Fethard Players rehearse for ‘Arsenic and Old Lace’


Fethard Players are currently in rehearsal for their forthcoming production of a great comedy, ‘Arsenic and Old Lace’ by Joseph Kesselring. The play will commence in the Abymill Theatre on Monday, November 17, at 8.15pm and continue its run until Sunday, November 23, with the exception of Thursday night. Special admission price on Monday and Tuesday night at €10, all other performances admission is €15. Booking is open now at Fethard Post Office Tel: (052) 6131217.


Cast of Fethard Players photographed at rehearsal for their forthcoming comedy'Arsenic and Old Lace' which will be staged in the Abymill Theatre commencing Monday, November 17, for six nights. Booking at Fethard Post Office Tel: 052 6131217. Standing L to R: Ann Walsh, Anne Connolly, Liam O'Connor, Jimmy O'Sullivan, Colm McGrath, Tom Gilpin, Richard Hayes. Seated L to R: Marian Gilpin, Niamh Hayes and Mia Treacy. Also in the cast are Pat Brophy, Joe Hanley and Pat Dunne.

The play, produced by Austin O’Flynn, is a farcical comedy revolving around the Brewster family with the following cast: Abby Brewster played by Ann Walsh; The Rev. Dr. Harper by Marian Gilpin; Teddy Brewster by Liam O’Connor; Officer Brophy by Pat Brophy; Officer Klein by Richard Hayes; Martha Brewster by Ann Connolly; Elaine Harper by Niamh Hayes; Mortimer Brewster by Jimmy O’Sullivan; Mr. Gibbs by Joe Hanley; Jonathan Brewster by Pat Dunne; Dr. Einstein by Colm McGrath; Lieutenant Rooney by Tom Gilpin, and Ms Witherspoon by Mia Treacy.

Fethard Senior Citizens' Club
Fethard Senior Citizens' Club will hold their November meeting on Tuesday 4th Nov, at 7.30pm in the Tirry Centre. Please remember to bring along any tickets you have sold for our Christmas raffle.

Help make Fethard a ‘Safe Town’
A meeting to implement the Community Text Alert in Fethard town will be held in the Tirry Centre on Tuesday night, November 11, at 8pm. Volunteers are needed from the various areas within Fethard to circulate forms to their neighbours and collect them afterwards. Please give your names to the Community Office in Barrack Street, Tel: 052 613100, or come along to the meeting.

A fully-functional Community CCTV system plan for Fethard is also scheduled to progress in the very near future and we appeal for the support of local businesses and groups to support the installation of an effective system – presently the best way to combat crime, antisocial behaviour and help make our town a safer place to live.

Art History trip to Dublin

Fethard Transition year students pictured with the Fethard 'Mace' behind. L to R: Kate Davey, Rachel O'Meara and Megan Coen

Transition year, international and two sixth year art students from Patrician Presentation Secondary School Fethard took part in a recent art history trip to Dublin. The first stop was Trinity College to view the Book of Kells – a lavishly illustrated copy of the four gospels in Latin – one of our greatest treasures. This was followed by a visit to the Trinity College Library and ‘Long Room’, which, at nearly 65 meters in length, contains 200,000 of the library's oldest books.

Our next stop was the National Museum on Kildare Street, where included in an exhibition on Medieval Ireland, Fethard's three wooden statues dating from the 15th and 16th centuries, are on display with other principle reliquaries and pieces of art from the Late Middle Ages.
Students then visited The National Gallery on Merion Square where the exhibition 'Lines of Vision: Irish Writers at the National Gallery’, has just been opened. In this exhibition fifty-six Irish writers have selected a picture from the collection and used it to explore ideas about art, love, loss, dreams, memory, places and privacy.


Students from Patrician Presentation Secondary School Fethard on their recent art history trip to Dublin

In Collins Barracks students viewed 'Beyond Pebbledash’ in the central square – a construction of a typical pebble dash house, life size scale 1:1, and familiar as a typical piece of domestic architecture intended to provoke questions on the nature of, 'What have we built?' and 'Why have we built it here?' The house includes a steel skeletal frame to replicate its walls, stairs, internal doors, chimney and roof. Also in Collins Barracks on display in its silver collection is a silver ‘Mace’ from Fethard.

Fethard Tidy Towns

Fethard Tidy Towns members photographed with local school children from Holy Trinity National School who helped with the Fethard ‘clean-up’.

As Tidy Towns now commence their Winter/Spring programme, a lot of work has to be completed, including clearing, cutting back, pruning and setting our Spring bulbs for flowering in 2015.

