Died Recently
The death has occurred on Sunday, January 28, 2024, of Tina Looby, Carrigataha, Cahir, and formerly Kerry Street, Fethard. Tina passed peacefully after an illness borne with courage and dignity. Predeceased by her parents Bill and Rita. She will be forever missed by her loving partner Johnny, brother Jimmy, sisters Joan and Pat, sister-in-law Catherine, nephew Bill, nieces Elaine, Miriam, Colette and Kate, extended family, neighbours and her many great friends.

Tina will repose at her family home at Corriconeen, Grange (E91 CK28) on Tuesday evening, January 30, from 4pm to 8pm. Funeral Mass on Wednesday at 11.30am in St. Nicholas' Church Grange followed by cremation at Shannon Crematorium, Co. Clare at 3pm.

Family flowers only please, donations if desired to the Friends of St. Theresa's Hospital Clogheen/ Irish Cancer Society. Messages of condolence to offer your sympathies to Tina's family, can be left online by CLICKING HERE. May She Rest In Peace

Parish Church Lotto Draw Results
There was no jackpot winner in this week's Parish Lotto on Thursday, January 25, 2024. The numbers drawn were 14, 20, 21 and 22. The winner of the weekly draw for €30 was Sean Doyle. Next week's Jackpot for Thursday, February 1, will be €2,875.

Our 'Thank You Giveaway Draw', also held on, January 25, for those who were entered on that date, are as follows:

• 2 x VIP Taylor Swift tickets -
  Laura Shovlin (Co Dublin)
• €1,000 holiday voucher -
  Catriona Kelly (Co Westmeath)
• 2 x Bruce Springsteen tickets -
  Anne Delaney (Co Tipperary)

We thank everybody for their support and extend a big congratulations to our lucky winners.

We are delighted with the support shown for our Parish Lotto, it is a fundraising initiative that is of great benefit to the parish. Please pass the word on and invite friends and family to take part. You can join, see the draw results, and details of how your support is making a big difference at https://www.ourfundraiser.ie/org/fethardkillusty/

Died Recently
The death has occurred on Friday, January 26, 2024, of Noreen Evans, No 6 Congress Terrace, Fethard, peacefully, in the care of the staff of Croí Óir, Cashel. Pre-deceased by her parents Nora and Daniel Evans, her sisters Maura and Annie and her brother Sean. She will be sadly missed by her sisters Frances and Agnes, her nephews, nieces, relatives and friends. May her gentle soul rest in peace.

Noreen will be reposing at No 6 Congress Terrace (E91 EE30), Fethard, on Saturday evening, January 27, from 4pm to 6pm. Funeral arriving to the Augustinian Abbey Church, Fethard, on Sunday at 11.45am for Requiem Mass at 12 noon followed by burial in Calvary Cemetery.

The Mass can be watched online at www.fethardabbey.com Family flowers only please. Donations, if desired, to Croí Óir Nursing Home, Cashel. Messages of condolence can be left online by CLICKING HERE

Tipperariana Book Fair 2024 – Sunday, February 11

GAA Sports Development Lotto Results
Fethard GAA Sports Lotto draw results for Tuesday, January 23, 2024, are as follows: the numbers drawn were: 16, 18, 25 and 30. We had no Jackpot winner and no Match 3 winner. One lucky dip winner received €100: Geraldine Johnson.

The next draw takes place on Tuesday, January 30, when the jackpot is €27,200. The committee of Fethard GAA Development Lotto would like to thank all our supporters for the continued support.

Died Recently
The death has occurred on Thursday, January 25, 2024, of Patrick 'Pat' Maher, Killaloan, Clonmel, and formerly Rocklow Road, Fethard.

