Magnificent number of entries for sun-blessed Killusty Pony Show

Audrey Murphy on pony 'Glencarrig Chloe', who was winner of the Combined Champion from Clonmel and Killusty Show, photographed at the presentation of award. L to R: Peter Molloy (Judge), Cecily Purcell, Audrey Murphy on pony 'Glencarrig Chloe', Carmel Santry (Judge) and Pat Culligan, Chairman Killusty Show.

Temperatures soared on Saturday, July 7, as Killusty Pony Show celebrated the 56th Show in the idyllic location, at the foot of Slievenamon. The entries were magnificent with over 220 competitors on the day, with a lot of newcomers from all over the country experiencing success at Killusty. The new non-competitive classes were extremely popular with children and parents alike, with the ever-talented judge Sally having praise and encouragement for every child. It was great to see so many smiling faces! The children received a rosette, sweets and a lucky dip prize, which was kindly sponsored by The Equine Warehouse, Clonmel.


Chloe Doyle, Holycross, riding her pony 'Minister' at Killusty Show.


Miss Ella Connolly from Tipp Town riding her pony 'Comanche', beside her mother Aisling Connolly, at the Killusty Pony Show.

It was a great day yet again this year, with local competitors topping their classes across the field. Pat O’Brien retained the cup for Champion Pony Broodmare with his mare ‘A Touch of Class’ and took home silverware in the Connemara Purebred Championship when he won the Sarah Miller Perpetual Cup. Another great local success was Leah Coen and her pony ‘Droma Joey’ winning both, the Connemara ridden class by rider under 16 and Connemara Working Hunter.


Guessing the age of the pony at Killusty Show are L to R: Emily Walsh, Sam Walsh and Charlotte Walsh from Fethard.


Photographed is the 'Willy Wonka' entry at the Killusty Show Fancy Dress by cousins Zoë Thompson on her pony 'Rolo', and in front L to R: Cian Connolly, Zara Thompson, David Colville, Lauren Connolly, William Colville and Amy Morrissey.


L to R: Meala Von Bahder and Simone Borer with their pony 'Bilberry' at the Killusty Show Fancy Dress.


'Alice in Wonderland' entry in the Killusty Show Fancy Dress L to R: Anna O'Callaghan, Alice Everard (on pony), Rory Everard, Eve Parratt (on pony), and Mathilde Taveaux (on pony).

Laura Coonan, Killusty was winner of the handy pony for rider age 8 and 9 with her pony ‘Patchwork Polly’. Joanne Doran was the winner of the special lead rein class for children aged 3½ to 4, with her pony ‘Teddy’ ridden by Jack Doran. Margaret Lawless-Greene was in the winners’ enclosure on numerous occasions throughout the day and won the local O’Brien riding pony championship with her pony ‘Golden Grove Supremacy’ ridden by Emily Lawless Greene. Rosie Mae O’Grady was very successful in the open 143cm Working hunter pony, winning on her pony ‘Doonkinane Splash’. Also in the winners’ enclosure were Melanie Ryan, winning the cob in hand class and taking home reserve champion cob of the show and Juliet Quirke, in the performance jumping class under 60cm.


L to R: Shannon O'Connor and Jack Doran from Ballinard at the Killusty Show.


'Madagascar' entry in the Killusty Show Fancy Dress L to R: Edward Byrne, Amber Byrne and Hogan Byrne.


Children from Killusty all ready for the 'World Cup' at the Killusty Show Fancy Dress.

A sincere thank you to everyone who supported the raffle in aid of the Critical Illness Fund, in Fethard. Spectators had to guess the age of a pony to enter the raffle and it was extremely successful with approximately €500 raised for this fantastic cause. The pony was 19 years old, so well done to everyone who guessed right. As always, the dog show was very popular with the children, which was kindly sponsored by Iain Meagher of Daybreak, Fethard, and judged by Tipperary Foxhounds’ huntsman, Gavin Shorten.


L to R: Nancy Lyons-Teehan, Louise Lyons and Robin Lyons-Teehan at the Killusty Show Fancy Dress.


Winner of the 'The William Holohan Performance Champion Perpetual Cup' photographed at the presentation at Killusty Show. L to R: Killusty Show chairman, Pat Culligan, winner Audrey Murphy on pony 'Glencarrig Chloe', and Francis Holohan, grandson of the late Bill Holohan who presented the cup, and Peter Molloy (Judge). Audrey Murphy and her pony 'Glencarrig Chloe', were also judged to be the Combined Killusty/Clonmel Show Champion.


