Texas Hold'em Card League final

Full group of card players that took part in the Texas Hold'em Card League at Butler's Bar Fethard. Back L to R: Philip Butler, Anne Marie Butler, Niall Hayes, Stephen O'Meara, Glynn O'Meara, Sean O'Hara, Darragh Corbett. Front L to R: Johnny Ryan, Steven Harrington, Brendan Keating, Richard Hayes (League Winner 2017), Kenneth O'Donnell and Keith Woodlock.

A Monday night game of poker has been taking place at Butlers Bar for 10 years or more. About five years ago we decided to run our competition on a league basis with players accumulating points for a top five finish  weekly. These points are then totalled at year end and a league winner is declared. This year's winner is Richie Hayes and as league winner he carries the points advantage to the end of year game which carries with it a valuable purse. 

In Festive Mood at Butlers

Enjoying the festive season in Butler's Bar are good friends, originally from The Green, Concepta (Healy) Hurley, and Eileen (Carey) Connolly.

The ‘Kelly Gang’ and the Augustinian Connection
No doubt the most colourful family to emerge from the community of Clonbrogan, Moyglass, were the Kellys whose most famous member Edward (Ned) has become immortalised in folklore as Australia's most famous highway man or fighter for justice, depending on one's point of view. In fact, more has been written about Ned than any other Australian in history.


Ned Kelly 1854-1880 – This photograph, commissioned at Ned Kelly's request, was taken on November 10, the day before his execution. Ned Kelly wanted the photograph for his family and also for posterity. He didn't want to be remembered as a criminal as he never saw himself that way.

One interesting little snippet, which may be of local interest, is Ned Kelly's connection with an Irish Augustinian priest, Fr Charles O'Hea OSA. When Ned's father, John ‘Red’ Kelly, had completed his jail sentence in Tasmania, he took up employment as a farm-hand north of Melbourne. He settled there and in late 1854 his third child Edward was born. Fr O'Hea arrived in the area at this time and, naturally enough, would have made contact with his fellow Irish, the Kellys. In any event, Ned was baptised by Fr O'Hea in 1855.

In the following years the Augustinian engaged in prison chaplaincy at the local Pentridge Prison and no doubt encountered Ned Kelly again when as a teenager he served a sentence there in the 1870s.

Fr O'Hea's final encounter with Ned Kelly was a tragic and poignant affair, when in 1880, Ned was hanged at Old Melbourne Jail he was accompanied to the scaffold by none other than the man who had baptised him as an infant twenty-five years before – Fr. Charles O'Hea OSA. By a huge coincidence, he who had ministered to Ned at his birth, comforted him in his final moments of life.

Festive Fun in Fethard Horse Country Experience

Fethard artist, Pat Looby, photographed at her antique stall on display at the Christmas Fair in Fethard

On Saturday, December 16, FHC Experience held their first Christmas Fair which celebrated many local artists, crafts people, and fledgling businesses. There was a great buzz of community spirit and pride throughout the day. Festive shoppers enjoyed Mulled Apple Juice from Traas’ Apple Farm as they shopped some wonderful creations and collectables, all making unique Christmas presents for family and friends.

FHC Experience were overwhelmed with the positive response from both the participants and supporters of the Fair and they’re already planning more fairs similar to this for 2018!


Phyllis Sheehan photographed at her extensive stall of crafts on display at the Christmas Fair in Fethard.


Local potter Dóirín Saurus, Crampscastle, photographed at the Christmas Craft Fair at FHS Experience.


Ciarán Maguire at the Christmas Craft Fair at FHS Experience.


Jane O’Connor Ryan on her stall at the Christmas Craft Fair.


Patrician Presentation Secondary School principal, Pat Coffey, photographed with pupils at their Christmas Craft Fair display.


P.J. from Cashel Farmhouse Cheesemakers at the Christmas Craft Fair in Fethard.


Treasa Doocey photographed at her ‘Moetena Design’ stall at the Christmas Craft Fair in Fethard


Zoë Stokes photographed at her ‘Hope Foundation’ stall at the Christmas Craft Fair in Fethard

New Year’s Eve dancing
The following Sunday, New Year’s Eve, December 31, dancers are in for a treat when ‘T.R. Dallas’ supplies the music for their festive celebration. Admission is €8 which includes tea and cakes.

The name TR Dallas was first launched on the Irish music scene in 1980. Since then, he has become a household name throughout the British Isles and beyond. With a string of hit records to his name, such as, ‘Who Shot JR Ewing’, ‘Hard to be Humble’, ‘Daddy’s Girl’ and ‘This Story I tell you is True’, to name but a few. With numerous radio and television shows and thousands of fans, he continues to tour extensively.

