Huge response to Fethard Community Survey!
Fethard’s Medieval and Historical Features received the highest responce in the Fethard Community Survey’s, things we like about Fethard ’Special Sense of Place’ section.
The survey was undertaken in December 2019 by Fethard Community Council to assess residents’ opinions in regard to the issues facing Fethard as a town and as a community. A total of 250 forms were submitted to the Fethard and Killusty Community Council, 108 of these were submitted online via the Fethard website. The population of Fethard is estimated to be approximately 1545 persons (Census 2016) with an average occupancy of two persons per household. This would mean that the equivalent of one-third of households responded. This very robust percentage suggests great public interest and engagement in the future of our town.
Things we like about Fethard
- Great Community (total of 99 replies broken down as follows): A Friendly place with Friendly People (34); Sense of Community (22); Clubs, Societies and Groups (14); Schools (10); Safe Place to Live (10); Religious Organisations (5); Facilities for the Elderly (4).
- Physical Recreation and Wellbeing (total of 81 as follows): Sporting Organisations (31); Walkways and walking routes (27); Recreational facilities (23).
- Special Sense of Place (total of 74 as follows): Medieval and Historical Features (53); Culture (7); Scenery (6); Town Hall (5); Free Parking (3).
- Shops, Restaurants, Pubs and Local Businesses (total of 44 as follows): Restaurants, Cafes and Pubs (26); Shops (18).
Things we dislike about Fethard
- Social Deficit - Community Control (total of 162 as follows): Crime and Anti-Social Behaviour (43); Littering (34); Dog Fouling (28); Lack of Youth and Children’s Facilities (19); Lack of Volunteering (12); Lack of Community Spirit and Communication (11); Graffiti (6); Lack of Integration (5); Lack of Colour on Houses (4).
- Governance Deficit - Responsibility of the County Council or National Government (total of 161 as follows): Speeding and Traffic (39); Lack of Gardai (22); Parking Issues (19); Roads and Footpaths (19); Poor Housing Policy (11); Lighting Issues (10); Drugs (9); Poor Planting and Landscaping (8); Poor Council Support and Presence (5); Lack of Public Transport (5); Flood Relief Plans (5); Lack of Facilities for the Elderly (3); Lack of Bins (3); No Public Toilets (3).
- Economic Deficit – What’s Missing (total of 81 as follows): Lack of Shops (36); Derelict and Untidy Properties Which Should Be Restored (28); Lack of ATM (10); Lack of Tourist Facilities (4); Lack of Employment Facilities (3).
Ideas to Improve Fethard taken from the Survey
- Things we can do for ourselves (total of 130 as follows): More Walking and Cycling Routes (27); Community Engagement (21); Improve Town’s Appearance (21); More for Youth and Children (15); Litter Control (15); Planting of Flowers and Greenery (15); Clean Up Projects (10); Paint Houses (6).
- Things the Council need to do (total of 123 as follows): Traffic and Parking Control (32); More Walking and Cycling Routes (27); Improve Town’s Appearance (21); Lighting (15); More Bins (10); Infrastructure (6); Dog Waste Bins (6); Maintenance of Walks (6).
- Things Central Government need to be lobbied on (total of 25 as follows): Garda Presence needs to be increased (13); Revise Rates to Attract Businesses (6); Facilities for the Elderly or Infirm (6).
- Dividend Outcomes –Improvements that should flow from the actions taken by the Community, Council and Central Government (total of 32 as follows): More Shops and Businesses (21); Restoration of Derelict and Untidy Properties (11).
Next Steps
A number of actions are planned as a follow-up to the survey. Some are short-term actions and others are ongoing. The first step will be a Fethard Clean-Up Day in March for all areas of the town to participate in. We are also holding an Information Morning in the Town Hall on Friday, February 21, to further discuss the results and planned actions. All are welcome to participate.
