Fethard, one of five Ballybrilliant towns in Ireland

Fethard Town Hall and Horse Country Experience featuring in The Heritage Council’s booklet ‘Ballybrilliant: Heritage-led Regeneration in 5 Irish Towns’.
In a new colourful fifty-page booklet entitled, ‘Ballybrilliant: Heritage-led Regeneration in 5 Irish Towns’, Fethard has featured as one of five towns in Ireland chosen as case-studies of heritage-led regeneration. The imaginary name ‘Ballybrilliant’ was created to celebrate the efforts of local communities, often in the face of adversity, to promote heritage-led regeneration in their towns.
The ‘Ballybrilliant’ booklet was published by The Heritage Council as their contribution to ‘European Year of Culture 2018’. The five towns included are Fethard, Youghal, Westport, Tramore and Carlingford. The publication is both an acknowledgement of the actual real-life contribution that ‘heritage’ has in these five towns, and also looks at the great possibilities for the future, if done right. Westport, Co. Mayo, is the shining light as how a small town can become a major ‘tourism hot-spot’ through the aegis of good planning, focusing on preserving what is good and revamping or eliminating what is bad.
Talk in the Abymill on Tuesday, April 30
Liam Mannix of the Heritage Council is coming to the Abymill Theatre in Fethard, on Tuesday, April 30, at 8.30pm to give a talk and to have a discussion on the whole topic of ‘Urban regeneration in Irish Towns’. Anyone with an interest in life, business and recreation in Fethard is encouraged to come and hear what the Heritage Council has to say, and in turn, inform and enlighten the Heritage Council as to what Fethard people think are the real issues at ground level in a small Irish town.
Liam Mannix is Project Manager of the Irish Walled Towns Network (IWTN), also part of The Heritage Council. Fethard Historical Society, as local contact for the IWTN, are hosting the evening, to continue the discussion as to what is best for the town of Fethard in terms of business, tourism and most importantly ‘life in general’ for the people of the town and area.
Common Mistakes in Urban Planning
The title of Liam Mannix’s talk is ‘Common Mistakes in Urban Planning’, and having travelled widely in Ireland and Europe in his role as manager of Irish Walled Towns Network, he is very well placed to have seen what has worked and what is to be avoided.
Fethard, over recent decades, has seen all sides of ‘the good, the bad and the ugly’ but most would agree that Fethard is now in better shape than it was thirty or more years ago.
Apart from the physical appearance of the town there is one really big question, “Is Fethard now a better place to live for the young and old, than it was 30 years ago?” This question and other important issues can also be discussed on the night.
Tourism and Business
Tourism has been a ‘slow burner’ since the Historical Society first began to promote heritage and tourism at its founding in 1988. Since then we most acknowledge the many great achievements though the hard work of many organisations in the town. The list includes Town Wall renovations, the Valley Park and Footbridge, Abymill Theatre, the Ballroom, Convent Youth Centre, Fethard Playground and Park, sport facilities, river walks and more recently, the restoration of the Town Hall and the instillation of the Fethard Horse Country Experience. As we speak, the East Gate Park in Burke Street is taking shape and is exposing another hidden section of the Town Wall – one step further to completing ‘The Round the Wall Walk’, that may become a great new amenity in the town.
All invited and welcome
The Heritage Council is the national body that advises the Government on all things to do with the natural and man-made Heritage of Ireland, so this is a great opportunity for Fethard people to hear first-hand what the current thinking is on people, place and planning.
All are invited and more than welcome to come along to the Abymill Theatre at 8.30pm on Tuesday 30, to this free event. Refreshments served. For further information contact: history@fethard.com or Tel: 087 9305232
A warm welcome for Fethard Visitors

Catherine Tiljak (née Roberts) photographed with her husband George Tiljak and her brother Jim Roberts (right) photographed on a visit home to Fethard from South Australia. Catherine and Jim's mother was the late Alice Roberts (née O'Flynn), daughter of Kitty and Mick O'Flynn from The Green Fethard.

