Archbishop Kieran O’Reilly to celebrate Bicentenary of Parish Church on Sunday June 9
Fethard will celebrate a special day on Sunday, June 9, when Archbishop Kieran O’Reilly will come to concelebrate 11am Mass to mark the 200th Year Bicentennial Celebrations of Holy Trinity Parish Church.

A booklet to mark the occasion will also be available free to families on the day at the Mass, featuring photographs and articles commemorating the bicentenary and history of the parish church in Fethard.

Please note there will be no 8.30am Mass on that Sunday morning as a large crowd is expected for the Bicentennial Mass at 11am.

Fethard Festival Family Fun Day


Fethard Festival Family Fun Day on Sunday, June 16, promises to be bigger and better than ever, with live music supplied by the exciting ‘Wig Wam Glam Band’ from Cashel. The Fancy Dress Parade led by Banna Chluain Meala, commencing at 2pm from Fethard Ballroom, and all the usual fun of the fair by the Town Wall park, and lots of stalls and free family entertainment, compliments of the Magnier Family at Coolmore Stud. Other events will include the Annual Dog Show, Duck Race on the river Clashawley, GAA Blitz for ‘Danaher Cup’, Vintage Display, Rugby Blitz, Floral Display, Puppets and a ‘Monster Draw’ kindly sponsored by RibWorld, Fethard.


The Wig Wam Glam Band from Cashel, who will play live at the Medieval Town Wall for this year’s Fethard Festival Family Fun Day on Sunday, June 16.

Fancy Dress Parade offers €1,000 in prizes
This year’s Fancy Dress Parade, sponsored by Fethard & Killusty Community Council, will offer €1,000 in prizes in various categories. The traditional parade, led by Banna Chluain Meala, will commence at 2pm from Fethard Ballroom, where all entries are to assemble at 1.30pm. This year’s prizes include:

• Overall Prize (all categories included):
  1st €200, Overall 2nd €100.
• Best Float or Group (more than five participants):
  1st €150, 2nd €100, 3rd €50.
• Medieval Theme:
  Adult Individual or Small Group (five or less participants),
  1st €25, 2nd €15, 3rd €10;
  Children Individual or Small Group (five or less participants),
  1st €25, 2nd €15, 3rd €10.
• Artistic Theme:
  Adult Individual or Small Group (five or less participants),
  1st €25, 2nd €15, 3rd €10;
  Children Individual or Small Group (five or less participants),
  1st €25, 2nd €15, 3rd €10.
• Funniest Theme:
  Adult Individual or Small Group (five or less participants),
  1st €25, 2nd €15, 3rd €10;
  Children Individual or Small Group (five or less participants),
  1st €25, 2nd €15, 3rd €10.
• Topical Theme:
  Adult Individual or Small Group (five or less participants),
  1st €25, 2nd €15, 3rd €10;
  Children Individual or Small Group (five or less participants),
  1st €25, 2nd €15, 3rd €10.

Judging will take place during the parade and when assembled by the Town Wall. We look forward to a special effort for all ages to participate in this year’s Festival Fancy Dress Parade.

‘Flower Power’ one of the runners-up in the 2017 Fethard Fancy Dress Parade. This year’s Fancy Dress Parade with €1,000 in prizemoney takes place on Sunday, June 16, 2019.

Died Recently
The death has occurred on Thursday, May 30, 2019, of Paddy Tobin
The Chase, Clonmel, and formerly of Kilnockin, Fethard, peacefully in the care of the staff of the ICU Unit in South Tipperary Regional Hospital.

Paddy, predeceased by his sister Breda (Walsh), is deeply regretted by his loving wife Ellen, his sisters Theresa and Joan, his brothers John and David, nieces, nephews, relatives and friends. May he rest in peace.

Reposing in McCarthy's Funeral Home, Fethard, on Saturday, June 1, from 5pm with removal to the Holy Trinity Parish Church, Fethard, at 6.45pm. Funeral Mass on Sunday at 11am followed by burial in Calvary Cemetery.

County Athletics Finals on June 2
The following are the Fethard & Killusty entries for the County Athletics Finals in Templemore on Sunday, June 2. Please note the Parade and Opening Ceremony will take place at 10am sharp. Events will commence immediately afterwards.

