Died Recently in Scotland
The death has occurred at St. Columba’s Hospice, Edinburgh, on Sunday, November 24, 2019, of Mildred ‘Mil’ Morrison (née Lawlor), South Queensferry, Edinburgh, and formerly Fethard.

Mil, aged 48 years, beloved wife of Kenny, a devoted mum of Erin and Abbie, and dearly loved daughter of Murt and Margaret and a loving sister of Teresa, John, Pamela, Marguerite, Deirdre and Kevin, sister-in-law and aunt who will be sadly missed by all the family.

Funeral service will take place in Scotland. May she rest in peace.

Fethard Survey to let us know your thoughts!
Fethard Community Council wish to gather the opinions of the residents of Fethard with a view to further improving the Town. While a lot has been achieved over the years, we now consider it an opportune time to plan for the future. In order to do this we want to involve you from the start. As a first step, we invite you to take a few minutes to complete our short survey. Forms will be delivered to your home by a member of the Community Council or a person from your area. You can also access the form through any of the Fethard Clubs and Organisations.

We hope that each person in your household will fill-in an individual form. All answers will be treated as anonymous. We aim to collect the forms in the coming days. If you would prefer, you can access the Form at the Town Hall or submit form below at Fethard.com

All we are asking you to do is to list the following:

• Things I DISLIKE about Fethard;
• Things I LIKE about Fethard;
• My IDEAS TO IMPROVE Fethard.

All these opinions will be collated and based on this. After further consultations we can start planning for new projects for the Town.

Woodvale Walk residents benefit from bonfire prevention

Woodvale Walk residents delighted with their waste management project in co-operation with Tipperary County Council, which also resulted an a rejuvenated playing area with goal posts and skittles run. L to R: Catherine Flynn, Cllr Imelda Goldsboro, John O'Neill (Enforcement Officer, Environment Section), Tess Collins (Community Liaison Officer), Trisha O'Meara, Delores O'Donnell, Rita Burke, Joan O'Brien, Bridget McGarry, Hannah McGarry, Rya Roberts, Helena McGarry, Mary Sayers, Garda Shane O'Neill. Children in front are Calum O'Donovan and Jennifer O'Donnell-Roberts.

Woodvale Walk residents, working with Tess Collins, Community Liaison Officer from Tipperary County Council’s Housing Department, have re-established the residents’ committee for Woodvale Walk. The residents committee, together with Tipperary County Council, firstly agreed on taking part in a special Waste Management Project to help prevent materials being gathered for the annual bonfire in their estate. The project focused on preventative measures to stop the build-up of materials used for bonfires. It transpired also that some people living outside the estate were using it as an opportunity to dump their waste in the estate’s green area, to be burnt on their bonfire.

One of the priority actions was to tackle the problem and achieve a lasting solution. The issues were identified and a network of residents from local authority estates was set up, working with their local Garda, Shane O’Neill and other Gardaí in the Carrick-on-Suir Municipal District. This allowed the Woodvale Walk committee to create awareness among all the other resident network members.

The Council agreed to source special environment funding as part of their ‘Anti-Dumping Initiative’ for the Woodvale Walk residents’ association, who also requested to include the adjacent estates. This resulted in a big clear-up taking place within days, supported by John O’Neill, Enforcement Officer, Environment Section.

The project consisted of carrying out a complete survey of waste disposal needed for Woodvale Walk, Kilnockin View, Gort An Oir, Cannon Hayes Court, Fr. Tirry Park and Barrack Street estates in Fethard Town. This survey was completed by the Woodvale Walk residents and representatives from the other five estates, along with Tess Collins, Community Liaison Officer. John O’Neill, Enforcement Officer, co-ordinated the list of waste to be removed and residents were delighted when it happened.

The follow up awareness campaign helped residents understand how not to build up rubbish and going forward, to realise they must have proof of their waste disposal, encouraging them to think before they throw anything out, instead use many of the existing methods to get rid of items for free or visit waste banks, free trade in or just recycle it. One important message was not to feed bonfires by giving materials to callers who were gathering ‘waste.