Members of the Morris family photographed with neighbours from The Green, Fethard, when they were children. They were home to visit their Fethard friends and call to their mother, Molly Morris's grave in Calvary Cemetery, Fethard. Back L to R: Michael McCarthy, Gemma Burke, Tony McCarthy, Joe Kenny, Margaret O'Donnell, Brendan Kenny. Front L to R: Michael Morris, Edel Morris and Kathleen Lambadis (née Morris).
Social dancing at Fethard Ballroom
Fethard Ballroom continues its social dancing on Sunday, April 28, to the music of ‘Finbar Dennehy’. 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. For further information or for booking the ballroom, contact Eileen Coady, Tel: 086 0776420 Email: eileencoady@hotmail.com
Senior Day at Fethard Day Care Centre
The Fethard & District Day Care Centre are holding a Senior Day on Friday, April 26, from 10am. The chiropodist is in attendance. All seniors welcome.
Died Recently
The death has occurred on Sunday, April 28, 2019, of Chrissie Murphy (née Maher), Burke Street, Fethard. Chrissie, wife of the late Paddy, died peacefully in the loving care of the nurses and staff of Melview Nursing Home, Clonmel. She will be sadly missed by her daughter Marie, her son Donal, grandchildren Aine, Sean, Cahal, and Dara, daughter-in-law Deirdre, relatives and friends.
Reposing at McCarthy's Funeral Home, Fethard, on Monday, April 29, from 5.30pm with removal to the Holy Trinity Parish Church, Fethard, at 7pm. Funeral Mass on Tuesday at 11am followed by burial in Calvary Cemetery. May she rest in peace.
Fethard Historical Society AGM
The Annual General Meeting, 2019, of the Fethard Historical Society takes place next Tuesday, April 30, at 7.30pm, Abymill Theatre (upstairs). New members are very welcome to attend the AGM.
Membership Fees are: Individual €7 and Family €10. This will be a short AGM, finishing at 8.15pm and followed at 8.30pm by a public talk by Liam Mannix of the Heritage Council on the subject of ‘Planning and Urban Regeneration’. Refreshments will be served. For further information contact: email: history@fethard.com or Tel: 087 9009722.
The Lenten Fire

Candle flickering gently in a tomb recess in the ruined chancel of Holy Trinity, (Church of Ireland) Fethard on Good Friday.
We all know that strange things happen in graveyards – not least Protestant graveyards – and particularly around medieval churches at night. And so it was only a little strange for a local photographer to come upon a candle flickering gently in a tomb recess in the ruined chancel of Holy Trinity, (Church of Ireland) Fethard on Good Friday.
The chancel in Fethard is no longer in use and has been without a roof for some 200 years and so Church of Ireland services take place in the medieval nave. But the chancel was originally the holiest part of this former Roman Catholic church, blocked off (before the time of Henry VIII) by a wooden ‘rood screen’ and only accessible to the clergy for the purpose of performing the holy offices. As the photograph shows, someone in our own time has lit a candle and taken the trouble to place this candle within the thirteenth century tomb niche at the north side of the site of the medieval altar.
Might this candle be a reference to the mysterious ritual of the three seekers and the angel that celebrated the resurrection of Jesus Christ on Easter Day? Might this forgotten niche turn out to be an ‘Easter Sepulchre’ – the empty tomb into which the host was wrapped in cloth and ‘buried’ on Holy Thursday? Candles would have been lit and an unbroken vigil undertaken until the Lamb of God was revealed at the dawn service on Easter Day as proof of Christ’s sacrifice and rebirth.
Easter was the holiest time in the medieval calendar and the cult of the sepulchre is thought to have arrived in Ireland from the great Norman capital of Rouen by way of Salisbury in the last decade of the twelfth century. There is only one known Easter Sepulchre in Ireland and that is at St Multose’s (1190 A.D.) in the Norman town of Kinsale. But could this unassuming niche be another unknown treasure of the walled town?
The late Fr. Abe Kennedy
The death has occurred on Tuesday, April 23, 2019, of Fr. Abe Kennedy P.P., Duniry, Loughrea, Galway, and formerly Burke Street, Fethard, unexpectedly but peacefully in the presence of his loving family and under the sensitive care of the staff of St. Lawrence's Ward, Beaumont Hospital.
Fr. Abe, predeceased by his father Sean and mother Angela, is deeply missed by his sisters Mary and June, their partners Marc and Tom, his nieces Clodagh and Audrey, nephews Bill and Mark, grandnieces Laura, Jess, Becky, Caoimhe and Ellie, grandnephew Kealan, Bishop Kirby and the priests of the Diocese of Clonfert. Abe will be an enormous loss to his extended family, large circle of friends, the parish of Abbey-Duniry and communities in Portumna and Fethard.
Reposing on Tuesday, April 23, in the Church of the Holy Family, Duniry from 8pm, with prayers at 10pm. Reposing also on Wednesday from 10am with Mass at 2pm followed by further reposal until 5pm.
Reposing in Fethard Parish Church
Reposing in Holy Trinity Parish Church, Fethard, on Thursday, April 25, from 10.30am. Funeral Mass at 12 noon with burial afterwards in Calvary Cemetery.
A light has gone out in all our lives. Rest in Peace Abe.
Fr. Abe Kennedy's Funeral Mass Live Recordings
CLICK HERE to view live video recordings of Fr. Abe's Funeral Mass in Fethard Parish Church. CLICK HERE and scroll down the page to 'Recordings' and you will see two video recordings of the Funeral Mass in Fethard Parish Church, on Thursday, April 25, 2019.
A Great Night of Popular Music

