Congratulations Laura!

Congratulations to Laura O'Donnell, Grangbeg, who recently represented Ireland at the Miss Europe Continental competition in Naples.

Died Recently
The death has occurred on Friday, June 3, 2022, of Tess Maher (née Anglim), Coolanure, Fethard, peacefully at home, surrounded by her family. Pre-deceased by her husband Gus, her brother Paddy, and sisters Joan, Bonny, Mary and Angela (Tess is the last of the Anglim family). Deeply regretted by her daughters Yvonne, Elaine and Angela, sons-in-law, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, relatives, neighbours and friends. May she rest in peace.

Reposing at McCarthy's Funeral Home, Fethard, on Saturday from 5pm to 7pm. Funeral Mass in the Augustinian Abbey Church, Fethard, on Sunday at 11.30am followed by burial in Moyglass Cemetery. The Mass can be viewed online at fethardabbey.com Messages of support and condolences can be left online by CLICKING HERE. Donations, if desired, to South Tipperary Palliative Care Team.

Parish Church Lotto Draw Results
There was no jackpot winner in this week's Parish Lotto on Thursday, June 2. The numbers drawn were 4, 6, 9 and 19. The winner of the weekly draw for €30 was Aoife Dillon. Next week's Jackpot for Thursday, June 9, will be €1,725.

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

Fethard Sports Achievement Nominations for May
The following eleven nominations for Butler's Fethard Sports Achievement Award for May are as follows:

1. Sam Coen – picked to play both hurling and football for Tipperary at U14 level.
2. Danny Barry – also picked to play hurling and football at U14 level and helped his school Thurles C.B.S. to win the Rice Cup.
3. Jack Quinlan – a prominent member of Tipperary Minor hurling team, winners of the Munster championship by beating Clare.
4. Conor Kavanagh – played at scrum half for Munster’s Junior Rugby team while winning the Inter Provincial championship.
   
5. Meah Cuddihy – soccer player Meah had double success with Tipperary U15 and U16 teams claiming victory in both at Munster level.
6. Jake Coen – continues to enhance his reputation as a top class jockey with three winners alone in the past week.
7. Abi White – victorious while representing her school Patrician Presentation at the Tic Toc GAA skills competition.
   
8. Michael Flanagan – Also a winner at the Tic Toc GAA skills competition while representing his school Patrician/Presentation.
   
9. Holy Trinity N.S. – super performance by the boys and girls from Holy Trinity school who were recent winners of the Division Two Gaelic Football Plate.
   
10. Áine Connolly – Áine a 4th Year student at Patrician Presentation Secondary School, recently competed in her second international show jumping event in Ballindenisk, Co. Cork.
    
11. Hannah Philips – rode her 1st and 2nd winners in quick succession on the point to point circuit. One winner for her father Mick, and the second for Tom Keating.
    

The winner for the May award will be announced at a special function in Butler's Bar on this coming Friday night, June 3. All are welcome.

Fethard Bridge Club AGM
At our AGM held in Fethard Ballroom on Wednesday, May 25, the following officers and committee were elected:

President: Keith Woodlock
Vice-President: John Woodlock
Secretary: Gabrielle Schofield
Treasurer: Bill O'Sullivan
Asst. Treasurer: Betty Walsh
Committee: Margaret Slattery, Betty Walsh, Gemma Burke, and Tony Hanrahan

The results of our game following the AGM were:

• 1st Gross: Monica Anglim and Betty Walsh
  
• 2nd Gross: Gemma Burke and Carol Kenny
  
• 1st Nett: Carmel Condon and Bernie Phelan
  
• 2nd Nett: Margaret Slattery and Keith Woodlock

Bridge is now finished for the summer and will resume on Wednesday, September 14.

Fethard Bridge Club - President's Prize

Fethard Bridge Club President, Margaret Slattery (centre), presenting the Committee Prize to winners Rita Kane (left) and Kay St. John, at the club's President's Prize lunch held in the Talbot Hotel, Clonmel. on Sunday, May 22.

