Died Recently
The death has occurred on Friday, January 13, 2017, of Josie O'Shea (née Keane), Killusty, Fethard, peacefully. Josie, deeply regretted by her nieces, nephew, brother-in-law Pat O'Donnell, relatives and friends. May she rest in peace.

Reposing at McCarthy's Funeral Home, Fethard, on Monday, January 16, from 5.30pm with removal at 7pm to The Church of the Sacred Heart, Killusty, to arrive at 7.30pm.

Funeral Mass on Tuesday at 11am, followed by burial in the adjoining cemetery. No flowers please.

Died Recently
The death has occurred on Thursday, January 12, 2017, of Brigid (Bab) Halpin (née Davis), Killusty, Fethard, peacefully at South Tipperary General Hospital, Clonmel. Bab, predeceased by her Husband Mick and grandson Colm, beloved mother of Mary (Cahill), Paddy, Tom, Brid (Kearney), Alice (Gorman) and Michael, will be sadly missed by her sons-in-law, daughters-in-law, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, extended family, neighbours and friends. May She Rest in Peace.

Reposing at her home on Friday, January 13, from 4pm with prayers at 8pm. Funeral arriving to The Church of the Sacred Heart, Killusty, on Saturday morning at 10.45am for Requiem Mass at 11am, followed by burial in the adjoining cemetery.

Butlers Sports Achievement Award for December

Aobh Ní Shé (left) receiving the Butler's Bar Sports Achievement Award for December from sponsor Anne-Marie Butler.

The winner of the Butler’s Bar Fethard Sports Achievement Award for the month of December was Aobh Ní Shé, daughter of Helena and Martin O’Shea from The Valley. This Fethard lady, currently studying in Dublin, not only won two Judo All Ireland titles in December but has also become UCC’s first ever female black belt. The December award was presented by Anne Marie Butler at a special function in Butler’s Bar on Friday night, January 6. Aobh will now join the other monthly winners for the 2016 Annual Award presentation which takes place on next Friday night, January 13, at Butler’s Bar.


L to R; Oisín Shelley and Daniel Barry, two of the younger nominees at the Butler's Bar Sports Achievement Award presentation for December.

The mentor of the month award was awarded to Sandra Ryan, originally from Woodvale Walk, Fethard, and now living in Australia. Sandra has also reached a significant milestone in her Australian Football League (AFL) career by playing her 100th first team game.


Aobh Ní Shé (centre) photographed with her parents Martin and Helena O'Shea at the Butler's Bar Sports Achievement Award presentation for December.


Anita Pollard, a nominee for the December photographed with family members at the Butler's Bar Sports Achievement Award presentation for December. L to R: Dick O'Brien, Grace Pollard, Anita Pollard and Olwyn O'Brien.


Photographed at the Butler's Bar Sports Achievement Award presentation for December are L to R: Michael Duffey and Joe Hanley.

Annual Award Presentation for 2016

The presentation of the fourth annual Butler's Bar Sports Achievement Award will take place on Friday night next, January 13, at Butler’s Bar and all are welcome. The Achievement Awards competition is open to any nominated sports people who live, work, or from the Fethard & Killusty parish. Anyone can nominate a person or group from any sport either directly to any of the steering group, Butlers Bar or through our Facebook pages. The format for the competition is that a monthly winner is selected from amongst all the monthly nominees and these winners all progress to the grand final which, this year, takes place on this coming Friday night, January 13.

The twelve finalists for the overall
Achievement Award for 2016 are as follows:

• Patrician Presentation Ladies U16½ Gaelic Football team (January);
• Deirdre Goggin (February);
• Michael ‘Mouse’ Morris (March);
• David Flanagan (April);
• Abaigeal Maher (May);
• Joe Murphy (June);
• Fethard’s Ladies All-Ireland medal winners - Laura Stocksborough, Carrie Davey, Lauren Dowling, Lucy Spillane, Alison Connolly and Muireann O’Connell (July);
• Fethard’s U14 Ladies football team (August);
• Munster U18 Rugby Players, Ross McCormack and Dorothy Wall (September);
• Michael Barry (October);
• Fethard Intermediate Football Team (November);
• Aobh Ní She (December).