‘Get Active’ for kids on Monday, February 17
Fethard Athletic Club are launching a six-week programme for kids, aged 7 to 12, in Fethard Ballroom on Monday, February 17, starting at 7pm. The aim of the programme is to build mobility, agility and running fitness before moving outdoors in April.
Local CrossFit Coach, Jennifer Rice, will kick-start the first class. There will be a nominal fee of €2 or €5 for family, to cover the cost of the hall. For further information contact Tel: 087 4145518 or look up ‘Fethard Athletic Club 2020’ on FaceBook.
Social dancing at Fethard Ballroom
Fethard Ballroom continues its New Year’s social dancing on Sunday, February 16, to the music of ‘Michael Collins’. 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
Book Fair a great success despite weather and election
A very busy 25th Anniversary Tipperariana Book Fair in Fethard on Sunday last, February 9.
The 25th Tipperariana Book Fair, in Fethard Ballroom on Sunday last, was another successful running of what is now a ‘Tipperary institution’, held on the second Sunday in February every year. The catalogue produced for the fair lists thirty book-dealers and nine authors hailing from locations between Belfast and Skibbereen and, despite the weather, all the thirty-nine ‘runners’ turned up in the Ballroom on Sunday. This is surely proof, if needed, that the Fethard Book Fair is a ‘must attend’ for people involved in the specialised world of books and book collecting.
Photographed at the Tipperariana Book Fair's 'Book of the Year' for 2019 stand, are Gemma Burke (Fethard & Killusty Emigrant's Newsletter), Kitty O'Donnell, wife of the late Michael O'Donnell, originally from Kilnockin, Fethard and a regular contributor to the annual newsletter, and Tom Nealon, Carrick-on-Suir.
The numbers of punters coming through the door were reported down somewhat, but the regular ‘serious’ buyers and collectors from a fifty-mile radius all braved the elements and attended as usual. The book dealers, especially those from the big cities of Dublin, Cork and Limerick, are bemused that a small town like Fethard can organise what they describe as the best book fair in the whole country. The success of the Fethard fair seems to be a combination of good organisation and sticking to the same date and format from the first fair in 1996. Fethard Ballroom, as the location, is also an excellent venue for such an event and hopefully it will be used more for similar type shows and exhibitions in the coming years.
Photographed at the Tipperariana Book Fair in Fethard Ballroom are L to R: Aoife Lawrence, Nora Lawrence, Cian Lawrence and Austin Lawrence from Mocklershill, Fethard.
The organisers of the Tipperariana Book Fair, Fethard Historical Society, are especially thankful to all those who donated books for sale at the fair, as this is the biggest source of funds generated for the society on the day. The remaining books are being sorted, with the best kept for next year’s fair and the remainder are donated to the NCBI (National Council for the Blind of Ireland), who distribute books to their eighty shops around Ireland, which in turn generates much needed funds for their organisation.
L to R: Dr. Lucia Gannon and Dr. Liam Meagher at the Tipperariana Book Fair where they promoted their new book, 'All in a Doctor's Day', memoirs of an Irish Country Practice.
Michael Coady (Carrick-on-Suir) and Eileen Acheson (Clonmel) photographed at the Tipperariana Book Fair where Eileen promoted her first book of poetry ‘I Wonder'.
All going to plan, the 26th Tipperariana Book Fair will be held next year on Valentine’s Day, Sunday, February 14 – a date for your diary!
Irish Heart Foundation collection
The Irish Heart Foundation will hold their annual collection in Fethard on Valentine’s Day, Friday, February 14. Students from Fethard’s Patrician Presentation Secondary School will be out and about to help this worthy cause.
Irish Olympian Thomas Barr visits Fethard
Irish track and field athlete, Thomas Barr, photographed with Patrician Presentation second-year students following their Irish Life Health Schools’ fun-day Fitness Challenge at the school.
