Cemetery Mass in Killusty this Friday at 7.30pm
A Cemetery Mass will be held in the grounds of The Church of the Sacred Heart, Killusty, on this Friday evening, June 3, at 7.30pm. All are welcome to come along.
Died Recently
 The death has occurred on Tuesday, May 31, 2016, of Liam Whyte, Marlfield
Road, Clonmel, and formerly Main Street, Fethard. Deeply regretted by his his brothers John and Noel, sisters Ethel, Euna and Berna, his daughter Claire, son John, daughter-in-law Una, grandchildren Jack and Calum, family and friends. May he rest in peace.
Reposing at his home in Marlfield from 4pm to 8pm on Thursday, June 2. Requiem Mass at 11am in St. Mary's Church, Irishtown, Clonmel, on Friday, June 3, followed by interment in St. Patrick's Cemetery, Clonmel.
Enjoyable Fundraising night at The Castle
The Castle Inn would like to thank all who supported their fundraising night for Fethard & District Day Care Centre on Saturday night last. Our thanks to Paul Besso for helping out on the night, also Niamh Moroney (Centra Supermarket) and John Ward (Wards Garage) for supplying the Cheese and Wine reception; and all the local businesses that donated spot prizes including Glanbia, Roisín’s Hair Salon, O’Sullivan’s Chemist, Emily's Deli, Londis Supermarket, Chinese Restaurant, Dalton’s Chemist, Clonmel Glass & Mirrors, Allen’s Meat, and Brud Roche. A special thanks to the Pheasant Pluckers for a wonderful nights entertainment . . . ye were brilliant! A total of €380 was raised on the night which was very much appreciated.
Social dancing at Fethard Ballroom
Dancing on Sunday Night, June 5, to the music of ‘Dave Rea’. All welcome to come along and enjoy a great night’s entertainment and social dancing from 9pm to midnight. Admission is €8 which includes tea and cakes.
Running Ladies Marathon for ‘Search & Rescue’ group
Local ladies, Patricia Breen, Cora Breen, Monica Pollard, Amy Pollard, Valerie Rice, Jennifer Rice, Stephanie Johnson, Majella Daly, Elaine Daly and Rebecca Daly are now putting the final touches to their training for the Ladies Mini Marathon which takes place in Dublin on Monday, June 6. The girls are raising funds for the Carrick-on-Suir Search & Rescue group who provides a fantastic voluntary service when required.
If anyone would like to donate to this worthy cause they can do so by sponsoring the girls at Centra Supermarket, Allen’s Meats, Stephanie’s Hair Salon and Noonan’s Shop in Cloneen. Your support and encouragement would be greatly appreciated.
High praise for Fethard Choral Group soloists
Fethard Choral Group who took part in the Irish Language Competition in New Ross
Well done to the members of the Fethard Choral Group under the musical director, Ann Barry, who took part in the Irish Language Competition in New Ross, Co. Wexford. The competition was won by a choir from Carlow, however, the adjudicators had high praise for the Fethard choir and in particular, the two soloists, Conor Maguire and Ciara Tillyer. Well done to all involved.
Sports Achievement Nominations for May
The following nominations were received for the Butler’s Bar Fethard Sports Achievement Award for May.
- Matty Tynan – Matty and his team brought their racehorse ‘Koto’ twice to Newcastle racecourse in the past month and returned victoriously on both occasions.
- Abaigeal Maher – at a recent Munster/ Connaught Age Group Swimming Championship held at University of Limerick Abaigeal won 2 gold, 1 silver and 1 bronze medal.
- Fethard Ladies U14 Gaelic Football Team – winners of the Tipperary Feile competition, a first for the club. They now go on to represent Tipp in the All Ireland series.
- Stephen O’Donnell – golfer Stephen won the Junior scratch cup in Ballykisteen during May.
- Patrician Presentation Junior Boys Volleyball Team – winners of an All Ireland title beating St Raphael’s from Loughrea in the semi final and St. Brigit’s from Galway city in the final.
- Laura Stocksborough, Muireann O’Connell, and Lauren Dowling – are three young Fethard ladies footballers who helped Tipperary win a Munster U16 title.
- Fethard Junior ladies Gaelic Footballer Team – were league winners recently beating Gortnahoe in the final.
- Alison Connolly, Carrie Davey, and Niamh Hayes – all play for Tipp U14 Gaelic footballer team who won a prestigious blitz competition during the month.
- Dorothy Wall and Kate Gayson Molloy – Fethard Ladies Rugby U18 players have been rewarded for their endeavours by being selected to play for Munster.
- Fethard Boys U16 Rugby Team – were narrowly defeated in the final of the East Munster cup.