Support for Business & Tourism Group

Fethard Business & Tourism Group receiving a cheque from AIB to support FHS Experience. L to R: John Palmer (AIB Area Manager), Bill O'Sullivan (Fethard Business & Tourism Group), and Shannon Forrest (Manager Fethard Horse Country Experience)

Fethard Business and Tourism CLG were thrilled to accept a very generous donation of €1,000 from AIB to contribute to Fethard Horse Country Experience. Manager of AIB Fethard branch, John Palmer, said they are ‘delighted to become a donor to FHC Experience’ as they can ‘already see the benefit of the museum to the town and wider community.’ Shannon Forrest, Manager at FHC Experience acknowledged the very generous donation with sincere gratitude to Mr Palmer and is very thankful to AIB and all on-going donors which support Fethard Business and Tourism CLG.

Fethard Ladies Football Club

Fethard Ladies Football team, Minor A County Champions, photographed with coaches, Chris Coen, Michaél Spillane and Annette Connolly. This was the club's last game of the 2017 season as the girls added the minor title to the U16 'A' and Junior 'A' titles already won this year.

Fethard Ladies Football minor girls finished off their 2017 campaign in style claiming the club’s first County Minor A title, following their victory over Aherlow, on a scoreline of Fethard 5-07, Aherlow 2-08.

This was a great finish to the year for this bunch of minor girls with all also members of the junior panel that won the Junior A Championship, and reached the Munster Club Semifinal, losing out to Aghada from Cork who went on to win the Munster and All-Ireland titles.

The majority of the girls also played on the U16 team that won the U16 A championship, and the U17 A league winning team. This great achievement was a just reward for the work they have put in training over the last few years.

While silverware eluded the U11, U12 and U14 panels, all three teams reached their respective A County Finals and that experience will hopefully stand to them in the future. There’s great work being achieved also with the U6, U8 and U10s, where the future success of the club is nourished.

Off the field, another great night was celebrated at the medal presentation and dinner dance held in the Clonmel Park Hotel. The U6, U8, U10 and U12s finished off their year with a party at the Fethard Youth Centre.

A special thanks to all the officers, committee, coaches, parents, players and everyone who helped out during the year. We wish you all a very Happy Christmas and New Year.


Jessica Dowling captain of the Minor A County winning team photographed with the John O’Donovan Memorial Cup

Fethard & Killusty Community Lotto Christmas draw
The numbers drawn on December 20, were: 8, 9, 15 and 19. There was no jackpot winner and two ‘Match Three’ winners who received €75 each: Abigail Sheehan, Reflections, Fethard; and Mary Harrington, Garrinch, Fethard.

The following three ‘Lucky Dip’ winners also received €50 each: Michael Russell, c/o Seamus Moloney; Nellie Ryan, St. Patrick's Place, Fethard; and Nellie Donovan, Fr. Tirry Park, Fethard.

Christmas Ham winners were: Patricia O'Meara, Woodvale Walk, Fethard; Eileen Tobin, St. Patrick’s Place, Fethard; and Pamela O'Donnell, Grangebeg, Fethard.

Turkey winners were: Eileen Connolly, Garrinch, Fethard; Thelma Griffith, Crampscastle, Fethard; and Anna Cooke, St. Patricks Place, Fethard.

We also take this opportunity to thank you for your support in 2017 and we look forward to your continued support in 2018. The lotto will resume on Wednesday, January 10, when the Jackpot continues at €10,000 and the Jackpot seller’s prize remains at €1,000. All proceeds go towards community projects in Fethard, and we thank you for your on-going support.

We would like to wish all our supporters and sellers a very Happy Christmas and a Prosperous New Year.

Newsletter posted to emigrants throughout the world


Fethard & Killusty Newsletter should now have arrived to most emigrants on our mailing list by now. It is very heartening and encouraging to hear back how important this annual newsletter means to those living away from home.

The Newsletter first started off in 1959 as a four-page news sheet sent out twice annually by the local branch of the Legion of Mary, a practice that also happened in many other parishes where the Legion existed. This was even important then in a time where many emigrants never returned home and indeed where some were never heard of again. Now with affordable travel, telephones and internet, the world is a much smaller place and the newsletter a much bigger book. Happily, the ‘book’ has still retained its popularity and its delivery before Christmas – free of charge to emigrants - is eagerly looked forward to at home and throughout the world.

Helping with the packing and posting of this year's Fethard & Killusty Emigrants' Newsletter were Back L to R: Brud Roche, John Burke, Eamon Keane, J.J. Freeman, Shamie Hickey holding Holly Kenny, Brendan Kenny, Shane Kenny, Miceál McCormack, Michael Kenrick. Front L to R: Monica Hickey, Carol Kenny, Romy Condon, Margaret Walsh, Keavy Condon, Margaret O'Donnell, Ria Kenny and Ian O'Connor.

