Died in Chicago USA
The death has occurred on Wednesday, February 26, 2020, of Patrick 'Paddy' O'Flynn, Glen Ellyn, Chicago, USA, and formerly of Burke Street, Fethard, peacefully at home. He will be sadly missed and lovingly remembered by his wife Elizabeth Ann, his son Stephen, daughters Rhona and Lauren, sons-in-law, daughter-in-law, grandchildren and his sisters Margaret Ward and Dolores Cleary.

The Funeral will take place on Tuesday, March 3, 2020, at St Petronille Catholic Church, 420 Glenwood Avenue, Glen Ellyn, Illinois 60136. Visitation at 9am. Mass at 10am. Reception at Glen Oak Country Club from 11.30am to 2.30pm.

Died in England
The death has occurred on Monday, February 24. 2020, of Theresa ‘Terry’ Cord (neé Ryan), Crawley, Sussex, and formerly Loughcopple, Killusty.

Funeral Mass will take place at Friary Church of St. Francis, Crawley, Sussex, Post Code: RH10 1HR, at 11am on Friday, March 13. May she rest in Peace.

Coolmoyne Club fundraising Table Quiz in Lonergan's for new roof

Pictured after the official opening of Coolmoyne Racquetball Alley on July 16, 1998, are L to R: Declan Brown, who unveiled the plaque; Tom Noonan, project coordinator; and Fr. Michael Barry who blessed the premises. A Table Quiz will be held in Lonergan's Bar this Saturday night, February 29, in aid of much-needed renovations to the roof of the Alley.

Coolmoyne Racquetball Club are currently trying to raise funds to repair the roof in their much-used alley in Coolmoyne. The original handball alley in Coolmoyne was first renovated into a racquetball alley in 1998 when local Tom Noonan, was the project coordinator. The alley was officially opened in July 1998 by Tipperary County football star Declan Browne, and blessed by Fr. Michael Barry. Today, the alley is still much used in the locality and the group have got-together to fund maintenance work on the roof, which is necessary to preserve the building.

Table Quiz in Lonergan’s Bar
Fundraising will commence on Saturday night next, February 29, with a table quiz in Lonergan’s Bar, The Square, Fethard, starting at 9pm. Locals and supporters are asked to come along, enter a team of four and support this worthy cause. A great night is guaranteed by the proprietors.

Margaret will develop links with wider community
Ms Margaret O’Neill has recently re-joined the staff at Patrician Presentation Secondary School as Home School Community Liaison Co-ordinator. Margaret will support the school in developing links with the school, home, and wider community.

Currently Margret is organising adult cookery classes in the Fethard Convent Community Hall, on Wednesday mornings from 10am to 12 noon. Course tutor is Eileen Bowden. Contact the school if you would like to join these classes.

Green School Committee
Patrician Presentation Secondary School have started a Green school committee this year with regular meetings, in the hopes of achieving a Green Flag next year.

We have just started to review the litter situation in our school and have noticed a huge part of our waste is plastic water bottles. Our enthusiastic First Years have sourced a reusable bottle for their Enterprise Project so we are now in the process of hopefully replacing our daily water bottles with these. In the short term we hope to visit a local school with a Green Flag to get some advice and inspiration to help complete our action plan.

Keep your dogs on a lead – is the way forward
We’ve received reports of a ‘dog attack’ on a cow and calf near Jesuits Walk in Fethard on Sunday morning last. This can only happen when dogs are roaming unattended, either straying from their homes or from whoever is walking them. Either way it’s totally unacceptable that animals should be attacked by uncontrolled dogs at any time or place.


Injured calf as the result of a ‘dog attack’ near Jesuits Walk in Fethard on Sunday morning last.

We appeal to all dog owners who use the wonderful walks and river walks in Fethard to keep their dogs under control, at home or on walks, and be also prepared to ‘clean-up’ after any dog fouling by bringing along a bag. Of course, some dog owners put their dog’s excrement in a plastic bag and then drop it on the ground rather than dispose of it properly. Other dog owners simply allow their dogs to run amok and defecate anywhere they choose, before walking away, leaving it there.

It’s time we acted responsible to both these issues immediately and help make Fethard a safer place for humans and animals alike.

Family get-together

Ben Johnson photographed with his two daughters Becky and Amanda (centre), in Lonergan's Bar, Fethard.

Successful Table Quiz for Fethard & District Day Care Centre
A huge ‘Thank You’ to everyone who supported last Friday night’s very successful fundraising Table Quiz in aid of Fethard & District Day Care Center. Your support was greatly appreciated. A total of sixteen tables exercised their brains in an effort to answer Philip Butler’s questions, which, as usual were varied and testing! Well done to the usual winners who were well prepared for event!