Shannon Sheridan, Lisronagh, Clonmel Show Champion.


Photographed at the Killusty Pony Show are L to R: Francis Holohan, P.F. Quirke, Clara Quirke, Gini Quirke, Lily Quirke, Pat Holohan and Bobbi Holohan.


Presentation at Killusty Show L to R: Pat Culligan, Michheala Styne Keating, Joe Day (judge) and John Palmer, representing AIB Fethard who sponsored the class.

Thanks to all our sponsors, which without them Killusty would not be the success it is today and we really appreciate their continued support. Thanks to all the judges and stewards for their great work in all the rings throughout the field. Thanks to those who did the catering, everyone really enjoyed themselves. Thank you to everyone who helped with the parking and the setting up of the field during the week. Thanks to John Hennessy M.V.B. for being on duty for the day. Also thanks to the civil defence for being on hand if required. We hope you all enjoyed the day. Roll on 2019!

Died Recently
The death has occurred, unexpectedly at home, on Friday, July 13, 2018, of Monica Wade (née Lonergan), Hills Lot, Cashel, and formerly Ballinahinch, and The Square, Fethard.

Monica, beloved wife of the late Eddie. Deeply regretted by her loving daughters Sandra and Valerie, son-in-law Christopher, grandchildren Isabella and Evan, brothers Patrick and William, sister Joy, sisters-in-law, nephews, nieces, relatives and many friends. May She Rest In Peace.

Reposing at Devitt’s Funeral Parlour, Cashel, this Monday evening from 5.30pm to 7.30pm. Removal on Tuesday morning to the Church of the Assumption, Knockavilla, for Requiem Mass at 12.30am followed by burial in Ardmayle Cemetery. Family flowers only please, donations if desired to St. Vincent de Paul.

Silage Extravaganza 2018 – will go ahead despite grass shortage

Coolmoyne and Moyglass Vintage Club set out to run our second Silage Extravaganza for July 29, 2018, with two main ambitions, namely, community camaraderie, and to raise much needed funds for South Tipperary Hospice. After monitoring grass growth over several weeks we have reached a decision that adequate grass will not be available for a full proper working event this year, as our area had little or no rainfall since early May. As a result of these weather conditions and in fairness to exhibitors, we decided to give adequate notice that our event will still go ahead without the usual silage cutting.

Our main ambition still remains and we have rearranged events to compensate for the change. We will hold our tractor run on Saturday evening which will consist of road and farm driving and a barbecue, music and craic on return to Joe Trehy’s farm at Mobarnane. A marquee will be erected to cater for drivers and patrons.

We will also stage a vintage silage harvesting demonstration, a vintage hay making demonstration, and a harvest threshing, that will be part of our new list of events for Sunday, July 29 (see poster above). We have also discovered a rare round silage pit adjacent to us and the land-owner has kindly given permission to visit and view same. The silage for these pits would have been cut and drawn and compacted using horses. A most interesting discovery that had been overgrown for years.

Photographed at the 2012 Coolmoyne & Moyglass Vintage Club show are L to R: Sean Cordial, Michael Kirwan, Jim Ryan and Richie Ryan. This year’s static show will take place on Saturday and Sunday July 28 and 29.

All other events including record attempts for the most County Tractors and most MF 65 tractors will go ahead as advertised. We would be delighted if entrants still brought along their Vintage Silage harvesters for the static display. The County Sea Horse will make its first visit to Ireland and all makes of vintage trucks, cars, and bikes are most welcome.

T.R. Dallas, Sabrina Fallon and local artists will provide music and song. A platform for dancing will also be provided. A dog show will allow patrons to bring along their favourite pet. A full range of kids’ entertainment will be on site, including Bouncy Castles etc.

We are also in the process of producing a novelty calendar which will be very interesting. These calendars will be on sale on the day and will also be available after the event. The Gardai will also have a stand at the event with the possibility of the mounted unit and the Garda Command Vehicle being on site (depending on other demands).

Although we bow to ‘mother nature’, we are hoping that with these additions and your continued support we will have a mighty weekend that will bring enjoyment to both entrants and patrons.

– Matty Tynan (Chairman)

Cemetery Mass at Calvary on Tuesday, July 17
Mass will be celebrated at Calvary Cemetery on Tuesday, July 17, at 7.30pm. Please come along to this special celebration remembering our family and friends who have passed to their eternal reward.

