Happy New Year

We take this opportunity to wish all our readers and contributors to the Fethard Website a very Happy New Year and your sincere thanks for your support over the past year. We look forward to 2020 with anticipation for all our community developments and local business endeavours. Fethard is a wonderful town with huge potential and a beautiful place to live!

Social dancing at Fethard Ballroom
Fethard Ballroom continues its New Year’s social dancing on Sunday, January 5, to the music of ‘Chris Dallat’. 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 Ballroom goes 'Crackers' with Ronan, Gina & The Champions


Congratulations to Fethard Ballroom committee for providing another great night’s festive entertainment on Sunday night last, December 29, with their ‘Christmas Cracker’ featuring Gina and the Champions with special guest Ronan Collins. Entertainment started promptly shortly after 8pm where hundreds came from far and near to enjoy the music and recollections from the great ‘Showband Years’ that Fethard Ballroom played such an active role in the 1970s. Thankfully, Fethard Ballroom survived, and the music lives on. It wasn’t long before the seated crowd were on their feet and dancing to the rhythm of nostalgia.


Photographed at the 'Christmas Crackers' show in Fethard Ballroom are L to R: Gina, Sean O'Donovan (organiser) and Bernie Drohan.

Gina sang many of her hits, accompanied by the large crowd singing along to the music of her ‘Champions’. Ronan Collins – the guru of the showband years – recalled his first time playing in Fethard and, although suffering from a sore throat, did justice to a medley of Joe Dolan’s earliest hit songs starting with his first single ‘The Answer to Everything’, released in September 1964.


Photographed at the 'Christmas Crackers' show in Fethard Ballroom are L to R: Eileen Coady (Fethard Ballroom), Declan Crowley, Joan Loughman and Mary Halley.


A group of happy 'Gina' fans photographed at the 'Christmas Crackers' show in Fethard Ballroom featuring Gina & The Champions with special guest Ronan Collins.


Photographed at the 'Christmas Crackers' show in Fethard Ballroom are L to R: Eleanor Ferncombe and George Joyce.

Following three hours of lively entertainment, DJ ‘Mad Mike’ took over and maintained the festive atmosphere with a variety of music to keep everyone dancing, including himself. The committee and staff are to be complimented for their friendly and accommodating ambience created on the night and for maintaining the ballroom to a very high standard. Proceeds from this dance will also go towards further enhancement of the premises.


Enjoying the ‘festive’ entertainment in Fethard Ballroom are L to R: Bernie O’Rahilly, Michelle Hickey and DJ ‘Mad Mike’.

Resonating in the ballroom walls was news that the extremely popular ‘Joe Dolan Show’ will make a return visit to Fethard in May. What a night to look forward to – watch this space!

Died Recently
The death has occurred on Saturday, January 4, 2020, of Monica Hennessy (née Ryan), Coleman, Fethard, peacefully at home, surrounded by her family. Monica, beloved wife of Michael and loving mother of Mary, John, Maggie, Michele and Matt, predeceased by her sister Philomena Treacy and her brothers Tom and Donie Ryan; is sadly missed by her husband, children, brothers Dermot and Matt, sister Teresa, sisters-in-law, brother-in-law, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, sons-in-law David, Garvan and John, daughters-in-law Jaey and Trish, nieces, nephews, relatives, her carers, neighbours and friends. May she rest in peace.

Reposing at McCarthy's Funeral Home, Fethard, on Monday from 5pm to 8pm. Funeral Mass in St Michael's Church, Clerihan, on Tuesday morning at 11.30am (Eircode E91 X260) followed by burial in the adjoining Cemetery. House private please.

Christmas Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols
There was a very large attendance at the Church of Ireland’s Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols on Sunday, December 22. The Christmas story was beautifully portrayed in a very festive atmosphere with a lovely decorated church. Canon Fryday and the congregation would like to thank all those people who read and the Fethard Choral Society who gave a very moving performance. Special recognition must go to Ann Barry – their musical director and accompanist.


Photographed at the Christmas Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols at Holy Trinity Church of Ireland Fethard are L to R: Ken Homfray, Fr. Iggy O'Donovan OSA and Rev. Canon Barbara Fryday.


Photographed at the Christmas Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols at Holy Trinity Church of Ireland Fethard are L to R: Zoë Stokes, Emma Little, Bobbi Holohan and Melissa Stokes.


Photographed at the Christmas Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols at Holy Trinity Church of Ireland Fethard are L to R: Dympna O'Donovan, John O'Donovan, Mary Fogarty, Michael McCarthy and Geraldine McCarthy.

