Fethard Family Fun Day this weekend
Fethard Park by the Medieval Town Wall and Clashawley River - the ideal setting for Fethard’s Festival Family Fun Day, which takes place again on Sunday afternoon, June 16, 2019.
This year’s Fethard Festival Family Fun Day takes place on this coming Sunday, June 16. Over the past few years, this unique family ‘Fun Day’ has attracted huge crowds and we expect this year to be no different. All the ‘fun of the fair’ will be available at the riverside park beside the Medieval Town Wall, with live music and entertainment provided by the popular ‘Wig Wam Glam Band. There will also be free amusement rides available, thanks to the ongoing support of the Magnier Family at Coolmore Stud, who are great supporters of this community event every year. Local school pupils are also provided with free vouchers for ice-cream and burgers on the day, which helps to make this ‘Family Day’ special to all.
Dog lovers will also be thrilled to know that this popular event will also take place under the guidance of Pat Culligan and Catherine Kearney. Fethard Rugby Club will take charge of their own food stall with plenty of seating to relax and enjoy the occasion, while a variety of entertainment and stalls will be present to entertain the children. Bill O’Sullivan will release his 600 ‘Ducks’ on the river Clashawley later in the evening, to decide this year’s winner when it crosses the finishing line.
Fethard Carnival in the 1940s showing the large crowds arriving by train and making their way to the Barrack Field as they follow the Fancy Dress Parade. This year’s Fethard Festival takes place on Sunday, June 16, 2019.
Fancy Dress Parade led by Banna Chluain Meala
The committee have raised this year’s Fancy Dress prizemoney to €1,000, so we encourage all families and children to make a huge effort to participate in the parade. The Fancy Dress Parade will commence at 2pm from Fethard Ballroom, where all entries are to assemble at 1.30pm. Great efforts are being made to revive the interest in the annual Fancy Dess Parade, which first began in Fethard in 1926. At that time, a prize of £1 each was offered for the gentleman and lady who were judged to have the most artistic turnout. Over one thousand people travelled by train from Clonmel to Fethard for the Carnival and a similar amount travelled by special train from the Farranaleen direction. More travelled by road. The ‘Fethard Great Summer Carnival’ of 1926 was a huge success, as was the Fancy Dress Parade led by the Industrial School Band.
This year’s Fancy Dress prize categories and prizemoney 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.
Other events will include a GAA Blitz for ‘Danaher Cup’ in Fethard GAA Field, Vintage Display, Rugby Blitz, Floral Display, Puppets and lots of stalls and free family entertainment by the Town Wall. Tickets are also now on sale for a ‘Monster Draw’– a weekend away at the 5-star Fota Island Resort – kindly sponsored by RibWorld, Fethard. Proceeds in aid of local charities.
Midsummer Ramble to Everardsgrange
This year the Fethard Historical Society’s Midsummer Ramble is a short trip to Everardsgrange Cemetery. Leaving from the Augustinian Abbey car park at 7.30pm on Friday, June 21. Suitable footwear advised. Bring a light picnic if you wish. Tea and coffee will be provided. All are welcome.
Social dancing at Fethard Ballroom
Fethard Ballroom continues its social dancing on Sunday, June 16, to the music of ‘Update’. 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
Parish celebrates Bicentenary in style
Processional group photographed outside Holy Trinity Church. Back L to R: Fr. Eugene Everard, P.P. Tipperary Town; Canon Tom Breen, A.P. Fethard; Archbishop Kieran O'Reilly; Fr. Liam Everard P.P., Fethard & Killusty; and Fr. Iggy O'Donovan, OSA, Prior Fethard Augustinian Abbey. Front L to R: altar servers, Aoibheann Collum, Meadbh Collum, Giovanna Aguiar, Emily Spillane and Anna Hayes.
The community of Holy Trinity R.C. Parish Church Fethard came together in a joyful celebration of its Bicentenary last Sunday 9th June 2019. Archbishop Kieran O’Reilly was present to concelebrate Mass at 11 am to honour the 200th Anniversary. Fr. Liam Everard P.P., Fr. Tom Breen, A.P., Fr. Iggy O’Donovan OSA, Prior, Augustinian Abbey and Fr. Eugene Everard, P.P. Tipperary Town, were also present on the altar. This Mass was the culmination of various events arranged throughout the year to celebrate the foundation of the church which opened on Holy Trinity Sunday 1819.
Fr. Liam Everard, P.P. welcomed everyone, giving thanks for the gift of faith passed on faithfully over the past two hundred years and expressing the hope that the same faith will continue to nourish and support the church community in the future.