Sports Achievement Award for June
The winner of the Butler’s Bar Fethard Sports Achievement Award for June was jockey Colm O’Donoghue. Colm had three wins in June with the highlight undoubtedly being the winning the Coronation Stakes at Ascot on ‘Alpha Centauri’ for trainer Jessica Harrington.

This month’s award was sponsored by Barry O’Connor, Accounting & Bookkeeping Service Clonmel, and the award was presented to M.J. Croke, who accepted the award on behalf of Colm O’Donoghue, who was unable to attend.

Nominees for the July sports achievement award are now being taken at Butler’s Bar, Main Street, Fethard.

Barry O’Connor (centre), representing this month’s sports award sponsor, Accounting & Bookkeeping Service Clonmel, presenting Cian Hurley’s parents, Mary and Tim Hurley, with his award nomination certificate following his double swimming gold medal success at the recent Special Olympics National Championships held at the Aquatic Centre at Abbotstown.


Photographed at the presentation of Butler's Bar Fethard Sports Achievement Award for June are L to R: Ted Cummins and Derry Curran.


Photographed at the presentation of Butler's Bar Fethard Sports Achievement Award for June are L to R: Niamh Hayes and Paul Hayes.


Photographed at the presentation of Butler's Bar Fethard Sports Achievement Award for June are L to R: Michael McGrath, John O'Donnell and Dick O'Brien.

Hospice Collection this weekend
The Fethard Support Group for South Tipperary Hospice will hold their annual church gate collection in Fethard, Killusty and Moyglass this coming weekend, July 14 and July 15. Your continued support for this deserving cause is most appreciated.

Social dancing at Fethard Ballroom
Fethard Ballroom continues its social dancing on this coming Sunday night, July 15, to the very popular music of ‘Muriel O’Connor and Fran Curry’. All are welcome to come along and enjoy a great night’s entertainment and social dancing from 9pm to midnight. Admission is €9, which includes tea and cakes.

Clonacody ‘Musical Picnic' this coming weekend


On this coming weekend, Saturday, July 14 and Sunday, July 15, come along and enjoy all your favourite easy listening classics under the stars at the annual ‘Music Picnic’ held on the lawns of Clonacody House, Fethard. 

On Saturday evening at 8pm, we have a 'Moonlight Serenade' with Derek Ryan and Ryan Morgan. On Sunday afternoon from 2pm who can relax and enjoy Pat Marnane and Fran Garry, along with Limerick piper Matt Bashford. On Sunday Night, commencing at 7.30pm, we are proud to present the 'Clonacody Proms', performing the very best from the repertoire of Rodgers and Hammerstein staring ‘The Two & A Half Tenors’ with special guests Deirdre Ryan and Sarah-Ellen Murphy. Proceeds are in aid of the Cystic Fibrosis Association of Ireland and the Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association (IMNDA).


Last year’s ‘Musical Picnic’ on the lawns of Clonacody House, in aid of charity. This year’s event takes place this coming weekend, Saturday, July 14 and Sunday, July 15.

Weekend tickets cost €30 each; Sunday afternoon is a special rate of €20 for a family ticket. Individual concert tickets cost €20. For further information or tickets contact Tel: 087 2491228 or 087 1689167.

Bring a picnic, bring a chair, bring the family – all welcome. Full bar and food service available with children’s bouncy castles, face painting and lots more.

Died Recently
The death has occurred on Sunday, July 8, 2018, of Noel Fitzgerald, The Thatch, Cloneen, peacefully at South Tipperary General Hospital, Clonmel. Noel, deeply regretted by his loving wife Trish, daughter Niamh, sons Mark and James, brothers, sisters, aunt, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, mother-in-law, extended family, and a wide circle of friends. May he rest in Peace.

Reposing in The Thatch Cloneen on Wednesday, July 11, from 4pm to 8pm followed by prayers. Removal on Thursday, July 12, to the Church of The Nativity, Cloneen, Requiem Mass at 11am, followed by burial in the adjoining cemetery. House private on Thursday please.

Articles invited for Annual Emigrant's Newsletter 2018
Work on the production of this year's Annual Emigrant's Newsletter has now commenced. We invite anyone interested in submitting articles or photographs for this year’s issue to contact Joe Kenny, Rocklow Road, Fethard, Tel: (052) 6131663 or by email: emigrantsnewsletter@gmail.com

Help is always needed gathering articles and photographs, indeed, one of the most time-consuming chores is trying to put captions to the photographs with correct names. Other ways people can help is interviewing, writing articles, typing or inviting others to write articles in good time for publication.

