Paud Ryan (front centre), originally from St. Patrick’s Place, is photographed beside his long-time friend Joe Ryan and his sister-in-law Maura Ryan (née Slattery), and his extended family and friends who travelled to join him on his visit from London for a reunion of the Ryan family in Fethard on Thursday, August 2, 2018. Paud (Paddy) has a brother Tom living in Naas, and a brother Brendan also living in London. Two other brothers have died, Danny (Fethard 2013) and Johnny 'Taxer' (London 2004). Their three sisters have also died, Chrissie Breen (Fethard 1996); and two sisters in England, Patricia Manning and Kathleen Doyle.
World Record smashed in Moyglass
Photo of the new world record for the most Ford County Tractors on one site, at Moyglass Silage Extravaganza 2018, taken by Ray Mallon, RM Agriphotos.
The world record for the most Ford County Tractors on one site, which was previously held in the UK at 63, was smashed in Moyglass at Silage Extravaganza 2018 when the count reached 99. This was an extraordinary feat and we thank two members of our committee, Kieran O’Donoghue and Jimmy Cotter who undertook this massive task. The site of truckloads of County Tractors arriving almost in convoy was unbelievable. We also had 33 Massey Ferguson 65 Tractors on site. We wish to thank solicitor, Susanna Manton, Fethard, who arrived at short notice to verify both counts.
Photographed at the Coolmoyne & Moyglass Vintage Club Show L to R: Jim Daly, Phil Byrne, Pat Mulcahy, Noelle McCarthy, Tadhg McCarthy, Liam Barry, John O'Meara and Dan Cowman.
It was a wonderful site with around ten acres covered machinery, marquees, trade stands, amusements, food stalls and ice cream vans etc. We even had a spectacular air display before the evening finished. The total number of vintage and classic tractors, cars and bikes on site reached 259. We are very grateful to those people who spent a lot of money to transport the vehicles from all over Ireland and of course, the famous County Sea Horse was brought over from the UK. The County Sea Horse crossed the English Channel having been adapted to suit the purpose.
Richard O'Connell (left) watching the Butter-Making demonstration by Jim Trehy and Sr. Eileen Fahey.
Noel O'Dwyer, Moyglass, buying his fresh Pasteur Range Eggs from Kylie Magnier and her son Finn Magnier, at their stall selling local 'Magniers Farm' produce.
The event kicked off on Saturday evening with a road and farm run for vintage and classic tractors. Over 100 tractors took part, including ten tractors who arrived just in time to participate. These tractors were driven all the way from Co. Armagh. On return to Joe Trehy’s farm, the hungry drivers were treated to a BBQ. At around 9pm Ciara Tillyer commenced the music and singing. This was followed by the very colourful and active DJ, Mike O’ Rourke. He really brought the atmosphere and craic, that is so badly needed in today's hectic lifestyle to a seriously enjoyable level. Around 250 people attended the barn dance and enjoyed the dancing on the platform that had been set up by John Healy and Mark Tynan. It was like going back in time and capturing the carefree atmosphere and enjoyment that Irish people were noted for in the past.
Two un-related Liam O'Dwyers at the Coolmoyne & Moyglass Vintage Show Liam on the left is from Rossmore and Liam on the right from Thurles.
Tom O'Dwyer from Tipp Town with his 1964 Nuffield 342, 3 Cyl 42 H.P. engine.
Sunday morning was wet and the committee worried in case people would decide to stay at home. However, the sun arrived and so did the audience. Outdoor events are completely dependent on weather conditions and running an event of this size has huge expenses. The ‘Good Lord’ came to our rescue and enabled us to fulfil our ambitions of raising funds for South Tipperary Hospice and getting neighbours and friends working together for the good of the community. The amount of help from everyone is much appreciated and some people worked on site till dark in the days leading up to the event.
Denis Brennan and Margaret Brennan driving in their Austin A35 at the Coolmoyne & Moyglass Vintage Club 'Static Vintage Show'.
