds. Though our numbers were low our team gave two terrific performances. Our first match against Kilfeacle was a fast game with very little stoppages for handling errors, which was quiet good given the conditions. In the second match against Clan we were decimated with injuries, and this seemed to spur on our team with every player stepping up. Looking forward to seeing all at training on Friday. We are away to Cashel on Sunday.

Fethard U12s
On the wild, wintry, windswept fields of Clanwilliam, Fethard U12s faced their hosts with cold hands but warm hearts. A thoroughly entertaining game ensued, both teams moving the ball through hands despite the weather, Fethard quickly imposed themselves at the breakdown and their quick recycling left Clan’s defence on the back foot and resulted in scores. Strong running from Fethard constantly battered Clanwilliam’s defensive line, which only occasionally broke, but when it did Fethard were quick to capitalise. Fethard did not have it all their own way and had to tackle hard and often against the probing runs from Clan. All in all two well-matched teams, both depleted of numbers, and Fethard coming away with the win.
With the weather dominating proceedings Fethard and Kilfeacle just played a short ten-minute game. Kilfeacle looked a well-honed machine and Fethard looked cold and wet. The points went to Kilfeacle but honours are still even between these two teams.

Fethard U14s
Fethard U14s played Waterpark in the East Munster semifinal on Sunday. In what was a tough encounter in wet conditions, a great game of rugby was played. With great defence by both teams the game ended nil all, with a fantastic team performance from Fethard.

Fethard Business & Tourism Group
The Fethard Business and Tourism Group wish to acknowledge the tremendous support received from South Tipperary County Council in the course of the past two years.

Support and assistance has come in the form of grant aid as well as time and advice provided to the Committee.

South Tipperary County Council are currently supporting the plans to restore Fethard Town Hall, and have also assisted the Christmas Shop Local and Gathering Festival initiatives.

It’s Book Time again in Fethard
The nineteenth Tipperariana Book Fair takes place again this year on the second Sunday in February, which falls on the ninth day of the month this year. The book fair hasn’t changed much in all those years and that seems to be part of its success. Every year many of the same people turn up to see what the thirty dealers have brought to Fethard and also to meet and chat with people that they may not have met since the previous Fethard fair.

Books Wanted
A big attraction also is the book stall run by the organisers themselves. Every year people from Fethard - and from all over Tipperary in fact - donate books to the Fethard Historical Society which are then sold at the fair and this is a source of revenue to keep the Society going for the year. It is often a surprise to people as to which books are sought after and thus ‘valuable’ in a money sense. Anything to do with Tipperary, the War of Independence and The Civil War and old GAA publications are especially popular and can be sold by the Society for ten, twenty or thirty euro and the odd nugget can even make up to a hundred euro, but such valuable books are rare. Thus the Historical Society will be very happy to hear from anyone who wishes to donate books of any type for the fair and collection will be arranged by the organisers in the coming weeks.

Spread the word
Many Tipperary people living in Dublin and elsewhere come home for the Fethard Book Fair weekend as it has become ‘traditional’ at this stage and has become part of the annual calendar for people interested in all things ‘Tipperary’ and hence the name Tipperariana Book Fair. So do spread the word via Facebook and otherwise – Sunday February 9, Fethard Ballroom, from 2pm to 6pm, €2 entrance and contact can be made via email at bookfair@fethard.com, Telephone at 086 3905373 or by checking out www.tipperariana.com.

Fethard News
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.