Award winning ‘Atlantic’ film to be screened in Abymill, 0n Thursday, August 25
Fethard’s Abymill Theatre will screen the award-winning documentary ‘Atlantic’ at 8.15pm on Thursday night, August 25, as part of National Heritage Week. Admission is €2.
‘Atlantic’, directed by Risteard O’Domhnaill (Cahir) and narrated by Emmy Award-winning actor Brendan Gleeson, was awarded Best Irish Documentary at the Dublin International Film Festival 2016.
The film follows the fortunes of three small fishing communities in Ireland, Newfoundland and Norway, as they struggle to maintain their way of life in the face of mounting economic and ecological challenges. As the oil majors drive deeper into their fragile seas, and the world’s largest fishing companies push fish stocks to the brink, coastal people and the species they rely on may be reaching a point of no return.
Filmed in some of the most remote and breath-taking locations in the North Atlantic, and at close quarters with some of the sea’s most captivating characters, Atlantic will bring the very personal stories in the vital resource debate to the fore, exploring how three modern day communities must learn from the past, in order to secure a brighter future.
Irish Times review: “Entertaining, informative and essential” – 4 Stars.
Meryem and more will be back next year
Meryem Öz running under the Fethard AC flag in the Boston Scientific Half Marathon in Clonmel on Sunday last.
On Sunday last, August 14, Fethard Athletic Club had three participants in the Boston Scientific half-marathon in Clonmel. It was great to be able to support this Clonmel Athletic Club event as they have been very faithful to us over the years in supporting all our fixtures. Due to work commitments a number of our other athletes unfortunately were unable to take part in Sunday’s event.
Those who did were Victor Direen and his good wife Beatrice, from Mullinahone, who finished together and really enjoyed the race. We also had a lady from Leinzell, Schwäbisch Gmünd, in South Germany, Meryem Öz, who has been a good friend of Fethard Athletic Club for years. She also had planned to bring a group over for our ‘Walls of Fethard’ run last May, but, due to commitments had to cry off. Now that she has experienced the feel of Fethard hospitality, she sure will be here for next year.
Next weekend a couple of our guys will take part in the All-Ireland Masters Championships in Tullamore and we await and look forward to the results.
Training will continue as usual on Monday nights
Visitors to Fethard
Paul Mullins and his wife Estelle photographed while home on holiday from Wimbledon, London. Paul's father was the late Tom Mullins, originally from Knockbrack, Fethard, and who died in 2001. Paul visits Fethard every year with members of his family.
Mark Lonergan, originally from The Square, Fethard, is photographed here with some of his school friends that he arranged to meet while on a recent 'flying stopover' to Fethard while travelling from San Francisco where he now lives. L to R: Eugene Colville, Karl Cooke, Melvyn Colville, Evan Colville (standing), James St. John and Mark Lonergan.
Senior Citizens Outing
Reminding all members of Fethard's Senior Citizens' Club that our next outing takes place on Tuesday, August 23, and the bus will leave from outside the Town Hall, Main Street, at 1pm.
Celebrating 10 Years in Business
This September, Iain and Claire Meagher are celebrating 10 years in business with their Garage and Daybreak Supermarket in Kerry Street. To commemorate this achievement the owners are holding an anniversary party and fundraising event on Saturday, August 27, 2016, from 11am to 3pm and all are welcome to come along.
With the Audi A1 Beat Fleet in attendance between noon and 2pm, there will also be a car display, face painting, BBQ and raffle - with the chance of winning a 32" LED TV, Manchester United jersey and lots more! Collections and donations made on the day will be donated to St Vincent De Paul and the Fethard Local Community Playground.
Social dancing at Fethard Ballroom
Dancing on Sunday Night, August 21, to the music of ‘Catriona’. 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.
Fethard woman Sue Anne designed special car in memory of son Adam
Sue Anne O’Donnell, Coleman, Fethard, unveiling her specially designed Opel Adam ‘TTYL GONE for a Cuppa’, in memory of her late son Adam, with Willie Butler, General Manager, Kevin O’Leary Group, Clonmel.