Photographed at the Coolmoyne & Moyglass Vintage Club 'Static Vintage Show' at Mobarnane are L to R: Thomas O'Dea, Eugene Hayes holding his dog 'Peat', Edel Moynihan, Orla O'Dea holding her dog 'Bell', Dympna O'Dea and James O'Dea holding his dog 'Dora'.
The silage cutting was curtailed due to the drought but a huge audience watched the silage cutting demonstration that took place on site. We had three threshing mills on site and this also caught the attention of the public. Most of the audience were too young to have witnessed these mills, which travelled from farm to farm in the old days.
Dancing 'The Slosh' to the music of T.R. Dallas at the Coolmoyne & Moyglass Vintage Club show.
Salem Farag, Fethard, holding his baby Andrew at the Coolmoyne & Moyglass Vintage Club 'Static Vintage Show' at Mobarnane, Moyglass.
We are grateful to those people from Dualla and Cloneen who transported and worked the mills. Seamus Barry provided a vintage square baler which was operated by Michael Smith. Tom Kelly supplied the oats and by evening twenty bags were filled.
The dog show with over forty entries, which was sponsored by John and Marion Smullen and Gain Feeds. The show attracted a lot of local dogs and also from Dublin, Offaly, Waterford and Glasgow. The winners were Lesley with a beautiful little Elmo, Abby Noonan with Foxy, Sean Tynan with his British Bulldog ‘Jay’; Orla O’Dea won best in show with her golden retriever ‘Belle’, other winners were Harvey and Jo Ann, fancy dress was won by Jerry with his Xena.
Photographed at the Coolmoyne & Moyglass Vintage Club 'Static Vintage Show' at Mobarnane are L to R: Alex Fox, Tom Fox and Ronan Fox.
Photographed at the Coolmoyne & Moyglass Vintage Club Show are L to R: Miceál Horan, Jack Horan, Matty Tynan, Mat Stewart and Ian Davis.
Sabrina Fallon and TR Dallas provided the music and song up to 5pm and then local musicians Denis Healy, Ger Healy and Denis Heffernan took over and were joined by Mary Boland and Michael Prendergast. Sean Ryan supplied the sound system and was assisted by Sean Gleeson. This brought a very successful event to a close and everyone departed after having enjoyed a wonderful family day out.
Photographed at the Coolmoyne & Moyglass Vintage Club 'Static Vintage Show' at Mobarnane are L to R: Mary Prendergast with her son Aidan Prendergast, Phil Dunne, Eileen Ryan, Paddy Fanning and Peter Broad, selling 'Guys & Girls’ Calendars for South Tipperary Hospice.
A very interesting Calendar for 2019 has also been produced, a huge thanks to Lar Fanning and Lesley Entwistle who have spent months on the road to persuade a lot of people into unusual poses. Also we are indebted to Clodagh Blake who took the photos and of course to all those brave people who participated and to the very generous sponsors. These calendars will be for sale in local shops and at local shows and from any member of the Vintage Club.
Photographed at the Coolmoyne & Moyglass Vintage Club Show are Back L to R: Susan Heffernan, Sally-Anne Heffernan Ryan, Denis Heffernan, Bríd Heffernan. Front L to R: Lauren Heffernan, Darragh Heffernan, Leanne Heffernan Emily Ryan (standing), Caoimhe Ryan and Holly Ryan.
Photographed at the Coolmoyne & Moyglass Vintage Club 'Static Vintage Show' at Mobarnane are L to R: Lily May Hickey-Purcell, Róisín Dargan-Purcell and Maeve Dargan-Purcell.
Photographed at the Coolmoyne & Moyglass Vintage Club Show are Back L to R: Martin Ryan, Catherine Smyth, Margaret Molan, Imelda Ryan. Front L to R: Tara Ryan, Bill Smyth, Shane Ryan, Tomás Ryan and Luke Ryan.
