Happy 50th Birthday to Helena

Congratulations to Helena Fanning (front centre), Fethard, who celebrated her 50th BIrthday with family and friends at Lonergan's last weekend

Community Alert Launch on Friday, September 5
Cloneen Community Alert and Killusty Community Alert will have a joint launch of their Text Alert Schemes on Friday, September 5. The launch of these crime prevention schemes will take place at Cloneen Hall at 8pm and it is planned to have Tipperary Chief Superintendent, Catherine Kehoe, Clonmel Garda Superintendent William Leahy, local councillors and Muintir na Tire representatives in attendance. Refreshments will be served.

The committees of both Community Alert Groups would like to thank all those who contributed to both schemes. All residents of both Cloneen and Killusty Community Alert areas are invited to attend the launch of these community schemes, which encourage members of the community to report any activity they deem to be of concern by using the Garda phone number on local signs, which will be erected in the area shortly. These schemes have been hugely successful in reducing crime in areas where they operate.

Best Wishes to Sergeant John Burke
Our best wishes to Sergeant John Burke who has recently retired from An Garda Síochána to follow his own career. John was very effective and popular while stationed in Fethard and was a great help in starting a local Text Alert group in Fethard and the surrounding parishes, which is currently underway in Killusty and will start in Fethard shortly. For those interesting in getting involved please contact the community office Tel: (052) 6131000.

John was also instrumental in progressing the installation of a CCTV system in the town to deter anti-social behaviour. Following a well-attended public meeting it was agreed to have the town surveyed and a suggested system recommended for installation. This has now been completed and its installation was never more needed and important than it is in Fethard today.

Thanks John for your help and foresight into helping solve crime in the area. We look forward to having a similar relationship with the new Sergeant and local Gardaí.

A break from shopping

Enjoying a break from shopping locally are L to R: Berney Myles, Marie Crean and Kitty O'Donnell.

Daylight Robbery
An unfortunate development in Fethard recently is the increase in daylight robberies where a local involvement is highly suspected. Opportunist thieves are targeting vulnerable homeowners and appear to have knowledge as to when houses are vacant and how long owners will be away. In nearly all recent cases the main attraction is stealing cash or silver and gold items that can be exchanged for cash pretty easily these days.

Extra vigilance is required by all members of the community to combat this type of crime and all suspicious behaviour should be reported however small, it may help tie missing pieces of information together.
The Garda Confidential line allows people to call with information relating to matters of crime or other activities. Free call to: 1800 666111.

For more serious crime information you can contact Crimestoppers, which is a partnership between private industry and An Garda Síochána. It is aimed at people who have information on crime. It guarantees anonymity and offers cash rewards for information. Free call to: 1800 250025.

Community Games National Finals

Dara O'Meara proudly displaying his exhibit in the handwriting event at the HSE Community Games National finals.

Fethard and Killusty Community Games wish to congratulate Jack Dolan, Coolmore, in qualifying for the final of the U16 1500m at the National Finals of the HSE Community Games where he finished just out of the medals.

Our other competitor Alison Connolly due to run in the U12 100m suffered an injury during the week which unfortunately deprived her of the chance to compete even though Alison did travel to Athlone, did her warm up but just wasn’t 100% fit to take part. However, she did benefit from the experience to seeing all the action and will be back again to take her chance next year.

Rebecca sold out
Sold out in first two days, Rebecca Storm's concert in The Abymill, Fethard, on Saturday, September 20, promises to be a wonderful night. However, don't be too disappointed if you didn't get tickets as she will be appearing in that wonderful musical, 'Blood Brothers' by Willie Russell, in the Bord Gáis Theatre, Dublin, from September 27.
Those with tickets booked for the Abymill in Fethard are asked to collect them this week as there is a waiting list for tickets. The number to contact is 086 0834208 or (052) 6129811. Please collect them as soon as possible as we have kept tickets for people before who have not turned up. All tickets booked but not paid for will be resold.

All smiles in Fethard

Breda Slattery and Martin Shelly enjoying the social life in Fethard last weekend

Tipperary Women’s Mini Marathon
Register now on www.tippminimarathon.ie for the 2014 Women’s Mini Marathon organised by South Tipp Sports Partnership and North Tipp Sports Partnership in Thurles on Sunday, September 28, at 10.30am.

