Monday, July 2, 2018
Midsummer Ramble to Red City On arrival at the cemetery, Mary Hanrahan, Chairperson, Fethard Historical Society, gave a brief history of the site. It was first called Killmalogue, the church of St. Millogue, an ancient Gaelic monastic site. She explained that the name ‘Red City’, which came later, is actually a mistranslation of the original Gaelic ‘Cathair Dhearg’. In modern usage ‘cathair’ means ‘city’ but long ago it actually designated a circular or round fort built and ‘dearg’ referred to the red sandstone from which it was built. When the Normans came to this area sometime after 1185 the fort was still standing. They took over the native Irish site, kept the place name, created a manor and built the Red City parish church, the ruins of which still remains. One of the main features of the Red City site is that the Church is located at one side of the road and the graveyard, instead of being beside the church as usual, is on the other side of the road. Local legend tells us that it came about as follows: Moll Dunlea, one of the principal witnesses in the trial of Fr. Nicholas Sheehy in 1766, gave false testimony against him as a result of which he was hanged in Clonmel. Moll was reputedly an unsavoury character and having ‘sworn on’ the priest she came to a bad end. Sometime after the death of Fr. Sheehy, Moll was drunk, fell down into a cellar, died and was buried in Red City cemetery. The morning after her interment, the locals woke to find that during the night the cemetery had moved across the road leaving Moll’s grave in isolation beside the church. Terry Cunningham then briefly recounted the story of Fr. Sheehy who was reputedly born in the neighbouring townland of Barrettstown. Local folklore also says that a large black dog haunts the road at this site at midnight. There was also a large rock known as the Rock of Red City which was supposed to be connected to the Abbey church in Fethard by a tunnel. This rock was also used as a Mass rock during Penal times. Canon Barbara Fryday brought along a rare ecclesiastical history published in 1905 from which she shared details that gave a most interesting insight into the parochial life of Red City in the 19th and early 20th century. Gerry Long and Seamus Barry, who are part of the small but very active Cemetery Group who undertake the maintenance of the local graveyards, were also present. Gerry spoke about their latest initiative which is to provide information about the graveyards by means of a QR code that can be read by using an app on a smartphone. The QR code can simply be placed in a suitable location, no major maintenance is required and visitors to the sites can easily access the information. Having developed the QR code the next stage of the project is to gather the information: historical facts, stories, local folklore etc. Gerry is looking for information relating to the graveyards at Red City, Tullamaine, Rathcoole and Kilmaclugh and he can be contacted at johnlong1960@gmail.com Mention was also made of the Irish customs relating to midsummer, dating back to pre-Christian times, which centred on St. John’s Eve, June 23. Communities came together to light large bonfires; torches lit from the bonfire were used to invoke a blessing on people, livestock and land to ensure a good harvest. If someone had just built a house, it was the custom to take embers from the bonfire to kindle the first fire on the hearth of the new building. The evening rounded off with a most welcome mini-picnic before the group made their leisurely way back along the one-mile scenic road to Fethard. Died Recently Reposing at McCarthy's Funeral Home, Fethard, on Friday, June 29, from 5pm with removal to the Church of the Sacred Heart, Killusty at 7pm. Day Care Senior Day this Friday Fethard Juvenile GAA win Danaher Cup On this beautiful June day, it was great to see the great turn out this tournament attracts, as friends and family members, charged with excitement and pride, ghathered at the side-lines to cheer on the future stars of Tipperary. This year’s teams comprised of Clonmel Commercials, Mullinahone, St. Patricks, Kilsheelan and two teams from Fethard. After a series of great game and close finishes it fell to the two referees, Paddy and Paul, to tally the points which left Commercials and Fethard A in the Cup Final, and Mullinahone and Kilsheelan in the Plate final. Both finals were nail bitingly close and we have to say well done each and every player as they gave it everything. Well done to the Cup winners on the day Fethard A, in the Plate winners Mullinahone. Let there be no doubt the other teams will have their day too. For Fethard it held a little extra pride of place as our club paraded its Cup through the streets in the Fethard Festival Family Day Parade. The club would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who helped make this a fun, friendly and memorable occasion. Augustinian pilgrimage to Knock Social dancing at Fethard Ballroom Died Recently World Meeting of Families Free Tickets for Croke Park, Festival of Families on Saturday evening, August 25 will become available for a family from each parish through the Diocesan Office at a later date. Tickets for the Pastoral Congress on Wednesday, August 22 & Thursday, August 23, only are still available for purchase online. Abymill Theatre hosts ‘TWO’ for you! St. Patrick's Place Reunion meeting this Tuesday Meetings will be held on the last Tuesday of each month at the same venue and we hope to set up a steering committee that will help organise the event for later this year. For further details contact Joe Ryan at Tel: 086 6036995. Native American to lead Famine 1848 Walk, July 28 at 3pm Community Games Fethard & Killusty Community Lotto Next week’s draw takes place on Wednesday, June 27. 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 committee of Fethard GAA/Sports Centre Development Lotto would like to thank all our supporters near and far who participate in our weekly lotto draw. The funds raised are used to promote sport in the local community. Festival Dog Show Results Class 1 Best Large Dog: 1st ‘Lexi walked by Darragh Bradshaw; 2nd ‘Berti’ walked by Tully; and 3rd ‘Alfie’ walked by Noleen and Jason Kenny.