Myles O'Reilly driving his Super 4 tractor at the Coolmoyne & Moyglass Vintage Show'
Photographed at the Coolmoyne & Moyglass Vintage Club Show' are L to R: Lesley Entwistle holding her dog 'Elmo', Sharon Guiry, Mocklershill, Fethard, and Abbey Guiry holding her dog 'Kya'.
Photographed at the Coolmoyne & Moyglass Vintage Club Show L to R: Urte Saikauskas and Adi Fox from Clonmel.
Enjoying the Vintage Show are Fethard girls L to R: Abbie Tillyer, Anna Cummins, Meadbh Collum, Aoibheann Collum, Elaine O'Connell and Molly Stapleton.
Photographed at the Coolmoyne & Moyglass Vintage Club 'Static Vintage Show' at Mobarnane are L to R: Robert Ryan, Sean McEvoy, Bat Sweeney and Dom Ryan.
L to R: Martin Ryan and George Ryan (Annacarty) watching the threshing demonstration
Photographed at the Coolmoyne & Moyglass Vintage Club 'Static Vintage Show' at Mobarnane are L to R: Betty Dorney, Ray Lee and his son Robert Lee.
L to R: Dylan Bambrick, Sean Prendergast, Marion Burriss and Lawson Burriss at their 'Grey Mare' 1965 Ferguson TEF 20. The Ferguson TE20 is an agricultural tractor designed by Harry Ferguson. By far his most successful design,manufactured from 1946 until 1956, and was commonly known as the Little Grey Fergie.
Fethard Area Residents Network 15th Anniversary Celebrations!
Members of the Fethard Residents Association photographed at the special Fethard Area Residents Network 15th Anniversary Celebrations organised vy Tipperary County Council.
Fethard Area Residents Network (FARN) in association with Tipperary County Council celebrated their 15 year anniversary in Slievenamon Golf Club, Lisronagh on Friday, June 8, along with the Tipperary Residents Network (TRN). Representatives from other resident associations throughout the county were also invited to attend the event.
Catriona Crowe, Community Liaison Officer, Tipperary County Council welcomed all to the event and thanked all the resident associations for all their fantastic work throughout the years. She invited everyone to look at the display in the entrance foyer, which gave a snapshot of the projects achieved over the past 15 years by the Fethard and Tipperary resident networks.
Vice Cathaoirleach, Cllr Rodger Kennedy opened the event and complimented the organisers. He went on to say that, “Tipperary County Council hold community activists in high regard. If everyone does their bit, it makes the job of officials easier. Each year there are small amenity grants given out to the groups and we’re delighted. For every euro ye get, there's 10 euros worth of work done for us.”
Vice Cathaoirleach, Cllr Rodger Kennedy presenting a certificate marking 15 Years Anniversary to Sr. Patricia Wall, Chairperson Fethard Area Resident Network.
Sr. Patricia Wall, Chairperson Fethard Area Resident Network, said that FARN's first meeting took place on June 4, 2003, set up by Tess Collins, Community Liaison Officer. The meeting formed an umbrella organisation for resident associations in the Fethard Electoral Area. Sr. Patricia went on to say that, Dolores O’Donnell, Woodvale Walk, Fethard, and Mary McGivern, Aubrey Road, Glengoole, were also committee members at that time. She said that FARN worked out to be an extraordinary influence for good in all the housing estates and a small amount of money goes a long way when residents are doing things together.
To conclude the speeches, Cllr Roger Kennedy presented Certificates of Appreciation to both groups to acknowledge their 15th Year Anniversary. After the formalities there was plenty of time to catch up with neighbouring groups, enjoy the refreshments provided by Eileen Condon Catering, Newcastle, and dance the night away to the music of ‘Mad Patsy’, Kilsheelan. Here’s to the next 15 years!
Sports Achievement Award nominations for July
The following nominations were received for the Butlers Bar Fethard Sports Achievement Award for July.
