The late Michael O’Donnell, Kilnockin, Fethard
The death has occurred on Friday, November 9, 2018, of Michael O'Donnell, Ex Post Master, Carrick-on-Suir, Tipperary, and formerly of Hill Cottage, Owning, and Kilnockin, Fethard.

Michael was a founder member of Fethard Historical Society in 1988 and contributed a vast collection of Fethard material to the society that he had meticulously researched over many years from his early teens. On August 21, 2010, Michael published a definitive history of Fethard entitled, 'Fethard, Co. Tipperary 1200-2000', in the Abymill Theatre, that received great reviews academically and socially. Michael was also a regular contributor of articles to the annual Tipperary Historical Journal and the Fethard & Killusty Emigrants Newsletter.

Michael is deeply regretted by his loving wife Kitty, sons Donogh (Australia), Eoin (Ballingarry), daughter Brid (Meath), daughters-in-law Deirdre and Ann, son-in-law Philip, grandchildren Conor, Emma, Aideen, Adam, Sarah, LilyKate, Emily, Jane, sisters Ann and Mary, sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law relatives and friends. Predeceased by his grandchild James. May he rest in peace.

Reposing at Walsh's Funeral Home, Carrick-on-Suir on Monday evening from 5.30pm followed by removal at 7pm to Owning Church. Requiem Mass on Tuesday at 11am, followed by burial in the adjoining cemetery. Family flowers only, please, donations to St Brigid's Hospice, Carrick-on-Suir.

Fethard Bridge Club Results
On Wednesday, October 24, we played for Halloween prizes and the results were: 1st Gross, Tony Hanrahan and Keith Woodlock; 2nd Gross, Gemma Burke and Betty Walsh; 3rd Gross, Rita Kane and Kay St. John; 1st Nett, Carmel Condon and Eileen Frewen; 2nd Nett, Anna Cooke and Bernie O'Meara; 3rd Nett, Margaret Slattery and Mike Burke.

Bridge starts at 7.15pm. Anyone looking for a partner contact Gemma Burke 086-6064148.

The late Pat Shine, formerly Crampscastle, Fethard

Pat Shine photographed with his late wife Josie, at one of the last Fethard London Reunions in 2004

The death has occurred, peacefully, in England on Wednesday, November 7, 2018, of Pat Shine, Waltham Cross, Herts, England, and formerly Crampscastle, Fethard. Pat, comes from a family of five, three brothers and two sisters, and he moved to England over 60 years ago, where he and his late wife, Josie, organised the Fethard London Reunion for many years in London's Camden Town. Pat was extraordinarily passionate about his home town and a regular visitor to his many friends in Fethard.

Our deepest sympathy is extended to Pat’s four children, Patricia, Chris, Maria and Liam, and his sisters, Peg (Cappamore, Co. Limerick) and Mary (Gawler, South Australia); his extended family and friends. Pat’s brothers, Denis (London) and Tom (Cahir), are both deceased.

Patrick Shine’s body will be received on Monday, November 19, at 3pm in the Church of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception & St Joseph, 204 High Street, Waltham Cross, Herts, EN8 7DP. Requiem Mass takes place on Tuesday, November 20, at 10am followed by burial at Cheshunt Cemetery, Bury Green Road, EN7 5AG. Celebration follows at Cheshunt Park Golf Centre (The Place), Park Lane, Cheshunt, EN7 6QD. After the Requiem Mass anyone not attending the burial is welcome to go straight to the Golf Club at midday. Family flowers only please.

Fethard ICA Meeting
The next meeing of Fethard ICA will take place on this coming Tuesday night, November 13, at 8pm in the ICA Hall on Rocklow Road. Guest speaker this month is Dolores Costigan and catering by the 'blue group'.  Our craft night continues on a Monday nights from 7.30pm to 9.30pm all are welcome.

Fethard Firsts record second victory in Munster Junior Division 2

The Fethard 'firsts' that have defeated Old Christians and Cobh Pirates in the last two weeks.

Fethard firsts having been newly promoted to Munster junior division 2 recorded their second win in as many weeks when they showed amazing heart to grind out a 10-8 win over Cobh Pirates in Cobh on Sunday last. From the drop off, Tomas Keavney gathered and ploughed into the big Cobh pack. Michael Gaynor and Mark Ronan were in support and Fethard were soon in the opposition 22, constant pressure from Fethard saw the home team knock on and the quick-thinking Tim Daly was on hand to touch down. Josef O’Connor landed the conversion. The very mobile back row of Chris Large, Justin Carey and Andrew Phelan dominated open play and some great defence by the home side just held them out. Cobh did land a penalty on half time to leave it 7-3 to Fethard at half time.

