Happy Christmas to all our readers

We take this opportunity to wish all our readers and contributors to this site a very Happy Christmas and Prosperous New Year. Your news and views are very much appreciated, and we look forward to another memorable year in 2019. As usual, items for inclusion on this site can be emailed to fethardnews@gmail.com

New Year’s Eve dancing at Fethard Ballroom
Fethard Ballroom continues its social dancing on New Year’s Eve, Monday, December 31, to the music of T.R. Dallas. 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. We take this opportunity to wish all our dancing patrons throughout the year, a very Happy New Year.

Died Recently
The death has occurred on Thursday, December 27, 2018, of Keith Dalton, Tullamaine, Fethard and formerly Bianconi Drive, Clonmel. Keith, predeceased by his father Jimmy, sisters Shirley and Jackie and brother Gerard, will be sadly missed by his mother Carmel, brothers Michael, James, Richie and John Paul, sisters Frances, Paula, Sonya, Sarah and Johann, partner Margaret, nephews, nieces, extended family and friends. Rest in Peace.

Reposing at Condons' Funeral Parlour, Clonmel on Saturday evening, December 29, from 5pm to 7.30pm. Removal on Sunday morning to St. Oliver’s Church. Funeral Mass on arrival at 12 noon followed by burial in St. Patrick’s Cemetery, Clonmel. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.

Texas Hold-Em 2018 league winner

Full group of card players that took part in the Texas Hold'em Card League at Butler's Bar Fethard. Back L to R: Keith Woodlock, John O'Meara, Kenneth O'Donnell, Tom Gilpin, Philip Butler, Stephen Harrington, Eoghan Hurley, Ronan O'Donnell. Front L to R: Darragh Corbett, Richard Hayes (league winner for 2018), Anne-Marie Butler who presented the trophy, and Niall Hayes.

Texas Hold-Em Poker continues to take place at Butlers Sports Bar every Monday night, as it has for the past 11 years now. It’s one of the few remaining games that has lasted the test of time in the area. Butlers’ game is run on a league basis with weekly top five finishers accumulating points which are totalled and played for at our end of year game. This year twelve highly skilled poker players competed for a valuable purse in the final which was played on Monday, December 17, and won for the second year running by Richie Hayes.

Butlers are actively seeking new players to participate on Monday nights. Details from anybody at Butlers Sportsbar.

Happy Birthday Teresa

Teresa Hurley celebrating her birthday with family and friends at Butler's Bar L to R: Fiona Cummins, Mary Hurley, Teresa Hurley, Concepta Hurley and Eileen Connolly.

Carol Service thanks
Many thanks to all those who attended the annual Carol Service in Holy Trinity church of Ireland on Sunday, December 16. The church was packed and everyone enjoyed the service of carols and the reading of the Christmas story. The whole congregation joined in the Carol singing which greatly contributed to the festive occasion. As usual the church was beautifully decorated with lanterns, candles, floral decorations and an outstanding Christmas tree.

Canon Fryday and the congregation would like to acknowledge the fantastic singing from The Fethard Choral group under the direction of Ann Barry and in particular the two soloists Ciarán Maguire and Paul Hayes. Their performance was greatly appreciated as it is every year. Many thanks also for the delicious refreshments that were served afterwards. Canon Fryday and the congregation would like to wish everyone a Happy New Year.

Have your say through the Diocesan Listening Process
Local parishioners are invited and welcome to have their say and help plan the future of the Diocese of Cashel and Emly. Submissions can be made online at www.cashel-emly.ie before December 31, 2018. Feedback will commence in spring 2019.

Fethard Ladies Football Medal Presentations

Fethard Ladies Football Annual Dinner Dance

Enjoying the Fethard Ladies Football Club's dinner dance are Back L to R: Teresa Harrington, Liza Ward, Tracy Ryan, Evan Delaney. Front L to R: Denise Delaney, Anna Wyse, Barbara Gunne and Annette O'Meara.


Group of Fethard girls photographed at the Fethard Ladies Football Club's dinner dance. Back L to R: Anna Prendergast, Gillian Fogarty, Kerri Doyle. Middle L to R: Kelly Ryan, Nicole Delaney, Katie Wyse. Front L to R: Anna Duggan, Meabhdh O Loughlin and Kaycie Ahearne.


Photographed at the Fethard Ladies Football Club Dinner Dance are L to R: Maura Morrissey, Willie Morrissey and Mary O'Mahoney.