Ryan Walsh – All Ireland Post Primary Poc Fada champion as well as helping Anner Gaels to win a South Tipperary U16 football title.
Fethard U14 Ladies Gaelic Football Team – Munster community games champions beating the Cork champions in the final played at U.L.
Eoin O’Connell – Fethard native who played a pivotal role in helping his adopted club Killenaule to win the South Senior Hurling Title.
Ciarán Treacy – Ciaran is a valuable member of the Killenaule backroom staff who won the South Senior Hurling Title last weekend.
Sam Donovan – Under 8 Community Games Co. Tipperary 60 metre sprint gold medallist.
Tony McGarry – Silver medal winner at an archery competition held in Co Wexford.
Sean McGarry Thompson – Dual gold medal winner for Archery during July at Wexford and Ashgrove.
David Flanagan – Prolific winner as a greyhound trainer having won eight finals out of twelve since January including three in July.
Ben Coen – Up and coming young jockey Ben continues on his winning ways with a double at Ballinrobe racetrack. Solar Heat at 8/1 and Stormy Tale at 10/1 was a nicely priced double.
The winner will be announced at a special presentation function on Friday night, August 3, in Butlers Bar. All are welcome.
St. Patrick's Place Reunion – stories, memories and photographs wanted!
Another photograph above for the St. Patrick's Place Reunion of a little girl with a goat . . . any information would be welcome. Any other stories, photographs or memories relating to St. Patrick's Place would be greatly appreciated and can be emailed to reunion@fethard.com
A Snowy Medieval Landscape
This photograph of Fethard, taken from Market Hill earlier this year on March 5, shows the melting snow revealing the ghost of a pattern that is not normally visible.
Fethard has delighted archaeologists and historians over the past years and it seems that the town’s secrets will keep on revealing themselves. A photo taken earlier this year, from Market Hill appears to show discernible traces of ‘ridge and furrow’ ploughing. The melting snow has revealed the ghost of a pattern that is not normally visible.
Medieval ‘Open Field’ landscapes – which surrounded villages across Europe - were created by a one-sided plough pulled by oxen. The technique resulted in the build-up of ridges of topsoil separated by shallow drainage channels. Excess water flowed away with the gradient of the hillside. Here in Fethard, the flow is south-to-north following the descent of Market Hill from The Commons down towards Moan Beg and to the walled town.
Typically, an open field would have been farmed in individual ‘strips’ by the townspeople, with the right to farm a particular strip changing from one to the next every few years - in order to treat everyone fairly. These traces survive into the modern era only where later ploughing has been shallow or the land has long been turned over to grazing.
Fethard is exceptional in Ireland in preserving so much Medieval heritage – not just its spectacular buildings but also its landscape. We still have osier beds along southern banks of the Clashawley beside the playground, from which willow would have been coppiced and then harvested as ‘withies’ for basket-weaving and the making of fish traps and other uses. We have the remains of two mills at the Abymill and the Council depot at the bottom of Watergate Bridge and beyond is the area known as ‘Spitalfield’ – which must have belonged to the Medieval rectors of Fethard who were the hospitallers of the priory-Hospital of St John the Baptist. And behind the Abbey still lie the remains of the friary garth that would have been the home farm of the Augustinians – who are themselves living proof of the continuity that makes Fethard so special.
Visitor to Fethard
Brud Roche (left) talking to Tom Ryan and his daughter Laura Grey when they paid a visit to Fethard over the weekend. Tom, originally from Fethard and now living in Naas, used to work with Sean Kennedy in his pub in Burke Street. Tom worked for a while with the late Sadie Carroll when she bought the pub and later moved to Dublin where he resumed working for Sean Kennedy in his new Dublin premises.
First Responder’s Information Meeting
Fethard Community First Responders are working towards training a group of volunteers to respond within the area to certain types of medical emergencies, such as providing CPR to cardiac arrest patients or providing aid to choking or stroke patients.