October Sports Achievement Award won by Paul McCarthy

Winner of the Fethard Sports Achievement Award for October was Paul McCarthy who had a podium finish at the final round of the European Drifting championships and also secured 4th place overall in Ireland for 2018. Paul, who is currently touring China, was unable to attend so the award was presented to his parents, Mary and Michael McCarthy, by this month's sponsor Des O'Meara (right), who runs a Physiotherapy Clinic at Tullamaine, Fethard and Waterford City.

The winner of the Butler’s Bar Sports Achievement Award for October was Paul McCarthy, Monroe, Fethard. Paul had a podium finish at the final round of the European Drifting championships and he also secured 4th place overall in Ireland for 2018. The award was presented to Paul’s parents Mary and Michael McCarthy, by this month’s sponsor Des O'Meara, who runs a Physiotherapy Clinic at Tullamaine, Fethard and Waterford City.

The ‘Mentor of the Month’ award was won by Martin O’Keeffe, Tipperary Raceway. Martin, is Head Steward at Tipperary Raceway, a mentor to younger drivers and head of the Raceway's Red Cross.


Mentor of the Month award was won by Martin O'Keeffe (left), Tipperary Raceway, presented by this month's sponsor Des O'Meara, who runs a Physiotherapy Clinic at Tullamaine, Fethard and Waterford City. The winner, Martin, is Head Steward at Tipperary Raceway, mentor to younger drivers and head of the Raceway's Red Cross.

The other nominees for the October Award were: Fethard U16 Gaelic Football Team who were winners of the county title by beating Loughmore in the final by 1 point in a fantastic game of football; Carla Costigan Blake, who was winner of the ladies prize at the international Skate fishing competition held in Westport Co. Mayo; Declan Walsh, overall winner at the International Skate fishing competition; Mark O’Meara who won a four-medal haul, 1 gold, 2 silver and 1 bronze, at the Munster Development Level 1 Swimming Gala in Tipp town; Ray O’Connor who had his first winner as an owner when his horse ‘The Galant Way’, trained by Harry Kelly, won at Tinahely Point-to-Point.


Photographed at the presentation of the Fethard Sports Achievement Award for October are L to R: Martin O'Keeffe, Breda O'Keeffe, Brian Harvey and Anita Manton.

Nominations for the November Award are now being taken at Butler’s Bar.

Fethard Golf Challenge Cup

Golf Challenge Cup winning team receiving the cup from Mouse Morris: John Hurley, Denis Burke, James Smith, Ronan Allen, Paul Kenny, Ollie Woodlock and Bobby O’Lone. Missing from photo are: Stephen O’Donnell, Arron Kelly ,Dan Hartnett , Christine Healy and Kenneth Horgan.

On Saturday October 27, Michael Mouse Morris presented the 'Fethard Challenge Cup' to Bobby O’Leone, captain of Burkes Bar Golf team. The local Pub Society Golf Competition, played at Slievenamon Golf Club, had four teams entered: The Well Bar, Burkes Bar, McCarthys Bar and Butler Sports Bar.

Winning Inscribed Medals were presented to: Denis Burke, Christine Healy, Dan Hartnett, Ollie Woodlock, Bobby O’Leone, Ronan Allen, James Smyth, Kenneth Horgan, Stephen O'Donnell, John Hurley, Paul Kenny and Arron Kelly.

County Final for Fethard Ladies Football

Fethard U19 Ladies Football Team crowned County Champions following their seven-point win over Moyle Rovers in the county final played in Littleton, on a scoreline of Fethard 1-13 to Moyle Rovers 0-09.

The U19s brought down the curtain on another historic year for Fethard Ladies Football when they had a seven-point win over Moyle Rovers in the county final played in Littleton, on a scoreline of Fethard 1-13 to Moyle Rovers 0-09.

This was a tough game of football where a lightning start by the Fethard girls in the first half gave them an 8-point advantage at half time and this cushion proved the difference in the finish. Moyle Rovers came back strong in the 2nd half but couldn’t get the scores needed as some great Fethard defending stifled several Moyle Rovers attacks.


Captain Megan Coen accepting the cup from Olive McDonnell.


Kate Davey who got player of the match.