The following competitors are entered:-

• U8 60m Girls:- Zoe Thompson, Kate Gaule.
• U8 60m Boys:- Jake Daniel, Harry Walsh.
• U8 80m Girls:- Ayla Barlez, Ruby Kenny.
• U8 80m Boys:- Jack Moloney.
• U10 100m Girls:- Daisy Kenny, Kelly Quinlan.
• U10 100m Boys Patrick Coffey, Sam Donovan.
• U10 200m Girls:- Mai Hayes, Charlotte Walsh,
• U10 200m Boys:- Ewan Byrne, Dean Moloney.
• U12 100m Girls:- Ines Byrne, Roisin Tyrell.
• U12 100m Boys:- Cody Bradshaw, Kelvin Ryan.
• U12 600m Girls:- Ellen Lawrence.
• U12 600m Boys:- Daniel Barry, Michael O’Rahilly.
• U14 100m Girls:- Fiona Barry, Lucy Kenny.
• U14 100m Boys:- Paraic Heffernan, Paddy Ryan.
• U10 Mixed Relay Team: Daisy Kenny, Kelly Quinlan, Mai Hayes, Patrick Coffey, Sam Donovan, Ewan Byrne.
• U12 Long Puck Sam Coen.
• U14 Long Puck Sarah Smith.

Athletics Manager is Lorraine Thompson who will allocate the numbers to competitors as they arrive. Entry fee of €3 to be paid to Lorraine if not already paid.

The County Finals of the Cycling will take place in The Commons, Ballingarry on Friday, June 11, at 7.30pm. Jake Feery, Killusty who finished in 6th place U12 at the National Finals last year competes in the u14 Event this year. Best of Luck to everybody.

Died Recently
The death has occurred on Wednesday, May 29, 2019, of Annie O'Brien (née Evans), The Square, Fethard. Annie, predeceased by her husband Eddie, is deeply regretted by her daughter Cathy, sons Pat and Eddie, daughter-in-law Marilyn, grandson Edward, sisters Noreen, Frances, Maura and Agnes, nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.

Reposing in McCarthy's Funeral Home, Fethard on Thursday, May 30, from, 5pm to 7pm. Funeral Mass on Friday at 11am in the Holy Trinity Parish Church, Fethard followed by burial in Calvary Cemetery. May she rest in peace.

Died Recently
The death has occurred on Wednesday, May 29, 2019, of Joan Kennedy (née Callanan), Rathfarnham, Dublin, and formerly, Burke Street, Fethard, in the kind and loving care of the staff at Altadore Nursing Home, Glenageary, surrounded by her family. Joan, beloved wife of the late Sean and loving mother of Jim, Tony and the late Sheila, will be sadly missed by her loving family, daughter-in-law Madeleine, grandchildren James, Susan, Louise and Stephanie, great-grandchildren Sarah, Joe, Jack, Noah, Zoe, Lucia and Santiago, extended family and friends.

Reposing at Fanagans Funeral Home, Willbrook, Rathfarnham, Dublin, on Thursday evening, May 30, from 5pm to 7pm. Removal on Friday morning to the Church of the Holy Spirit, Ballyroan, Marian Road, D14 KP60, arriving for 10am Funeral Mass followed by burial at Bohernabreena Cemetery. May she rest in peace.


This photograph of the late Sean and Joan Kennedy, Burke Street, was taken at the Fethard Tennis & Badminton Club Annual Dance, held on February 26, 1957.

Senior Citizens’ Outing on Tuesday, June 4
Reminding Fethard Senior Citizens’ Club members of our annual outing on Tuesday, June 4. The coach departs from Centra at 10.50am and from the Town Hall at 11am. Please contact a committee member if you are unable to travel.

Social dancing at Fethard Ballroom
Fethard Ballroom continues its social dancing on Sunday, June 2, to the music of ‘Teddy and 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. For further information or for booking the ballroom, contact Eileen Coady, Tel: 086 0776420, Email: eileencoady@hotmail.com

Three-in-a- row success for Fethard Maths Students

Patrician Presentation First and Third Year pupils with Minister for Education, Mr Joe McHugh, in Dublin last week. Pupils from the school were winners of the Maths Eyes' competition for the third year in a row. Included in the photo are Principal, Mr Pat Coffey and Maths Teacher, Mr Billy Walsh.

Congratulations to Maths’ Teacher Mr Billy Walsh and his First Year and Third Year Maths classes who were winners for the third year in a row in the All Ireland Maths’ Eyes Competition for schools. They travelled to Dublin with Principal, Dr. Pat Coffey for the Maths Eyes presentation in the Department of Education in Marlborough Street and met with Education Minister, Joe McHugh. Having ‘Maths Eyes’ changes our view of Maths from being something everyone just does in school to realising that Maths is related to everyday activities and thus mathematics becomes real and meaningful for students to learn.