Saturday saw a very special destination ‘Cuppa Morning’ take place in Kevin O'Leary Group Opel Dealer Clonmel as the showroom was transformed into a welcome platform for Ireland’s winning design in the recent ADAMyourself campaign.
TTYL GONE for a Cuppa's exterior was designed by Fethard woman, Sue Anne O'Donnell, in memory of her 19-year-old son Adam who died in a car crash on his way to work on Valentines Day, 2014.
This was a European-wide campaign by Opel involving twelve countries, in which they asked the public to design their own Opel ADAM car (body colour, roof colour, wheels, exterior decoration) and name it. These entries were put online and voted for over three months (December 2015 - March 2016). The top ten entrants with the most votes were shortlisted. A jury then selected one winner from each market. In Ireland, this jury consisted of Opel Ireland management and stylist/presenter, Lorna Weightman. The winner's design then went into production as a limited edition which they get to keep for life, and goes on sale to the public in September 2016. For Sue Anne and the Irish market the car is 'TTYL GONE for a Cuppa' with more information on www.adamyourself.com
Staff members at Kevin O’Leary Group, Clonmel, making a special presentation to Sue Anne O’Donnell
And so, just after 11am on Saturday last, Willie Butler and staff welcomed friends, family and voters to the showroom to see the much anticipated winning design, while sharing a cuppa and raising funds for Opel's Partner charity Childhood Cancer Foundation.
Sue Anne laughs as she describes her campaign of, “Gently annoying voters, morning, noon and night for 67 days asking them to vote, also asking them to tag friends, send her photos of their daily Destination Voting Cuppa! I have all photos saved so I can treasure every cuppa and every vote,” she says.
Voters also sent in the name of their favourite driving tune which Sue Anne has since added to her collection and fondly calls it her 'Opel ADAM Playlist' which she says reminds her of the voters when she hears their song.
Sue Anne O’Donnell receiving the keys of her specially designed Opel Adam ‘TTYL GONE for a Cuppa’, from Willie Butler, General Manager, Kevin O’Leary Group, Clonmel.
The morning’s event was a buzz of chat and laughter with some tears but in Sue Anne's words, “This was the perfect morning as everyone shared a cuppa while chatting and raising €180 for the Childhood Cancer Foundation.”
Sue Anne and family are very grateful to all the staff at Kevin O'Leary Clonmel in particular Willie, Carol, Caroline and Seamus for organising this brilliant morning. “It just wouldn't have been possible with their help”, says Sue Anne.
Friends of Sue Anne photographed at the unveiling her specially designed Opel Adam ‘TTYL GONE for a Cuppa’
Wishing Sue Anne many happy and safe years of motoring.
Garden of Remembrance Mass
Mass will be celebrated in the Garden of Remembrance, Ballynonty, on Thursday, August 18, at 7pm, for the lives of loved ones, friends and family members who tragically died on the roads near Ballynonty and the surrounding areas. All are very welcome.
Fethard & District Rugby Club
Fethard Rugby Club have recommenced training for the forthcoming season with head coach Ray Bourke and director of rugby Paul Kavanagh. Training for seniors and under 18s takes place on Friday evenings at 8pm. Training for 16s and 14s will start over the next few weeks while minis will be back on the second Friday of September.
Fethard has also a very progressive girls’ section run by Polly Murphy with teams at U13s, 15s and 18s. Numbers have really growing over the last few seasons but new members are still always welcome and will be trained to a high standard.
This year Fethard will field two senior teams so any new players interested in playing would be very welcome, as would players at any age group including minis, but not alone this we are always encouraging parents or retired players to come and join in the coaching. What better or rewarding way to spend a Friday evening or Sunday morning than to join in coaching players in a safe and friendly environment, along with the qualified coaches already in situ. So if any players from age six to senior level and coaches of any age, would like to join this progressive young club please contact 086 8388205.