In a ceremony rich with symbolism, the Mass began with the bringing to the altar of gifts representing various aspects of the church’s history. Mrs Rosemary Ponsonby and her son Julian brought the keys of the church recollecting the donation of the church site by their ancestor William Barton, the Protestant landlord of the time, who also donated 100 guineas towards building costs.
Secondary school pupils Ciarán and Cathal, accompanied by former teacher Mr Dinny Burke, brought up the ceramic replicas of Fethard’s three medieval wooden statues that they had made during the year. Mrs Mary Carroll brought up the Baptismal register commemorating all those baptised in the church as well as the generosity of the Carroll family who donated the church organ in 1886.
Combined choirs from Holy Trinity Parish Church, Church of the Sacred Heart Killusty, Augustinian Abbey Fethard and Fethard Choral Group, photographed after singing at the Bicentenary Mass for Holy Trinity Parish Church.
Local wood sculptor, David Gorey, brought up the beautifully carved wooden plaque he made, surmounted with the symbol of the Holy Trinity and oak leaves representing Fiodh Árd. The plaque records the names of all the parish priests who served in Fethard in the last two hundred years. Mr. John Stokes brought up a chalice engraved with the name of Fr. Daniel Ryan dated 1893, remembering also early benefactors of the church, Mrs Ellen Coyne who donated the High Altar in memory of her brother Dr. John Stokes in 1883 and Patrick Coffey, Main Street who donated the side altars. Finally, Mrs Margaret Slattery presented the Commemorative Booklet published by the parish committee to celebrate the Bicentenary of Holy Trinity Parish Church.
Archbishop Kieran O'Reilly with members of the Ponsonby family, Grove, Fethard. L to R: Julian Ponsonby, Archbishop Kieran O'Reilly, Rosemary Ponsonby and Patricia Ponsonby. Rosemary Ponsonby and her son Julian brought the keys of the church to the altar of gifts during the Mass, representing various aspects of the church’s history, and recollecting the donation of the church site by their ancestor William Barton, the Protestant landlord of the time, who also donated 100 guineas towards building costs.
On this Pentecost Sunday, the Archbishop’s address spoke of the need for all to invoke the Holy Spirit in speaking the language of the heart comprising forgiveness, love and understanding. Gathering to celebrate two hundred years of Holy Trinity Church in Fethard he said that while he church of the future may indeed be very different from that of two hundred years ago, the key to how we rise to the challenges inherent in finding new ways of being church is in trying to use that language of the heart in our daily lives.
Four first Holy Communion children from Holy Trinity N.S. Fethard and Killusty N.S. brought up the gifts of bread and wine at the Offertory.
The choir, under the baton of Ms Ann Barry, comprised the combined forces of the Parish Choir, Fethard Choral group, Abbey Choir and the Killusty Choir. They rose to the occasion with a wonderful performance of a wide and varied selection of church music, starting with ‘Walk in the Light’ and finishing with the rousing recessional ‘Battle Hymn Of the Republic’.
Members of the Everard family photographed at the reception in Fethard Ballroom after the Bicentenary Mass for Holy Trinity Parish Church. L to R: Larry English, Rena English (née Everard), Sean O'Donovan, Michelle Everard, Paudie Everard, Mary Everard, John Everard and Gus Fitzgerald.
In conclusion, Fr. Liam Everard thanked all those who had contributed to the celebration. He mentioned especially Goldie Newport who has served so faithfully for so many years as the organist in the Parish Church, continuing a long-established family tradition. He also invited the congregation to the Fethard Ballroom for refreshments after the ceremony.
Photographed at the Bicentennial Mass in Holy Trinity Parish Church Fethard are L to R: Paddy Kenrick, Clonmel and formerly Burke Street), Archbishop Kieran O'Reilly, Frances (née Kenrick) Hetterley and David Hetterley. Frances and David travelled over from Hereford, England, for the occasion.
Copies of the Commemorative Bicentenary booklet were distributed free as people left the church. Further copies are available from members of the Parish Committee. The Bicentenary Mass was streamed live on the internet worldwide and is now available to view in the ‘Recordings’ section at www.parishchurch.net
Day Care Centre AGM
The Fethard & District Day Care Centre will hold their Annual General Meeting on Thursday, June 27, at 8pm in the Tirry Community Centre, Barrack Street, All are welcome.
