The Premier Newspaper - March 18, 2022
This week's issue of The Premier free local newspaper 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

Fethard & Killusty Community Council AGM
Fethard & Killusty Community Council will hold their Annual General Meeting on Tuesday, March 29, at 8pm in the Tirry Community Centre, Barrack Street, Fethard. New members interested in joining are very welcome to attend. If you are just interested in Tidy Towns. you are still more than welcome to come along to our AGM

Fethard Tidy Towns Committee
We would like to rejuvenate our Tidy Towns Committee with the addition of new members willing to take an active role. Last week, Declan Nevin accepted an award on behalf of Fethard Tidy Towns at the Carrick Municipal District Tidy Towns Awards Ceremony held in Cloneen. The award was presented to mark Fethard’s increased marks in The National Tidy Towns Competition in 2021.


Cllr Mark Fitzgerald (right), Cathaoirleach, Carrick-on-Suir Municipal District, presenting Declan Nevin, Fethard Tidy Towns, with their award for increased marks received in The National Tidy Towns Competition for Fethard in 2021.

Community Council Background
The very first meeting of Fethard & Killusty Community Council was held on January 13, 1976, and the officers elected were: Rev. John Stapleton (Chairman); Jerry Skehan (Vice Chairman); Mary Healy (Secretary); Paddy Broderick and Paddy Heffernan (Joint Treasurers); and Austin O’Flynn (Public Relations Officer. Before the formation of the Community Council the people were represented by the Fethard Development Association, which was formed in 1967.

Parish Church Lotto Draw Results
There was no jackpot winner in this week's Parish Lotto on Thursday, March 17. The numbers drawn were: 9, 11, 12 and 23. The winner of the weekly draw for €30 was Marry Healy. Next week's Jackpot for Thursday, March 24, will be €1,050.

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. PLAY OUR LOTTO NOW

Happy St. Patrick's Day to all our Readers !

Draw at Alla’s Patisserie to aid Ukraine refugees

Rosemary Ponsonby (left) holding one of her excellent framed oil paintings she donated to be raffled locally in support of Alla Dediuk's fundraising campaign to aid Ukraine refugees. Alla, is photographed above after making the draw for the first painting, 'McCarthy’s from The Riverside', which was won by Juris Krastins from Latvia. Juris made the special effort of driving to Fethard to purchase tickets to support the cause. We congratulate Juris on his deserving win.

Tickets for the second painting 'Lucky Silver' (below) are now on sale at Alla’s Patisserie, on The Square, Fethard, at €2 each. The draw will be made when 500 or over tickets are sold. Please give your support!

Dancing in the 1950s

As we celebrated the anniversary of the re-opening of Fethard Ballroom on St. Patrick's Night this year, it is appropriate to look back to the 1950s when Dancing was one of the most popular pastimes in Ireland. The above photograph was taken at such a dance, probable in Clonmel, but maybe someone is young enough to identify the event and some of those in attendance.

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

GAA Sports Development Lotto
Fethard GAA Sports Lotto draw results for Tuesday, March 15, are as follows: the numbers drawn were: 6, 14, 16 and 25. There was no Jackpot winner and two Match Three winners who received €75 each: Stephen Forde, Galway; and Jonathan Fleming, Fethard. Two Lucky Dip winners received €50 each: Lorraine Coen, Fethard; and Tony Maher, 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 Tuesday, March 22, 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.

Fethard’s first ‘Tipperary Rose’


Congratulations to Aisling O’Donovan, Coolmoyne, Fethard, who was chosen as this year’s ‘Tipperary Rose’ to go forward to represent Tipperary at the Rose of Tralee International Festival in August.

Twenty-seven-year-old Aisling is the first Fethard person to be chosen to represent Tipperary in the Festival and we send her our best wishes.
Aisling is a very popular Primary School teacher based in Bishop Murphy National School in Fermoy. She has many interests outside her teaching career. In her younger years her passion was ‘Hip-Hop’ dancing with the local ‘On Your Toes’ dance group. This was followed by a very successful sporting interlude, playing on the U16 Tipperary Ladies Football team and winning an All-Ireland medal playing basketball with Mary Immaculate College, Limerick. Aisling also gave much of her time involved in voluntary community work, which gave her a broad experience living in today’s fast-paced life. Her wide range of activities helped in no small way to augment her personality favourable in this competition.

The ’Tipperary Rose’ was chosen from twenty-two entrants from all over the county. Compère Ollie Turner from Galway Bay FM, did a tremendous job hosting the show at the Anner Hotel in Thurles on Sunday night, March 13. It was a most entertaining evening and a fantastic result for Fethard –The Home of Champions – and now our own very first ‘Tipperary Rose’ representative from the medieval town.

Daffodil Day Coffee Morning Friday, March 25


We are delighted to announce that our Daffodil Day Coffee Morning is back this year! It will take place in the beautiful surrounds of Fethard Town Hall, on Friday, March 25, from 9am to 1pm. We will have a raffle on the day with lots of fabulous prizes.  

Daffodils and Daffodil Day Merchandise will be available for sale in the Town Hall and throughout the town that morning. This is a great event, for a very worthwhile cause and your support would be very much appreciated. See you on the 25th! 