Success in the Kilkenny Photography Society Competition
Congratulations to Patrician Presentation Transition Year pupils: Cathal Ryan, Kieran O'Donnell and Sam Quigley for being shortlisted for prizes in the Kilkenny Photography Society Competition. The three students submitted beautiful photographs and were very deserving recipients of the awards.

Gaisce Award
Last Wednesday our Transition Year students set off on the final task needed to be completed for their Gaisce Award: the overnight adventure journey. The trip began in Dungarvan and the pupils cycled the majestic Waterford Greenway all the way to Kilmacthomas where they stopped for some refreshments before returning to Dungarvan. Next they were driven to the Rathgormack Hiking Centre at the foot of the beautiful Comeragh Mountains. At the centre, our students tucked into a well-earned pizza, played football on the local all-weather pitch, traded stories and watched DVDs before going to sleep. The next morning after cooking and eating breakfast it was time to tidy up and return to Fethard. A great adventure was had by all involved. Thank you to the parents who helped transport the students back to Fethard and to teachers Ms Murphy and Mr Walsh who gave so generously of their time to help the students complete their Gaisce Award.

Wellbeing Week 2019 at Patrician Presentation

Paralympic Peter Ryan (centre) photographed with School Principal, Mr Pat Coffey, and staff members Ms Yvonne Murphy, Ms Helena Walsh and Mr John Cummins.

Great effort went in to Wellbeing Week 2019 in Patrician Presentation. The week’s programme was organised by P.E. teacher Ms. Yvonne Murphy, and P.E. teacher and Special Needs’ Co-ordinator in the school, Ms. Helena Walsh in co-operation with Mr McGree, School Guidance Counsellor and Maths Teacher, Mr. Walsh. A wellbeing wall has been designated in the entrance hall and serves as a reminder to all of the importance of wellbeing for the development of the person. A number of other teachers and multiple students helped out with the week’s activities. Two visiting speakers also participated, Peter Ryan, Paralympic Cyclist, and Richard Kennedy, Strength and Conditioning Coach, Rathgormack.

Lunchtime activities during the week included a Spinathon, Zumba Dancing, Volleyball, Basketball and a Crossbar Challenge. There was also a DEAR (drop everything and read) for fifteen minutes on Tuesday, A ‘Drop everything and colour’ activity took place on Wednesday, and a ‘Positive Post-Its’ activity where students/teachers selected various positive affirmations and posted them on pupils’ lockers or on teachers’ doors.


Fethard Patrician Presentation students photographed at Paralympic Peter Ryan's presentation in the school during Wellbeing Week 2019.

The week ended with the school’s annual Sports’ Day on Friday, May 10. We were blessed with good weather and all the activities were well-coordinated by the P.E. teachers who were ably assisted by the Transition Year pupils.

Well done to all involved in this very important week on the school’s calendar. Wellbeing is central to the New Junior Cycle Programme and the following extract from the Well Being Guidelines will highlight the importance of wellbeing for all aspects of a person’s live:

We also know that students who have higher levels of wellbeing tend to have better cognitive outcomes in school.

1. ESRI research found that ‘children with higher levels of emotional, behavioural, social and school wellbeing had higher levels of academic achievement subsequently (at ages 11, 14, and 16)’.
2. Therefore wellbeing and learning are inextricably connected. It is vital that those who seek to promote high academic standards and those who seek to promote mental, emotional and social health realise that they are on the same side, and that social and affective education can support academic learning, not simply take time away from it. There is overwhelming evidence that students learn more effectively, including their academic subjects, if they are happy in their work, believe in themselves, and feel school is supporting them. (NCCA, Wellbeing Guidelines 2015).

Secondary School’s Golf Classic at Slievenamon Golf Club

Overall winners of the Patrician Presentation Secondary School’s Golf Classic at Slievenamon Golf Club receiving their prizes. Back L to R: Ms Phil Whyte (Lady Captain), Mr Pat Coffey (School Principal), Mr John O’Sullivan (Club Captain). Front L to R: winning team: Cathal Hurley, John Hurley and Brian Healy.

The Patrician Presentation Secondary School’s Golf Classic at Slievenamon Golf Club on Friday, May 24, and Saturday, May 25, last was a great success. A sincere thanks to all who supported the event either by their participation, sponsorship or help on the day. Thanks also to the Management and Staff of Slievenamon Golf Club and to the stellar organising committee of Ian O’Connor, Justin McGree, Noel Maher and Denis Burke.