We would also like to thank our clients, family members, and friends who joined us on our annual holiday to Galway last month and especially our volunteers who give of their time and pay for the privilege of coming with us year after year. The savings club will re-open in September for next year's holiday.
‘Pink Cycle’ a great success
Members of Fethard & District Day Care Centre helping with the catering at Fethard Rugby Club after last Sunday’s ‘Pink Cycle’. L to R: Mollie Standbridge, Geraldine Cahill, Hanna McGarry, Geraldine McCarthy, Fionnuala O’Sullivan, Marie Murphy and Bobbi Holohan.
The Fethard Pedallers would like to sincerely thank everyone involved in making the Pink Cycle such a great success; to everyone who donated, sponsored, put up posters, shared on social media; to the paramedics and marshals; to those who stood at crossroads and helped keep the cyclists safe; to the Fethard Rugby Club for the use of the facilities; and to the Tipperary Sports Partnership for their sponsorship.
A special thanks to the committees of Fethard and District Day Care Center and Clonmel Cancer Care Center, these volunteers give so generously of their time and served up mainly homemade goodies on the day. They were delicious!
The Fethard Pedallers would like to sincerely thank everyone involved in making the Pink Cycle such a great success
We are also very grateful to the wonderful cyclists, especially those from the neighbouring clubs, who participated and really enjoyed the spin and the little shower of rain! Apologies if we forgot to mention anyone. Thanks so much to all.
If you are still considering joining the Fethard Pedallers club, you are more than welcome. Please check our Facebook page for further details.
Lough Derg Pilgrimage Season
Cashel and Emly Three-Day Pilgrimage will take place from Thursday, June 20, to Saturday, June 22. For further information about travel arrangements contact: Bridget O'Dea (Loughmore) Tel: 086-6792754 or Fr Martin Murphy (Drom), Tel: 086-3868877.
Sports Achievement Awards for May
Anne Butler, representing this months sponsor, Butler's Sports Bar, presenting the 'Mentor of the Month' award to Eugene Walsh. Eugene has spent over thirty-five years between playing and coaching with Fethard GAA Club.
The Butlers’ Bar Fethard Sports Achievement Awards for May were presented at a special function held on Friday night last, June 7, in Butlers Bar. Anne Butler, representing this month’s sponsor, Butler's Sports Bar, presented the first award, 'Mentor of the Month', to Eugene Walsh. Eugene has spent over thirty-five years with Fethard GAA Club, achieving success as a player in a variety of grades, U14, U16, Minor and played senior in a Munster Football Final. In more recent times, Eugene spent eleven of those years coaching underage players, achieving success by winning county U14 Hurling title and recently both south and county A Football titles for Fethard U12 team.
Anne Butler, representing this months sponsor, Butler's Sports Bar, presenting the Butler's Bar Fethard Sports Achievement Awards for May to Fethard U12 A Football Team, winners of both South and County A titles for the first time in the history of the club. The award was accepted by team members L to R: Sam Coen, Gavin Neville, Anne Butler (sponsor), Charlie Walsh and Noah O'Flynn.
Certificates were then presented to the nominees for the monthly sports achievement award for May, before the overall award was presented by Anne Butler, to the Fethard U12 A Football Team, winners of both South and County A titles for the first time in the history of the Fethard club. The award was accepted by team members Sam Coen, Gavin Neville, Charlie Walsh and Noah O'Flynn.
Jadyn Setters, Fethard's up and coming young kickboxer, who was narrowly beaten in a world juvenile title fight which took place in Derry. Photographed at the Butler's Bar Sports Achievement Award presentation for May.
Nominations for the June award are now being taken at Butlers Sports Bar.
Fethard & Killusty Community Lotto
The numbers drawn on Wednesday, June 5, were: 5, 16, 18 and 22. There was no jackpot winner and one ‘Match Three’ winner who received €150: Ger McCarthy, Kerry Street, Fethard. The following three ‘Lucky Dip’ winners also received €50 each: Margaret Phelan, Strylea, Fethard; Dinny Shine, The Valley, Fethard; and Jess Hanlon, c/o Thelma Griffith.
Next week’s draw takes place on Wednesday, June 12. 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, June 7, were: 4, 5, 24 and 36. There was no jackpot winner and no ‘match three’ winner. One lucky dip winner received €50: Sean Browne, Clonmel. Two lucky dip winners received €25 each: Mary Murphy, Coolmore; and Mary McCormack, Kerry Street, Fethard.
The next draw takes place on Friday, June 14, in Burke’s Bar at 7.30pm, when the jackpot is €21,800 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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