The future of Fethard's Augustinian Abbey ?


Fr. Henry MacNamara is inviting community members interested in the future of Fethard's Augustinian Abbey to attend an important meeting in the Abbey Church on this coming Tuesday, November 12, at 7.30pm, to discuss the possible options available to the Fethard community, if they wish to keep the Augustinian Abbey open in the future.

Died in England
The death has occurred in Peterborough, England, on September 29, 2024 (the day before his birthday), of Billy Sayers, formerly from St. Patrick's Place, Fethard. Billy's daughter, Rebecca Brown, has set up a fundraiser for Sue Ryder Thorpe Hall in memory of Billy Sayers after his recent passing.

The late Billy, father to Lisa, Belinda, Rebecca and David, partner of Teresa, a wonderful grandad to all his grandchildren and great grandchildren, and wonderful friend to many. Billy's funeral will take place at Saint Luke's Catholic Church, 26 Benyon Grove, Peterborough, PE2 5XS on Thursday, November 21, at 12.45pm, followed by burial at Fletton cemetery at 2.15pm. The wake will be held at Fletton Ex servicemen’s club from 3pm. Donations in lieu of flowers can be made to our chosen charity Sue Ryder (Hospice at Home) Thorpe Hall.

After three long weeks In hospital, Billy's final wish was to return to his home. Sue Ryder enabled this wish to happen by providing hospice at home. Both Dad, and our family are eternally grateful for this. All of the incredible carers provided the most amazing care and support, delivered with genuine empathy, and understanding not only for our dad but for the family too.

Sue Ryder is there to make sure everyone approaching the end of their life or living with grief can access the support they need. There is no one size fits all when it comes to how we cope and the help we need, but with Sue Ryder's support, no one has to face dying or grief alone. They are there when it matters. Thank you to everyone for your love and support at this difficult time. – Teresa, Lisa, Belinda, Rebecca and David.

Mass of Remembrance
On Saturday, November 16, there will be a Mass of Remembrance in Holy Trinity Parish Church at 7pm. We will especially remember those that have died in our parish in the past year. We will invite those that have had a bereavement to light a candle during the mass and there will be a procession with the candles which will be placed before the altar.

Celebrate Christmas in Fethard

As part of our Fethard Christmas Celebrations we are delighted to invite you to another great event at Fethard Convent Community Hall, taking place at 7.3pm on Tuesday, November 26, where we host a Christmas Cookery Evening with Sinead Delahunty of 'Delalicious'. Sample dishes on the night, including a wine reception with Canapés sponsored by Sadlers, followed by a Christmas Wreath Demonstration with 'Flowers by Mandy'. Tickets cost €20 per person, and are on sale from Sadlers, O'Sullivans Pharmacy, Daltons Pharmacy or from any member of the committee.

Died Recently in the USA
The death has occurred on Sunday, November 3, 2024, of Sean Keane, Minneapolis, USA and formerly of Knockelly, Fethard, in his 95th year. Predeceased by his parents Tom and Alice, brothers Tom and Michael, sister Margaret.

Deeply regretted by his loving wife Philis, sons John, Michael and Tom, daughters Helen, Maureen and Kathy, brothers Paddy, Jim and Joe, sisters Maureen and Teresa, sons-in-law, daughters-in-law, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, relatives and friends. Funeral Arrangements Later in Minneapolis, USA. May He Rest In Peace.

Messages of sympathy may be left online for the family by CLICKING HERE

Community Council Board of Directors for 2024-2025
Following the appointment of officers after the Fethard & Killusty Community Council held on Tuesday, November 5, 2024, the following Board of Directors totalling fifteen, are as follows: Joe Kenny (chairman); Catherine Corcoran (vice-chairman); P.J. Henehan (secretary); Edwina Newport (assistant-secretary); Eileen Coady (treasurer), Pamela Sweeney (CES personal development officer); Alan Moore and Tim Robinson (forward-planning, Public Realm & Heritage); Maurice Moloney; Brian Sheehy; Marie Murphy; Annette O’Donovan; Amanda Kehoe; Shannon O’Brien; and Roseann Carroll.

Graystown school 1840-1937 information request?