The first issue of the Fethard & Killusty Emigrants' Newsletter was published by the Legion of Mary in December 1959 and is dated 'Christmas 1960'. On checking the dates of the events and deaths featured in the newsletter we discovered that they all happened in 1959 so we concluded that the Newsletter was published in December 1959 and posted in January 1960. This 'first newsletter' was discovered in a drawer by Pat Shine, formerly from Crampscastle and now living in London. Today, over fifty years later, the newsletter has grown into a full colour 200-page production and is still posted free of charge to all our emigrants living throughout the world.

Died Recently
The death has occurred on Saturday, July 7, 2018, of Larry Hopkins, Fr. Tirry Park, Fethard, and formerly Cahir and England.

Larry will be deeply missed by his many friends in Fethard and Cahir and family in England. May he rest in Peace.

Funeral service at 11am in Holy Trinity Church of Ireland, Fethard, on Monday, July 16, followed by private cremation.

Pilgrimage to Holy Year Cross
This year’s annual pilgrimage to Holy Year Cross on Slievenamon will take place on Sunday, August 12. The annual parish pilgrimage to Holy Year Cross on Slievenamon takes place each year on (or nearest suitable date) the Feast of the Assumption of Our Lady.

The Holy Year Cross was erected by the people of the parish to commemorate the Marian Year and was blessed by the late Rev. Patrick O’Donnell, Archbishop of Brisbane, Australia, on August 15, 1950. The cross was originally made of wood and was illuminated both on Christmas night and Easter time using a lamp powered by wet batteries. By 1974 the wood of the Holy Year Cross had to be replaced by a concrete structure.

Toddlers Summer Party

Fethard Toddler and Parent Group will hold their Annually Toddlers Summer Party on Thursday, July 26, from 11am to 1pm, in the Fethard Convent Community Hall. All are welcome to come along and join us for a ‘Beach Party Disco’ with lots of fun games and dancing. All parents and toddlers welcome, and if you do have older children at home, do bring them along as well! The cost is €3 per child which includes light refreshments.

Fethard Juvenile GAA Cúl Camp
Fethard GAA Cúl Camp takes place from August 20 to August 24, open to boys and girls aged 6 years to 13-year-olds. Registration online at www.kelloggsculcamps.gaa.ie where you can select your nearest venue, available places and book online. Cost for first child is €60; second child €50; third and fourth €40. Supervisor is Ann Marie Moroney Tel: 087 7973829

Games include Hurling, Football, Camogie, Ladies Football and Rounders and early booking is advisable as only those registered online can be guaranteed their gear to arrive on time.

Augustinian pilgrimage to Knock

The annual Augustinian pilgrimage to Knock will take place on Saturday, July 21. The cost for anybody wishing to participate is €20. Please contact The Abbey, Fethard, for further details. Tel: (052) 6131273.

Fethard & Killusty Community Lotto
The numbers drawn on July 4, were: 6, 10, 14 and 29. There was no jackpot winner and two ‘Match Three’ winners who received €50 each: Marie Corcoran, c/o Jimmy Connolly; and Mary McCormack, Kerry Street, Fethard.

The following three ‘Lucky Dip’ winners also received €50 each: David Shelly, Moyglass; Siobhan Curran, c/o Kathleen Connolly; and May Walsh, Ballingarry. Total prizemoney paid out this week was €300.

Next week’s draw takes place on Wednesday, July 11. 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, July 6, were: 3, 13, 15 and 33. There was no jackpot winner and three ‘match three’ winners who received €50 each: Sean Cussen, Two Mile Borris; Caroline Ryan, Clerihan; and Meadbh Collum, Ladies Football Club.

The next draw takes place on Friday, July 13, in Burke’s Bar at 7.30pm, when the jackpot is €20,000 and the sellers prize is €1,000.

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.

Native American to lead Famine 1848 Walk, July 28 at 3pm
Choctaw native, Waylon Gary White Deer, will lead this year's Famine 1848 Walk in Ballingarry, on Saturday, July 28, at 3pm.

The Walk commemorates the Famine and the 1848 Rising and remembers all those who suffered, died and emigrated. The Walk will recall the extraordinary act of kindness of the dispossessed Choctaws to the starving Irish during the Great Famine. The starting point for the Walk is the Young Ireland and National Flag monument in the village of The Commons.

The Walk covers 1½ miles and concludes at Famine Warhouse 1848, the state national heritage museum. Light refreshments will be served. On the afternoon of Sunday, July 29, there will be free guided tours of the site. All are welcome.

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 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
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.

Share this page on Facebook