At our President's Prize lunch on Sunday, May 22, held in the Talbot Hotel, Clonmel, the following prizes were presented:

• President’s Prize: David O’Meara and Francis Lacey
• Committee Prize: Rita Kane and Kay St. John
• 1st Nett: Bridget Cuddihy and Dena Mulcahy
• 1st Gross: Carmel Condon and Brendan Kenny
  
• 2nd Nett: Tony Hanrahan and Keith Woodlock
  
• 2nd Gross: Anna Cooke and Eileen Frewen
  
• 3rd Nett: Marie Delaney and Ann O’Dea
  
• 3rd Gross: Gemma Burke and Carol Kenny
  
• 4th Nett: Monica Anglim and Betty Walsh
  
• 4th Gross: Bernie Phelan and Margaret Slattery

Fethard Bridge Club President, Margaret Slattery, presenting the President’s Prize to David O’Meara, who accepted the prize also on behalf of his winning partner Francis Lacey.


At Fethard Bridge Club's President's Prize lunch in the Talbot Hotel, Clonmel are L to R: Gemma and Mike Burke.


At Fethard Bridge Club's President's Prize lunch in the Talbot Hotel, Clonmel are L to R: Marie Delaney and Eileen Frewen.


At Fethard Bridge Club's President's Prize lunch in the Talbot Hotel, Clonmel are L to R: Tony Hanrahan and Bill O'Sullivan.


At Fethard Bridge Club's President's Prize lunch are 1st Gross winners: Carmel Condon and Brendan Kenny.

Convent Feasibility Study - Public Meeting of June 15
A public meeting and presentation on the Fethard Convent Feasibility Study will take place on Wednesday, June 15, at 8pm, in the Presentation Convent. The meeting will be hosted by Fethard & District Day Care Centre CLG, who will give a presentation on what is planned for the building and be available for discussion and answer any questions regarding the future development of the premises. All are welcome to come along.

GAA Sports Development Lotto
Fethard GAA Sports Lotto draw results for Tuesday, May 31, are as follows: the numbers drawn were: 2, 13, 30 and 34. There was no Jackpot winner and one Match Three winner who received €150: Majella Croke. One Lucky Dip winner received €100: Margaret (Barrett) and David Flanagan. The next draw takes place on Tuesday, June 7, 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.

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.

Happy 104th Birthday to Nellie Purcell

Nellie Purcell cutting her special birthday cake on the occasion of her 104th Birthday celebrated on May 24, 2022

Our heartiest congratulations to Nellie Purcell, Congress Terrace, Fethard, who celebrated her 104th Birthday on Tuesday, May 24, 2022. Nellie still has a passion for flowers and attributes her long life to loving everything she did all through her life. She now has so many lovely memories to recall. Even at this ripe old age of 104, Nellie’s mind is always active and her memory flawless. She is a pleasure to talk to, and listen to her many humorous stories.


Nellie Purcell photographed with Joan and Michael Shine, Congress Terrace, on the occasion of her 104th Birthday celebrated on May 24, 2022

Nellie was born at Shanbally, Lisronagh. She had three brothers and four sisters, who are now all deceased. Her school days were spent in Lisronagh National School where she had so many happy friends and only one ‘enemy’ – a very strict master whose name she can’t forget – as much as she’d like to. These happy days came to an end at the age of thirteen, when she had to leave school and return to her home to help on the farm. She fondly remembers travelling by horse and cart to Killerk Creamery where they brought the milk. Another of her jobs was pulping the turnips and feeding the animals.

In the following years, Nellie worked for a short while in her cousin’s grocery shop in Lisronagh. When her father died, she immediately purchased a motorbike to use for shopping in nearby Clonmel, which she drove for eleven years and was a lot more convenient than driving the horse and cart.


Nellie Purcell photographed with her extended family on the occasion of her 104th Birthday celebrated on May 24, 2022

In 1966, Nellie purchased a premises in Burke Street, Fethard, and moved in with her sister. She was later joined by members of her extended family. She opened a shop and loved chatting with her neighbours, family and friends. She spoke of the many happy days out at Kiltinan Castle with Mrs La Terriere, and taking Evie Croome-Carroll for a spin on the back of her motorbike. With a bright twinkle in her eyes, she says, these were the happiest days of her life.  Nellie left Fethard in 1997 and moved to Abbey Meadows in Clonmel to look after her two sisters Kathleen and Biddy.