Early Bird Price of €15 is available up to August 31, and closing date for all entries is strictly September 22, 2014. For further information please contact Valerie Connolly at STSP Tel: (052) 6187080 or email: info@stsp.ie

Enjoying the good weather

Enjoying the recent good weather in Fethard were L to R: Chloe Brew, Melinda Csuzi and Kateryna Novikova

Friday is ‘Heritage Day’ in Fethard
This is Heritage Week all over the country and various government agencies, communities and individuals make a greater than usual effort to highlight the wonderful cultural and natural heritage that we in Ireland have inherited from those who have gone before us. Everyplace is different and yet everyplace is but a part of the story that makes up the Ireland we live in today. Details for the whole country can be got from www.heritageweek.ie

Fethard town and surrounding countryside is unusual in that the past is still present in the buildings and fortifications that remain from medieval times, over eight hundred years ago. This Friday there is an opportunity for the people of the town, especially the younger people and children, to learn more about our home place.

Town Model and Grave Slabs on show
Old Holy Trinity Church will be open and manned from 10am to 5pm to allow everyone an opportunity to see the wonderful town model that depicts the town as it was about 1650, which by chance was also the time that one Oliver Cromwell paid a visit to Fethard - and of course also to Clonmel - to show who was now the new boss.

Then this year the transition year students’ huge Grave Slab rubbings have been professionally mounted on the walls of the church and they make for an impressive sight.

Guided Tours
Guided tours of the Medieval Town take place at 11am and again at 2 pm, meeting at the Foot Bridge in the Valley. The one and a half hour tours, given by Backs to the Wall Tours, cost five euro for each adult and all children go free. No need to book, just turn up five minutes before the time and bring an umbrella if the day is showery.

Friday is therefore an opportunity to have ‘access all areas’ in the medieval town and in the present of guides who can answer your questions. This is an opportunity not to be missed.

Visitors to Fethard

Photographed on a recent visit to Fethard are L to R: Anthony Colville, originally from St. Patrick's Place, Anthony's son Tadhg Colville, and Kevin O'Connor a son of Anthony's aunt, the late Peggy O'Connor (nee O'Shea).

Social Dancing at Fethard Ballroom
Dancing at Fethard Ballroom on this coming Sunday night, August 31, to the music of Sam O’Doherty. 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.

Fethard & Killusty Community Lotto
The numbers drawn on August 20 were: 15, 16, 17 and 24. We had no jackpot winner and one ‘Match Three’ winner who received €150: Una Fogarty, Congress Terrace, Fethard.

The three following ‘Lucky Dip’ winners received €50 each: Chris Coen, Cedar Grove, Fethard; Patricia Treacy, Strylea, Fethard; and Tom Purcell, Burke Street, Fethard.

Next week’s draw takes place on Wednesday, August 27. The Jackpot is €10,000 and the Jackpot seller’s prize is €1,000. All proceeds go towards community work in Fethard.

Jog for Jockeys

Pictured for the 10k Fun Run at the Curragh Racecourse on Sunday, August 24, in the 'Jog for Jockeys' injury fund L to R: John Cummins, Paul Kavanagh and Charlie Cummins in front.

Fethard GAA Sports Lotto
The numbers drawn on August 22 were 18, 20, 27 and 31. There was no jackpot winner and no match three winners so the following drawn tickets received €30 each: Philomena Morrissey, St Patricks Place; Audrey Devine, c/o An Post, Fethard; Annette O'Donovan, The Valley; Tommy Gahan (jnr), Abbeyview; and Ester Breen Barrack Street, Fethard. The €50 Lucky Dip winner was John Byrne c/o Merry's, Clonmel.

Next week’s Jackpot is €6,000 and the draw will take place in Fethard GAA Park on Friday, August 29, at 7pm. All are welcome. Thanking you for your continued support.

Mike Denver Comes to Moyglass
Calling all country music fans, ‘The Galway Boy’, Mike Denver is coming to Moyglass Community Hall for one night only on Thursday, September 4, with supporting act Pat Costello. Playing hits such as ‘Galway Girl’ and ‘Tommy Kay the DJ’, it’s sure to be a great night’s entertainment!

There will be full bar facilities on the night. Doors open at 7.30pm with the seated concert beginning at 8pm.

Tickets are €20 and are selling fast! To get your hands on the hottest ticket in town just call Michael on: 087 2898033.

Scouts achieved ‘Gold’ at National Phoenix Challenge
Congratulations to Fethard Scouts Cougar Patrol who achieved Gold at the National Phoenix Challenge that commenced on Thursday morning at 10am and finished on Sunday at 3pm. This is the biggest and most challenging event on the Scout’s annual calendar, with 820 scouts from across the country participating. What an achievement! Well done to a great patrol – all the training paid off.

Patrol members: Dylan Ryan, Dan Walsh, Katie Whyte, Katie Ryan, Poppy Kane, Lucy Whyte, Noelle O'Meara, Dylan Fenlon, Brendan Walsh and David Moclair.

Our sincere and heartfelt sympathies to David Moclair, his mother Maree, his brothers and sisters, on the recent death of his father Jack.

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.