On that note, a special ‘thank you’ is due to the Newsletter’s dedicated backroom staff: Carmel Rice (correspondence), Brendan Kenny (distribution), Gemma Burke (proofreading) and the many volunteers who help with postage and packing. The annual undertaking of producing, printing and posting the newsletter, is make possible by the many generous donations received from readers living at home and away, donations received from local clubs and organisations, our annual church gate collection, sales of the newsletter at home, and last but not least, all those who submit articles and photographs for publication every year. This year we particularly welcome articles written by new contributors; Helen Lawrence Howard (originally from St. Patrick’s Place), Eleanor O’Riordan Macpherson (originally from Kerry Street), Patrick Murphy (originally from Kilnockin) and Michael ‘Wacky’ Healy (The Green).

All support helps and is greatly appreciated. At home, you can support this worthy project by purchasing a copy of the Newsletter at one the following local shops: Centra Supermarket (The Green), Annie’s Grocery (Burke Street); Daybreak Supermarket (Kerry Street), Fethard Horse Country (Town Hall, Main Street) and Post Office (Main Street). Copies will also be posted this weekend to Fethard emigrants living throughout the world.

We take this opportunity to wish everyone a very Happy Christmas and Healthy New Year. – Joe Kenny (editor)

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 Presentation Convent 5th Year Students who made Christmas Cakes, December 1971. L to R: Bernadette Lawlor, Marie Carroll, Yvonne Maher, Miss A. Stephens (Domestic Science teacher), Angela Dunne, Anne Harrington and Kathleen Ryan.

Junior infant class at Nano Nagle School Fethard, December, 2003. Back L to R: Corey Carroll (Slievenamon Close); Bradley Phelan (Slievenamon Close); Sadhbh Horan (Tullamaine); Andrew Phelan (Coolmore); Luke Brastock (Strylea). Middle Row L to R: Ross McCormack (Woodvale Walk); Thomas O’Reilly (Barrack Street); Tony O’Reilly (Barrack Street); Connie Coen (Knockelly Road); Timothy Hurley (Slievenamon Close). Front L to R: Vanessa Pike (Woodvale Walk); Erica McGrath (Woodvale Walk); Joseph O’Connor (North Gate House); Rachel O’Meara (Garrinch); and Chloe Burke (Woodvale Walk). Missing from photo is Thomas Phelan (Slievenamon Close); Kyle McGrath (Slievenamon Close); and Nathan Thompson (St. Patrick’s Place).


Old school friends meeting up over Christmas in Lonergan's Bar on December 24, 2008, were L to R: Tom Grant, Sinead O'Brien, Jennifer Frewen and Caroline Croke.


Photographed with Santa at the Slievenamon Golf Club 'Christmas Party' on December 9, 2007, were Back L to R: Mary and Percy Butler, Majella and Michael Hayde. Front L to R: Laura Butler, Santa, Mark Hayde and Aileen Butler.

Photographed at the Christmas Party Night at the Castle Inn on December 22, 2008, were L to R: Tony Fennessy and Phil Tobin.

Christmas Hat Party in aid of the CRC (Central Remedial Clinic) in Burke's Bar, Fethard, December 2003


Judith and Marie Moclair at the Christmas Hat Party for CRC Santa Bear Appeal held in the Bridge Bar, Fethard, December 2003.


L to R: Johnny O’Connor, Phil Shee and John Shortall at the Christmas Hat Party for CRC Santa Bear Appeal held in the Bridge Bar, Fethard.


L to R: sisters Liz Kennedy and Lydia Kelly (wearing the winning hats) at the Christmas Hat Party for CRC Santa Bear Appeal. 2003


Lisa and Kari Laaksonen at the Christmas Hat Party for CRC Santa Bear Appeal held in the Bridge Bar, December 2003.


L to R: Dóirín Saurus, John Cooney and Liam Heffernan at the Hat Party, December 2003.


L to R: Mary Shanahan, Edwina Newport and Paul Shanahan at the Christmas Hat Party for CRC Santa Bear Appeal, 2003


L to R: Philomena Shee, Janneke van Dommelen and Suzanna Manton at the Christmas Hat Party for CRC Santa Bear Appeal held in the Bridge Bar, December 2003.


L to R: Ann Walsh, Gerard Manton and Mary Hanrahan at the Christmas Hat Party for CRC Santa Bear Appeal.


Bert van Dommelen and Joe Kenny at the Christmas Hat Party for CRC Santa Bear Appeal held in the Bridge Bar, Fethard, on Saturday night, December 27, 2003.


Bill O’Sullivan and Teresa Roche at the Christmas Hat Party for CRC Santa Bear Appeal held in the Bridge Bar, Fethard, December 2003.

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 fethardnews@gmail.com or delivered by hand to Joe Kenny, Rocklow Road, Fethard.

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