- Claire Annan – Claire was winner of the ladies race at the Walls Of Fethard 6k road race held on Thursday evening last.
The winner of the May Award will be announced at a special function in Butler’s Bar, Main Street, on Friday night next, June 3,at 10pm. All are welcome to come along.
Wonderful success for Fethard Community Games
Fethard Tag Rugby team who won silver medals in the Community Games County Final. Team members: Ciara Spillane, Gillian Burke, Ethan Coen, Shane Neville, Gavin Neville, Darragh Spillane, Toby Collier, Robert Wall and Matthew Burke.
Fethard & Killusty Community Games enjoyed wonderful success during the past week. The U14 Tag Rugby team won silver medals in the county final on Thursday evening, setting the scene for a double victory in Semple Stadium where the girls U12 football team won the county final, with an impressive victory over Templemore, followed by an outstanding performance by the U10 football team who also defeated Templemore, becoming the first winners of the Joe Keane Perpetual Shield.
Fethard U10 Community games County Champions. Coaches L to R: Colin Allen, Sean Kiely, Tom Keane, Noreen Sheehy and Team Manager Jimmy Smith. Back L to R: Rory O Mahoney, Noah O Flynn, Charlie Walsh, Danny Hayes, Sean McEvoy, Ben Allen, Paddy Ryan, Danny Shelly. Front L to R: Killian Hallinan, Sami Laaksonen, Gavin Neville, Andrew Connorton (C), Criostoir Sheehy, Alex Butler, Zach Smith and TJ Keane.
Fethard u12 girls football team winners of the community games county final in Semple Stadium now qualified for the Munster Final. Back L to R: Kelly Ryan, Lily O’Mahony, Kaycie Aherne, Jessica Moloney, Rose O’Donnell, Heather Spillane. Front L to R: Aine Connolly, Isabelle Maher, Grainne Murray, Ciara O’Meara, Lucy Kenny, Emily Davey, Emily Spillane and Aoife Harrington.
Congratulations to both teams who will now contest the Munster Finals. Great credit must go the managers for their time and dedication to the teams who received a warm welcome home with a victory parade and refreshments on Sunday evening.
Isabelle Maher, a member of the victorious U12 girls team, dashed from Thurles to Clonmel Pool where she won a silver medal in the U12 backstroke event losing by the narrowest of margins after leading all the way. A silver medal was also won by Mark O’Meara in U10 Backstroke and bronze by his brother Ronan in U8 freestyle. Great performances also by Aoibhinn Collum who won her heat and to Hayden Fleming, second in his heat. Both were fourth in their finals.
Noreen Sheehy may be very proud of the achievements of the area in her first year as secretary. Well done to all.
Photographed at the Community Games County Swimming finals L to R: Jenna Hayes (gold) representing Powerstown, daughter of Richard Hayes formerly Burke Street, Aoibhinn Collum, and Isobel Maher (silver).
Fethard boys who took part in the Community Games Swimming County Finals L to R: Ronan O’Meara (bronze), Hayden Fleming, and Mark O’Meara (silver).
The area athletics will take place in the GAA Park on Bank Holiday Monday, June 6, commencing at 5pm. Events are U8 60m and 80m; U10 100m and 200m; U12 100m and 600m; U14 100m and 800m; and U16 100m and 1500m.
There is also a long puck for boys U12 and girls U14. All competitors must be under the age specified on July 31, and must live in the area. Entry fee €2 covers all events.
Great turn out for Walls of Fethard run
Fethard AC menbers taking part in the ‘Walls of Fethard’ 6K run were L to R: Bernie Horan, Ruby Kennedy, Bill Kennedy, Gini Hutton, Victor Direen, Noreen Sheehy and Bernard Feery.
The Walls of Fethard annual road race had a very good turn out on Thursday night last with a cracker of a run in the senior mens race. Before the main race, we ran a number of juvenile short promotional races on the Rocklow Road, near the school, which turned out to be a wonderful experience for the boys and girls involved and indeed the mammies and daddies also. I hope it may help spark the revival of juvenile athletics in Fethard Athletic Club.
Top marks to all involved in the preparation and execution of this wonderful main event and long may it continue. Our sponsors per usual stepped up to the mark and greatly helped to alleviate the extreme cost of the race and thankfully we came out on the right side. Fethard club had sixteen participants out on the road for the race with the results as follows. Bernard Feery (8th overall in a time of 21.51 and 1st in the over-50 section); Eoin Healy (31st in 24.48); Michael Dalton (38th in 25.53); Paul Shanahan (40th); Jennifer Rice (47th in 25.57); Richard Hayes (55th in 27.20; Perry Daniels (64 in 29.00); Mark Dowling (70th in 29.55; Cathal Ryan (71st in 30.06); Catherine Ryan (72nd in 30.18); Ginny Hutton (89th in 32.51 and 1st in over-50 section); Bill Kennedy (95th in 34.45); Isobel Kennedy (96th in 34.45 and 1st junior lady); Aiden Barry 93rd in 37.07; Noreen Sheehy 101st in 35.57.
