Social Dancing in Fethard Ballroom


Fethard Ballroom continues its social dancing on Sunday, February 26, to the music of 'The Michael Collins Band'. 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.

Died Recently
The death has occurred on Saturday, February 25, 2023, of Liam Meagher, Lismoynan, Fethard, E91 XH72. Beloved husband and best friend of his loving wife Geraldine (née Anglim) and loving father of Anne-Marie, Jenny, Eimear and Robert. He will be sadly missed by his heartbroken family, his sister Helen, son-in-law Michael, Robert's partner Lisa, brothers-in-law, nephews, grand-nephews, grand-nieces, relatives, neighbours and friends. May he rest in peace.

Reposing at his home in Lismoynan (E91 XH72) on Monday, February 27, from 4pm to 7pm. Liam's Funeral Mass will take place in the Church of the Visitation, Cloneen, on Tuesday, February 28, at 11am, followed by burial in the adjoining Cemetery. Messages of condolence for the family can be left online by CLICKING HERE

Parish Church Lotto Draw Results
There was no jackpot winner in this week's Parish Lotto on Thursday, February 23, 2023. The numbers drawn were 3, 9, 12 and 19. The winner of the weekly draw for €30 was Helena Delany. Next week's Jackpot for Thursday, March 3, will be €3,775.

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

Died Recently
The death has occurred on Thursday, February 23, 2023, of Alice Burgess (née Phelan), Shanbally, Lisronagh, and formerly of Grawn, Fethard, peacefully at home. Dearly loved wife of the late Hughie and mother of the late Paul. Alice will be sadly missed by her loving sons, daughters, her partner Michael, sons-in-law, daughters-in-law, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, brothers, sister, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nephews, nieces, relatives and friends. May Alice Rest in Peace.

Reposing at O’Donoghue’s Funeral Home, Kickham Street, Clonmel on Friday evening from 5pm to 7pm. Alice’s Funeral will arrive in St. John the Baptist Church, Lisronagh on Saturday morning at 11.20am for Requiem Mass at 11.30 followed by burial in the adjoining cemetery. Family flowers only please, donations if desired to South Tipperary Hospice Movement. Messages of condolence for the family can be left online by CLICKING HERE

Job opportunity at Fethard & District Day Care Centre
Fethard and District Day Care Centre CLG Are recruiting a Manager for our elderly Day Care Centre. Permanent contract for suitable candidate – 35 hours per week – Monday to Friday. Remuneration commensurate with experience, subject to company's budget.

Candidates may be short-listed based on their CV. Please apply in writing, including full CV, to Directors, Fethard & District Day Care Centre CLG, Tirry Community Centre, Barrack Street, Fethard, Co. Tipperary, on or before 4pm, Friday, March 24, 2023.

Fethard Athletic Club

Fethard Athletic Club was well represented at the Tipperary County Road Novice Championship in Moyne on Sunday, February 19, 2023. All athletes participated well and it proved a great start to the running season. The club hopes to welcome more members, male and female, in the future. Training takes place every Tuesday evening at 6pm starting from Fethard Ballroom. Further information available from Tony at 087 677 1139.

Fethard & Killusty Community Games AGM
The Annual General Meeting of Fethard & Killusty Community Games will take place upstairs in the Abymill Theatre on next Wednesday night, at 7.45pm March 1. 2023. New faces are very welcome. Please come along and give 40 minutes of your time to ensure that young people from U8 to U16 years have the opportunity to compete in any of the huge list of activities on the 2023 programme, also to make sure the organisation stay alive in the area.

The County Finals of Swimming will take place in Thurles Pool on March 19. 2023. We need to prepare for same immediately. It is vital that the County Secretary is aware of all team events that our area intend entering ASAP.

If we do not have a good turn out the area may lapse which would be very disappointing. All are welcome. The complete list of all events may be viewed on the National Community Games website or Facebook page.

List of Events on offer

• Badminton U15 Girls & Boys
  
• Basketball U11 mixed
  
• Basketball U13 Girls & Boys
  
• Basketball Girls & boys U15
  
• Chess u11 U13 and U16
  
• Draughts U10/U12/U14/U16
  
• Futsal Girls and Boys U13
  
• Futsal Girls and Boys U15
  
• Indoor soccer girls and boys U10 and U13
  
• Spikeball girls and boys U11
  
• Table tennis girls and boys U13
  
• Table tennis girls and boys U16
  
• Camogie U14
  
• Gaelic Football U10 Mixed
  
• Gaelic Football Girls U12
  
• Gaelic Football Girls U14
  
• Hurling U11
  
• Rounders Girls and boys U13 and U15
  
• Skittles U12 Skittles U14
  
• Skittles U16 all mixed.
  
• Soccer Boys U12
  
• Soccer Girls U12 (7-a-side)
  
• Soccer girls U15
  
• Tag Rugby U11 mixed
  
• Tag Rugby U14 mixed
  
• Tag Rugby U16 mixed
  
• Mini Rugby U11
  
• Throw-ball Rounders U10

Individual Events includes Athletics, Art, Handwriting, Talent competition in Solo singing, Solo Dancing, Solo Music, Group singing and dancing Group music, Recitation, Choir.
Also Table quiz and more – something for everyone.

GAA Sports Development Lotto Results
Fethard GAA Sports Lotto draw results for Tuesday, February 21, 2023, are as follows: the numbers drawn were: 1, 7, 29 and 30. We had no Jackpot winner and no 'Match Three' winner. One Lucky Dip winner received €100: Franny Tyrrell.  The next draw takes place on Tuesday, February 28, when the jackpot is €17,400. The funds raised are used to promote sport in the local community.

