Emigrants Newsletter packed and posted

Helping with the postage and packing of this year's Fethard & Killusty Emigrant's Newsletter were Back L to R: Margaret O'Donnell, Ian O'Connor, Margaret Walsh, Monica Hickey, Brendan Kenny, Johnny Burke. Front L to R: Rory Walsh, Joe Keane, Brud Roche and Carol Kenny.

This year’s edition of the Fethard & Killusty Emigrants’ Newsletter is now packed, posted and making its way to all destinations throughout the world where Fethard emigrants reside. Thanks to your support at home and the many generous donations received from supporters at home and abroad we are still in a position to post the annual newsletter free of charge to emigrants and family relatives living away from Fethard and Killusty parish. From letters received we are very encouraged every year and realise how important this link means to those away from home this Christmas.

Thanks to all who provided photographs, articles and helped in any with the production of this year’s issue; Carmel Rice, Brookhill, who looks after correspondence and donations; Gemma Burke for proofreading; and Brendan Kenny and his voluntary team who look after distribution and postage every year.

The Newsletter is now on sale in the following local shops: Centra Supermarket, The Green; McManus’s Grocery, Burke Street; Daybreak, Kerry Street; and the Post Office, Main Street. This year’s Newsletter cost €12 each and has over 248 pages of articles and photographs including lots of very interesting feature articles. We thank you for your continued support and wish all our readers a very Happy Christmas.

Christmas Carol Service at Holy Trinity
The annual Christmas Carol Service takes place in Holy Trinity Church of Ireland at 7.30pm on this coming Sunday, December 21. Refreshments will be served afterwards and all are welcome.

Be a good friend to someone this Christmas
As we get caught up in the hustle and bustle of this festive season we often forget those in our community living alone and isolated from family. Please remember to pay a visit, even if it is just to say hello, to those living alone in our community. It doesn't cost anything and may mean the world to someone.

Penitential Services for Christmas
The penitential service in preparation for Christmas will take place in the Parish Church on Monday, December 22, at 7.30pm. The penitential service in the Abbey will take place during the 7.30pm Mass on Saturday, December 20.

Christmas Mass Times
Abbey Church
Christmas Eve, Wednesday, December 24, Carols at 8pm followed by Mass at 8.30pm; Christmas Day, Thursday, December 25, at 9.30am and 11.30am.
Parish Church
Christmas Eve, Wednesday, December 24, at 7pm;
Christmas Day, Thursday, December 25, at 8.30am and 11am.
Killusty Church of the Sacred Heart
Christmas Eve, Wednesday, December 24, at 8.15pm;
Christmas Day, Thursday, December 25, at 10am.

Operation Transformation back in New Year
Fethard Operation will return to the Convent Community Hall, on Friday, January 9, at 8pm. Maybe this is another good New Year’s resolution to think about? More details to follow soon. Contact Bridget at telephone no: 087 6410352

‘Cinderella’ a great success

Patrician Presentation Secondary School cast of this year's production 'Cinderella' - DVD of the show now on sale at €10 each.

Fethard Patrician Presentation Secondary School’s production ‘Cinderella’ finished its run last week in the Abymill Theatre to packed houses. The pantomime was very professionally produced and thoroughly enjoyable to watch. The cast, joined by senior students from Holy Trinity National School, can be very proud of their production and school principal, Mr Michael O’Sullivan, and his staff must be congratulated for their support and encouragement in reviving the annual school show.

There were many star performances during the weekend and as a member of the audience stated: “This production of Cinderella was as good as the best, if not better”. Two members of the RTE Mooney Show visited the Abymill for rehearsals and spoke to members of the cast. This recording was aired on RTE 1 the next day. Great credit is due to the production quartet of Ms Megan Raggett, Ms Majella Whelan, Mr Justin McGree and Mr Ian O’Connor, without whose dedication, the show would not have come to fruition. A fantastic achievement by all involved.

DVDs now on sale


For those who didn’t get tickets to see the show, there is a top quality souvenir DVD now available at €10 to purchase at the school office from this Friday, December 19, Tel: (052) 6131572 or contact Joe Kenny, Rocklow Road, Fethard. Email: fethardnews@gmail.com

Red Ribbons to remember loved ones
In keeping with the last two year’s tradition, the Red Ribbons are still available from Centra Supermarket, Barrack Street, and cost €3 each. You can write the name of a deceased loved one you would like to remember over Christmas on the ribbon and put them on the Parish Church railings where they will be blessed on Christmas Day. This is a very simple idea but a lovely way to say Happy Christmas to a departed loved one. Proceed will go towards a local charity.

Social Dancing at Fethard Ballroom
Dancing at Fethard Ballroom on this coming Sunday night, December 21, with music supplied by ‘Sam O’Doherty’. Dancing 9pm to midnight and admission is €8 which includes tea and cakes.

National Hunt Champion foal at Goffs

Bobby Guiry, Peppardstown Stud, Fethard, photographed at the presentation of the ITBA National Hunt Champion Foal at Goff’s show. The winning colt (Lot 399) was by ‘Yeats’, out of the unraced ‘Heavenly Manner’ mare ‘Pepsi Starlet’. L to R: Kerry Ryan (ITBA), Eddie Harty (judge), Francis Quinn (Railstown Stud), Stephen Kemble (judge), Vere Phillips (judge), Regina Byrne (ITBA), Henry Beeby (Managing Director Goffs) and Robert Guiry (Peppardstown Stud).