Work is well under way at the paddocks by the Town Wall and this area is now cleared and awaiting top soil. We are also hoping to acquire funding for new wildlife signs to be placed at locations in the river park, explaining the various examples of wild life that reside in our area. We also have identified quite a lot of local areas that need a touch up of paint so we would welcome new members to come along and help us with same. If you have a free hour, here or there, it would be greatly appreciated.

A special thanks to our local schools and pupils who all actively help in our on-going clean-up project – little by little, we can make a big difference, with your support.

Holy Trinity National School

Girls team from Holy Trinity National School photographed with their medals and shield following their success at the school sports day held in Marlfield, Clonmel, last week.


Ciara Spillane, Tullamaine and Kaycie Ahearn, Prospect, who won gold and silver medals in the 3rd and 4th classes combined race at the schools cross country in Marlfield last Wednesday


Winning costumes in the Holy Trinity National School’s ‘Best Halloween Costume’ competition Annica O'Connor (6th Class), Ciarán McGuire (5th Class), Tamara Doyle (4th Class), Haydyn Molloy (3rd Class), Zoe Prout (2nd Class), Lily Murphy (1st Class), Leyla Barlaz (Senior Infants, and Emma Murphy (Junior Infants).


The winning team in the Holy Trinity National School’s Halloween Table Quiz

Fethard Bridge Club
On Wednesday, October 1 we played for prizes sponsored by Eileen Ryan and Jim Lahert and the results were:
1st Nett, Rita Kane and Kay St. John (winners of sponsored prize); 2nd Nett, Carol Kenny and Gemma Burke; 3rd Nett, Nora Ryan and Gabrielle Schofield. 1st Gross, Alice Quinn and Berney Myles; 2nd Gross, Betty Walsh and Monica Anglim; 3rd Gross, Anna Cooke and Bernie O’Meara.

The results of our game on Wednesday, October 8 were:
1st Gross, Anna Cooke and Bernie O’Meara; 2nd Gross, Kay St. John and Rita Kane; 3rd Gross, Nell Broderick and David O’Meara. 1st Nett, Eileen Ryan and Jim Lahert; 2nd Nett, Monica Anglim and Betty Walsh; 3rd Nett, Annie O’Brien and Marie Delaney.

Please note that bridge now starts at 7.15pm sharp! If you are interested in learning bridge, come along to the Tirry Centre on Tuesday evenings at 7.30pm. Anyone looking for a partner contact Berney Myles at 6132038.

Patrician Presentation School Awards 2014

Fethard & Killusty Community Lotto
The numbers drawn on October 22 were: 1, 17, 22 and 25. We had no jackpot winner and two ‘Match Three’ winners who received €75 each: Rory Shelly, Moyglass, Fethard; and Margaret Thompson, Woodvale Walk, Fethard.

The three following ‘Lucky Dip’ winners received €50 each: Mary O'Dwyer, Knockelly Road, Fethard; Eileen Ryan, Friarsgrange, Fethard; and Dorothy Connolly, The Green, Fethard.

Next week’s draw takes place on Wednesday, October 29. The Jackpot is €10,000 and the Jackpot seller’s prize is €1,000. All proceeds go towards community work in Fethard, and we thank you for your on-going support.

Fethard GAA Sports Lotto
The numbers drawn on October 24 were 3, 5, 18 and 25. There was no jackpot winner and no match three winner so the following five drawn tickets received €30: Ellen Morrissey, Barrack Street; Mary Godfrey, Derryluskin; Josie Fitzgerald, Kiltinan; Donna Keyes, Woodvale Walk; and ‘Sparky’, Main Street. The €50 Lucky Dip winner was: Zoe Quinn, c/o Merrys, Clonmel.

Next week’s Jackpot is €6,900 and the draw will take place in Fethard GAA Park on Friday, October 31, at 7pm. All are welcome. Thank you for your continued support.

Baby Danny returns home to Fethard

Carol Fleming and Dermot Molloy with their baby Danny photographed at their home in Fethard.

A couple whose new baby was on a life support machine just weeks ago have spoken of their relief at being allowed to bring their little boy home for the first time since he was born. Ten-week-old Danny Molloy was born in South Tipperary General Hospital early in August but became ill within 12 hours and had to be transferred to Crumlin where he was diagnosed with a rare condition, truncus arteoriosis, which affects the pumping of his blood from his heart and prevents the lungs from getting an adequate supply.

At one stage during their traumatic ordeal the parents were given an option to turn off the machine or put Danny back through another operation. “They said about 35 out of 50 babies would die on the operating table. They told us how they were going to do it and told us to get our family around. But that weekend he completely did a u-turn.”