Celebration of Life Service at the Augustinian Abbey on this Sunday, February 26.
On Sunday, February 26, a Celebration of Life Service will take place at 12 noon in the Augustinian Abbey, Fethard.

This is a community gesture of solidarity with all who have been touched directly, indirectly, or in any way been affected by suicide. Suicide support services, first responders, students and other groups will come together for this simple service in support of the many members of the community who have suffered in any way from the tragedy of suicide. All are invited and welcome to come along.

Butler's Bar close its doors on Tuesday, January 31
Butler's Bar closed its doors on Tuesday, January 31, 2023, ending a colourful journey of owners that began when Jack 'John' O'Shea first purchased Davern's Hotel in 1959, to move from his premises in Fethard called the 'Slievenaman Bar', better known today as Burke's Bridge Bar.

Jack O’Shea standing in the doorway of his pub at Lower Main Stret, Fethard, called ‘Slievenamon Bar’ when he first moved to Fethard (now Burke’s Bridge Bar). Jack also opened up a shoe repair shop called ‘While U Wait’ across the road. Jack O’Shea and Dick Burke married two sisters Rita and Breda Lowry, then Jack moved his business in November 1959, up to where Butlers Bar now stands, and Dick and Breda Burke opened where the Slievenamon Bar was. Both ran very successful businesses continued by their family members.

Following Jack's death, on March 2, 1986, at the age of 64, the business was run succesfully by his son, Pat O'Shea, up to November 1999. Pat and his family moved to live in Thurles and the premises was sold to Bob Grant.


The final night in O’Shea’s Pub, Main Street on November 22, 1999, Pat O’Shea closed his bar on Main Street and ended his family’s connection with the premises first started by his father, Jack O’Shea, in November 1959. On the closing night Pat is photographed above pulling one of his last pints accompanied by his sister Katherine and brother Martin.


Publican Bob Grant is photographed above on June 19, 2003, presenting Fethard Ladies Football team with a new set of jerseys. L to R: Geraldine McCarthy, Conor McCarthy, Bob Grant, Joe Keane and Patsy Lawrence. In front is master Robert Grant.

In September 2004, Bob Grant sold the premises to Philip Butler, who renamed it as 'Butler's Sportsbar' and was officially opened on Thursday, September 30, 2004.


Ann and Philip Butler, proprietors of the new Butler's Sports Bar on Main Street, Fethard, discussing opening plans with Mark Tynan (right), MMT Builders. The renovated pub was officially opened on Thursday, September 30, 2004.

On Sunday, January 1, 2023, the Butler Family released the following statement: "We at Butlers Sportsbar have decided to close the pub section of our business as and from January 31, 2023. The reason for this is simply because having worked long and hard for many years we have decided on semi-retirement by closing the bar but keeping the Off-License open." 

The following photographs were taken on 'closing night' on January 31, 2023, and so ends our short reflection on the premises that, over the years, witnessed many untold stories and preserved memories.


Proprietors of Butler's Sports Bar, Anne and Philip Butler, photographed with their daughter Anne Marie (centre) on their final night of business before closing on Tuesday night, January 31, 2023.


At Butler's on Closing night are L to R: Emma Hayes, Jade Pattison, Kelly Fogarty and Rachel O'Meara.


John Fogarty and his wife Veronica (née Butler) on closing night at Butlers Sports Bar on January 31, 2023


L to R: Colm Hackett, Micheál Maher, Barry Connolly and Stan Murphy.


Butler's Bar staff on closing night L to R: John Hannigan, Ann Marie Butler and Richard Hayes.


Andrew Phelan and friends


L to R: Ben Trimble and John Paul Fitzgerald.


Tom Arnold and friends


L to R: Cillian Hennessy, Roisín Whelan, Georgia Harte and David Keegan.


L to R: Lauren Greer, Sophie Berney, Roisín Houlihan and David Nagle.

Big Picture – Abymill Official Opening Concert 1988

Abymill Theatre Official Opening Concert - 1988

This photo above was taken of Nano Nagle National School pupils performing at the Official Opening Concert held in the Abymill Theatre on Friday, May 27, 1988. Below is the flier for the Official Opening week's events from May 26 to June 11, 1988.

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

Faces and Places from the Past 
This week we have a selection of photographs collected from local people over the years that may bring back some pleasant memories
Please send any comments or photo information, names and event, to fethardnews@gmail.com

Group photographed at the annual Hunt Ball are L to R: Kathleen McCormack, Frank O'Sullivan, ?, and Davy McCormack, Killenaule.


Group photographed at the annual Hunt Ball (date unknown). Any information welcome.


Group photographed at the annual Hunt Ball (date unknown). Any information welcome.


Group photographed at the annual Hunt Ball (date unknown). Any information welcome..


Group photographed at the Clonmel Harrier Hunt Ball, Collins Hall, Clonmel, November 23, 1960.


Members of the Ronan family photographed at the Clonmel Harrier Hunt Ball, Collins Hall, Clonmel, November 23, 1960.

Photographed at the Clonmel Harrier Hunt Ball in the Collins Ballroom on Wednesday, November 23, 1960, are Mrs Rosemary Ponsonby (former joint-master of the hunt) and her husband Mr Harry Ponsonby. A large attendance thoroughly enjoyed the excellent catering by the ladies' committee and the music of Mick Delahunty and his orchestra.


Photographed at the Clonmel Harrier Hunt Ball in the Collins Ballroom on Wednesday, November 23, 1960, are Maurice Shanahan, Mary O'Donoghue, Patrick O'Dwyer, Anne Dawson, Thomas Kavanagh and Joan Condon.

Please send any further information to: fethardnews@gmail.com

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.