Thanks very much to Thomas Barr for visiting Patrician Presentation Second-Year students last Tuesday, February 4. Thomas is an Irish track and field athlete who competes in the sprints and hurdles. The second-year students really enjoyed the session. We as a school entered the Irish Life Health Schools’ Fitness Challenge and won the fitness fun day with Thomas. Well done to all involved including PE teachers, Ms Walsh and Ms Murphy.
Annual Le Chéile Conference
L to R: Kieran O’Donnell and Keenan Aherne at the annual Le Chéile Conference in Athlone
Two fifth-year students, Keenan Aherne and Kieran O’Donnell accompanied Mr Coffey to the annual Le Chéile Conference in Athlone last week. The theme of this year’s conference was ‘Wisdom: Ecology, Sustainability and Hope’. Ms McKeogh helped our students prepare their submission for the conference. Over fifty-five post-primary schools and a number of primary schools were represented.
Fethard Bridge Club Results
The results of our charity night game played on Wednesday January 29, were: 1st Gross, Kay St. John and Keith Woodlock; 2nd Gross, Monica Anglim and Betty Walsh; 3rd Gross, Rita Holohan and Ellen Rochford; 1st Nett, Berney Myles and Alice Quinn; 2nd Nett, Bernie Phelan and Tony Hanrahan; 3rd Nett, Noel O’Dwyer and Bill O'Sullivan.
This Wednesday, February 12, we play for sponsored prizes. Bridge starts at 7.15pm each Wednesday. Anyone looking for a partner contact Gemma Burke 086-6064148.
Fethard’s Patrician Presentation are Munster Champions
Team captain Lucy Spillane receiving the Munster Cup from Liam Shinnick, Vice President Munster Ladies Football Association
There were great celebrations in the Patrician Presentation Secondary School on January 31, when our senior ladies football team defeated Colaiste Treasa Kanturk in Ballygibblin GAA grounds, North Cork. The Fethard girls produced an excellent second half display against the wind to beat Colaiste Treasa Kanturk Cork by 2-12 to 2-5 to win the Munster Final. The girls got vital goals at important times and showed great heart and work rate to overcome a very physical Kanturk team.
In the first half, with the aid of the wind at their back, Fethard got off to a good start with two points from Leah Coen and a point from Alison Connolly. However, this was quickly nullified by a quick counterattack goal from Colaiste Treasa.
The Cork team added another point from the goal to go in front. The Fethard girls dug deep from the 20th minute onwards in the first half with penetrating runs from Lucy Spillane through the Cork defence and some excellent defending from Carrie Davey, Ciara O’Meara, Michelle Cronin and Mary Anne Fitzgerald in particular.
Munster Champions – Patrician Presentation Secondary School ladies senior football team members were: Samantha Buckley, Ciara O’Meara, Michelle Cronin, MaryAnne Fitzgerald, Gráinne Murray, Carrie Davey (0-01), Kelly Ryan, Alison Connolly (0-01), Lucy Spillane, Heather Spillane (1-00), Maggie Fitzgerald, Nell Spillane (1-00), Jessica Moloney, Leah Coen (0-10, 6 frees), Áine Connolly (0-1). Subs were: Sarah Smith, Lauren Needham, Kaycie Aherne, Emily Davey, Taryn Purcell, Emily Spillane, Aoibheann Collum, Áilíse Fitzgerald, Lucy Kenny, Zoe Prout, Lucy Lawrence, Lucy Brett, Aoife Harrington, Kiera Daniels, Ella- Mai Hackett and Shakira Bradshaw.
The girls added further points with three from Leah Coen all from fees. The full forward line held the ball very well during this time with Leah Coen, Áine Connolly and Jessica Moloney all working extremely hard to earn frees which resulted in scores. During this period Fethard worked a well work goal with Nell Spillane kicking low past the Kanturk goalie. Fethard went into half-time up by three points: Colaiste Treasa Kanturk 1-3 to PPS Fethard 1-6.