Sometimes on these occasions, all the people who give their time so generously are not mentioned so we would like to say a big thank you to the organist Dr. David Butler and the Bailey family and their great helpers who provided all the tasty refreshments. We would like to wish everyone a holy, peaceful Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Fethard Bridge Club Christmas Party Prize Presentations
At our Christmas party held in Hotel Minella on Wednesday, December 18, the following prizes were presented:

Gross Turkey Competition held on November 20, 2019: 1st Gross, Monica Anglim and Betty Walsh; 2nd Gross, Anna Cooke and Alice Quinn; 3rd Gross, Rita Kane and Kay St. John; 1st Nett, Marie Delaney and Ann O'Dea; 2nd Nett, Margaret Slattery and Mike Burke; 3rd Nett, Vincent Cummins and Fr Liam Everard.

Nett Turkey Competition held on November 27, 2019: 1st Gross, Tony Hanrahan and Keith Woodlock; 2nd Gross, Monica Anglim and Betty Walsh; 3rd Gross, Anna Cooke and Eileen Frewen; 1st Nett, Gemma Burke and Carol Kenny; 2nd Nett, Frances Burke and Carmel Condon; 3rd Nett, Nell Broderick and Kathleen Maher.

Change of Partner Turkey Competition held on December 4, 2019: 1st Gross, Betty Walsh and Bill O'Sullivan; 2nd Gross, Monica Anglim and Tony Hanrahan; 3rd Gross, Gemma and Mike Burke; 1st Nett, Anna Cooke and Rita Kane; 2nd Nett, Noel O’Dwyer and Keith Woodlock; 3rd Nett, Marie Delaney and Eileen Frewen.

Christmas Prizes played for on December 11, 2019: 1st Gross, Rita Kane and Kay St. John; 2nd Gross, Nell Broderick and David O'Meara; 3rd Gross, Berney Myles and Alice Quinn; 4th Gross, Rita Holohan and Ellen Rochford; 5th Gross, Monica Anglim and Betty Walsh; 6th Gross, Tony Hanrahan and Keith Woodlock; 1st Nett, Gemma Burke and Carol Kenny; 2nd Nett, Marie Delaney and Ann O'Dea; 3rd Nett, Noel O’Dwyer and Bill O’Sullivan; 4th Nett, Frances Burke and Carmel Condon; 5th Nett, Mary Nolan and Teresa O’Brien; 6th Nett, Margaret Slattery and Mike Burke

We thank two of our sponsors for our Christmas prizes: Mandy Quigley for her floral centrepiece and Michael Allen for his voucher. Bridge resumes at 7.15pm on Wednesday, January 8, 2020. Happy New Year to all!

Celebrating the Festive Season in Fethard

Annual visitors to Lonergan’s Bar, Fethard, for the past four years are this group of ‘lads’ from Carrick-on-Suir who appear to have fallen in love with the St. Stephen’s Day atmosphere in the town. Photographed above with proprietors, Roseann and John Carroll.


Enjoying the festive atmosphere in Fethard over Christmas are L to R: Kelly Fogarty, Nicole Looby, Nicola Harrington and Jade Pattison.

Holy Trinity National School retirements 2019

Mrs Eileen Fitzgerald

Mrs Eileen Fitzgerald retired from Holy Trinity N.S., Fethard on September 1st, 2019. Eileen’s teaching career in Fethard started in St. Patrick’s Boys’ N.S. in 1982. St. Patrick’s Boys’ N.S. and Nano Nagle Primary School amalgamated in September 2010 and the newly established school was called Holy Trinity N.S.

Eileen was known for her good humour, dedication and hard work all through her teaching career. She taught many class levels throughout her teaching career in both the boys’ national school and Holy Trinity N.S. and was always held in very high esteem by pupils, parents and colleagues. She was a valued member of staff and loved chatting in the staff room, getting all the news and discussing the latest hurling match, especially if it involved a local team! She was an excellent teacher, very professional in her work and a great mentor to new members of staff. Her passion for sport shone through in the two schools no matter what classes she taught, always encouraged children to be physically active.

Eileen is well known in her home of Ballingarry and in Fethard for her love of all things sporting, especially Tipperary GAA and hurling. It was fitting that the Tipperary Senior Hurling team were crowned All-Ireland Champions in 2019 and when the Liam McCarthy Cup came to visit the school in September, Kevin Halley, co-ordinator of GAA in primary schools, paid a special tribute to Eileen’s dedication to the game all through her teaching career and thanked her for all the time she gave so generously to developing children’s skills in the game of hurling and camogie.