Group of girls photographed at the Fethard Ladies Football Club's dinner dance. L to R: Ciara Spillane, Rachel Ryan, Gillian Burke, Ella Mai Hackett, Aine Gayson, Kerri Doyle and Eabha Ryan.


Enjoying the Fethard Ladies Football Club’s dinner dance are Back L to R: Catherine Ryan, Rebecca Kenny, Lorraine Coen, Sharon O'Meara, Kay Spillane, Imelda Ryan. Front : L to R: Bernadette O'Meara, Louise Purcell, Mick O'Mahoney and Martin Coen.


Group of girls photographed at the Fethard Ladies Football Club's dinner dance. L to R: Caoimhe O'Meara, Megan Quigley, Amy Fennelly, Sophie Delaney and Laura Kiely.


Enjoying the Fethard Ladies Football Club's dinner dance L to R: Pricilla Doyle and Patrick 'Feisty' Kerwick.


Group of girls photographed at the Fethard Ladies Football Club's dinner dance. L to R: Lauren Needham, Aine Ryan, Ella Mai Hackett and Alison Connolly.


Enjoying the Fethard Ladies Football Club's dinner dance are Back L to R: Aishling Moloney, Michael Hayes, Catherine Smith, Lorraine Collum. Front L to R: Gemma Roche, Bridget Hayes and Pricilla Doyle.


Group of girls photographed at the Fethard Ladies Football Club's dinner dance. L to R: Rachel Ryan, Gillian Burke, Ciara O'Meara, Grainne Murray, Eabha Ryan and Aine Gayson.


Enjoying the Fethard Ladies Football Club's dinner dance L to R: Paraic Spillane, Fiona Spillane. Laura Ryan, Fiona Ryan and Michael Ryan.


Group of girls photographed at the Fethard Ladies Football Club's dinner dance. L to R: Niamh Hayes, Katie Ryan, Ciara Hayes, Muireann O'Connell, Carrie Davey, Kate Davey, Lucy Spillane and Nell Spillane.

Fethard Bridge Club Results
At Fethard Bridge Club’s Christmas party held in Hotel Minella on Sunday, December 16, the following prizes were presented: 1st Gross, Rita Kane and Kay St. John; 2nd Gross, Berney Myles and Alice Quinn; 3rd Gross, Gemma Burke and Carmel Condon; 4th Gross, Anna Cooke and Bernie O’Meara; 5th Gross, Nell Broderick and David O’Meara; 1st Nett, Rita Holohan and Ellen Rochford; 2nd Nett, Mary Noland and Theresa O'Brien; 3rd Nett, Marie Delaney and Ann O’Dea; 4th Nett, Noreen Evans and Noel O’Dwyer; 5th Nett, Catherine Croke and Kathleen Maher.

Bridge resumes on January 9, 2019 at 7.15pm. Anyone looking for a partner contact Gemma Burke Tel: 086 6064148.

Great season for Fethard Ladies Rugby
What a great season so far for all the girls here at Fethard RFC. Currently our U18s are in 2nd place in the Munster league having played seven matches so far, winning six with two more league matches to play over the next four weeks. They are due to play their Munster semi-final on January 19, which will be away, details to be announced.

Our U16s are top of their Munster League with eight wins from eight matches. They are due to play their Munster semi-final on January 26 at home, details to be announced.

The U14s played in the Ireland’s ‘Give it a Try’ tournament in Dublin back in August, having great fun played over three Blitz days. They also played in the Ireland Women’s half time match in Donnybrook recently.

There will be an U14 Blitz competition over four weeks starting January 12, details to be announced and we will look to join up with another team for this tournament. Our Mini Girls in U12s, U10s and U8s have also had three fun Blitz days along with trips to Dublin for the ‘Give it a Try’ tournament in August and playing half time in Independent Park at the Munster match. They also were picked for ‘ball girl’ duty at the Munster Inter-Pros in September in Independent Park. The next Blitz days will be Saturday 26, January, 2019; Saturday, February 23, 2019; and Saturday, March 23, 2019.

A huge thanks to our coaches who tirelessly give up their time each week night and weekends for matches from August to April. Special thanks also to Jason Flannery, Pat O’Donnell, Michael Fogarty, Louise O’Donnell and Aisling Kenny.

I know we have a number of parents assisting at training and matches also and this is really appreciated. The more the merrier! We now have coaching courses available with Munster Rugby for anyone interested. We also need some referees too!

We are putting together a ‘Ladies Sevens’ in Fethard that is getting off the ground for a bit of fun and to help keep fit for those overage for U18s, for any ladies interested. We also have Over 18s’ Mixed Tag Rugby on a Monday evening at 8pm in Fethard. New members are always welcome to any of the Rugby at anytime of year in Fethard. Give It A Try!