Megan Coen, who played a captain’s part and showed great leadership throughout the year, accepted the John O’Donovan Cup on behalf of a jubilant Fethard team and the excellent Kate Davey received the ‘player of the match’ award.

Annual Dinner Dance
The club will hold their Dinner Dance and Medal Presentation of U14 and U17 Division 1 League medals, U16 A, U19 A county medals and Intermediate Championship medals by Tipperary All-Star nominee Aishling Moloney, in the Clonmel Park Hotel on Saturday November 17, commencing at 7.30pm. Tickets are available from committee members.

€4,167.88 raised at ‘Cups for Cancer’ Coffee Morning

Catriona Boland and Mary Shelly with the proceeds from their ‘Cups for Cancer’ fundraiser in aid of Irish Cancer Society held in Fethard on Friday, October 19.

A coffee morning, hosted by Mary Shelly and Catriona Boland on Friday, October 19, was held at Fethard Horse Country Experience in aid of the national ‘Cups for Cancer’ appeal, coinciding with Breast Cancer Awareness month. The event was a huge success raising €4,167.88 for the charity, which included the proceeds of a non-uniform day at Holy Trinity National School where Mary and Catriona both attended school in their early years. Breast Cancer is the second most common Cancer affecting women in Ireland, but events like this ensure that lifesaving research and support services continue for affected breast cancer patients.


Helping at the 'Cups Against Breast Cancer' Coffee Morning at the Fethard Horse Country Experience in aid of the Irish Cancer Society ate L to R: Catriona Boland, Martina O'Connell, Mary Shelly, Eileen Connolly and Catherine O'Loughlin.

Mary and Catriona would like to thank everyone who supported, baked and donated to this event, and a special thanks to all the local businesses who donated spot prizes for the raffle and to all who helped in any way on the day.


Helping at the 'Cups Against Breast Cancer' Coffee Morning at the Fethard Horse Country Experience in aid of the Irish Cancer Society ate L to R: Kevin Shelly, Mary Shelly, Kathleen Connolly, Ciara Connolly and William Connolly.

Winners of the raffle were: Theresa Clancy, Annmarie Kenny, Sean O’Loughlin, Cathal Brett, Ann Marie Ryan, David O’Meara, Elaine Bannon, Ailish O’Brien, Paula Ryan, Margaret Dorney, Chrissie Cummins, Mary O’Connor, Noreen Hackett and Caroline Quinlan. Thank you for choosing to make a difference this October!

Social dancing at Fethard Ballroom
Fethard Ballroom continues its social dancing on this coming Sunday night, November 11, to the very popular music of ‘Peter Burke’. 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 Players are ‘The Real McCoy’


Fethard Players production of the hilarious comedy, 'It's The Real McCoy’, produced by Marian Gilpin, will be staged in the Abymill Theatre from Tuesday, November 20, to Saturday, November 24, and booking is now open at Tel: 085 2338513.

Stacking the Coffins
The Fethard Historical Society presents ‘Stacking the Coffins, Influenza, War and Revolution in Ireland 1918-1919’, a lecture by Dr. Ida Milne at 8pm in the ICA Hall, Fethard on Thursday, November 15. Admission €4. Please note it is advisable to park on the Main Street.

Dr. Milne’s lecture is based on her book of the same name which tells the story of the Spanish Flu in Ireland in 1918 that killed 23,000 Irish people and made an estimated 800,000 people ill on the island. It permeated every layer of society and decimated whole communities. Ida’s research included interviews with people who had experienced the pandemic as children and her lecture relates the extraordinary stories of death and survival in Ireland from this, the world’s largest killing influenza epidemic.

As she herself says, “So many people are curious about the pandemic, particularly if they find out that one of their family died from it. It had an enormous impact on Irish society, often changing the course of family life.”

Ida’s book was nominated for the Royal Irish Academy’s inaugural €10,000 Michel Déon Prize for the best work of non-fiction by a writer living in Ireland. She appeared on a recent episode of RTÉ’s Who do You Think You Are? to explain the impact of the Spanish Flu in inner city Dublin.

The Fethard Historical Society is delighted to welcome Dr. Milne to Fethard and we look forward to what promises to be a most illuminating insight into a tragic event in Irish history.

St. Patrick’s Place Reunion
The next meeting of St. Patrick’s Place Reunion will take place on Tuesday, November 13, at 8.30pm in the Tirry Community Centre, Barrack Street, and all are welcome to come along.