Calum O'Donovan and Jennifer O'Donnell-Roberts delighted with their new clean playing area at Woodvale Walk

A great benefit for Woodvale Walk residents was the placing of a set of permanent goalposts on the green area and a concrete skittles run to be used by the local children and youths. The development of a ‘Memorial Garden’ for deceased residents on the estate is also in progress.

The committee and Tipperary County Council have worked hard to achieve this and it is a credit for their dedication and efforts. The local Youth Services in the area will train their volunteers so they are ready to roll out the activities on the green and hope to involve parents and children in the activities so all will have fun. The Clonmel Skittles Club have also agreed to help mark out the skittles run and give initial help to establish this sport in their estate and with a few residents already familiar with this sport and living in the estate they look forward to it taking off and maybe having fun leagues for the enjoyment of all.

Christmas Bazaar on Thursday, November 28.
The Fethard & District Day Care Centre are holding their Annual Christmas Bazaar Fundraiser on Thursday, November 28, in the Tirry Community Centre from 11am. Cake Sale, Raffle and Crafts on sale. Your continued support is much appreciated.

Traffic Victims remembered

Photographed at the Memorial Mass at the Augustinian Abbey Fethard to mark United Nations International Day of commemoration for road traffic victims on Sunday, November 17, are Back L to R: Inspector James Tierney, Fr. Gerry Horan OSA, Fr. Iggy O'Donovan OSA Prior, Fr. David Fitzgerald OSA and Sergeant Graham Deegan. Front L to R: Deputy Seamus Healy T.D., Amy Morrissey, Mary Anne Fitzgerald, Rachel O'Loughnane, Samantha Buckley, Cathal Ryan and Deputy Mattie McGrath T.D.

Some twenty years ago the United Nations adopted a resolution declaring that the third Sunday of November should mark an international day of commemoration for road traffic victims. It is now observed in many countries and in recent years the cause has taken off in Ireland. It is in keeping with that spirit that in the past two years it has been marked with a special celebration in the Augustinian Abbey in Fethard.

On this past Sunday, November 17, a service was organised in the Abbey to commemorate all who have died or been injured resulting from road traffic tragedy. The Augustinian Prior Fr Iggy O Donovan presided, and he was joined by a large gathering of the Fethard community along with people from surrounding parishes. A notable feature of the celebration was the presence of a group of students from the Patrician Presentation School who helped to organise and participated in the liturgy. They brought a youthful vibrancy to the occasion. Also present were members of the Gardaí along with Deputies Mattie McGrath and Seamus Healy.


Photographed at the Memorial Mass at the Augustinian Abbey Fethard to mark United Nations International Day of commemoration for road traffic victims on Sunday, November 17, are L to R: Sean McGovern, Helena Fitzgerald, both relatives of the late Fr. John Meagher OSA whose second anniversary mass was also on Sunday, Mary Fitzgerald, a sister of Fr. David Fitzgerald OSA, and Noeline O'Donovan, a sister of Fr. Iggy O'Donovan OSA, who travelled home from Germany for the memorial Mass and who also lost a brother due to a road traffic accident.

The Abbey choir were in tremendous voice and greatly added to the solemnity of the occasion. Also present were numerous people who had been affected in one way or another by road traffic tragedy. A variety of gifts were brought to the altar all highly symbolic of the sombre event which was being celebrated. Fr O'Donovan mentioned that while road traffic fatalities make for grim reading the figures compare very favourably with those of a generation ago. Indeed, they are only a quarter now of those of the 1970s when there was only a fraction of present day traffic on the roads. He also mentioned that in providing services of this kind our church which has become so irrelevant in so many ways can in fact relate to reality.

Patrician Presentation Secondary School news

Patrician Presentation Senior Camogie team who had an impressive win against Ursuline’s Blackrock in the Munster Colleges league in Ballygiblin, Co. Cork, last week.

Well done to the Patrician Presentation Secondary School’s Senior Girls Volleyball team on another impressive performance today against St Leo’s College, Carlow in the University of Limerick last week. This was the third win in the league so far this year for the players involved. The team is coached and mentored by Ms Walsh. The team consists of Hollie Broomfield, Chloe Nolan, Michelle Cronin, Maggie Fitzgerald, Caoimhe O’ Meara, Lucy Spillane, Carrie Davey, Alison Connolly, Nell Spillane and Leah Coen.