Baby Danny Molloy photographed at home in Fethard

Last week, after 10 weeks of watching their son undergo open heart surgery and other lifesaving procedures, Carol Fleming and Dermot Molloy, originally from Drangan but now living in Fethard, were told they could take Danny home. However, he faces a long road of medication and more medical procedures and hospital stays in the coming years. Danny remains a high-risk patient and will need further operations when he’s two, five, 12, and in his 20s. For now, Carol and Dermot are just glad to have their only child back at home in Fethard. “He’s here and he’s doing everything a 10-week-old baby should, only for he has a feeding tube he’s thriving and putting on weight and developing like he should.”

“All we wanted to do was to get him home and we’re over the moon that he’s home,” Carol told The Nationalist. She paid tribute and expressed the family’s gratitude to the medical teams in Clonmel and Crumlin as well as their own family members, neighbours and friends in Fethard, Drangan and elsewhere for the support and help offered since Danny was born. — (Conor Kane - The Nationalist)


Members of the Molloy family photographed at a recent fundraiser held at the Castle Inn in Fethard. L to R: Rose McCarthy, Frances Tobin, Jack Hickey, Bernie Hickey and Margaret Molloy.

Social Dancing at Fethard Ballroom
Dancing at Fethard Ballroom on this coming Sunday night, November 2, 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.

Free Asthma Clinic
A free Asthma Clinic will be held at O’Sullivan’s Pharmacy on Friday, November 7. Are you having breathing difficulties or shortness of breath? Need advice on inhaler technique? This clinic is suitable for adults and children. Call to book your free appointment with Daphne our Asthma Nurse.

New book published 'The Case of Fr. Nicholas Sheehy'
A new book titled 'The Case of Fr. Nicholas Sheehy' has just been published and will be of great interest to those with an interest in Tipperary history. It will be of particular interest to the people of the parishes of Clogheen, Burncourt and Ballyporeen given that at the time of his execution in Clonmel in 1766, Fr. Sheehy who, it is stated, was born in Fethard, was the Parish Priest of the combined parishes of Shanrahan, Ballysheehan, and Templetenny.

Edited by Ed O'Riordan, the book includes the work of respected historians Canon William P. Burke who wrote in 1907 and Dr. Richard Robert Madden whose research was first published in 1843. Their work also records the trials and executions of Edmund Sheehy of Lodge, Ned Meehan of Clogheen and Grange, James Buxton of Kilcoran and James Farrell of Rehill. The book contains fascinating information on the Whiteboys. The introduction by the editor includes new information about Fr. Sheehy prior to being appointed to his parishes. The hardcover limited edition books are available from Ed 0863840894 or watch out for it in the local shops. (Further details on www.galteemore.com)

November Cemetery Rosaries for the Holy Souls

L to R Seamus Barry, Joe Lee and Michael Tynan putting in the base for the new Cross to be erected at Kilmaclugh Cemetery, kindly donated by Tipperary County Councel.

Rosaries for the Holy Souls will be recited in the following cemeteries during the month of November. All are invited to come along and remember our loved ones who have passed on to their eternal reward.

Saturday, November 1, the Rosary will be recited in the Parish Church Cemetery at 3pm and Holy Trinity Cemetery at 3.30pm.
Sunday, November 2, Augustinian Abbey at 3pm and Everardsgrange Cemetery at 3.30pm.
Sunday, November 9, Calvary Cemetery at 3pm and Peppardstown Cemetery at 3.30pm.
Sunday, November 16, Rathcoole Cemetery at 2.45pm and Redcity Cemetery at 3.30pm.
Sunday, November 23, Tullamaine Cemetery at 2.30pm and Kiltinan Cemetery at 3.30pm.
Sunday, November 30, Killusty Cemetery after Mass; Presentation Convent Cemetery after 11am Mass; and Kilmaclugh Cemetery at 2.30pm.

Please also note that Graveyard Rosaries in the parish of Killenaule & Moyglass are held every Sunday for the month of November in Moyglass after 10am Mass; Magorban at 4pm; St. Johnston at 3pm; Colleagh 2.30pm; Ballinure at 3pm; Garden of Remembrance at 3pm; St. Mary’s at 2pm; River Street at 2.30pm; Crosscannon at 3pm; Lanespark at 3.30pm.

Annual Newsletter Donation
The Annual Emigrant's Newsletter ask you to please support this year's issue by making a donation. All proceeds go to the publishing and delivery of the Annual Newsletter, free of charge, to our emigrants living throughout the world. Donations of €10 and over will be acknowledged in this year's issue. MAKE A DONATION

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.