November Cemetery Rosary Programme
Rosaries for the Holy Souls will be recited in the following cemeteries during the month of November. Sunday, November 11: Calvary Cemetery at 3pm; and Peppardstown Cemetery at 3.45pm. Sunday, November 18: Rathcoole Cemetery at 2.30pm; Tullamaine Cemetery at 3.30pm; and Redcity Cemetery at 3pm. Sunday, November 25: Killusty Cemetery after 10am Mass (approx 10.30am); Kiltinan Cemetery at 2.30pm; and Kilmaclugh Cemetery at 3.15pm.

Fethard & Killusty Community Lotto
The numbers drawn on October 31, were: 4, 5, 13 and 23. There was no jackpot winner and no ‘Match Three’ winner so the following three drawn tickets received €50 each: Michael Russell, c/o Seamus Moloney; Kate O'Shea, Woodvale Walk, Fethard; and J.P. McGrath, Clerihan.

The following three ‘Lucky Dip’ winners also received €50 each: Sarah Standbridge, Saucestown, Fethard; Denis O'Meara, St. Patricks Place, Fethard; and Marie O'Sullivan, Main Street, Fethard.

Next week’s draw takes place on Wednesday, November 7. 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, November 2, were: 8, 19, 22 and 35. There was no jackpot winner and one ‘match three’ winner who received €100: Lorena Lawrence, Woodvale Walk, Fethard. Two lucky dip winners received €25: Paul O’Meara, The Green, Fethard; and Darragh Hurley, Strylea, Fethard.

The next draw takes place on Friday, November 9, in Burke’s Bar at 7.30pm, when the jackpot is €20,000 and the seller's 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.

Emigrants Newsletter Donations
Reminder to get all your club reports, photographs and articles in as soon as possible it they are to be included in this year’s issue of the Fethard & Killusty Emigrants’ Newsletter.

We would like to thank sincerely all who contributed to our Church Gate Collection last weekend. A total of €1,025.50 was collected for which we are most grateful.

Donations can also be given to Carmel Rice or Joe Kenny or online at: https://fethard.com/donate/ and all donations of €10 and over will be acknowledged in this year’s Newsletter.

You can make a secure donation by Credit Card or PayPal by clicking the 'DONATE' link below.

New Addresses
If you have relatives abroad that you wish to receive the newsletter you can also send us their address by email to: emigrantsnewsletter@gmail.com or hand them in to Joe Kenny, Rocklow Road, or Carmel Rice, Brookhill, 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


Corpus Christi Procession in the Abbey Grounds 1953


Fethard Confraternity Band in the early 1920s. Back L to R: Mickey Gunne, Billy Mackey, Mickey Casey, Mickey Conway, Tom Hickey, Jack Dwyer, Johnny Croke, Ned Cummins, Connie Fitzgerald. Middle L to R: Paddy Dwyer, John Sayers, Willie Weston, Mickey Hickey. Front L to R: Rev. Fr. Noonan, Mick Sheedy, Johnny Fitzgerald, Tommy Wall and Tom Sheehan.

Dawn Foods Production Line 1995 L to R: Marian Thompson, Ann Looby, Annette Fox, David Purcell and John Kelly.


Fethard Minor Hurling Team beaten in the 1947 Final by Ballybacon at Clonmel. Back L to R: Mikie Cummins, Paddy O’Sullivan, Seán O’Donnell, Bobbie Hall, Joe O’Donnell, Michael Quirke, Tony Newport, Michael Henehan, Jimmy O’Donnell. Front: P. Shanahan, Joe Clarke, Richard Quirke, Cly Mullins, Willie Morrissey, Buddy Sayers, Jim Barry and Seán Walsh.


Fethard ICA Choir winners of the Rural Choir Competition for Small Towns at the Cork Municipal School of Music in April 1964. Back L to R: Mrs Lawless, Maggie Fox, ?, Alice Stapleton, Helen Lawless, Nellie Tobin, Bernie Whyte. Middle L to R: Helen O’Connell, Josie Casey, Olivia Hughes, Mrs Hazelton, Goldie Newport, Mrs Madigan, Jill Maher. Front L to R: Chrissie Byrne, ?, Colm Cleary, La Walsh and Mary Byard.


1995 Killusty National School Infant Class taking a break L to R: DavidLee, Sineád Lee, Samantha Feery and Lorraine Feery.


Ex-Servicemens Harness Making Class in Clonmel

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