Happy Birthday Shirley

Shirley Costin celebrating her 40th birthday in Lonergan's with friends

Fethard Walled Town Day Sunday, June 22
The Heritage Council have just notified the Fethard Historical Society that they will again support a celebration of a Medieval Walled Town Day in Fethard in 2014. The day chosen by the Historical Society is Sunday, June 22, and as in the past seven years, should be another happy and colourful day for families from the Fethard area and for visitors from home and overseas.

Now, that a date and some funding has been confirmed, it means that the news can go out to all Fethard people who are living away from the area that the weekend of June 20 to 22, is the time to come home to join in the fun.

Fethard is a member of The Irish Walled Town Network, an All-Ireland organisation which is supported by our national Heritage Council whose headquarters are in Kilkenny City. Funding is given to towns who celebrate their medieval heritage in an authentic way and a big emphasis is put on the educational content of the programme. This year there will be workshops and classes involving local school children leading up to Walled Town Day and these have proved very popular indeed over the years.

Another ‘condition’ of the funding is that events and celebrations should be attractive to visitors, both from Ireland and overseas, as there is a big drive nationally to try and increase the numbers of people taking holidays in Ireland.

So, Sunday, June 22, will again see Fethard put on its medieval attire, especially for the parade from Main Street to the Valley Park, where people can then join in on all ‘the fun and games of the fair’ along by the Town Wall and Clashawley river. Detailed plans are at present being drawn up and a full programme of events will be announced in the coming weeks. Those seeking further information or wishing to getting involved in Walled Town Day can make contact by emailing history@fethard.com or by phoning 086 3905373.

Community Games Art & Model Making County Finals

Leo Mahinkya Fethard, winner of a gold medal U8, photographed with Charlie Hackett, Killusty, who competed U10.

Congratulations to Leo Makhinya, Matthew Burke and Jennifer Phelan winners of gold, silver and bronze medals at the county finals of the Community Games Art Competition held in Clonmel on Saturday last. Well done also to Freya Byrne, Amy Morrissey, Jessica Gainford, Megan Hackett, Evan Moore, John Coady and Charlie Hackett who all completed some very good work on the day and received favourable comments from the judges. Leo will now represent Tipperary at the HSE Community Games National Finals in Athlone next August.


Matthew Burke winner of a silver medal in the U12 Art.


Group of Competitors at the County Final of the Community Games art competition. Back L to R: Moya Cashman, Clonmel; Megan Hackett, Fethard; Jennifer Phelan, Fethard, winner of a bronze medal U12. Front L to R: Beidhin Butler, Clonmel; Jessica Gainford and Amy Morrissey, both from Killusty.


L to R: John Coady, Freya Byrne and Evan Moore who all represented Fethard and Killusty at the County Final of the Community Games Art Competition.

Handwriting
There were also some excellent pieces submitted for the boys and girls Handwriting Competition and after long deliberation the following were deemed medal winners.
Boys Under 10: (1st) Dara O’Meara, Killusty, (2nd) Sean Moroney, Tullamaine, (3rd) Danny Shelly, Killusty.
Girls Under 10: (1st) Anna Collier, Fethard, (2nd) Gillian Burke, Fethard, (3rd) Eabha Ryan, Killusty.

Dara, Sean, Anna and Gillian may now go forward to the county final which will take place in Silvermines. These finals were due to take place on May 24 but had to be changed due to clash with ‘One Direction’ concert. A new date will be confirmed soon.

Community Games GAA

U12 girls football team who got off to a great start defeating Ardfinnan by 2-7 to 0-2 in the Community Games GAA

The girls’ U12 football team got off to a great start defeating Ardfinnan by 2-7 to 0-2. Ellie Devaney was in sparkling form scoring two goals and a point with Heather Spillane, Kaylin O’Donnell and Alison Connolly all scoring two points each.

The U10 mixed team are still waiting on the outcome of the game between Cashel Rosegreen v Killenaule Moyglass to play round three. Both sides are very anxious to get a suitable date for this match asap to avoid clashing with first holy communion which will go ahead in Fethard, Killusty, Killenaule and Moyglass in May.

Athletics
The committee are hoping to set a date for their area athletics in mid May.

A tribute to the late Liz Sheehan
In our family, Mam was my guiding light. She set the example of what a good wife, mother and friend should be. She always did her best to be patient with all of her children, and there were eight of us, so that was no easy feat. She tried to carve out some quality time with each of us, and believe me, we were all jealous when it was someone else's turn. However, that just shows you how much we all loved her and wanted that one-on-one time with Mam. When it was your turn, you found out that she hadn't really missed out on anything that was going on in your life, she just hadn't talked with you about it yet.

Mam was also a fantastic friend. She always saw the good in people, and if she saw the bad, she certainly didn't gossip about it. If you needed her, she was there and asking what she could do to help. Mam was there for all the highs and lows of her friends lives, and I think the size of the gathering here is a testament to how much they all loved her. She was also a great cook and the smell of Apple Tarts cooking in her kitchen was her speciality and have drawn people from near and far and am sure that many people here have tasted at one time or another.

As much as I'd like to think I was Mam's favourite child, I know she truly didn't have one. We were all her favourite in one way or another. She always used to talk about what wonderful carpenters our brothers Michael and Eddie are. Our eldest brother Pat was her dependable child. She said God had, “built Pat solid”, and she was thankful she could lean upon him if she needed to. She adored our brother Tommy’s sense of humour since it was so like her own. They shared many a private laugh together about things that went over the rest of our heads. Mary and Josie were her ‘quiet ones’. Mam said that whenever Mary and Josie were especially quiet, that meant they was thinking up a storm on the inside. She was always very proud of Annette and how as a hairdresser she was so good at doing her hair with a beautiful smile.