Colaiste Treasa got out of the traps quickly with the aid of a strong wind in the second half and they got a quick point which was followed up with a well worked goal, to go in front. However, this bought the Fethard girls to life with a goal started by Carrie Davey and Maggie Fitzgerald and finished brilliantly by Heather Spillane to leave the Patrician Presentation two points up. This was a great response to the Kanturk goal. The Fethard girls never looked back after this aided by tremendous support from pupils and parents at the match. The backs were waterproof in this period with great displays from Carrie Davey, Alison Connolly, Ciara O’Meara, Lucy Spillane and Kelly Ryan. Leah Coen, Maggie Fitzgerald and Nell Spillane tormented the Cork defence in the second half and produced a fine performance.
Team members celebrating with the cup
There were joyous celebrations after the match when Lucy Spillane received the cup.
The school would like to thank all the parents’ students and supporters for the huge support at the match, Special thanks also to Mr Cummins, Ms Murphy, Micheál Spillane, Sandra Spillane and Chris Coen for training the team.
Fethard & Killusty Community Lotto
The numbers drawn on Wednesday, February 5, were: 18, 21, 23 and 29. There was no jackpot winner and no ‘Match Three’ winner so the following three drawn tickets received €50 each: Ann Hahessy, Woodvale Walk, Fethard; Majella Daly, Cedar Grove, Fethard; and Niall Connolly, c/o E. Connolly.
The following three ‘Lucky Dip’ winners received €50 each: Jimmy Mullins, c/o Friendship Club; Dick O'Brien, Chapel Lane, Fethard; and Phil Wyatt, Jossestown, Fethard.
Next week’s draw takes place on Wednesday, February 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, February 7, were: 9, 19, 21 and 22. There was no jackpot winner and one ‘match three’ winner who received €100: Lesley Swift, Coolmore.
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 next draw takes place on Friday, February 7, in Burke’s Bar at 7.30pm, when the jackpot is €25,100 and the seller's prize is €1,000. The funds raised are used to promote sport in the local community.
National Spring Week ‘Clean Up’
Fethard & Killusty Tidy Towns are looking for volunteers to take part in a big ‘Clean Up’ as part of National Spring Clean which will take place during the whole month of April. Contact Brian Sheehy at Tel: 086 0832974 for details.
The annual campaign encourages every sector of society to actively participate and take responsibility for litter, by conducting clean ups in their own local environment. If you’re interested in helping or taking part, there’s lots of information available and ideas on the website: nationalspringclean.org where you can register for a clean-up kit to be sent to you. The clean up kit contains valuable tips on how to hold a successful clean-up event, a poster to advertise your event, ideas on how to make your event different and lots more useful information. The pack also includes plastic bags in which to collect your litter and recyclable material, some tabards to keep your clothes clean and some gloves to keep your hands safe and clean.
Jake Carter coming to The Abymill
Jake Carter will do a once-off intimate concert in the Abymill Theatre, Fethard, on Saturday, March 7, starting at 8pm. The concert is run to raise funds for Cappanagarrane Horse Rescue. You are asked to please come along and support this deserving cause to help fund the rescue and rehabilitation of so many horses who would otherwise have no chance of survival. Cappanagarrane Horse Rescue is the only registered horse rescue service in Tipperary. Tickets are just €25 each and early booking is advised as tickets are limited. Booking now by contacting Anne at Tel: 086 0834208.
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 more local photographs from the archives:
Killusty Soccer Team (April 1995) winners of that year's 1st Division League, pictured wearing their new strip sponsored by Pat O’Shea, Fethard, who is also included (back left).
Procession making its way up to St. Patrick's Place, with guard of honour by Fethard FCA.
Fethard first ‘Skiffle Group’ in the mid 1950s, they played at dances while the 'Big Bands' took their break. Back: Tony Newport, Declan Mulligan and Cha Finn.. Front: Don Byard.
Fethard racing fans at the Tipperary Point-to-Point races at Tullamaine are L to R: Bill Mulligan, Louis O'Donnell, Jack Kenrick, Dick Gough and Derek Wall.
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.
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