Fethard Historical Society AGM

Racquetball back at Fethard Sports Centre
Racquetball players past, present and anyone interested in learning how to play, are invited to Fethard Sports Centre at 6.30pm on Mondays and Thursdays, where the two courts will be open for those wishing to play.

Butlers Sports Achievement Award for February

M.J. Croke (representing sponsor Cashel Motors) presenting the Sports Achievement Award for February 2022 to Liz Lalor – who broke the Irish Point-to-Point female winners total record when her mount ‘Road to Return’ brought her winning total up 110.

The winner of the Butlers Sports Achievement Award for February was Liz Lalor who broke the Irish Point-to-Point female winners total record when her mount, ‘Road to Return’, brought her winning total up 110. The award, sponsored by Cashel Motors, was presented by their representative M.J. Croke, at a special function held in Butlers Sports Bar on Friday night, March 4. Nominations are now being taken for the March Award.


Photographed at the Butlers Sports Achievement Award presentation to the February winner are L to R: Brian Delahunty, Jack Gleeson and Tim Daly.


Photographed at the Butlers Sports Achievement Award presentation to the February winner are L to R: Claire Woodmartin, Daria Devald, and Lucija Dolenšek.


Photographed at the Butlers Sports Achievement Award presentation to the February winner are L to R: Sal Farag, Olly Burke and Matt Grant.


Photographed at the Butlers Sports Achievement Award presentation to the February winner are L to R: Ann Butler, Frances Holohan and Con Hurley.


Photographed at the Butlers Sports Achievement Award presentation to the February winner are L to R: M.J. Croke, John Hurley and Liam Hayes.


Photographed at the Butlers Sports Achievement Award presentation to the February winner are L to R: Darren Flynn and David Keegan.

Tractor Run for Abymill Theatre – Monday, May 2

A 'Tractor Run' will take place on Bank Holiday Monday, May 2, at 12 noon, to raise funds for the maintenance and upkeep of The Abymill Theatre in Fethard. Registration at €20 per vehicle will take place on the day at the Abymill Theatre. For any further enquiries please contact Anastasia on Tel: 086 4599975. Please support this cause and we look forward to seeing you all on Monday, May 2.

Social Dancing at Fethard Ballroom


Fethard Ballroom continues its social dancing on St. Patrick's Night, March 17, to the music of ‘Checkers’. All are welcome to come along and enjoy our Anniversary Party Night with a great night’s entertainment with social dancing from 8.30pm to 11.30pm. Admission is €10, which includes Hot Food, Free Raffle and Incredible 'Atmosphere'. For further information or for booking the ballroom, contact Eileen Coady, Tel: 086 0776420, Email: eileencoady@hotmail.com

Fethard Ballroom support Ukraine

Fethard Ballroom, in solidarity with the people of Ukraine, has decided to donate all profits from their forthcoming Ronan Collins 'Tribute to Irish Showbands' on Saturday, March 19, to support Alla Dediuk, owner of Alla’s Patisserie, on The Square, Fethard, in her fundraising campaign to aid the people of Ukraine in their fight for freedom against the invading military forces from Russia. Alla and her family come from Ukraine and have received tremendous support locally for her campaign. Fethard Ballroom asks you to support All and Ukraine by coming along to see Ronan Collins and his band's 'Tribute to Irish Showbands' show on Saturday, March 19, in Fethard Ballroom.

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

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

Nano Nagle Primary School sixth class 1998. Back L to R: Sr. Mary (teacher), Helen Frewen, Rosanne Meaney, Lucy O’Hara, Susie Harvey, Emma O’Connell, Sarah Costello. Middle Row L to R: Tracey Lawrence, Danielle Lawrence, Mary Gorey, Ruth Corcoran, Linda Kenny, Susan Sayers, Stacey Grace. Front L to R: Evelyn Fogarty, Amy Quigley, Vicky Dorney, Kathleen Cawley, Tracey Coady, Siobhán Prout, and Melissa Rochford.


Pictured at the ISPCC Black & White Ball held at Minella Hotel Clonmel on October 17, 1998 are Back L to R: Michael O'Brien, Agnes Evans, David Tobin, Breda Lee and Chris Lee. Front L to R: Eileen O'Brien, Alice Tobin and Helen O'Brien.


Pictured at the ISPCC Black & White Ball held at Minella Hotel Clonmel on October 17, 1998 are L to R: Sheila O'Keeffe, Derry Kelly, Molly Daly, Biddy Magnier, Maureen Shee, Sally Gleeson, Norma Sullivan, Tadhg Daly and Ann Condon.


Pupil of the year Eoin Doyle, Strylea, Fethard receiving the “Padraig Pearse Perpetual Memorial Cup “ from Mr Ernan Britton, principal Patrician Presentation Secondary School Fethard on October 6, 1998


Photographed at Fethard Flower Show in 1998 are L to R: Maura Meaney, Hannie Leahy, Bridie Phelan and Christy Williams.


Members of the Moloney and Cannon families photographed at Fethard Flower Show held at Fethard Ballroom in 1998

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.