Mam had a great deal of faith and rarely missed Sunday Mass. One hymn was her particular favourite and I remember how she used to light up whenever ’Be Not Afraid’ was sung at Mass. She truly believed that she could, ‘pass through raging waters in the sea and not drown’, because God was with her the entire time. I know that's how she felt about her battle with cancer. She knew that even if the cancer won, God would be there with her to carry her safely to Heaven in honour of her faith and her life, a wonderful mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and above all a great friend. I guess people are right when they say God only takes the best, because we all know now that you're peacefully at rest Liz.

Wedding Bells
Congratulations to Teddy Morrissey and Tara Clancy who were married in Holy Trinity Parish Church on Friday, April 25. The popular couple held their reception in the Clonmel Park Hotel with family and friends.

Classical Spanish Guitarist for Clonacody House


Classical guitarist, Peter Richmond, who studied under Giulio Tampalini and David Russell, will play an intimate performance at Clonacody House on Saturday, May 31 at 8pm. This unique performance in a unique setting provides the perfect setting for a very entertaining evening of classical Spanish guitar. Wine and tapas will also be included at the interval. Tickets (limited) at €25 are available from Clonacody House Tel: 087 1689167, or from O’Sullivan’s Chemist, Fethard, and Marian’s, O’Connell Street, Clonmel.

'Walls of Fethard' road race coming up
Fethard Athletic Club looks forward to hosting the annual 'Walls of Fethard' four-mile road race on May 29, and hope to repeat the success of last year’s event.

Training continues every Monday and Friday evening, meeting at the ballroom car park 7.15pm and as always, new faces welcome and walkers also encouraged to join the group.

Easter Lilies for sale

Selling Easter Lilies in Fethard were L to R: Dermot O'Connor, Douglas Hannigan, Mícheál De Faoite, Éamonn Ó Fogartaigh and Marcus Fogarty.

Fethard & Killusty Community Lotto
The numbers drawn on April 23 were: 15, 16, 18 and 24. We had no jackpot winner and one ‘Match Three’ winner who received €150: Anne Williamson and Peggy O'Brien, c/o B. McManus.

The three following ‘Lucky Dip’ winners received €50 each: Corina Roe, Monkstown, Dublin; Majella Daly, c/o A. Daly; and Gwen Cooke, Cois Falla, 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, April 30. The Jackpot is €9,400 and the Jackpot seller’s prize is €940. All proceeds go towards community work in Fethard.

Greetings from Kenya
All well here in Kenya and I trust you all got over Easter. We really appreciate all your help in maintaining our school and health centre in Kabongo. Our school topped the district in the National Exams last December and our Health Centre is doing well and later this year I hope to add a much improved and greatly needed Maternity Unit.
These days I am involved with the building of a Polytechnic or Vocational School near Iten, about 22 kms from Eldoret. Also I will be involved in the conversion of a hostel into a Primary School here in Eldoret town. This will take in about 150 children next January.

It is always great to get an email or text message from any of you in Fethard and I promise to answer immediately (provided my laptop cooperates!). Our website is www.patriciankabongo.com and my mobile number is +254 722 377 509
Good health and God Bless from Kenya.
– (Bro) Paul D. Brennan

The boys are back in town!

'The Boys are Back in Town' - old school friends meet at Butlers Bar. Back L to R: David Purcell, Michael Coen, Jason Ryan, Luke Hackett, Ray Ryan, Noel Maher. Front L to R: John McEvoy, Eamon Holohan and Hugh O'Donnell.

Cookery Demonstration
Ballingarry Presentation Secondary School Parents’ Association present a Cookery Demonstration by Anne Neary of Ryeland House on Wednesday, May 7, in the school at 7.30pm with a cheese and wine reception. This fundraiser is to help purchase equipment for the new Home Economics room. Tickets are €12.

Died Recently
The death (sudden) has occurred on Monday, April 28, 2014, of Claire Sullivan (nee O'Halloran), Woodvale Walk, Fethard.

Claire, deeply regretted by her loving husband Connie, her sons Shane and Mark, her daughter-in-law Mary and her grand daughter Grace, her sisters Patricia and Frances, relatives and friends. May she rest in peace.

Reposing at her residence on Wednesday, April 30, from 5pm to 8pm. Funeral Mass on Thursday in the Holy Trinity Parish Church, Fethard at 11am followed by burial in Calvary Cemetery.

Social Dancing at Fethard Ballroom
Dancing at Fethard Ballroom on this coming Sunday Night, May 4, to the music of ‘Tommy Carroll’. All welcome to come along and enjoy a great night’s entertainment and social dancing. Dancing 9pm to midnight and admission is €8 which includes tea and cakes.

Bunny Hop resumes
The Bunny Hop mornings have now resumed at Fethard Convent Community Hall on Monday mornings from 10am to 11am. Bunny Hop is a music and movement group devised especially for babies and young children. To join or for information contact Nicola 087 6742401.

Irish Interest Book Sale at Tipperary Libraries Thurles

Articles for Emigrants’ Newsletter
We are now inviting submissions of articles and photographs for inclusion in this year’s Emigrants’ Newsletter which will be published in November this year. Articles or photographs can be submitted to Joe Kenny, Rocklow Road, Fethard, or by email to newsletter@fethard.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.