Nellie Purcell, celebrating her 104th Birthday on May 24, at Congress Terrace, Fethard, and possibly the oldest woman to have ever lived in Fethard. Happy Birthday Nellie!

Nellie returned to Fethard in 2015 to live with her niece Joan and her husband Michael, at Congress Terrace. Nellie is so relaxed and delighted to be back and cared for by the Shine family, she reckons she could last a few more years! The stories are still flowing and one could only hope and pray, that she will live for many more years to share what lives in this remarkable woman’s mind.


Happy 104th Birthday Nellie! Photographed on the occasion of her birthday celebrated on May 24, 2022. Back L to R: Paula Smith (niece), Joan Shine (niece), Gillian Shine (grandniece), Michael Shine (nephew-in-law). Front L to R: Tish Varo (niece), Nellie Purcell celebrating her 104th Birthday and Pamela Shine (grandniece).

Fethard Presentation Sisters 1862-2020
On Sunday, June 5, 2022, Fethard community will celebrate the work of the Presentation Sisters in our parish over the 158 years they served here.

The celebrations will begin with a special Mass celebrated by Archbishop Kieran O’Reilly at 11am in Holy Trinity Parish Church. This will be followed by refreshments in Fethard Ballroom.

All are invited to this parish celebration. A special complimentary commemorative booklet will also be available on the day as a memento of this special occasion.

Social Dancing at Fethard Ballroom


Fethard Ballroom continues its social dancing on Sunday, June 5, to the music of ‘Break Free'. All are welcome to come along and enjoy a great night’s entertainment and social dancing from 8.30pm to 11.30pm. Admission is €10, which includes tea and cakes. For further information or for booking the ballroom, contact Eileen Coady, Tel: 086 0776420.

Patrician Presentation TV - Live Broadcast May 27
News and Items of Local Interest Programme produced and presented by TY students of Patrician Presentation Secondary School, Fethard.

Fethard & Killusty Community Games
Anyone interested in competing in the swimming events are asked to please email fethard-killusty@communitygames.eu Closing Date at Area level is Thursday, June 9, at 11.59pm. Competitors must live in the Area and be under the age specified on July 31, 2022.

Closing dates for swimming entries at County level is Saturday, June 11, at 11.59pm. These events will take place in Thurles on Saturday, June 18. Please see rules for events on www.communitygames.ie

The following are the art titles for competitors U12, U14 & U16.
Debating, Pitch and Putt, Long Puck, Cross Country, Tag Rugby, Discus, Quiz, High Jump, Group Music, Model Making.

Swimming Event Type: Individual
Age Category:

• Boys & Girls U8 Over 6 – 1 length 25m Freestyle
• Boys & Girls U10 Over 8 – 1 length 25m Freestyle
• Boys & Girls U10 Over 8 – 1 length 25m Backstroke
• Boys & Girls U12 Over 10 – 2 lengths 50m Freestyle
• Boys & Girls U12 Over 10 – 2 lengths 50m Breaststroke
• Boys & Girls U12 Over 10 – 2 lengths 50m Backstroke
• Boys & Girls U14 Over 12 – 2 lengths 50m Freestyle
• Boys & Girls U14 Over 12 – 2 lengths 50m Backstroke
• Boys & Girls U14 Over 12 – 2 lengths 50m Breaststroke
• Boys & Girls U14 Over 12 – 2 lengths 50m Butterfly
• Boys & Girls U16 Over 14 – 2 lengths 50m Freestyle
• Boys & Girls U16 Over 14 – 2 lengths 50m Backstroke
• Boys & Girls U16 Over 14 – 2 lengths 50m Butterfly
• Boys & Girls U16 Over 14 – 2 lengths 50m Breaststroke
  

• Boys U13 over 10 (Squad) (Panel of 6) (four to swim and two subs) 4 x 25m length freestyle
• Girls U13 over 10 (Squad) (Panel of 6) (four to swim and two subs) 4 x 25m length freestyle
• Boys U16 over 13 (Squad) (Panel of 6) (Four to swim and two subs) 4 x 50m medley order: Backstroke, Breaststroke, Butterfly and Freestyle.
• Girls U16 over 13 (Squad) (Panel of 6) (Four to swim and two subs) 4 x 50m medley order: Backstroke, Breaststroke, Butterfly and Freestyle.