With the White Heathers
A great afternoon’s hunting was enjoyed by the large turn out for the meet of the Ballyluskey White Heather Harriers at Loughcopple on Sunday last. Finding in blackthorns at Mr P. J. Quirke’s, hounds ran to Mr Dick Lalor’s, left-handed to Mr Bill Lalor’s and back to where they found. Through Mr Tommy Morgan’s they hunted to Mr Tony Slattery’s, to Mr Liam Croke’s, on to Mr John Stokes and to ground at Keogh’s.

An outlier from a hedge in Slattery’s ran through Mr Greg Purcell’s to John Stoke’s and to ground in Croke’s. Back to Shanbally they found at the old railway line in Murphy’s and hunting towards Mr Victor Quinlan’s hounds were stopped as that area was not being hunted on Sunday.

Finding again in Murphy’s at 2.50pm they ran to the railway line at Ryans and hunting with great cry, they headed to Monroe near the Moyle Rovers grounds. Hunting strongly they pushed this fox back to Murphy’s and Norris’s. Crossing the road here they ran back and to ground at 4pm. This was a very good hunt on one hour and ten minutes with several checks.

Next Sunday’s meet with the White Heathers is at Clonacody. We take this opportunity to wish all landowners, followers and supporters of the Ballyluskey White Heather Harriers a very Happy Christmas and good hunting for 1915.

Abbey Choir Christmas Party

Marie Murphy and Bernard Walsh photographed at the Abbey Choir Christmas Party


Anita Maguire and Joan Halpin photographed at the Abbey Choir Christmas Party.


Michael Kenrick and Chrissie Cummins photographed at the Abbey Choir Christmas Party.


Michael and Geraldine McCarthy photographed at the Abbey Choir Christmas Party.

Christmas Party for Toddlers
The Parent/Minder toddler group's Christmas Party will take place in the Convent Community Hall on this Thursday, December 18, from 11am to 1pm, with lots of fun and treats for all the toddlers.
All toddlers and minders are very welcome to come along regardless if you go to the weekly group or not. The group will then finish up for a Christmas break and will resume with weekly group in January. Parents/Minders with new babies are also very welcome to join us.

One week to 5k Santa Run
Only a few days to go until our 2014 Santa run in aid of the paediatric ward at South Tipperary General Hospital. This 5k, fancy dress optional (but encouraged!) event starts from the convent community hall at 2pm, walkers, buggies, joggers and runners all welcome.
Fethard AC would also like to thank Helen and team at Clonacody House for hosting yet another wonderful Christmas night out for the club. We had a fabulous evening of wining and dining with entertainment provided by Frank Feery ensuring the dance floor was rocking all night! The house was festooned with fairy lights and candles and taking centre stage was the awesome Christmas tree in the entrance hall, it truly was a magical location for our now annual event.
Training continues each Monday and Friday evening at 7.15pm from the ballroom carpark. New members welcome.

Fethard & Killusty Community Lotto extra ‘Christmas Prizes
The numbers drawn on December 10 were: 8, 15, 25 and 30. We had no jackpot winner and three ‘Match Three’ winners who received €50 each: Robert O'Riordan, Cloran, Cloneen; Abigail Sheehan, Main Street, Fethard; and Mary Horan, Kilkennybeg, Killenaule.
The three following ‘Lucky Dip’ winners received €50 each: Kathleen Kenny, The Cottage, Fethard; Oliver Maher, Kilnockin Road, Fethard; and Noel Kenny, c/o Tom Purcell.

This week we had the second week of three Christmas Draws for turkeys and hams. Winners of Turkeys in the Free Christmas Draw were: Marie Corcoran, The Valley, Fethard; Friendship Club, Fr. Tirry Centre, Fethard; and Bridget Lonergan, Clerihan. Winners of Hams in the Free Christmas Draw were: Jacqui O'Flynn, Killerk, Fethard; Kaycie Aherne, Prospect, Fethard; and Mary O'Sullivan, Clerihan.
Next week’s draw takes place on Wednesday, December 17. 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 December 12 were 21, 23, 30 and 32. There was no jackpot winner and no match three winner so the following drawn tickets received €30 each: Stephanie Johnson, Main Street; Jason Lawrence, Woodvale Walk; Jill Schubert, Barrack Street; Alice Lawrence, Woodvale Walk; and Barry Connolly, c/o Post Office, Fethard. The €50 Lucky Dip winner was: Esther Breen, Barrack Street, Fethard.

Next week’s Jackpot is €7,600 and the draw will take place in Fethard GAA Park on Friday, December 19, at 7pm. All are welcome. Thank you for your continued support.

Emigrants Newsletter on sale now!
This year’s edition of the Fethard & Killusty Emigrants’ Newsletter is on sale now in the following local shops: Centra Supermarket, The Green; McManus’s Grocery, Burke Street; Daybreak, Kerry Street; and the Post Office, Main Street. This year’s Newsletter cost €12 each and has over 248 pages of articles and photographs including many interesting feature articles. We expect this year’s issue to sell out fast so we advise early purchase to avoid disappointment.

Pilgrimage to Medjugorje 2015

A seven-day Pilgrimage to Medjugorje is being planned for August 12 to 19, 2015. The total cost is €669 per person sharing, which includes flights, accommodation, breakfast and evening meal. For those interested please contact David Woodlock at Tel: 087 2522028 or (052) 6131077. Deposit of €200 required when booking.

Special discounts for early payments: €150 discount if paid in full by December 10, 2014; €100 discount if paid in full by February 2, 2015; and €50 discount if deposit paid by February 2, 2015. Single Rooms cost an additional €22 extra per night. The trip is organised by Joe Walsh Tours

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.