Pat, a past pupil of Patrician Brothers School, Fethard, passed away peacefully at Tipperary University Hospital. Pre-deceased by his brothers Bobby and Michael, he will be sadly missed by his brother Christopher, sisters Bernadette (Thomas) and Doreen (Twomey), brother-in-law Paddy, nephews, nieces, extended family and friends. May He Rest in Peace

Reposing at Condons Funeral Parlour, Clonmel, on Saturday evening, January 27, from 5.30pm to 7pm. Removal on Sunday morning to St Mary’s Church, Gambonsfield, Kilsheelan, followed by Burial afterwards in St Patrick’s Cemetery, Clonmel. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a Anam Dílis. Messages of condolence may be left online by CLICKING HERE

Died Recently
The death has occurred on Monday, January 22, 2024, of Liam Quirke, Mocklerstown, Clerihan, peacefully at home and in the loving care of his family. Deeply regretted by his wife Marie, and his children, Margaret, Frank, Chrys, Helen, Ann and MaryRose, his sister Sr. Margaret F.C.J., daughter-in-law Juanita, son-in-law David, Steven, his adoring grandchildren, sister-in-law, brothers-in-law, nephews, nieces, relatives and great friends. May Liam Rest in Peace.

Reposing at McCarthy's Funeral Home, Fethard, on Wednesday evening, January 24, from 5pm to 7pm. Funeral arriving at St Michael's Church, Clerihan, on Thursday, January 25, for Requiem Mass at 12pm with burial in the adjoining Cemetery afterwards. Family flowers only. House private please. Messages of condolence can be left online by CLICKING HERE

Brisk booking for Fethard Players opening night on Monday next with ‘The Maiden Aunt’ comedy

Members of Fethard Players at rehearsal for thei forthcoming comedy, 'The Maiden Aunt', which takes place in the Abymill Theatre, Fethard from January 29 to February 3, 2024. L to R: Niamh Hayes and Owen Healy.

Booking has been very brisk over the past week for Fethard Players production of ‘The Maiden Aunt’, hilarious three-act comedy written by Jimmy Keary, and produced by Marian Gilpin, which opens on this coming Monday night, January 29, and runs up to Saturday, February 3, in the Abymill Theatre, curtain up at 8pm. Booking now online at the following address: www.gr8events.ie/themaidenaunt early booking is advisable.


Members of Fethard Players at rehearsal for their forthcoming comedy, 'The Maiden Aunt', which takes place in the Abymill Theatre, Fethard from January 29 to February 3, 2024. L to R: Mary Boland-Prendergast and Liam O'Connor.

We welcome new members, Mark Fitzgerald and Owen Healy, who are both making their first appearance on stage with Fethard Players. The characters in the play are played by the following: Gertie O’Grady (Niamh Hayes); Mary Murphy (Mary Boland Prendergast); Dan Murphy (P.J. Henehan); John Paul Murphy (Mark Fitzgerald); Francie Gilhooley (Liam O'Connor); Caroline Quinn (Una Kiernan); and Paula Moore (Lisa Hanrahan).



Playwright Jimmy Keary was born in 1958 and began writing detective/adventure stories in 1970 for his own amusement. In 1977 he made his acting debut in a production of ‘Drama At Inish’ at St. Patrick’s College, Maynooth. Jimmy wrote his first three-act play, ‘The Maiden Aunt’, in 2000, which premiered in Killala, Co. Mayo. Since then, he has written over 23 three-act comedies, which have been staged all over Ireland, including several plays also staged in the United States.

Local Enhancement Programme 2024 opens for applications


The Local Enhancement Programme 2024 capital fund will support groups, particularly in disadvantaged areas, to carry out necessary repairs and improvements their facilities, purchase equipment such as tables and chairs, tools and signage, laptops and printers, lawnmowers, canopies and training equipment etc.

This funding will help communities, community groups and committees, allowing them to continue to provide valuable services to the people in their area, and in the process strengthen the bonds that tie communities together. The fund also aims to support local strategic priorities through linkages with Local Economic Community Plans (LECPs).

The fund also includes ring fenced funding for Women’s Groups i.e. community projects and groups that support the ethos of women’s sheds and other such groups or projects aimed at providing social networks for women.