Wonderful achievements by our five Fethard ladies
Not forgetting the wonderful achievements by our five Fethard ladies: Claire Bennett, Jen Fogarty, Kate Gayson Molloy, Faye Dowling and Orla O’Donnell, who played for Munster in the recent Inter-Pros championships. We all enjoyed cheering them on in September. Well done girls and we wish them continued success with their rugby careers.

Dubai 7s World Competition.
Congratulations to Dorothy Wall for her continued success with the Ireland Sevens Squad and well done recently in the Dubai 7s World Competition. It is wonderful to watch Dorothy and her teammates progressing on their trips around the World.

Finally, congratulations to our large number of Fethard Girls who played with their School, Rockwell, recently on winning the All Ireland 7s Rugby Finals up in Donnybrook Dublin, in the Junior Cup Team captained by Kate Flannery and Senior Plate Captained by Faye Dowling. Keep up the great work to all Girls. The world is your oyster as Dorothy has shown!

If you or your daughter is interested in startling up Rugby, our training times for girls U8, U10, 12, and U14 are: Mondays from 7.30pm to 8.30pm; and Fridays from 6.45pm to 8pm. Training for U16s and U18s are: Mondays from 7.30pm to 8.30pm; and Fridays from 8pm to 9pm. Training for both nights will be held in Fethard Community Sports Field. So why not ‘Give it a Try’ this year. New members are always welcome. For any enquires please contact Polly Murphy on Tel: 086 3394959

Fethard & Killusty Community Lotto
The numbers drawn on December 19, were: 12, 19, 21 and 27. There was no jackpot winner and one ‘Match Three’ winner who received €150: Paddy Tobin, The Commons, Thurles.

The following three ‘Lucky Dip’ winners also received €50 each: Michael Sheehan, Killusty, Fethard; Susan Sayers, Crampscastle, Fethard; and Richard Allen, Cashel Road, Fethard.

Christmas Prizes of Turkeys and Hams
The three extra draw winners of a Christmas Turkey were: Majella Daly, Strylea, Fethard; Monica O'Shea, Woodvale Walk, Fethard; and Niall Connolly, c/o Eileen Connolly. Three winners of a Christmas Ham were: Michael Russell, c/o Seamus Moloney; Bridget Sheehan, Killusty, Fethard; and Bernard O'Donnell, Woodvale Walk, Fethard.

We would like to say a sincere thank you for your support in 2018 and we look forward to your continued support in 2019. A very Happy and prosperous New Year to all.

Fethard & Killusty Emigrants’ Newsletter on sale

Fethard & Killusty Emigrants Newsletter is selling well and now available in the following local shops at €12 each, Butler’s Bar & Off Licence, Centra Supermarket (The Green), Daybreak Supermarket (Kerry Street), Fethard Horse Country Experience (Town Hall), Annie’s (Burke Street) and Post Office (Main Street). Copies were posted last week to Fethard emigrants living throughout the world.

We take this opportunity to thank everyone who supported us with donations and help throughout the year and make this annual publication possible and wish all our readers a very Happy Christmas and Prosperous New Year.

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

These are a selection of photographs taken in 1999 . . .


Pictured above and below are pupils from Nano Nagle Primary School in Fethard who planted a 'Tree for Peace' on Wednesday, April 21, 1999. The tree was presented by the School's Parents' Council as part of a national tree planting project dedicated to peace and the victims of Omagh. Every primary school community, parents, teachers and children, were asked to plant and nurture a 'peace tree' in their school or locality.

Marian Gilpin and John Fogarty in a scene from The Hogan Musical Society’s production of ‘Fiddler on the Roof’ in March 1999.


Kathleen Bradshaw and Eileen Burke in a scene from The Hogan Musical Society’s production of ‘Fiddler on the Roof’ in March 1999.


Photographed outside Newports Shop on St. Patrick’s Day, 1999 are L to R: Mamie Morrissey, Sarah Mullins, Berna Morrissey and Geraldine Maher.


Photographed on St. Patrick’s Day, 1999 are L to R: Mossie Hayes and Theresa Cummins


Photographed on St. Patrick’s Day, 1999 are L to R: Ned Donovan and Jack Maher.


Members of the children’s choir on St. Patrick’s Day, 1999.


Members of the children’s choir on St. Patrick’s Day, 1999.


Members of the children’s choir on St. Patrick’s Day, 1999


Organist, Goldie Newport on St. Patrick’s Day, 1999.

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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