Eileen helped train so many school teams during her time in Fethard and there were great celebrations in May 2017 when our U13 girls won a county camogie final in Semple Stadium. It was a proud day for Eileen and indeed for all the school community. Two more titles followed shortly afterwards, an U11 county football title in November 2017 and an U13 county football title in November 2018. Eileen has certainly left school sports in a good state upon her retirement.

Eileen was instrumental in helping the school to achieve its first ever Active School Flag in April 2018. Eileen helped us all become more educated about physical education and thanks to her we are all more physically active every day in school as a result! For one of her retirement gifts we decided we’d have to get a School Shield and dedicate it to Eileen Fitzgerald for all that she has done for the school. We now have The Eileen Fitzgerald Perpetual Shield which we hope Eileen will present each June to either the children or the teachers in the annual ‘Take on the Teachers!’

We wish Eileen every health and happiness as she embarks on her retirement. It is well earned and well deserved and if we know Eileen, she won’t be letting the grass grow under her feet! Enjoy this new phase of your life Eileen with your husband Tomás Fitzgerald and your family.

Mrs Margaret Gleeson

Mrs Margaret Gleeson retired from Holy Trinity N.S. on September 1, 2019. Margaret started teaching in Nano Nagle National School in 1982 before it amalgamated with St. Patrick’s Boys’ National School to become Holy Trinity N.S. in 2010.

Margaret’s love for teaching, her love for the environment, her sensitivity for those who needed a little help, her pleasant and helpful manner, her excellent teaching capabilities and her commitment to passing on the highest standards to her pupils were among Margaret’s fine qualities. Margaret taught Junior Infants for many, many years in the school and she was well known everywhere for her kind and gentle presence and the patience she had for the children in her care knew no bounds. The community of Fethard felt extremely lucky to have such a wonderful and dedicated teacher for their children in their formative years. She always had a wonderful rapport with all the children she taught, their parents and grandparents – she was so well respected by all.

Margaret’s great work ethic and dedication shone through in all her work in school, but especially in relation to environmental issues. Her love for nature and all living things set her apart and she been instrumental in fostering a sense of environmental awareness and care in all children and staff here in the school. She has worked tirelessly all through her teaching career to make the school a better place, encouraging exploration of the local environment in the school and Fethard so that the children would have an appreciation for the trees, the flowers, the wildlife that surrounds them. Margaret ensured that the school worked closely with An Taisce for the Green School Flags. She paved the way for success in securing our flags for Litter and Waste, Water and Travel. She also worked closely with Tipperary County Council on funding projects and so the school were recipients of grants that helped make it a more attractive place for the children.

Margaret’s eagerness to highlight the importance of environmental issues means that all the children have a much greater understanding of the need to protect and care for the earth – and that it starts right here at home. She has helped to change everyone’s way of thinking both in school and at home and we thank her for incredible work in this area. It was only fitting that on the day of her retirement, the school presented Margaret with a beautiful plaque dedicated to her and the legacy she leaves behind – the wood at the back of the school will henceforth be known as ‘Gleeson’s Wood’ in her honour and every time we venture into the woods, we will think of Margaret and her love for the woods and all the wildlife within it.

As Margaret embarks on new adventures in her retirement, we wish her and her family every health and happiness for the future. We will miss her kind and caring way in the school and her ability to listen and help whenever there was anyone in need. There is no doubt that she has made a remarkable impact on the school, one that will be felt for many years to come. We wish Margaret all the very best for her retirement with her family – Dan, Mary, Sarah, Brendan, Neil and Danny.

Optus Stadium in Perth, Australia

Brendan Kenny photographed outside the Optus Stadium in Perth, Australia, while visiting his daughter Linda and her husband Adrian Minogue and their family; Brendan was also with Michael Byrne, originally from Killusty, and was surprised to meet Damien Byrne and his wife Una Kiernan from Fethard who are currently taking a year out from work to explore far away places with their children, Tristan, Ewan, Freya and Inez Byrne.