Camogie News
Congratulations to our first Senior Camogie team on an impressive win against Ursuline’s Blackrock in the Munster Colleges league in Ballygiblin, Co. Cork last week. This team is coached and mentored by Ms Murphy and Mr Cummins.

World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims
Sunday, 17 November marked ‘World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims’ a day where commemorations took place globally to remember those killed or injured in road traffic accidents. Students from Patrician Presentation Secondary School participated in a special memorial service which took place in the Augustinian Abbey on Sunday.

Ladies end football season in great style

Fethard Ladies Football team’s third year in a row winning the U19 Championship, ending their season on a high note.

Our Fethard Ladies team finished of the football year in great style winning the U19 A Championship in what was a super game of football against Aherlow. This is the girls’ third year in a row winning the U19 Championship which is a fantastic achievement and great credit is due to these super bunch of girls.

Dinner Dance Medal Presentation
Our Annual Ladies Football and St Rita’s Camogie, Dinner Dance Medal Presentation, takes place in Clonmel Park Hotel this coming Saturday night, November 23, at 7.30pm.

Fethard Medical Centre GP Partnership
Dr Molly Owens and Dr Jaco Oosthuysen, together with Sandie Gleeson (practice nurse), Jean Hayde, Sonia Bonelli and Liza Ward (administrative staff) are delighted to announce our new GP partnership – Fethard Medical Centre.

We are already well known to the Fethard community and look forward to providing enhanced services over the coming years. As always, we are committed to providing the highest level of modern medical care to all our patients, while maintaining a friendly practice environment, which is welcoming to all.

Community Games Annual General Meeting
Fethard & Killusty Community Games AGM will take place in the Tirry Community Centre on this Wednesday, November 20, at 8pm. New faces are very welcome and opinions on the best way forward would be very much appreciated. Please give us one hour of your time.

Social dancing at Fethard Ballroom
Fethard Ballroom continues its social dancing on Sunday, November 24, to the music of ‘Dermot Lyons'.   All are welcome to come along and enjoy a great night’s entertainment and social dancing from 9pm to midnight. Admission is €10, which includes tea and cakes. For further information or for booking the ballroom, contact Eileen Coady, Tel: 086 0776420, Email: eileencoady@hotmail.com

Fethard Bridge Club Results
On Wednesday, November 6, we played the first round of the Player of the Year competition and the results were: 1st Gross, Monica Anglim and Betty Walsh; 2nd Gross, Keith Woodlock and Tony Hanrahan; 3rd Gross, Alice Quinn and Berney Myles; 1st Nett, Vincent Cummins and Fr. Liam Everard; 2nd Nett, Rita Holohan and Ellen Rochford; 3rd Nett, Marie Delaney and Ann O'Dea.

This Wednesday, November 20, we play for the Gross Turkey Prize. Bridge starts at 7.15pm each Wednesday. Anyone looking for a partner contact Gemma Burke 086-6064148.

Cemetery Rosaries for the Holy Souls
Rosaries for the Holy Souls will be recited in the following cemeteries on Sunday, November 24, Killusty Cemetery after 10am Mass; and Kiltinan Cemetery at 2.30pm; and Kilmaclugh Cemetery at 3.15pm. Please join in the Rosary for the Holy Souls. All are invited to come along and remember our loved ones who have passed on to their eternal reward.

Fethard & Killusty Community Lotto
The numbers drawn on Wednesday, November 13, were: 3, 23, 26 and 29. There was no jackpot winner and no ‘Match Three’ winner, so three drawn tickets received €50 each: Michael Russell & Jim Kenny, c/o Seamus Moloney; Joan O'Donohoe, Moyglass, Fethard; and Eddie O'Brien, Burke Street, Fethard.

The following three ‘Lucky Dip’ winners received €50 each: Brud Roche, Woodvale Walk, Fethard; Margaret Phelan, Strylea, Fethard; and Philip Butler, Main Street, Fethard.

Next week’s draw takes place on Wednesday, November 20 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 15, were: 5, 13, 17 and 20. There was no jackpot winner and two ‘match three’ winners who received €50 each: Michael Moroney, Tullamaine, Fethard and Johnny Neville, Kilknockin, Fethard.