First county Juvenile Camogie title for Fethard
Fethard U13 Camogie Team who won their first ever juvenile county title for St. Rita's Camogie Club by beating Kilruane by 5 goals 5 points to 2 goals. Great achievement for all involved. Thanks to coaches Sandra Spillane, Margaret Hogan, Sue Quigley and Willie Morrissey for all their work with this team.
Long awaited success for our club was achieved on Monday, August 1, by our U13 team in winning the U13 C County Camogie Final. This was the first ever juvenile County title won by St. Rita's. We played Kilruane in a hard fought game, on a miserable night in The Ragg Camogie field. Kilruane got off to a good start with an early goal, but our girls came back to win the game on a score line of 5 goals and 5 points to 2 goals. There was fantastic scenes from our many supporters as Àine Ryan received the trophy.
Thanks to all supporters who travelled on the night, it was very much appreciated. Thanks to Sandra Spillane, Margaret Hogan, Sue Quigley and Willie Morrissey for all the hard work put into this team.
Fethard U13 Camogie team captain, Àine Ryan, photographed with the President of St. Rita’s Camogie club, Tossie Lawton. Tossie, neé Carroll, played with St. Rita’s in the 1950s and 1960s.
Rising Stars Concert highlight of Heritage Week
This year National Heritage Week runs from Saturday, August 20, to Sunday, August 28. The local highlight for Heritage Week, and for south Tipperary, will be The Royal Irish Academy of Music’s Rising Stars concert in medieval Holy Trinity Church of Ireland on Saturday, August 27, at 8pm. This concert will feature four of their best young harpists – Gloria Birardi (aged 31 years), Rachel Duffy (aged 21 years), Lucy Ní Fhaoláin (aged 16 years), Emer Ní Scolaí (aged 12 years) – and the entrance fee is only €5 per person, with children going free. The evening also includes a cheese and wine reception, so without doubt this concert will prove very popular indeed, especially with families who have budding musicians in their midst - whether traditional or classical, as the harpists will play from both repertoires. Tickets can be booked at mphanrahan@hotmail.com or by texting/phoning 087 9009722
Fethard & Killusty Community Lotto
The numbers drawn on August 10 were: 12, 17, 22 and 25. There was no jackpot winner and one ‘Match Three’ winner who received €150: Kelly Fogarty, Congress Terrace, Fethard.
The following three ‘Lucky Dip’ winners received €50 each: Sarah Standbridge, Saucestown, Fethard; Niall Connolly, c/o Eileen Connolly; and Anna Cooke, St. Patrick's Place, Fethard.
Next week’s draw takes place on Wednesday, August 17. The Jackpot is €10,000 and the Jackpot seller’s prize is €1,000. All proceeds go towards community projects in Fethard, and we thank you for your on-going support.
GAA Sports Development Lotto
The numbers drawn on Friday, August 12, were 3, 6, 27 and 31. There was no jackpot winner and two match three winners who received €75 each: Liz Mc Cormack, St Patrick’s Place; and Nellie Ryan, St Patrick’s Place.
The next draw takes place on Friday, August 19, when the jackpot is €20,000 and the sellers prize is €870. Fethard GAA / Sports Centre Development Lotto would like to thank all our supporters, far and near, who participate in our weekly lotto draw to promote sport in our community.
Happy 80th Birthday Michael
Michael Fitzgerald, Crampscastle, Fethard, who celebrated his 80th birthday on August 9 this year, is photographed with his wife Mary and daughter Marian Doheny, who came home from London to celebrate the occasion.
American family to visit hometown of Fethard after gap of 166 years
My great great grandfather John O’Keefe and his wife Bridget Costigan lived in the townland of Coolmoyne, Fethard, according to the 1850 Griffith’s Valuation of The Tenements, and records of the births of their children. The accompanying map of the valuation showed their location to be the first house in the location of Coolmoyne (Fennel) and directly on the R692 Road as it takes a bend northwest to Cashel.