Best Non GUI team at the Patrician Presentation Secondary School’s Golf Classic at Slievenamon Golf Club receiving their prizes. Back L to R: Ms Phil Whyte (Lady Captain), Mr Pat Coffey (School Principal), Mr John O’Sullivan (Club Captain). Front L to R: best non-GUI team: Eoghan Hurley, Chris Coen and John Neville.

The Golf Classic Results were as follows. 1st Overall Team: Cathal Hurley, John Hurley, Brian Healy. 2nd Overall Team: Joe Corbett, Michael Kenny, Bobby Barry. Ladies Team: Norma O’Brien, Mary Comerford, Kathleen Harrington. Mixed Team: Mary Kenrick, Michael Kenrick, Pat McGarry. Junior Team: Cathal Mahoney, Keenan Ahearne, Darragh Hurley. Best Non GUI Team: Eoghan Hurley, Chris Coen, John Neville. Nearest the Pin: Joe Corbett. Ladies Longest Drive: Mary Kenrick. Gents Longest Drive: Ronan Fitzgerald.

‘Walls of Fethard’ invaded by ‘probable’ the best-ever obliging athletes

Group of happy athletes photographed at the finishing line of this year’s ‘Walls of Fethard’ four-mile-run, at the North Gate, Rocklow Road, Fethard.

Had a lovely group of athletes for the ‘Walls of Fethard’ run on Thursday evening, May 23, probably the best and accommodating group of athletes that ever participated in our famous four-mile race since it began almost twenty years ago.

All the personnel on the ground, stewards, catering staff and ‘pen pushers’ were top class. An new innovation this year was the introduction of Niall O’Sullivan and his ‘chip timing’ – accurate individual timing for each athlete – and Niall was also more than willing to do help in any other way he could. Top marks!

The club were delighted with those that supported this year’s event despite the inclement weather and other road races organised in the vicinity at the same time. Without the help of our local sponsors – individuals and businesses –, and Red Cross, (Cashel Branch) we would find it extremely difficult to hold the race and offer the range of prizes for the athletes.

The results of the ’Walls’ were: Ladies, 1st Angela McCann (22.59), Clonmel; 2nd Ali O’Connor (24.21), Clonmel; and 3rd Susanne Shine (25.00), Clonmel. Gents, 1st Paddy Cummins (19.19), Moycarkey, Coolcroo; 2nd Stuart Moloney (19.30), Moore Abbey Milers; and 3rd Emmet McNamara (20.00), Clonmel.

Proceeds from the event will go towards the Children’s Ward and Sick Babies Ward at South Tipperary General Hospital in Clonmel. Looking forward to more of the same next year!

Let’s turn Fethard ‘Pink’

Fethard Pedallers stopping to take a breather last Sunday as they continue theri preparations for their Pink Cycle on Sunday, June 9. If you wish to help out in any way please do contact us, sponsorship cards are also available, so if you are not a cyclist you can still support these two very worthy causes – Fethard & District Day Care Centre and The Irish Cancer Society.

As Fethard Pedallers do their final preparations for their ‘Pink Cycle’, with all funds going to Fethard and District Daycare Centre and the Cancer Care Centre in Clonmel, we hope that the town will get behind the cyclists and wear Pink – put pink in your windows, wave pink flags – as the cyclists leave Fethard Rugby Club, at Kilknockin, at 9.30am on Sunday morning, June 9. If you can't cycle please sponsor and turn up to lend you support on the day. Let’s make this a great event like it was last year, raising €5,000 for charity.

Cemetery Masses in Fethard & Killusty
Mass will be celebrated at Killusty Graveyard on Friday, June 7, at 7.30pm. Please come along to this special celebration remembering our family and friends who have passed to their eternal reward.

Fethard & Killusty Community Lotto
The numbers drawn on Wednesday, May 22, were: 9, 10, 11 and 22. There was no jackpot winner and one ‘Match Three’ winner who received €150: Thelma Griffith, Crampscastle. Fethard. The following three ‘Lucky Dip’ winners also received €50 each: Ann Looby, The Valley, Fethard; Patsy Lawrence, Woodvale Walk, Fethard; and Liam O'Sullivan, Cois Falla, Fethard.

Next week’s draw takes place on Wednesday, May 29. 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, May 24, were: 6 15, 30 and 36. There was no jackpot winner and one ‘match three’ winner who received €100: Amelia Sheehan, St Rita’s Camogie Club, Fethard.

The next draw takes place on Friday, May 31 in Burke’s Bar at 7.30pm, when the jackpot is €21,600 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.

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.

Festive Season is here again – lets look back 40 years to Fethard Festival Fancy Dress Parade in 1979 - see how many faces you know?

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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