The overall results: Men, 1st William Maunsell, Clonmel; 2nd Niall McCormack; 3rd William Whelan, Coolquill; 4th Paddy Coman, Moycarkey. Ladies, 1st Clare Annan, Clonmel; 2nd Aine Roche, Clonmel; 3rd Linda Grogan, Dundrum; and 4th Philly Ryan, Ballynonty.
Historical Outing To Kilcash
Thirty or so intrepid members of the Fethard Historical Society braved the uncertain weather last Friday, May 20, to join local historian Phil Flood on a guided tour of Kilcash. They were rewarded with a very interesting tour of the old church in Kilcash and, thankfully, the rain held off most of the time.
The tour began with a visit to the original old church of Kilcash, an early monastic site reputed to be connected to St. Colman, located on the picturesque slopes of Slievenamon. The church is roofless now but the walls are still standing and one enters through a most impressive Romanesque doorway. There are some very interesting graveslabs in the church depicting the passion of Christ very similar to those in Fethard’s medieval Holy Trinity Church.
In the graveyard, the mausoleum (a building nearly as large as the church) contains the tombs of Archbishop Christopher Butler (1673–1757), Margaret, Viscountess Iveagh, Walter Butler, the 16th Earl of Ormond (d. 1773) and John Butler, the 17th Earl (d. 1795).[1] Lots of the earlier gravestones in the graveyard are so weathered that all the original details have been obliterated. However, some the later eighteenth-century headstones carved with elaborate scenes of the crucifixion have survived intact.
Kilcash is of course forever associated with the wonderful Irish poem Cad a dhéanfaimid feasta gan adhmad?, an evocative lament for the passing of the ancient Gaelic order, the suppression of the old religion and the decimation of the native forests. A most enjoyable feature of the visit was an impromptu poetry reading. Phil brought along various translations of the poem written down through the centuries and invited some of those present to read them. The session ended with everyone singing the original poem as Ghaeilge. Listening to the familiar words echoing within the walls of the old church, while looking across the valley of Slievenamon, one felt a deep connection to the long lost world of our Gaelic ancestors.
All that remains of the castle today, a once imposing Butler stronghold, is the original fortified tower dating from the sixteenth-century and a portion of the adjoining hall added at a later date, when the need for defence gave way to the large windows associated with settled times.
Phil gave an interesting insight into the way history evolves in her telling of the story of Bridget Dillon, a young local girl killed in 1921. The three versions of the story comprising local folklore, a witness account and that most recently published, all agree in some particulars and differ in others. There are still questions surrounding the event and it shows how difficult it is to determine the facts of any story even with regard to relatively modern history.
We took a stroll through the adjoining woodland where oak trees and other native trees once more abound thanks to Coillte Ireland, before finishing up Keogh’s pub for tea and sandwiches and chat in convivial surroundings. We would like to thank the proprietors of Keogh’s for their warm welcome and excellent hospitality.
Phil Flood was a wonderful guide who brought to life the history of Kilcash through the ages. We thank her for sharing with us her passion for her native place and I’m sure many of us will act on her recommendation to return to Kilcash church on our own to savour the peace and solitude of this unique place.
Died Recently
 The death has occurred on Monday, May 30, 2016, of Ellen (Nellie) Cummins (née Smith), Willowbrook Lodge Nursing Home, Mocklershill, Fethard, and formerly of St Patrick's Place, Fethard. Ellen (Nellie), deeply regretted by her sons Ted and Liam, her daughters Maria, Helen and Jennifer, relatives and friends. May she rest in peace.
Reposing at her son Ted's residence at Cois Falla, Fethard, on Wednesday, June 1, from 3.30pm with removal to St John the Baptist Church, Lisronagh, at 6.30pm to arrive at 7pm. Funeral Mass on Thursday at 11am followed by burial in the Holy Trinity Church of Ireland Cemetery, Main Street, Fethard.
Senior Citizens' annual summer outing
Fethard Senior Citizens' club annual summer outing for members will take place on Tuesday, June 7. The bus will depart from Main Street at 11am, and the weather is looking good!
Church Gate Collection for Tidy Towns
Next weekend, June 4, and 5, Fethard Tidy Towns will hold their annual Church Gate Collection and your support is requested for this very active voluntary group who have, and still are, doing terrific work to help make Fethard a better place to live and visit. Please give generously next weekend . . . and see your donations blossom!