From the RC Parish records of the day their first child born appears to be Jude Keefe, born in 1834 in Coolmoyne followed by Margaret in 1836, John 1838, Johanna 1840, Michael 1843, and lastly Ellen in 1845. Black ’47 was at its peak during this time period. The manifest of the November 1851 Famine Ship, ‘The Albert Gallatin’, lists the parents along with only four of their six known children. It’s likely that Jude and John died in Fethard during the Famine time period, and perhaps of either cholera or the Famine Fever? One can only imagine the financial hardships they endured along with the loss of their children.
Upon arrival in America the family settled in New York City for a year or two, and eventually worked their way to the state of Wisconsin, but without fifteen-year-old Margaret who appears to have died in New York after arriving in America. The O’Keefe family moved on to land of the vacant Winnebago Indian Reservation in the township of Roxbury, Dane County, Wisconsin which was in the RC Parish of St. Norbert’s, a German-Austrian Catholic Church where Mass was given in the German language only.
The Indian Reservation was void of any native American’s at this time as the 1834 ‘Treaty of Prairie du Chien’ forbade the Indians from living on the east side of the Wisconsin River which flows about a mile west of the reservation. Numerous Irish immigrant families moved onto the land and built homes and barns on the abandoned property, or rented land from Thomas McKeever, a native County Meath man who had immigrated twenty years prior and had financially established his family well.
By 1861 the American Civil War had started and many of the Irish families gave their sons to the Union cause, with Thomas McKeever losing two of his boys in the conflict. Near the end of the war and enterprising attorney in the nearby city of Portage had organized a lawsuit on behalf of the Native Americans heirs to the reservation land claiming ownership for the Native American children. In the year 1867 all seventeen of the Irish families where evicted by law from the land, and had to give up their homes and all out buildings, in addition to some fines.
Most of the families managed to find new land at reasonable pricing, and slowly built new homes for the second time for growing families very near the Winnebago Indian land. My name is also John O’Keefe, and I live about 15 miles from where my namesake settled in Wisconsin, USA, and I am looking forward to bringing my family back to Fethard in September of 2017 after a 166 year absence. We can’t wait!
– John O’Keefe, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
Host families required for students
Host families are required in and around Fethard for visiting secondary school students. One is a German 15 year-old boy who will attend Patrician Presentation Secondary School from September to January 2017; and the second is a 16 year-old student from the USA who also requires a host family from September to May, 2017. Families are paid at the end of each month. For further details please contact: Susan on Tel: 086 1574880.
Pilgrimage to Holy Year Cross
Fethard and Killusty parishioners photographed at the Holy Year Cross on Slievenamon last Sunday, August 7.
Last Sunday afternoon we had another beautiful day on Sliabh Na mBan, the sun shone, the crowds came and the cup of tea never tasted better. We started at the hill wall where Fr Gerry Horan OSA led the prayers from the wall to the cross.
When we arrived back down to O'Donnells field, Mass was celebrated by Canon Tom Breen P.P. and Fr Gerry Horan. After Mass everyone enjoyed a much-appreciated cup of tea and refreshments. We’re not sure where the huge amount of food came from, but thank you to all who played their part in supplying it.
Members of the Keane family from The Green photograped at the annual pilgrimage to Holy Year Cross on Slievenamon. L to R: Kathleen Keane, Joisie Kennedy, Paul Keane, John Keane, Sennan Keane, Margaret Keane, Laoise Keane and Margaret Keane (wife of the late Joe Keane).
While on the subject of ‘thank yous’, I must say a word of thanks to all those who helped out in any way to make this such a special and enjoyable day in the parish. Firstly, a big thank you as always to the O'Donnell family for letting us invade their field and for the hours of work they put in in preparation. Canon Tom Breen and Fr Gerry Horan, thank you both for giving your time and your kind words for keeping the tradition alive. Also a huge thank you to each of the following for their part played in making this day happen: Laurence Kenny, John and Joe Lee, Billy and Josephine Prout, Gus and Josie Fitzgerald, Sean Collins, Jack Ormond, Pat and Bobbi Holohan, Kieran Butler, Rena Sheehan, Paul Duggan, Leo Darcy, Bobby Phelan, John Walsh, Fethard & District Day Care Centre and our grand marshal, Christy Williams. If anyone is omitted please forgive me.
