The Premier Newspaper - January 7, 2022
The first issue of The Premier free local newspaper for 2022 is now available in local shops and is also available online by CLICKING HERE or front page image. This edition features articles, photographs and news from the district, including Fethard. Click on the image below to read this issue.



You can also visit The Premier archive of past issues available online by CLICKING HERE For further news and developments you can follow The Premier on Facebook. Comments, articles or photographs for publication can be emailed to editor Jamie O'Flaherty at: info@thepremiernewspaper.com

Parish Church Lotto Draw Results
There was no jackpot winner in this week's Parish Lotto on Thursday, January 6. The numbers drawn were: 5, 9, 16 and 19. The winner of the weekly draw for €30 was Aoife Dillon. Next week's Jackpot will be €2,575.

Please pass the word on and invite friends and family to take part. You can help our Parish in a real, practical way.  Thank you for your support and the best of luck in our next weekly draw on Thursday, January 13, 2022. PLAY OUR LOTTO NOW. Wishing you a very Happy and peaceful New Year. – Fr. Tom Breen (AP); Fr. Liam Everard (PP); and the Parish Team.

Fethard Athletic Club Meeting on Sunday morning
Fethard Athletic Club will hold a meeting at 9am on this coming Sunday morning, January 9, at Fethard Ballroom. All are welcome to come along.

Died Recently
The death has occurred on Tuesday, January 4, 2022, of Kathleen Nagle (née O'Brien), McDonagh Court, Cashel, and formerly Coolmoyne, Fethard, peacefully at Tipperary University Hospital.

Kathleen, beloved wife of the late Christopher. Deeply regretted by her loving sons Peter, Dick, Stephen and John, daughters Ellen and Maura, sons-in-law, daughters-in-law, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nephews, nieces, relatives, neighbours and friends. May She Rest In Peace

Reposing at Devitt’s Funeral Home, Cashel this Thursday evening, January 6, from 5pm to 7pm. Funeral Mass on Friday, January 7, at 11am in Holy Trinity Parish Church, Fethard, and can be viewed online at parishchurch.net Interment will take place immediately afterwards in Calvary Cemetery, Fethard. If you would like to leave a message of condolence for the family online, please CLICK HERE.

Died Recently
The death has occurred on Sunday, January 2, 2022, of Charles Jonathan Hazell, Watergate Street, Fethard, age 83, peacefully at University Hospital, Clonmel. He will be sadly missed by his wife Diana, his sons Joss, Ralph and Jack, his daughter Olivia and all of their children, his sister Louise, relations and friends. May he rest in peace.

His Funeral Service will take place in the Church of the Holy Spirit, Magorban, Silverfort, Fethard, on Saturday, January 8, 2022, at 2pm followed by burial in the adjoining cemetery. A message of condolence for the family can be left online by CLICKING HERE

Fethard Square and Carnival Parade c1940s

This photograph scanned from a glass photographic plate taken by photographer, Billy Boland, in the 1940s will hold a lot of interesting information for younger generations who may have no idea what Fethard Square looked like at that time. It also has lots of other information that reveal the longer route taken by the Carnival Fancy Dress Parade, that annually started at the Valley crossroads and then came up Main Street to the Square (photograph), and it then went down Burke Street and up the Green; back down Barrack Street, then made its way up to the Barrack Field.

The photograph also shows some of the traditional shop fronts on The Square and some of the old buildings inside the Military Barrack's walls. It will be very hard to recognise any faces in the crowd, but somebody may be able to pinpoint the year from looking at the entries in the parade, which are often topical of the time.

You can zoom in closer to see more detail by clicking the photograph to zoom-in and double-clicking the photograph to zoom-out. If you can help with further information please let us know. Your comments, names or corrections are always welcome to: fethardnews@gmail.com

The following photograph below will show the Fethard Barrack's building for married soldiers that crossed the road to join Barrack Street, you will also notice that the road between the Barrack's and the former 'Stokes's Hotel' was a lot narrower. The soldiers quarters building was knocked c.1941 to make access to the new St. Patrick's Place housing estate, which was built on the Barrack's Drill Ground. The full details are visible on our previous 'Big Picture' – Fethard Military Barracks Map Revised 1944 uploaded to this website on October 12, 2020 (link above).




Close up of the Married Soldiers Quarters above linking to Town Wall and Barrack Street on the right.

You will notice that the Military Barrack's had five windows on either side of the front entrance and the road was widened by removing two windows on the right hand side, probably also in 1941, to prepare for St. Patrick's Place.


Fethard Military Barracks photographed while in full use in the early 1900s


Fethard Military Barracks after being burnt down in the early 1920s. The Barracks was occupied by a series of troops until the signing of the treaty in December 1921. The 98 Battery of the Royal Field Artillery marched out in January 1922 and the anti-treaty forces, the 1st Battalion 3rd Treaty Tipperary Brigade, moved in. The pro-treaty forces were due to take over on 14th July 1922 but this didn’t happen as the anti-treaty forces burned the barracks down before they arrived.


Here you will see the extra space on the right from a photo taken in 1964 before it was lowered by the late Frank Kearney in 1965.


The remaining facade of Fethard Military Barracks in 1964


The remaining facade of Fethard Military Barracks in 1964


Frank Kearney (top left hand corner) can be seen lowering the facade of the Barracks in 1965, to make way for the new Garda residential houses and Garda barracks (still there today).