Fethard Ladies turn on style for medal presentation celebration

Winning captains with their trophies won during the year. L to R: Nell Spillane captain U16 B camogie county final, Muireann O'Connell captain U19 A football county final,Niamh Hayes captain U17 football division 1 league winners, Lucy Spillane with the Mary Quinn Cup for winning the All Ireland Intermediate football final with Tipperary, Alison Connolly captain Munster U17 camogie inter-provincial winners, Carrie Davey with the All Ireland football U17 cup for winning the U17 A All Ireland blitz with Tipperary, Maryann Fitzgerald captain U14 B camogie county final, Nicole Delaney and Aoibheann Collum with the Munster cup for winning the U14 B Munster football final with Tipperary, Maggie Fitzgerald captain of the Patrician Presentation Senior Schools team who won the Rachel Kenneally Cup for the senior schools championship in Tipperary, Katie O'Dwyer captain U12 camogie county final and Edel Fitzgerald captain of the Junior B Camogie Championship winning team.

Clonmel Park Hotel was again the venue for the Fethard Ladies Football Club and St. Rita’s Camogie Club dinner dance and medal presentation night on November 23, 2019. This night of celebration is always eagerly awaited when the girls are honoured by presentations of the array of trophies and medals won over the past year by special guests, accompanied by club members, parents and county board members. The celebration also acknowledges the coaches roll and involvement in what was achieved on the field in 2019. Special guests on the night included Tipperary Intermediate footballer Caoimhe Condon, county football chairman Lar Roche and his wife Gemma, County camogie secretary Carmel Harkin, Fr. Tom Breen and Fr. Liam Everard P.P.


Jessica Moloney who won U14 camogie player of the year receiving her trophy from Paula Bulfin.


Molly Stapleton who won the most improved on the U14 White team receiving her trophy from Caoimhe Condon.


Emaleigh Cuddihy who won most improved on the U14 blue team receiving her trophy from Caoimhe Condon.

Medals were presented to the following county final winning panels, U14 B camogie league, U16 B camogie league, Junior B camogie championship, U17 Division 1 football League and U19 A football championship.


Nell Spillane who won U16 camogie player of the year receiving her trophy from Paula Bulfin.


Meadhbh O'Loughlin who won most improved player on the U16 blue team.


Anna Duggan who the most improved player on the U16 white team receiving her trophy from Caoimhe Condon.


Carrie Davey who won U18 camogie player of the year receiving her trophy from Paula Bulfin.


Leah Coen who won the U18 footballer of the year award receiving her trophy from Caoinhe Condon.


Lucy Spillane who won senior footballer of the year receiving her trophy from Caoimhe Condon.


Lucy Spillane who won the junior camogie player of the year receiving her trophy from Carmel Harkin.


St. Rita's Camogie Club presentation to coaches by Carmel Harkin L to R: Mia Treacy, Mary O'Mahoney, Carmel Harkin and Michael Ryan.


L to R: Tipperary footballers Aoibheann Collum (left) and Nicole Delaney (right) who won Munster U14 B medals,receiving their awards from Tipperary Intermediate footballer Caoimhe Condon.

Player of the Year awards were presented to the following girls on the night, in camogie, U14 Jessica Moloney, U16 Nell Spillane, U18 Carrie Davey and junior Lucy Spillane.  In football the most improved player went to U14 Blue Emmaleigh Cuddihy, U14 (White Team) Molly Stapleton, U16 (Blue Team) Meadhbh O’Loughlin, U16 (White Team) Anna Duggan and player of the year awards went to Leah Coen in U19 and Lucy Spillane in senior.


L to R: Nell Spillane, Carrie Davey, Niamh Hayes, Alison Connolly and Leah Coen pictured with Caoimhe Condon who presented them trophies in recognition of the five girls winning the U17 A All Ireland Blitz with Tipperary who beat Dublin in the final.


Alison Connolly received a presentation from St.Ritas Camogie Club in recognition of her being captain of the Munster camogie team who won the U17 inter-provincial league from Carmel Harkin.


Lucy Spillane received a presentation from Fethard Ladies football club to honour her winning Muster and All Ireland Intermediate football medals,she is the first player to win an adult All Ireland medal since the club was formed in 2003, the presentation was made by her grandfather Sean Spillane.


L to R: Tipperary footballer, Caoimhe Condon (special guest), Micheál Spillane, Fr. Liam Everard P.P., Fr. Tom Breen, Mary O'Mahoney (St. Rita's Camogie Club), Lar Roche (Chairman Ladies Football County Board), and Carmel Harken (Secretary Camogie County Board).


L to R: Lar Roche, Gemma Roche, Caoimhe Condon, Mary Condon, Carmel Harkin, Mary O'Mahoney, Sandra Spillane and Micheál Spillane.