South Tipperary Art Group presents 'A Great Night of Popular Music' at Old St. Mary's Church, Clonmel, on Saturday, May 4, starting at 7.30pm. Proceeds will go to two charities, Sanie's Trust and Clonmel Daffodil Day Fund (Cancer Night Nurses). All performers are giving their time and voices free for the charities involved, which we appreciate so much! Please come along and if at all possible, bring your friends.
Fethard & Killusty Community Lotto
The numbers drawn on Wednesday, April 17, were: 2, 15, 18 and 24. There was no jackpot winner and no ‘Match Three’ winner so the following drawn tickets received €50 each: Thelma Coen, Clonbrogan Court, Moyglass; Roseann Carroll, Lonergans Bar, Fethard; and Mary Morgan, c/o Tirry Centre.
The following three ‘Lucky Dip’ winners also received €50 each: Danny Croke, Castlequarter, Killenaule; Patsy Lawrence, Woodvale Walk, Fethard; and Pauline Morrissey, St. Patricks Place, Fethard.
Next week’s draw takes place on Wednesday, April 24. 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.
Community Games consent forms

Fethard U14 Camogie team that won their Community Games elimination round.
Please submit your completed Consent Forms for all players must be returned to managers Paul Hayes, Michaél Spillane or Sandra Spillane, as soon as possible to comply with regulations. The Community Games organising committee would also be glad to have offers of assistance for our Area Athletics Finals which must take place before mid-May.

Fethard U16 Girls football team who won their elimination round in Community Games
This year the County Finals will be held back in Templemore on Sunday, June 2.

Fethard U10 Football boys that beat Cashel Rosegreen in round one, Killenaule Moyglass in round two, and are now in round three, only a step away from the south final.
GAA Sports Development Lotto
The numbers drawn on Friday, April 19, were: 15, 16, 25 and 31. There was no jackpot winner and no ‘match three’ winner. One lucky dip winner received €50: Mary Hurley, Fethard. Two lucky dip winners received €25 each: Russell O'Meara, Strylea; and David Nolan, Clonmel. Prize winners in our Easter Draw were: €500 to Sinead O Brien, Clonmel; €25 to Monica Pollard, Rocklow Road; €50 each to the following: Mary O'Dwyer, Killenaule; Denis O’Donovan, Jossestown; Anna Prendergast, St Rita's Camogie Club; Teresa Hurley, Strylea; and Molly Stapleton, LGFC.
The next draw takes place on Friday, April 26, in Burke’s Bar at 7.30pm, when the jackpot is €21,100 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.
St. Vincent de Paul
Families that may need help with this year’s First Communion expenses are asked to contact any committee member of the Fethard St. Vincent de Paul or Denis Burke at Tel: 085 8086099.
Bicentennial of Holy Trinity Parish Church
This is a very special year for Fethard as we celebrate the Bicentennial of Holy Trinity Parish Church.
In 1802, Fr. John Ryan came to Fethard and undertook the building of a new church within the walls of the town. The site for the new church was donated by Mr William Barton of Grove, who also donated one hundred guineas towards the building costs. The building work began on April 2, 1818, and Mr William Barton was invited to lay the foundation stone of the new church on April 26. The Church opened with the celebration of the first Mass on Trinity Sunday 1819. Although the church had officially opened on Trinity Sunday 1819, it was far from fully finished. When Fr. Michael Laffan succeeded Fr. Ryan as Parish Priest in 1823, he undertook the completion of Holy Trinity Church. The floor was paved with stone flags, the front gallery was erected, and the church was painted and decorated. Towards the end of the century, a number of parishioners became benefactors of the church.
A booklet will be produced later this year to commemorate the Bicentennial of Holy Trinity Parish Church and the organising committee are very interested in receiving any information or photographs that can be used in this publication.
Fethard Festival date set for Sunday, June 16
This year’s Fethard Festival Family Fun Day has now been set and will take place on Sunday, June 16, with the usual fun of the fair by the Town Wall park beside the river Clashawley, with live music and lots of stalls! Other events over the weekend will be announced closer to the date.
For those living away from Fethard, this may be the opportunity to plan your holiday around June 16, when you will see Fethard at its best along with the thousands who attend the Fethard Festival and associated events every year. Mark the date in your diary!
‘No show like a Joe show’ at Fethard Ballroom

The Drifters showband, featuring Joe Dolan and his brother Ben Dolan, as they appeared in the New Spotlight Annual 1967. Fethard Ballroom welcomes back Joe Dolan’s family and his original band to take the stage again in Fethard on Saturday, May 4, at 8pm, when they proudly present ‘Remembering Joe’ The Joe Dolan Show -As it Was!