The Local Enhancement Programme 2024 is funded by the Department of Rural and Community Development. Please CLICK HERE to see the press release announcing the Local Enhancement Programme 2024 at national level, by the Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys TD, and the Minister of State with responsibility for Community Development and Charities, Joe O’Brien TD. For further details and online grant application forms please CLICK HERE

– Marie Cox, Tipperary County Council Email Marie

Fethard Mens' Shed receives welcome boost

Michael Costello (left) representing Fethard Mens Shed, photographed accepting donation from Mark Tynan, MMT Builders & Son, Fethard. The donation will go towards securing a new club house for the members.

Fethard Mens Shed would like to acknowledge and thank Mr Mark Tynan, MMT Builders & Son, Fethard, for their generous donation towards Fethard Men's Shed development plans at Fethard Town Park. The donation is very much appreciated and will make a huge difference in securing a new club house for our members. The committee thank you Mark for your support and your offer of help going forward. All support and help with this project is gladly welcomed, as this men's shed is a huge benefit to all our community, that will continue for many years to come.

Fethard & District Day Care Centre

Ballyluskey White Heather Harriers presenting the proceeds of their Peppardstown Meet, which totalled €3,350, to Fethard & District Day Care Centre. Photograph includes: Anna Cooke, Cillian Slattery with his nine-year-old hound 'Luggage', Liam Hayes, Mairead McCormack, Jack Ronan, David Guiry, the Guiry children and Donie Slattery.

A huge ‘Thank You’ to the Ballyluskey White Heather Harriers for donating the proceeds of their recent Christmas Meet to Fethard and District Day Care Centre held at Peppardstown, hosted by The Guiry Family. Their very generous donation of €3,350 is much appreciated by us all. Cillian Slattery’s nine-year-old-hound ‘Luggage’ was a very popular visitor to the presentation held at Fethard & District Day Care Centre, where all the clients at the centre were delighted to greet him.

Social dancing continues at Fethard Ballroom

Social dancing continues at Fethard Ballroom’s on Sunday, January 28, to the music of the 'Checkers'. 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.

Fethard AC host the County Tipperary Cross Country Championships

Fethard AC Masters Men’s Team: Billy Prout, Fintan Rice, John Hurley, James Maher, Liam O’Sullivan, Kevin O’Meara, M.J. Croke, P.J. O’Halloran and Victor Direen.

The last event of the Tipperary County Cross Country Championships took place on Sunday last, January 21, when Fethard Athletic Club were most grateful to local landowner, Fintan Rice, his son Louis and the extended Rice family, for the use of their land at Brookhill for this event.

An open invitation extended to the clubs to try out this cross-country course a few weeks before the event, exemplifies the goodwill, respect, and commitment from Fethard AC members and committee towards our running community and friends. Fintan and Louis were delighted to give something back in return for all the support and encouragement Fethard A.C. has received from the various clubs and the Tipperary Athletic Board since the club was revived and rejuvenated.

Athletes may not have experienced a more scenic cross-country course before that included a mixture of everything. Great credit must go to our chairman, John Hurley, for the trojan work that went on behind the scenes. Louis Rice was our race director for the event, and his sterling work made this a truly club community event, with all hands-on deck from mapping out the course to the preparations for the day.

Our club members and volunteers were also not lacking in providing refreshments after the event. It was great to see so many of our younger and newer members come along to support, volunteer, and have the chat, which really made for a terrific atmosphere.


Fethard AC Masters Women’s Team members: Aileen Power, Aine Doocey, Edel Roche, Lorraine Kennedy, Marie Power, Mary Hurley, Siobhan Maher and Paula Hendriksen. Also includes Under-23 Team: Isobel Maher, Alison Connolly, and Carrie Davey.

With Storm Isha looming, the cup of tea and various treats afterwards went down very well, and this was very much appreciated by the competitors, supporters and volunteers of the Tipperary County Board. We had twenty-one athletes go to the line for Fethard A.C. They braved Storm Isha’s winds and, with an excellently contested race of over 90 athletes, athletics was the winner today.

Our U23 Women’s team of Alison Connolly, Carrie Davey and Isobel Maher all making their club debuts, they did not disappoint us, they brought an infectious energy to the field, enough to wipe out any storm. These three athletes won their 1st county team medals making it a very proud day for their families.