Pupils attending Graystown National School c.1940

Graystown School is six miles north of Fethard, in the parish of Killenaule & Moyglass. Gerard Walsh, born in Moyglass and now living in Ontario, Canada, is doing some research on the 'Old Graystown school 1840-1937'. Gerard would love to hear from any folks with actual experience of the Old School or memories of their parents from that time. He intends to have his research published when finished. Gerard can be contacted by email: gerardwalsh657@gmail.com

Information from the 'History & Folklore of Killenaule-Moyglass', officially launched on Friday, December 14, 1990, by retired Archbishop of Cashel and Emly, Dr. Thomas Morris, in Scoil Ruáin, has the following information included at the time of publication in 1990.

‘There were two schools in Graystown, the first one built in 1843, at a cost of £60. This was situated opposite Mr Matthew Gilligan’s house, which is approximately two miles from Moyglass village and about one mile from Graystown Cross. Records from Dublin, shows us that the first teacher to teach here was Phil Dwyer aged twenty-two. It was a one-roomed building with internal dimensions of 36’x15’. The school was slated and had an attendance of approximately forty-five males and thirty females. This school still stands, and its features are still prominent. Surrounded by trees and close to a rippling stream, it is evident that there were two windows in the front and three at the back. A chimney at one end of the building can still be seen, and the porch an old door still stand. This school closed a few years prior to 1937.’

Fethard Gaelic For Mothers & Others

Fethard Town Park welcomed Fethard Gaelic For Mothers & Others, along with Arravale Rovers Gaelic for Mothers, on Saturday November 2, where the ladies played a series of games in a fun filled afternoon here. Well done to everyone who came out to support the girls.

Fethard Ballroom AGM
The Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Fethard Ballroom Ltd Company will be held in Fethard & Killusty Community Ballroom, Kerry Street, Fethard, E91 AH76 on Tuesday, November 19, 2024 at 8pm. You are cordially invited to attend.

Social Dancing at Fethard Ballroom


Social Dancing continues at Fethard Ballroom on Sunday, November 10, to the music of ‘LimeLite'. All are welcome to come along and enjoy us for a terrific night’s social dancing from 8.30pm to 11.30pm. Admission is €10, which includes tea and cakes and raffle.

Fethard Bridge Club Results
The results of our game on Wednesday, October 23, were 1st Nett, Carmel Condon and Brendan Kenny; 2nd Nett, Kay St John and Rita Kane; 3rd Nett, Gabrielle Schofield and Nora Ryan. 1st, Gross Monica Anglim and Betty Walsh; 2nd Gross, David O’Meara and Francis Lacey; 3rd Gross, Rita Holohan and Eileen Ryan. We play in Fethard Ballroom every Wednesday evening at 7pm.  New members welcome.

Make Fethard Sparkle This Christmas?

Fethard Community Council and Fethard Business and Tourism Group are fundraising to light up the town with festive cheer. We need you to contribute what you can to help us get the Christmas Lights up and transform Fethard into a winter wonderland. The big switch-on is set for 1st December, complete with a Christmas Street Market and craft fair at the Community Convent Hall and a special visit from Santa Claus. Your support will help us create a magical experience for everyone. Please Donate now to keep Fethard shining bright this Christmas!

Parish Church Lotto Draw Results
There was no jackpot winner in this week's Parish Lotto on Thursday, November 7, 2024. The numbers drawn were 1, 8, 10, and 18. The winner of the weekly draw for €30 was Veronica Fogarty. Next week's Jackpot for Thursday, November 14, will be €4,925.

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

Patrician Presentation Students Awards 2024

On Friday, October 18, Fethard Patrician Presentation Secondary School held their annual Students Awards Ceremony at the school. The ceremony commenced with Mass celebrated by Fr. Liam Everard P.P. accompanied by the school choir. CLICK HERE TO SEE MORE PHOTOS

School Principal Billy Walsh welcomed all present and introduced this year’s special guest speaker and past pupil, Tom Grant, formerly from Killerk. Tom gave a very encouraging talk and outlined his own experience in overcoming complications that students usually face when leaving home for the first time, and being ultimately responsible for their own future.

The award presentations commenced afterwards with Tom presenting the Bishop Delany Award for best Leaving Certificate to Charlotte Burgess. Student of the Year awards for 2023 were then presented to Lizzie Gilmurray (1st Year); Jayden Channon (2n Year); Kelvin Ryan (3rd Year); Margaret Keane (4th Year); and Roisín Geoghegan (5th Year). Fifth Year Mentor Certificates were then presented, followed by Student Council Certificates.