Members of Fethard Ballroom's organising committee for the 'Remembering Joe' show in Fethard Ballroom on Saturday, May 4, featuring the original Joe Dolan Band. Tickets at €25 are available from Fethard Post Office and Marian's Clonmel. Bar extension and disco to follow. L to R: Seamus Barry (Chairman Fethard Ballroom), Eileen Frewen, Sean O'Donovan, Anne Nevin and Michael O'Rahilly.
In Fethard Ballroom’s heyday, in the 1970s, there was one popular man who always pulled the crowds, in fact, we’re told by the manager of The Country Club, as it was known then, that Joe Dolan packed in 1,400 supporters to the hall, a record attendance never to be broken. Those who were lucky to be present at that dance will remember, there was no room to dance, and hardly room to move.
Joe Dolan was loved throughout Ireland and broke many hearts when he died suddenly on December 26, 2007. His family and band members have continued to play music in memory of Joe and these touring shows popularity continues to grow wherever they appear.

The Drifters showband, featuring Joe Dolan and his brother Ben Dolan, as they appeared in the New Spotlight Annual 1967. Fethard Ballroom welcomes back Joe Dolan’s family and his original band to take the stage again in Fethard on Saturday, May 4, at 8pm, when they proudly present ‘Remembering Joe’ The Joe Dolan Show - As it Was!
Fethard Ballroom welcomes back Joe Dolan’s family and his original band to take the stage again in Fethard on Saturday, May 4, at 8pm, when they proudly present ‘Remembering Joe’ The Joe Dolan Show -As it Was! Staring, Ben Dolan, Adrian Dolan, Ray Dolan, Sandra Dolan and Karen Carroll. Tickets at €25 are now on sale and can be purchased at Fethard Post Office and Marian’s Clonmel. This show will invoke many memories of the ‘Showband Era’ where romance flourished without a bar extension. But moving on with modern times, Fethard Ballroom will also provide a bar extension on this special occasion, with a disco to follow.
Proceeds of this event will go towards the Ballroom Committee’s maintenance of the roof, leading to many more years’ dancing in our very unique ‘Ballroom of Romance’.
Celebrating the bicentenary of Holy Trinity Parish Church
In preparation for our booklet celebrating the bicentenary of Holy Trinity Parish Church in Fethard, we are seeking any early photographs of events at the parish church, such as weddings, first communions, confirmations altar boy groups, Children of Mary and Mens Sodality groups.
All photographs will be scanned and returned. The oldest photos will be included in the booklet and the rest placed on exhibition. Photos maybe also emailed to fethard@mac.com The deadline for sending photographs is April 15, 2019.
Faces and Places from the Past
The following are a selection of photographs of faces and places taken in our locality that may bring back memories to many of our readers and visitors to fethard.com Please send any comments or photo information, names and event, to fethardnews@gmail.com
For Facebook members, many of these photos are also published on Fethard Faces and Places from the Past page. This Facebook page is used for sharing old Fethard photographs with members of the group and is open to anyone interested in joining.

Patrician Presentation Secondary School Transition Year cast photographed after their performance of 'Grease' in the Abymill Theatre, January 1997.

Nellie Fitzgerald photographed on Gus Murray's motorbike with Kitty Flynn on the back, looking on is May Wall (left) and Nora Burke (right). Taken 15th September 1959.

"Fairyland Frolic' entry in Fethard Carnival Fancy Dress Parade.

Sheila and Michael O'Donnell (Mary Flynn's children) photographed with Brendan Kenny, Don McCarthy, Marie Scanlon, Cathy Trehy and Norma Hanrahan playing in the wooden crates at the back of Mick Trehy's garage, July 1959.

Clonmel Races - Morris Oil Steeplechase winner presentation
of trophy to Patsy O’Keane winning owner of ‘Royal Mountbrowne’, who was ridden by Charlie Swan in the Morris Oil Steeplechase of £20,000 at Clonmel Races on November 7, 1996. L to R: Joseph Crowley, Ann-Marie O’Brien, Patsy O’Keane, Isobel Morris (Morris Oil), Aidan O’Brien (trainer) and his son Joseph in front, and Frances Crowley.

Pictured above at the opening of Dóirín Saurus’s exhibition 'Thrilling Tables & Fabulous Felts' in Clonmel Library on November 9, 1996 are L to R: Dóirín Saurus, Úna Ní Shé and Theresia Guschlbauer, who officially opened the exhibition.
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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