The next draw takes place on Friday, November 22, in Burke’s Bar at 7.30pm, when the jackpot is €24,100 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.

Annual General Meeting GAA
Fethard GAA Club will hold their Annual General Meeting on Friday, November 22, in the Tirry Community Centre at 8pm. All are welcome.

Thumbs Up for €2,600,000 Boost for Fethard's Town Park
(Eamon Lacey, The Nationalist)

Thumbs Up for Fethard Town Park Funding – Community members involved in youth development in Fethard are delighted with the news that Fethard Town Park project is to receive €2.6m funding under the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund. Cllr Garret Ahearn is photographed on site discussing the plans on Monday, November 11. L to R: Triona Morrisson (Principal Holy Trinity National School), Cllr Garret Ahearn (Mayor of Clonmel), Paul Kavanagh (Fethard & District Rugby Club), Pat Coffey (Principal Patrician Presentation Secondary School), Caroline Madden (Town Park Project Manager) and Lorna Bermingham (Youth Work Tipperary). (Photo: Joe Kenny)

Work on an ambitious multi-million-euro project set to transform the town of Fethard will start in the spring of next year. The Fethard Town Park project, which received a massive boost last week with a €2.6m government regeneration grant, is expected to take eighteen months to complete. The project will consist of a grass pitch, full-size all-weather pitch, dressing rooms, a gym, intergenerational hall, health consultation rooms, parking, a sensory garden, a 2.5m walkway, a cafe and open parkland.

Lands for the project have been gifted by Tipperary County Council, by Coolmore and by the Cashel & Emly Diocese. Coolmore are providing a €1 million benefit in kind donation as well as providing the full-size all-weather pitch. Extensive engagement with the community has already taken place with representatives of schools, sporting and cultural organisations, a wide range of community groups concerned with health and wellbeing, voluntary and statutory agencies as well as business interests in the town. A door to door consultation survey will be carried out to involve everybody in Fethard in the process of delivering a project to meet the needs of everybody in the community.



“Everybody in the community has a role to play. This is the start of something so much bigger than we ever thought”, project manager Caroline Madden told a meeting held in Fethard on Monday night. Ms Madden said that up to now the main drive had been focussed on securing funding. Now that funding has been secured, she said that all of the groups involved in the community project could move on with ensuring the project was delivered for the town and the surrounding area.

Maurice Moloney of Coolmore said there had been a huge amount of goodwill shown towards the project from within the community. “Every organisation in the community has come together and they are determined to deliver something really special” said Mr Moloney. He said the project was about much, much more than a sporting facility and it would be designed to offer something special to the entire community of all age groups.

Planning permission for the project was granted by Tipperary County Council in June of this year. The meeting on Monday night heard that the project would have a transformative effect on the town of Fethard greatly enhancing its attraction as a place to work and live. It would also have an enormous impact on communities in the surrounding towns and villages within a wide radius of Fethard and it would be of such a high standard that it would also have an impact regionally.


A meeting was held in Coolmore Stud on Monday night, November 11, to discuss plans for the Fethard Town Park project. Those in attendance included (from left) Caroline Madden, project manager; Bill O'Sullivan, Fethard Community Group; Anthony Fitzgerald, Tipperary County Council; Deputy Michael Lowry, Maurice Moloney, Coolmore Stud; Valerie Connolly, Tipperary Sports Partnership; Sonja Reidy, Tipperary County Council; and Clonmel Mayor Garret Ahearn. (Photo Colin Kenny, Primus)

The entire community to benefit in Fethard
Editorial Comment (Nationalist, November 14, 2019)

One of the greatest boosts for a Tipperary community was unveiled last week with confirmation that Fethard is to receive €2.6m funding for a major regeneration programme. The news was received with enthusiasm as the scheme will benefit the entire community. And that's the beauty of the project as it's very much an all-inclusive community undertaking that involves a huge range of groups in the town.