Our Master Women’s over-45 team of Aine Doocey, Siobhan Maher, and Mary Hurley, ran fantastically and finished in the bronze medal positions, making more club history.

Siobhan Maher, not to be outdone by her daughter Isobel in the medal stakes, was placed 2nd Over-55 securing her 1st individual and team county medals. This was remarkable, as Siobhan was nursing an injury for the past few months, showing real determination to get going again. We are delighted for Siobhan.

James Maher was our 1st man home in 7th place, Fintan Rice was 9th, John Hurley 32nd, Liam O’Sullivan 33rd, M.J. Croke 35th, Kevin O’Meara 37th, Billy Prout 38th, and & Victor Direen in 40th place.

Our team standings: 0ver-35 men, James Maher, Liam O’Sullivan, M.J .Croke and Kevin O’Meara, combined to win bronze medals. 0ver-50 men, Fintan Rice, John Hurley and Billy Prout combined to secure silver medals. Individual Medals were won by James Maher who powered home to take 3rd in the over 0ver-40, and Fintan Rice won a fantastic bronze medal in a highly competitive Over-55 race.


Under-23 Team: Isobel Maher, Alison Connolly, and Carrie Davey.

A huge thanks to our coaches John, Lorraine, and Fintan, for truly making it a team effort. It was a super day for the club and here’s to many more wonderful days in 2024. Thank you to all our club members who represented us, you made us very proud.

• Under-23 Team: Alison Connolly, Carrie Davey and Isobel Maher.
• Masters Women’s Team: Aileen Power, Aine Doocey, Edel Roche, Lorraine Kennedy, Marie Power, Mary Hurley, Siobhan Maher and Paula Hendriksen.
• Masters Men’s Team: Billy Prout, Fintan Rice, John Hurley, James Maher, Liam O’Sullivan, Kevin O’Meara, M.J. Croke, P.J. O’Halloran and Victor Direen.

Thanks to the volunteers of the Tipperary County Board who helped on the Day. It was another proud day for Fethard A.C. member, Owen Fanning, Chairman of the Tipperary Country Board. We are always grateful to our First Responders for their attendance and to Tipperary Water for their donation of water for the athletes.

Pat Guiry presented with BTYSTE Founders Medal

Congratulations to Professor Pat Guiry (right), a past-pupil of Fethard Patrician Presentation Secondary School, who was presented with a Founders Medal by Dr Tony Scott, at this year's 60th BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition 2024. Pat was awarded the Founders Medal in recognition of his huge commitment and dedication to BTYSTE (BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition) over the past 20 years. So well deserved!

Ireland Lights Up & Every Step Counts

Fethard Ladies Football Club is delighted to be participating in the Ireland Lights Up & Every Steps Counts Challenge 2024, which takes place every Monday at 6.30pm, for six weeks at Fethard Town Park in partnership with RTE’s Operation Transformation and Get Ireland Walking.

The first Monday night on January 8, was a great success so for the remaining five weeks we invite all to come and join us to get those steps in. We look forward to seeing our local community come together and getting active.

'Mozart by Candlelight' in Old St. Mary's, Clonmel


The wonderful music of Mozart performed by pianist Frank McNamara along with special guest Deirdre Reddy on violin, in the enchanting light of almost a thousand candles. Where music and magic converge at Old St. Mary's Church, Clonmel, on Saturday, February 3, 2024, from 9pm to 10pm. Tickets from €21.35, are now available and can be booked online by CLICKING HERE

Big Picture - Fethard First Communion - May 1989

Fethard First Communion group of boys photographed at Holy Trinity Parish Church altar with their teacher, Ms Alice Stapleton, in May 1989

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 taken in the 1980s. We have some names but not all, so if anyone can help us, please do. Please send any comments, photo information, names, to fethardnews@gmail.com

Extended Lonergan Family , The Square, First Communion 1980


Healy Family First Communion 1980


Shelly Family First Communion 1980


Family First Communion 1980


First Communion 1980


First Communion 1980


First Communion 1980


First Communion 1980


First Communion 1980


First Communion 1980

Please send any comments, photo information, names or stories, 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.