Fethard Festival traditional ‘Fancy Dress Parade’ revived for Sunday, June 12
This photograph with many familiar faces was an entry in Fethard Carnival Fancy Dree Parade 1962 entitled: 'In Line for the Common Market' .
Fethard Business & Tourism Group are busy putting the finishing touches to this year’s Fethard Festival Family Fun Day which will take place on Sunday, June 12, by the Medieval Town Wall at The Valley.
This year the traditional Fethard Fancy Dress Parade, so popular with children and adults alike, is being revived so now is the time to get your favourite fancy dress costumes ready along with your ideas for floats for the parade. For further details contact Tina Shortt at Tel: 087 7645216.
All the usual FREE Fun Fair entertainment will also be there, including Bouncy Castles, Bungee Run, Trampolines, Climbing Wall, Craft stalls, plus lots, lots more by the Town Wall, including a barbecue by Fethard Rugby Club, Country Market Stalls, Dog Show and live music.
Fethard Critical Illness Fund
Fethard Critical Illness Fund was set up to help those in financial difficulty caused by serious / critical illness. The fund helps to alleviate some of the many expenses. Any one needing assistance from the fund please contact the secretary at 6131852 or text 085 8086099 for an application form. We would also like to thank our many generous sponsors and supporters especially the dancers and committee of Fethard Strictly Come Dancing.
Sponsored 50k Cycle
Our next fund raising is a 50k sponsored cycle in conjunction with the Day Care Centre which will take place on Saturday, June 11, starting at 2pm outside Fethard Town Hall. Registration at 1pm. Training is now ‘hotting up’ from the ballroom car park on Sunday mornings at 10am and Tuesday evenings at 7pm. We ask anybody who can, to please sponsor a cyclist in this event. If you’re interested in taking part contact Paul Shanahan at 087 7615408.
‘Addams Family’ launch at Abymill
Pictured are some JW Production girls at Clonacody House where their recent show sold out to standing ovations L to R: Jane Hayes, Anastasia Blake, Maggie Power and Molly O’Meara.
JW Productions will hold an event launch and information evening for their upcoming production of The Addams Family Musical on June 18, in the Abymill Theatre, Fethard at 7.30pm. This will be an evening of getting to know more about the show and also to get to know the team. We are delighted to have the backing of the Andrew Lloyd Webber Foundation for our upcoming show.
We would love to see members past and present there and if you are thinking of joining JW Productions this is a wonderful way of getting to meet other members and find out more about our company.
We are looking for actors, singers, dancers, make-up artists, musicians, backstage and props crew so there is a position for all wanting to take part, be it in the limelight or behind the scenes.
Audition pieces will be given out on the night. Auditions will take place on June 25, in the Abymill from 12.30pm starting with a fun workshop for all. Light refreshments will also be provided. If you cannot make the information night don't worry just give us a call on 087 2345760.
Bridge Club AGM
At the AGM of the Fethard Bridge Club held on Wednesday, May 18 the following officers and committee were elected: Tony Hanrahan (President), Kevin O’Dwyer (Vice-President), Betty Walsh (Treasurer), Bill O’Sullivan (Asst. Treasurer), Carmel Condon (Secretary), Brendan Kenny (PRO), and Berney Myles (Partner Facilitator). Committee members: Monica Anglim, Carol Kenny and Anna Cooke. Tournament Directors: Alice Quinn, Betty Walsh, Frances Burke and Gemma Burke.
The results of the game following the AGM were: 1st Gross, Anna Cooke and Bernie O’Meara; Joint 2nd Gross, Kay St. John and Rita Kane; Betty Walsh and Marie Delaney; 1st Nett, Tony Hanrahan and Bill O’Sullivan; 2nd Net, Joan Hayes and Teresa O’Brien; 3rd Nett, Anne Connolly and Eileen Frewen.
Fethard Faces and Places from the Past
The following are a selection of photographs recently added to the Fethard Faces and Places from the Past page on Facebook, also published here
for the benefit of our readers who are not on Facebook. The Facebook page is used for sharing old Fethard photographs with other members of the group and is open to all interested in joining. Send any comments or photo information to fethardnews@gmail.com
Tony Hanrahan and Dermot Hackett preparing for the Donkey Derby at Fethard Festival in 1985. (photo by Richie Hayes)
Two more teams that we're looking for information, the first (top) may be a joint team with lots of Fethard players and the other (taken in Fethard) as far as I can make out, has 'Na Coiminl Abú' on their jersey's crest? If you can help please send information to: fethardnews@gmail.com
Fethard News
Items for inclusion on this website and 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.
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