Major players are Tipperary County Council and the world-famous Coolmore Stud but the impact of this development will stretch to a myriad of groups and their members. Its name - the Fethard Town Park project - probably doesn't do justice to the scale of the operation. Situated off the Rocklow Road in the historic walled town, the plan incorporates a suite of sport, recreation and health facilities from all-weather pitches to a gym, adventure playground, walkway and community space. Sports clubs, community organisations, health projects, schools and local businesses came together with a shared vision to create a facility which promotes physical and mental health and wellbeing.

Its proximity to the local primary and secondary schools will ensure that the park will be at the very heart of the community. This inclusivity will guarantee its success as everyone can claim ownership of the project. It's no surprise that a community such as Fethard rallied to the cause with such effect. It's a town that has long punched above its weight, gaining national and international acclaim for its wonderfully preserved town walls, its unique place in Irish history and its recognition as the true home of the thoroughbred horse.

The Town Park will be another significant addition to its community resources. A town that has brought all its key players together to push for such a far-sighted facility deserves all the success it gets as a result.

St. Vincent de Paul help for Christmas
Fethard St. Vincent de Paul society invite applications for those who may need help for Christmas this year. Application forms will now available at the back of both Churches and from Centra Supermarket. Please return same to any member of the Fethard Conference before November 30.

Christmas Flower Demonstration

Mandy Quigley looking forward to her Christmas Flower Demonstration on Thursday, December 5, at Slievenamon Golf Club, startring at 7.30pm

A Christmas Flower Demonstration by Mandy Quigley of ‘Fethard Flowers by Mandy’ will take place on Thursday, December 5, at Slievenamon Golf Club, at 7.30pm. Admission is €10 and tickets are available from Slievenamon Golf Club. Refreshments and raffle on the night.

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

Some photographs taken in and about our area twenty-five years ago . . .


Pat O’Gorman (centre) pictured in Fethard after his family arranged a surprise visit to his native town. Pat worked at Rice’s farm in Brookhill, Fethard, until he was 17 years of age, he then left for England and wasn't back home since. On his arrival met many of his old friends and neighbours and was also brought on a tour of the farm where he worked and the house where he lived. L to R: Mrs. Susan Carol Rogers, Pamela and Pat O’Gorman, Janice Maureen May (daughter), Dermot Rice, Brookhill, and Chris Nevin, proprietor of The Gateway B&B where he stayed while in Fethard. (Photograph taken May 26, 1994) .


Two local lads on a bicycle made for two cycling on Main Street, Fethard on June 6, 1994.


Fr. Denis Shanahan and Mrs Frances Harrington pictured with the six boys who received their First Holy Communion after Sunday Mass in Killusty on June 12, 1994.


Photograph taken from Fethard Ballroom balcony of a large crowd at 'The Paddies' during the London-Fethard Reunion Festival Dance held on June 24, 1994.


Community Council chairman Bernard Walsh presenting award and bouquet of flowers to Ann-Marie O’Meara, Fethard, who was chosen as the 1994 Festival Queen at the Fethard-Killusty London Reunion Festival Dance in Fethard Ballroom on June 24, 1994.


Together again after 25 years are these Fethard Patrician Presentation School classmates pictured at their Leaving Cert Class of 1969 Reunion held on June 25, 1994, after taking part in a tour of the old and new secondary school in Fethard. Back L to R: Michael Smith, Martin O’Mahoney, Vincent Woodlock, Jimmy Hayes, Michael O’Sullivan and Abe Kennedy. Middle: Kathleen (Keane) Maher, Carol Cross, Peggy (Delahunty) Fox, Ann (Tierney) Boyle, Seamus Maher, Frances (O’Flynn) Ryan, Eva (Hackett) O’Keeffe, Patsy (Sayers) Kirwan. Front: Gemma (Kenny) Burke, Matthew Tynan, Anne (Shelly) Fortune, Gerry O’Riordan and Patricia (O’Connor) Clear.


Celebrating their 50 anniversary on June 26, 1994, were the members of Fethard Macra Na Feirme club and to mark the occasion their entry in the 1994 Fancy Dress Parade won the ‘Best Group’ award.


Members of Juvenile GAA Club photographed at Fethard Killusty London Reunion Festival Fancy Dress Parade held in Fethard on June 26, 1994.


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.

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.