Willie Ryan and crew getting ready to carry the crosses on the recent pilgrimage to Holy Year Cross on Slievenamon. This photo was supplied by John Lee.
We collected over €200 on the day which was donated to Fethard Scouts who are extremely helpful with organising the facilities every year. We thank and appreciate all who gave money for this very active and deserving group of boys and girls.
The biggest appreciation, of course, goes to all of you who took the time and effort to join us on this special day, as we have said in the past, your presence makes all our efforts worthwhile, and if God spares us the health, we will do it again next year.
– K.T. R.
Charity Opera Night at Clonacody House
Clonacody House will host two evenings of Opera, Music, Tapas and Wine in the gardens of Clonacody House, in support of Fethard & District Day Care Centre, on Friday, August 26 at 8pm and Saturday, August 27, at 7.15pm. Entertainment for the evening will be provided by internationally known tenor Marco Bianco, soprano Barbara Grossi, baritone bass Derek Ryan, contralto Sarah-Ellen Murphy, accompanied by concert pianist Massimiliano Franchina.
Tickets at €50 per person (limited) with smart dress code suitable for outdoor marquee venue. To reserve your seat contact: Helen at (087) 1689167 Email: helen@clonacodyhouse.com
Support the Cappanagarrane Horse Rescue
Your support is asked for the Cappanagarrane Horse Rescue in Mullinahone by attending a special fundraising night's entertainment on Saturday, August 27, in the Clonmel Park Hotel, with music supplied by The Indians showband with special guest Noel Brady
This fundraiser is hoped to assist the superb work at the Cappanagarrane Horse Rescue by raising much needed funds for the day-to-day operation of looking after the horses. Tickets ar €15 each are available from the Park Hotel, Tel: (052) 6188700 or Anne at 086 0834208.
Readings for ‘Big Maggie’ production
Readings for Fionn Mac Cumhaill’s drama group’s November production of ‘Big Maggie’, by John B Keane, will take place on Wednesday, August 31, in The Thatch Cloneen at 8pm. This play will be staged end November/December in the following venues: Fethard Thurles and Kilkenny. For further details please phone: 086 0834208.
Emigrant’s Newsletter time again
As we head into the second half of 2016 and the summer sunlight slowly recedes, our thoughts and plans for this year’s issue of Fethard & Killusty Emigrants’ Newsletter are again with us. With this in mind we ask for your ideas, photographs and articles for inclusion in this year’s publication.
The first Fethard Newsletter, sent by the Legion of Mary, was dated ‘Christmas 1960, but on checking the dates of events and deaths featured, we discovered that they all happened in 1959. We can only conclude that the Newsletter was published in December 1959 and posted before January 1960. The newsletter has progressed immensely from that first double-sided A4 page, back in 1959, to the full colour 252-page book it is today. The appreciation expressed in letters from those living away from home every year, makes our efforts at home very worthwhile.
As life moves along, so does our readership – we lose some of our older long-time readers and supporters, and gain many younger readers who take their places. With this in mind also, it would be lovely to receive articles, long or short, from all sections of our community at home or away. Articles and photographs can be sent by email to: newsletter@fethard.com or by mail to: Joe Kenny, Rocklow Road, Fethard, Co. Tipperary, E91 XR26.
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.
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
Male cast of Fethard Hogan Musical Society's 'Hello Dolly' photographed on stage at rehearsal on March 1, 1995. Back L to R: Gerry Fogarty, Jimmy O'Shea, Michael O'Brien, John Ward, Francis Lonergan, Sean Doyle, Miceál McCormack, Stephen McCormack. Front L to R: Micheál Maher, Barry Connolly, John Fogarty, Michael McCarthy, Paul O'Meara and Fr. Sean Ryan.
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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