'Sing for Ukraine' concert – proceeds go to Ukrainian Refugees at Fethard Convent
A concert will take place in St. John's Cathedral, John Street, Cashel, featuring Dublin College Acapella Group 'Trinitones' on Saturday, June 25, at 8pm. Tickets are €20 and all proceeds go to Ukrainian Refugees staying in Fethard Convent. For further information contact Martin at 087 2522548 or Maura at 087 9575256.



Dublin College Acapella Group 'Trinitones'
The all-male acapella group was founded in 2012 at Trinity College Dublin. They call themselves the pioneers of ‘popular’ acapella performance in Ireland. They are an impressive group of lads, with a large vocal range creating a full sound without any instruments, just their voices.

Big Picture - First Christmas Fat Stock Show & Sale at Spittlefield, Fethard, November 3o, 1954

See how many faces you can recognise at Fethard’s First ever Christmas Fat Stock Show & Sale held at Spittlefield on Tuesday, November 30, 1954 ?

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

Successful First Venture for Fethard Macra na Feirme
The first annual Christmas Fat Stock Show and Sale, held by Fethard Branch French of Macra na Feirme, at Spittlefield, Fethard, on Tuesday, November 30, 1954, was a complete success. Established only three years, the branch has already an excellent record to its credit. It has conducted successful local crop competitions and cattle weight-judging contests, as well as numerous other activities, and there is very keen and growing membership.

Mr Thomas Coffey, of Brodeen, is chairman, and Mr Denis McGrath of Rathkenny, the honorary secretary. The club works in cooperation with the Fethard Guild of the Irish Countrywomen's Association, one of the most active and progressive in the country.

There were about one hundred and fifty entries for Tuesday’s show and sale, and the judges were most impressed by the quality of exhibits. Very high prices were realised at sale held by Messrs Stokes and Quirke, auctioneers. There was keen competition and complete clearance was effected. Buyers were present from many surrounding counties and there were some Northern buyers.

The show champion, at three-year-old bullock owned by Michael D. Stokes, Fethard, secured top price of 88 guineas, the purchaser being Messrs Martin O'Connor and Sons, Cashel. A three-year old bullock owned by Major Hughes, Annsgift, also fetched 88 guineas, the buyer being W. Dwyer, Ballinure, Thurles. Mr John Ronan, Premier Meats, bought seven cattle, including a first prize winner for prices ranging between 47 and 57 guineas.

Fethard & Killusty Parish Graveyard Masses in June

• Friday, June 3 – Killusty at 7.30pm
• Friday, June 10 – Calvary at 7.30pm
• Friday, June 17 – Rathcoole at 7.30pm
• Friday, June 24 – Peppardstown at 7.30pm
  
  

Fethard Festival is in Fethard Town Park this year!
Fethard Festival Family Fun Day will take place on Sunday, June 12, this year from 2pm to 5pm at Fethard Town Park. Please spread the word – Lots of fun to be had with bouncy castles, slides, obstacles course. sport, food stalls, arts and craft. Fancy Dress - all children that come along in Fancy Dress up get a prize!

• Busking Competition - Get in touch to win cash prize!
• Want a stall - Get in touch before Friday, June 3, to secure place 
• All Ireland Tug of War
• Archery & Kick Boxing Demonstration
• Local Pubs Wheelbarrow Race 

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 taken while reliving the 'Swinging Sixties' – almost twenty year's ago – at a 'roundy' birthday party held at Slievenamon Golf Club. If you have any comments or further information, we would love to hear from you. Email: fethardnews@gmail.com

'Swinging Sixties' birthday party at Slievenamon Golf Club held on October 25, 2003. Lots of familiar faces in the one place.

'Swinging Sixties' birthday party at Slievenamon Golf Club held on October 25, 2003. Lots of familiar faces in the one place.

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.