Well done also to our many helpers on the night, and our diligent scorekeepers, Joan Hayes and Fionnuala O’Sullivan, who did trojan work in the background. A special thanks to Ann Butler, her daughter Ann Marie, and the quizmaster supreme, Philip Butler, for their continuing support for hosting the Table Quiz in their premises Butler’s Sports Bar. Fethard is blessed with such a great community spirit. Thanks all.

Social dancing at Fethard Ballroom
Fethard Ballroom continues its New Year’s social dancing on Sunday, March 1, 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

Articles for Annual Emigrant's Newsletter

A photograph published in last year’s newsletter taken at Fethard GAA Dinner Dance in May 1990 are L to R: Louise Gleeson, Elizabeth Burke, Mary Ryan, Fiona Boland and Ann Marie Quinlan.

A good New Year’s resolution for 2020 might be to start working on that ever-evasive article for Fethard and Killusty Annual Emigrants’ Newsletter. This year we’re giving you an early reminder and encouragement to have a go. The article may be short or long, remembering a place, face, friends, character, funny incident or whatever you feel like writing about relating to Fethard and Killusty, past or present.

Work has now started on compiling this year's Newsletter to be published in December. We invite anyone interested in submitting articles or photographs to contact Joe Kenny, Rocklow Road, Fethard, Tel: (052) 6131663 or email: emigrantsnewsletter@gmail.com

Fethard Bridge Club Results
On Wednesday, February 12, we played for prizes sponsored by Rita Kane and Kay St. John and the results were: 1st Nett, Margaret Slattery and Mike Burke (winners of sponsored prize); 2nd Nett, Mary Kenrick and Mairead Ryan; 3rd Nett, Mary Nolan and Teresa O’Brien ; 1st Gross, Kay St. John and David O’Meara; 2nd Gross, Berney Myles and Alice Quinn; 3rd Gross, Tony Hanrahan and Keith Woodlock.

Next Wednesday, March 4, we play for sponsored prizes. Bridge starts at 7.15pm each Wednesday. Anyone looking for a partner contact Gemma Burke 086-6064148.

Tobins from Fethard

Shawn Tobin sent us this photograph taken on July 18, 2015 when he and his Uncle Ron visited Fethard to meet relatives.. L to R: Shawn Tobin, Pat Tobin (Fethard) and Ron Tobin.

Fethard & Killusty Community Lotto
The numbers drawn on Wednesday, February 19, were: 10, 14, 16 and 27. There was no jackpot winner and one ‘Match Three’ winner who received €150: Esther Breen, Barrack Street, Fethard.

The following three ‘Lucky Dip’ winners received €50 each: Agnes Evans, Congress Terrace, Fethard; Eamon Kennedy, Cois Falla, Fethard; and Philip Butler, Main Street, Fethard.

Next week’s draw takes place on Wednesday, February 26. 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 21, were: 8, 18, 30 and 33. There was no jackpot winner and two ‘match three’ winners who received €50 each: Roisin Tyrell, Ladies Football Club; and Alice Lawrence, Woodvale Walk, Fethard.

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 28, in Burke’s Bar at 7.30pm, when the jackpot is €25,300 and the seller's prize is €1,000. The funds raised are used to promote sport in the local community.

Fethard Rugby U18 girls start their cup campaign with an away win

Fethard U18 Girls Rugby team that started their cup campaign off with an away win against the Cork-Youghal combination team from Highfield, Kinsale, Middleton and Youghal.

Our Fethard U18 girls rugby team started their cup campaign off with an away win against a Cork Youghal combination team from Highfield, Kinsale, Middleton and Youghal.

In tough and trying conditions the girls attacked well from the start. Captain Eabha Fitzgerald got the first try early in the game to get the contest quickly underway. With great work from Clodagh Fanning and Karen Bennett the Fethard girls continued the attacking play in windy weather.

Youghal came back with a try, but Fethard counter attacked with strong carrying from Ciara Gahan which resulted in our second try. Anna Kennedy and Tilly Magner put in great tackles and good scrummaging. Kate Flannery was able to flush the ball out to the wing and with Lucy Murphy and Aoife McGrath able to carry the ball and off load to Kate to score Fethard’s third try of the game. Our kicker Annica O’Connor ably converted despite the windy conditions.

With great work by Aoibhe Gayson Molloy to keep the ball alive and with her running for space Aoibhe was able to score Fethard’s fourth try of the game. Our wingers, Orla Maher and Rachel Ryan, were kept busy and were not only great in defence but made plenty of ground in attack. Shauna Maher in the forwards was a great asset and robbed ball and offloaded to Ciara Gahan to then work a wonderful line of running from Eabha Fitzgerald to score Fethard’s fifth try which Annica O’Connor kicked strongly to convert.

Wishing the girls the very best of luck in their next cup match away to Nenagh.

Jake Carter is looking forward to his once-off gig in the Abymill Theatre on March 7

Jake Carter photographed in the Abymill Theatre on Monday, February 17, in preparation for his concert on Saturday, March 7, starting at 8pm. Tickets are now available at €25 each. Booking at Tel: 086 0834208.