The overall Champion Dog of The Show was won by ‘Lexi’ walked by Darragh Bradshaw; and the Reserve Champion was ‘Honey’ walked by Rachel and Emma Murphy. Festival Fancy Dress Results The overall adult float winner was 'Grass Drives Mrs Brown's Boys on Trip to Tipp' featuring many locals from the Moyglass & Coolmoyne area who must be congratulated on the high standard of their entries every year. The best overall winner was the colourful ‘Wizard of Oz’ entry by the Hayes family and friends. The original group joint winners were ‘The Beach Boyz' entry from brothers Jayden, Brayden, Kaylem and Dylan Bradshaw; and 'Fethard's Mini Superheros'. The artistic group winners were 'Disneyland Comes to Fethard Toddlers'; 'Fethard's Fairies and Leprechauns' and ‘The Fethard Flossers’. The artistic section individual prize was won by ‘Mr Bean’ portrayed by Adam O’Donnell; and the original prize went to 'An Irish Summer' entry by Stephen and Marguerite Gleeson, with their daughter Nessa. The walking artistic prize was won by ‘A Mid-Summer Night’s Dream – Fairies of The Valley’ and the special original Adult Sporting prize was won by ‘Galteemor Kickboxing Club’. Fethard GAA Club’s entry, proudly displaying the Danaher Cup won earlier that morning, was the joint winner with ‘Fethard Rugby Club’, in the Sports Club section. All the individual children’s entries were highly commended for their efforts and entries in this year’s parade and received prizes. The organising committee and Fethard parish express their sincere thanks to the Magnier family for their continued support to local community events and projects. Fethard & Killusty Community Council AGM Cemetery Masses Please note that the annual pilgrimage to Holy Year Cross on Slievenamon will take place this year on Sunday, August 12. Please take note of the date and spread the word. Killusty Show 56 years old on Saturday, July 7 With 101 classes on the schedule this year, for which planning began immediately following the completion of last year’s show, there is a class for every type of pony, horse and rider – In-hand, broodmare, Mountain and Moorland, Connemara, Coloured, Cob, Show Pony, Show Hunter, Working Hunter, Performance Working Hunter, Performance jumping, and Associate Horse Classes are all on the list. Covering all ages from tiny tots to adults, everyone is catered for. This year we are returning to Killusty’s original intention, to promote in-hand ponies, and as an added incentive to exhibitors in the young stock classes, €500 will be added to the prize fund in these classes. New to Killusty show are, equitation classes and a young handler class, in which the participant is judged, not the pony. If you don’t have a pony, there is a very popular Dog Show with 12 classes. If you don’t have a dog, the Fancy Dress may be the competition for you! Also new this year, to promote the Performance Working Hunter Pony, Clonmel Show, which takes place on July 1, and Killusty Pony Show, have teamed up to fund a €150 Championship. The Champion and Reserve Champion from Clonmel Show and Killusty Show will compete again in Killusty to decide the winner. Over the past 56 years, the committee have ploughed any surplus back into the show so that now, all equipment, rings, jumps and marquees are the property of the Show. All stewards and staff volunteer their services. It is truly a local effort, which makes Killusty Pony Show so special. Throughout the history of the Show, our sponsors have been extremely generous and without them we would not exist. In return, they are welcomed to lunch on Show Day as an acknowledgement of our gratitude, which is widely praised. We receive no grants or other incentives and greatly appreciate the IPS insurance, without which we could not go ahead. If you haven’t been to Killusty before, make a date to attend this year’s event on Saturday, July 7. There is no charge at the gate on entry, but a donation would help defray expenses. Entries cost €10 per class before June 29, or €15 on show day. Non-IPS members must purchase day insurance (€5 per owner/rider) if they intend to compete. Those who attend may see the next HOYS (Horse of the Year Show) or RDS Champion making a debut at Killusty, as have many before. All are welcome, and we look forward to seeing you there! Fethard Faces and Places from the Past Fethard Festival Fancy Dress Parade August 21, 1988, assorted photographs taken during the 'Street Festival' and judging at St. Patrick's Place – 30 Years Ago Fethard News Share this page on Facebook
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The death has occurred on Wednesday, June 27, 2018, of Gus Phelan
The death has occurred on Monday, June 25, 2018, of Marie White (née Larkin), Derryluskin, Fethard. Marie, predeceased by her husband Jackie, is deeply regretted by her sons John and Pat, daughter Mary, son-in-law Dermot, Finola, grandchildren Eleanor and John, relatives and friends. May she rest in peace
Choctaw native, Waylon Gary White Deer, will lead this year's Famine 1848 Walk in Ballingarry, on Saturday, July 28, at 3pm. 