Finalists in the ‘Team of the Year’ Award 2016

• Patrician Presentation U16½ Girls Football Team
  
• Fethard U13 Ladies Rugby Team
  
• Fethard U14 Ladies Football Team
  
• Fethard Junior Ladies Football Team
  
• Patrician Presentation Junior Boys Volleyball
  
• Fethard U12 Ladies Football Team
  
• St. Rita’s U14 Camogie Team
  
• Fethard U14 Hurling Team
  
• Fethard U12 Hurling Team
  
• St. Rita’s U13 Camogie Team
  
• Fethard U10 Boys Football Team
  
• Fethard Intermediate Football Team
  
• Fethard U18 Rugby Team
  
• Fethard U18 Ladies Football Team
  
• Fethard/Carrick U15 Ladies Rugby Team
  
• Fethard U16 Ladies Football Team

Finalists in the ‘Young Sportsperson of the Year’ 2016

• Amy Byrne - Powerlifting
  
• Aine Ryan - Taekwondo
  
• Abaigeal Maher - Swimming
  
• Dorothy Wall - Rugby
  
• Alison Connolly - Camogie & Gaelic
  
• Carrie Davey - Camogie and Gaelic
  
• Niamh Hayes - Gaelic
  
• Laura Stocksborough - Gaelic
  
• Muireann O’Connell - Gaelic
  
• Lauren Dowling - Gaelic
  
• Lucy Spillane - Gaelic
  
• Kate Gayson Molloy - Rugby
  
• Kate Davey - Gaelic
  
• Michael Quinlan (Jnr) - Soccer
  
• Saoirse McNamara - Hot Rod
  
• Ross McCormack - Rugby
  
• Ryan Walsh - Hurling
  
• Brian Manton - Hot Rod
• Leah Coen - Gaelic

Friday night next promises to be one of the highlights in Fethard’s social calendar with proceedings getting under way at about 9pm with a cheese and wine reception. As usual a surprise guest is expected on the night.

Social dancing at Fethard Ballroom
Dancing on Sunday Night, January 15, to the music of ‘Checkers’. 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 Operation Transformation


Fethard Operation Transformation returns for the New Year and will commence on Monday, January 16, at 7pm in the Town Hall. If you feel like getting involved why not come along for your confidential weigh-in at 7pm and join our organised walk or jog. Remember it only take’s a small change in your lifestyle that can help make a much better and healthier you. So if you want to get 2017 off to a healthy start please come along and join Fethard ‘OpTrans’ at 7pm on Monday, January 16.

Book Time approaches again
Sunday, February 12, sees the twenty second Tipperariana Book Fair being held in the Fethard Ballroom. In a recent article in the Irish Times it was stated that the Fethard Book Fair was the best in the country, which is amazing given its small town location. Over all the years the entry fee to the fair has been kept at €2, with accompanied children allowed in free, which may explain some of its success.

The Book Fair is organised by Fethard Historical Society and is their only fundraising event of the year. The sale of books donated to the society by the public and then sold at the fair, is a big help in generating income for the year. The Historical Society will arrange for the collection of any books being donated by emailing bookfair@fethard.com or by phoning 086 390 53 73 or 052 6131537.

Any books of local or Irish interest are especially welcome, as both the punters at the fair and especially the book dealers, who are always on the look out for older and rarer material. You can never predict what may be of great interest to someone visiting the fair.

Fethard people should inform their contacts around the country that February 12, would be a good time to visit the town or maybe invite family members to come home for their first visit of 2017 on that weekend.

Fethard Athletic Club honour former athletes

Former athletes John Shortall, Noreen Sheehy and Joe Kenny who, for services rendered, were inducted as life members of Fethard Athletic Club at the club’s Christmas Party held in Clonacody House. Photographed at the presentation are L to R: Joe Kenny, Noreen (Harrington) Sheehy, John Shortall and Franny Tyrrell (vice-chairman Fethard Athletic Club).

Congratulations to former athletes John Shortall, Noreen Sheehy and Joe Kenny who, for services rendered, were inducted as life members of Fethard Athletic Club at the club’s Christmas Party held recently in Clonacody House.

John Shortall was Tipperary and Munster senior javelin champion and silver medallist in the NACAI All Ireland track and field championships held in Shillelagh in Co. Wicklow in 1972. Joe Kenny was Tipperary 100mtr champion at juvenile level and has an All Ireland relay medal won down in Newcastle in the early seventies, amongst his many other achievements.

Noreen (Harrington) Sheehy has competed at adult level in cross country and road events for many years and is now in her second period as club treasurer, her first being back in the late eighties. Her most memorable occasion was wearing the Fethard singlet with pride in Evere in Belgium at their International Cross Country races in the company of her sister Josephine.