Fethard Community First Responders need all sorts of help, not just people to train and respond to emergencies. We also need fundraisers, admin support, graphic design, sponsorship... something for everyone. Come along to our info night, Wednesday evening, August 1, starting at 7pm at the Tirry Community Centre.
If you are interested in learning more The National Ambulance Service is hosting a First Responder’s information meeting at the Tirry Community Centre, Barrack Street, in Fethard on this Wednesday evening, August 1, starting at 7pm.
Social dancing at Fethard Ballroom
Fethard Ballroom continues its social dancing on this coming Sunday night, August 4, to the very popular music of ‘Teddy & Cathal Barry’. 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.
Fethard & Killusty Community Lotto
The numbers drawn on July 25, were: 16, 20, 25 and 31. There was no jackpot winner and one ‘Match Three’ winner who received €150: Willie Connolly, The Green, Fethard.
The following ‘Lucky Dip’ winners also received €50 each: Jane Keogh, c/o Tom Purcell; Mary Shelly, Moyglass; and Ky Vaughan, Mullinahone. Total prize money paid out this week was €300.
Next week’s draw takes place on Wednesday, August 1. 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 27, were: 1, 11, 17 and 29. There was no jackpot winner and two ‘match three’ winners who received €75 each: Mary O’Dwyer, Knockinglass, Killenaule; and Peter Nagle, Mocklershill.
The next draw takes place on Friday, August 3, in Burke’s Bar at 7.30pm, when the jackpot is €20,000 and the seller's prize is €1,000. There will also be a special ‘Bank Holiday Bonus Draw’ for five individual €100 prizes.
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.
Pre-Baptism Meeting
The next pre-Baptism meeting will be held in the Tirry Community Centre, Barrack Street, on Monday, August 13, at 7.30pm for parents who wish to have their child baptised during the coming weeks. Meetings are subject to demand. Please contact Fr. Liam Everard P.P. or Fr. Tom Breen A.P. prior to attending.
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.
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.
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 Patrician Presentation Secondary School Debs Ball, held on August 30, 2001. Slideshow of photographs from the event.
Perhaps the most noteworthy feature in 1979 was the fielding of a Fethard GAA Junior Hurling team, considering no Intermediate player was eligible to play. Fethard went on to win the Junior Hurling League that year. The photograph above was taken at the celebrations afterwards in the Fethard Arms. The Junior Panel was: Pat Ryan, Michael Downes, John Barrett, Chris Aylward, Chris Looby, Pat Sheehan, Willie Prout, Eddie Fox, Michael Kenrick, John Gazely, Martin Bolger, Richard Hayes, Waltie Moloney, Gerry Lawless, Anthony Colville, Maurice Harrington, Paschal Hanrahan, Willie O’Donnell, Lory Byrne and Fr. O’Gorman.
Edwina Newport and Hannie Leahy photographed in Newports Shop on Main Street in January, 1999.
Paddy Dahill's house on The Valley, up for sale in January 1999
Kerry Ryan photographed with her mother Patrician Ryan, in 1998.
Burkes Bridge Bar presently, this photograph was taken when Jack O'Shea moved to Fethard and bought this, his first pub, he later moved further up Main Street and bought what is now Butler's Bar. Jack and Dick Burke married two sisters, Breda (Burke) and Rita (O'Shea).
The late Jack Ryan from Kerry Street as many would remember!
The Square, Fethard, when all the shops were active as shops . . .
Athletes from Fethard pictured at the County Community Games Finals at Roscrea on Sunday, June 28, 1998. Back L to R: Brian Sullivan, John Noonan, Eoin Sullivan. Middle L to R: Danielle Lawrence, Stephanie Lawrence, David Sullivan, Aoife O'Keeffe. Front L to R: Sarah Gleeson, Ciara O'Keeffe and Tim Gleeson.
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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