Presentations were made to Alison Connolly who captained the Munster Camogie Team to win the U17 Inter-provincial and also Tipperary footballers Nicole Delaney and Aoibheann Collum who won Munster U14 B medals, Carrie Davey, Leah Coen, Alison Connolly, Niamh Hayes and Nell Spillane who won the All-Ireland U17 A Blitz and Lucy Spillane who was on the Munster team that won the Senior Schools Inter-provincial and also won the Munster and All Ireland intermediate championship with Tipperary.


Back L to R: Aoife Harrington, Kaycie Ahearne, Evie Smith, Olivia Ward, Holly Hayes. Middle L to R: Maryann Fitzgerald, Kiera Daniel, Aine Connolly, Lucy Kenny. Front L to R: Emily Spillane, Emily Davey, Lucy Brett, Aoibheann Collum and Taryn Purcell.


L to R: Anna Duggan, Meadhbh O'Loughlin, Aoife Morrissey, Kelly Ryan, Amy Fennelly, Megan Quigley and Anna Prendergast.


L to R: Amy O'Donnell, Gillian Fogarty, Ciara O'Meara and Heather Spillane.


L to R: Lily O Mahony, Gráinne Murray and Chloe Gunn.


L to R: Gillian Burke, Aine Gayson, Ella Mai Hackett, Ciara Spillane and Rachel Ryan


L to R: Anna Lynch, Hannah Sheehy, Ava Ward, Kate Burke and Laura Harrington.


Back L to R: Lucy Spillane,Niamh Hayes, Ciara Hayes. Middle L to R: Katie Ryan, Lauren Dowling, Megan Coen. Front L to R: Nell Spillane, Kate Davey, Aine Ryan and Carrie Davey.


L to R: Leah Coen, Meabh Elle Ryan, Jess Gleeson and Aine O'Connell.


Players from Fethard Ladies Football Club and St. Rita’s Camogie Club photographed at medal presentation Dinner Dance at Clonmel Park Hotel on Saturday, November 23, 2019. (All photos by Joe Kenny, Fethard).

Afterwards the dance floor was filled to capacity as the girls showed some nifty footwork and stamina to finish off another great night’s entertainment.

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 'seasonal fun' with photographs taken on December 14. 2002, at Burke's Bridge Bar's annual 'Hat Party' in aid of the CRC Santa Bear Appeal. The event was co-ordinated by Marianne Shortall and usually held after the Pheasant Pluckers Carol Singing on the streets of Fethard in aid of the same cause.


Photographed at the Christmas Hat Party run at the Bridge Bar on December 14, 2002, in aid of the CRC Santa Bear Appeal are L to R: Seamus Maher, Martin O'Shea and John Shortall.


L to R: Philomena Shea, Phil Shea, Brendan Morrissey and Joan Carroll photographed at the Christmas Hat Party run at the Bridge Bar Fethard in aid of the CRC Santa Bear Appeal.


Brothers Martin Ryan and John Ryan wearing their 'Christmas Hat Trick' hat at the Christmas Hat Party.


L to R: Gerry Fogarty, Mary Fogarty and Annette O’Donovan at the Christmas Hat Party.


L to R: Andy O’Donovan, Sheila O'Donovan and Helena O’Shea.


Richard Cummins and Kay Walsh (Grangemockler).


Emma Morrissey and Edwina Newport at the Christmas Hat Party run at the Bridge Bar Fethard in aid of the CRC Santa Bear Appeal. December 14, 2002.


L to R: John and Alice Bourke, Nicky Sullivan and John Slattery.


L to R: Maree Moclair, Maureen Maher and Rita Kenny.


Michael Heverin and his wife Ann (Shortall)


Liam Cooney and Marianne Shortall (Hat Party Co-ordinator)


L to R: Davy Tobin and Alice Tobin, Jane O'Dwyer and T.J. Tobin.


Marian Gilpin and Johnny O’Connor


Alfie O'Flynn and organiser Marianne Shortall


Mark Tynan and his wife Liz (Thompson)


Photographed at the Christmas Hat Party run at the Bridge Bar Fethard in aid of the CRC Santa Bear Appeal are L to R: Austin O'Flynn, Janneke and Bert van Dommelen. December 14, 2002.


Bill Kennedy with his entry 'Present Time' at the Christmas Hat Party run at the Bridge Bar Fethard in aid of the CRC Santa Bear Appeal.


Liz Newport and John Fogarty at the Christmas Hat Party


Ann Heverin with her brother John Shortall.


Alfie O’Flynn sitting at the bar with Jonathan Gilpin.

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.