Down through the years these people have been stood firmly with the club and are always ready to give help and assistance when required. Our club’s vice-chairman, Franny Tyrrell, made the presentations of specially designed medallions on the night. The Fethard Athletic club is proud to have the honour of saying thanks as a small token of our application. The event concluded with plenty of chat and shared memories, accompanied with high tea served by Helen Carrigan at Clonacody House, with a festive roaring fire in the sitting room which added to the occasion and the festivities.


Group photographed at the Fethard Athletic Club’s Christmas Party at Clonacody House

A belated thanks to all our club supporters for their help and contributions made at our recent annual church gate collection, which was a great success.

On the Sunday before Christmas we held our now famous Santa Run in aid of the Childrens Ward at South Tipperary General Hospital. We were delighted with the huge turnout and we will shortly be making our presentation to the Childrens Ward when accounts are finalised.
At the County Tipperary indoor event held in Nenagh, the club took seven medals in the Masters. Bernard Feery won the 800 meters, 1500 meters, and came third in the 3000 meters, in his last days in this category.

Miceál McCormack won gold in the 200 meters walk in a personal best, taking three minutes off his time. He also came second in the shot, 35lb weight and the sixty meter sprint .

Goal Mile participants remembers the late Pat Carroll

Some of the large attendance that turned out on Christmas Day in Fethard to participate in the Goal Mile to help raise funds and awareness for GOAL's programmes in the developing world.

Christmas Day was a beautiful day in Fethard and played no small part in attracting the biggest crowd for many years in the annual Goal Mile to help raise funds and awareness for GOAL's programmes in the developing world. Before the start of the event this year, the attendance showed their appreciation for the late Pat Carroll, who died on Monday, September 12, 2016, be giving a sustained round of applause to mark Pat’s contribution and promotion of the Fethard Goal Mile since it first started in Fethard.


Helping to collect at the Fethard Goal Mile on Christmas Day are L to R: Waltie Moloney, Colm McGrath and Miceál McCormack

Everyone was in great spirits and happy to share the Christmas cheer. A total of €1,350 was collected. If you haven’t tried it yet, then make it your first New Year’s resolution to do so next year on Christmas Day.


Santa making a guest appearance at the Goal Mile in Fethard. L to R: Miceál McCormack, Lisa Hanrahan, Rose Dougliss, Santa, Mary Hanrahan, Waltie Moloney, Ian O’Connor and Colm McGrath.

Fethard Bridge Club
Fethard Bridge Club resumes this Wednesday, January 11 after the Christmas break. On January 25 we play the second round of the Player of the Year competition which is a change of partner. Anyone looking for a partner please contact Berney Myles at 6132038.

Community Lotto resumes on January 11
Fethard & Killusty Community Lotto will resume on Wednesday, January 11, when 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.

Nice day for a walk!

Patricia and Pat Byrne, The Green, Fethard, taking advantage of the mild weather by taking their dogs for a walk.

GAA Sports Development Lotto
The numbers drawn on Friday, January 6, were 2, 18, 28 and 32. There was no jackpot winner and two match three winners who received €75 each: John Kendrick, Cahir; and Christian Healy, Clonmel.
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The next draw takes place on Friday, January 13, when the jackpot is €20,000 and the sellers prize is €950. 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.

Enjoying the Hunt

New Year’s Hunt Meet gathering at Fethard Town Wall


Members of the Ronan family from Rocklow heading off on the New Year’s Hunt meet in Fethard.


Tipperary Huntsmen and Hounds outside Dooks Fine Foods at the Ballroom Cross at their New Years Meet in 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

Fethard Carnival c.1960s passing outside the Parish Church where it is interesting to see all the business premises in operation across the road from L to R: Percy Dillon's Chemist Shop, Lil McCarthy's Sweet Shop, Kay Fahy's Ladies Hairdressing, Fethard Bakery, O'Connell's Furniture and Electrical Shop, Jack O'Shea's 'While U Wait' and another shop premises but can't make out the name. Maybe some one will be able to pinpoint the year thses Carnival photographs were taken. Information to fethardnews@gmail.com

Fethard Carnival Fancy Dress entries 'My Story by Nicky Rackard' and 'Padraig Puirseal, Irish Press Reporter'.


Fethard Carnival Fancy Dress entry 'Black & White'.


Fethard Carnival Fancy Dress entry 'Stars from Cork Film Festival visit Fethard'.


Fethard Carnival Fancy Dress entry 'Flower Queen'.

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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