GAA Sports Development Lotto
Fethard GAA Sports Lotto draw results for Friday, December 17, are as follows: the numbers drawn were: 10, 17, 24 and 32. There was no Jackpot or Match Three winner. One Lucky Dip received €100: Michael Kenrick, Burke Street, Fethard. Two lucky dip winners received €75 each: Tanya Lawrence, Woodvale Walk, Fethard; and Anthony O’Dwyer, Killenaule.

Christmas Draw Results
One winner received €1,000: David Lawless, Main Street, Fethard. Two winners received €250: Rebecca Bradshaw, St Patricks Place, Fethard, and Anthony O’Dwyer, Killenaule. Five winners received €100: Bernie Foley, Jimmy Connolly, Kevin O’Leary, Denis O’Meara, and Mary Dolan.

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, January 14, when the jackpot is €30,000 and the seller's prize is €1,000. The funds raised are used to promote sport in the local community.

Annual Emigrants' Newsletter selling very well
This year's Fethard & Killusty Annual Emigrants' Newsletter is selling very well locally and limited numbers are still available for sale at Fethard Post Office, Daybreak Supermarket and Centra Supermarket.

Newsletters posted to USA delayed!
Copies of the Newsletter were posted free of charge on November 24, to emigrants and family members living away from home that are on our mailing list. Unfortunately, this year, all newsletters posted to the USA were returned due to new regulations introduced by the United States Customs Services, demanding that contents other than 'documents' must have an electronic barcoded CN23 customs declaration attached. These have to be individually processed, signed and new address label with barcode created, at an available Post Office.

We apologise to our readers living in the USA who may not receive their Newsletter before Christmas as a result. We are doing our best to get them processed and posted again ASAP.

Faces and Places from the Past
The following are a selection of photographs of faces and places taken in 1984 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

Fethard & District Photos from the past . . .

This week we have a selection of photographs, some that we have identified, others we need your help with names if known? If you can help with names, comments or further information, we would love to hear from you. Email: fethardnews@gmail.com

Killusty Soccer team, Second Division Champions, March 1990


Tipperary Southern League chairman Pat Byrne, presenting the Second Division League Cup to Killusty captain, Willie O'Meara, following his team's 4-3 win over Knocklong in their game played in Killusty in March 1990.



In the years 1953 to 1959, hurling in Fethard and Coolmoyne was at a low ebb due to the war years, work and emigration. Many combinations of junior teams were put together at that time and entered as senior teams with varying success, two local ones were Pádraig Pearse's and Na Piarsaigh – both won South Divisional Championships – Pádraig Pearse's in 1956 and Na Piarsaigh in 1957 – drawn from Seán Treacy’s (Carrick), Kilsheelan and Fethard.

Photographed above are Na Piarsaigh Hurling Team, South Tipperary Senior Hurling Champions in 1957, after defeating Carrick Swans 4-05 to 3-02 at Clonmel Sportsfield on Sunday, July 21, 1957.

Back L to R: Percy Larkin (Kilsheelan), Jack Wall (Fethard), John Donovan (Kilsheelan), Willie Waters (Seán Treacy's), John Mackey (Seán Treacy's), Tony Newport (Fethard), John Roche (Seán Treacy's), Tommy Ryan (Seán Treacy's), John Waters (Seán Treacy's). Front L to R: Jim Ahearne (Kilsheelan), Eamon Butler (Fethard), Paddy Hennessy (Kilsheelan), Tom McCormack (Fethard), Tom Waters (Seán Treacy's), Liam Connolly (Fethard), John 'Huckle' Walshe (Seán Treacy's) and Tom Larkin (Kilsheelan).

On September 15, 1957, Thurles Sarsfields defeated Na Piarsaigh by 4–15 to 4–04, in the County Senior Hurling Championship Final played at Cashel Sportsfield.


Group photographed at Fethard GAA Dinner Dance May 1990.


Former Coolmoyne Hurlers L to R: Michael Ryan, Mick Ahearn and Michael Quinlan photographed at Fethard GAA Dinner Dance May 1990.


Fethard Racquetball team, winners of the Fermoy ladies day, team event, which had over 14 teams entered in April 1990. L to R: Diane Halpin, Catherine Morrissey and Noreen Noonan.


Photographed at the 'Be Active Be Alive' Sports day in Fethard (May 1990) are L to R: Verona Holohan, Valerie Allen, Martina Morrissey holding her brother P. J. in front, Karen Fitzgerald, Joanne Clancy, Bernie Horan and Deirdre O'Meara.


Members of the Cummins extended family and friends, photographed outside their house at Monroe, Fethard, some years ago in the 1970s.


Fethard twins Roy and Tony Gorey, and Kate and Siobhán White photographed after receiving their First Holy Communion at Holy Trinity Parish Church in May 1990.


Four hand reel dancers photographed in 1936. L to R: Helen O'Connell, Tim (Tat) Walsh, Mamie Mackie, Tom Walsh, Nora White, Tim Kevin, Phyllis O'Connell and Johnny Murphy.


Mary and Leo Meagher, photographed with their son Charlie at Frank Meagher's Garage in Cloneen, August 1990.


Rita Morrissey, Tullamaine, Fethard, winner of the 1990 National Barry's Teapot Design Competition (Category B) pictured with her winning glazed Stoneware Teapot.

Fethard News
Comments or items for inclusion on this website can be emailed to fethardnews@gmail.com or delivered by hand to Joe Kenny, Rocklow Road, Fethard.