Jake Carter visited the Abymill Theatre, Fethard, on Monday last in preparation for his once-off intimate concert on Saturday, March 7, starting at 8pm. Jake was very impressed with the Abymill Theatre and is really looking forward to performing in Fethard for the first time.

Jake Carter, younger brother of country music singer Nathan Carter, is aged 21 and has already made a huge name for himself as a singer and winner of the Irish television dance competition, ‘Dancing with the Stars’ (2018), alongside his professional partner Karen Byrne. The rising pop star from Liverpool, Jake Carter, has also shown a great love of animals and was very pleased to help Anne Williamson raise funds for the local Cappanagarrane Horse Rescue which was founded by Anne in 2007.

Jake asks you to please come along and support this deserving cause to help fund the only registered horse rescue service in Tipperary that provides rehabilitation of so many horses who would otherwise have no chance of survival. The rescue currently caters for thirteen rescue horses and Anne says her motto for the shelter is, to never turn away an animal - no animal is ever ignored!


Jake Carter photographed with local fans Sarah O’Donnell (left) and Helena O’Shea on his visit to Fethard’s Abymill Theatre last Monday in preparation for his concert on Saturday, March 7, starting at 8pm. Tickets are now available at €25 each. Booking at Tel: 086 0834208.

Concert tickets are now available at just €25 each. Early booking is advised as tickets are limited. Book now by contacting Anne at Tel: 086 0834208.

St. Vincent de Paul
Families that may need help with this year’s First Communion or Confirmation expenses are asked to contact any committee member of the Fethard St. Vincent de Paul or Denis Burke at Tel: 085 8086099.

'Tipperary in 1920' – a day long local history conference’

A Historical Conference entitled, ‘Tipperary in 1920: Raids & Reprisals’, will take place in LIT, Nenagh Road, Thurles, on Saturday, March 28, from 10am to 4pm. This one-day conference will cover Tipperary in the ‘Decade of Revolution’, with speakers, panel discussion and exhibitions.

Following the introduction to genealogy workshops held in Fethard in October 2019, facilitated by Dr. Noreen Higgins McHugh, many progressed with their family trees and joined the Tipperary Genealogy Club to pursue further avenues of research. Founder, Dr Noreen Higgins McHugh, is current secretary of the County Tipperary Historical Society and is the author of ‘Tracing your Tipperary Ancestors’ published in 2018. Noreen is also working on a study of Cumann na mBan in Tipperary, 1916-1923.

Dr Noreen Higgins McHugh is co-organiser of an upcoming Historical Conference entitled, ‘Tipperary in 1920: Raids & Reprisals’, in LIT, Nenagh Road, Thurles, which will be held on Saturday, March 28, from 10am to 4pm. Registration will take place from 9.30am to 10am and the price includes conference, tea/coffee, soup/sandwiches. Booking can be made via Julia Walsh at the Tipperary County Museum in Clonmel, Tel: 0761 065254 Email: julia.walsh@tipperarycoco.ie or on the day.

This one-day History conference will cover Tipperary in the ‘Decade of Revolution’, with speakers, panel discussion and exhibitions. Dr Noreen Higgins McHugh will be the first speaker and will give an ‘Overview of the War of Independence, 1920’. This lecture will focus on reports from the republican newspaper, The Irish Bulletin during 1920.

Other speakers include Dr Denis G. Marnane, editor of the County Tipperary Historical Journal, who will speak on ‘Tipperary 1920: changing tactics and changing targets?’; Daithí Ó Corrái, who will speak on, ‘Separating fact from fiction: the Royal Irish Constabulary and the Irish Revolution in Tipperary, 1916-21; Seán Hogan, who will speak on, ‘The Empire strikes back: retaliatory killings by Crown Forces in Tipperary’.

This is a great opportunity to learn more of our Tipperary history and heartbreak during the War of Independence – one hundred years ago. Early booking is well advised.

Bunny Hop at Fethard Convent Community Hall
Bunny Hop, Music and Movement for babies to four-year-olds continues every Monday morning from 10am to 11am, at Fethard Convent Community Hall. For further information contact Nicola 087 6742401 or by email: nicola@bunnyhop.ie. Parents, Grandparents and childminders all welcome. Bunny Hop is an hour of music with movement for babies and young children.

Another class reunion in the pipeline?

Members of the Patrician Presentation ‘Class of 1983’ are back planning for their next school reunion. The group held a very successful 35th Anniversary Class Reunion on April 7, 2018. Nothing like planning ahead, they said!

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

These photographs were taken in October 1983 at a Fethard Players fundraising 'Supper Dance' for the Abymill Theatre, which officially opened in May 1988. The Abymill project was always well supported locally and is another great example of community driven achievement in Fethard.























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.