The Timmy O'Connor Spirit of The School Award was presented to Lucy Brett; the Materials Technology / Woodwork Award to Kelvin Ryan; the Adam O'Donnell Business Award to Harry Ryan; the Aideen O'Donnell Award for spoken Irish to Charlotte Burgess; the Paddy Broderick Junior Cycle Geography Award to Michéal O'Rahilly; the Tom Murray Enterprise Award to James Strang; the Marian Gilpin Literature Arts & Music Award to Lucy Burke Lawrence.
The various individual and team awards were then presented for sporting achievements, writing, art, and the remarkable ‘Maths Eyes’ team who have won this national award for the eleventh time. CLICK HERE TO SEE MORE PHOTOS

The ceremony with a special presentation to guest speaker Tom Grant to mark the occasion of his return visit to the school. This presentation was made by Deputy Principal Catríona McKeogh and School Principal Billy Walsh.

Lee-Ann Burke speaks on RTE's 'A Word in Edgeways'

Lee-Ann Burke, formerly from Red City and now living in Cork, recoded a three-minute broadcast for RTE Radio 1's programme 'A Word in Edgeways'. Lee-Ann speaks about her memories of neighbour Moll Dalton, who lived across the road from her. It's a lovely recollection of her childhood, summed up in three-minutes. Click Here or the image below, to listen on your phone, as for some strange reason the RTE link appears not to play on desktop computers.

If you have any difficulties above use this alternative link below:

Nonie Dalton and Moll Dalton with Clare Burke in 1985.

Died recently in England
The death has occurred in England on Saturday, October 19, 2024, of Catherine (Joan) Yeatman (née Ryan), Crawley Sussex, and late of Loughcopple, Fethard.

Joan is sadly missed by her loving husband Peter, daughter Julie, son Rick, daughter-in-law Claire, grandson Hugo, brother Mick (Monasterevin), and extended family and friends.

Funeral arrangements later, May she rest in peace.

Fr. Iggy O’Donovan OSA
Locals were saddened to hear of Fr. Iggy O’Donovan’s departure from the Augustinian Abbey last week. Fr. Iggy was popular for his outspoken views on the future of the church and the importance of incorporating the views of our younger generations.

Fr. Iggy also worked with the students at Fethard Patrician Presentation Secondary School where he was highly regarded and will be dearly missed by the students and teachers alike. Fr. Iggy has now taken up residence at the beautiful Augustinian St. John's Lane Church, in Dublin.

Mother & Baby Yoga Classes Starting Soon
Weekly classes will start in Fethard on November 15, 2024 . and in Clonmel on January 8, 2025. Cost is €100 for a 6 week block. Limited spaces available.

GAA Sports Development Lotto Results
Fethard GAA Sports Lotto draw results for October 29, 2024, are as follows: the numbers drawn were: 18, 19, 33 and 35. We had no Jackpot winner and one Match 3 winner who received €150: Eoghan Hurley. One lucky dip winner received €100: Tom Anglim. The next draw takes place on Tuesday, November 5, when the jackpot is €30,000.

The committee of Fethard GAA Development Lotto would like to thank all our supporters for the continued support.

Request for Information
An acquaintance of mine has given me some information regarding my great grandfather, James Manders, b. 21 Jan 1882 in Liverpool. By 1888 when he was 6, he was orphaned and sent to a work farm south of Dublin and stayed there until he was about 18 around 1901. As he would tell the story, he was in the barn when he got into an argument with a person in charge and he threw an axe at him. He told some he missed his mark and told others that he hit his mark. Either way he quickly left Ireland and visited his brother Michael Manders b. 1878 in Liverpool to get money to sail to Canada. He eventually made it to Canada by 1901 and the USA a few years later.

I am looking for information on the Irish work farm that James would have been sent to. His aunts and uncles might have sent him to a relative in the Wicklow or Laois counties. The family was in the shoemaker's profession, but I doubt if any of them were wealthy. I was told that there is documentation of a James Manders b. 1882 in England that was at the Military Barracks, The Green, Fethard, in 1901. Do you think this might have been my great grandfather? I highly doubt he was a soldier but maybe an orphaned worker?

Kind Regards, Peggy Aguilar, Snohomish, Washington, USA (pegalitaaguilar@hotmail.com)

Christmas Shoebox Appeal

The Christmas Shoebox Appeal is an Irish project that promises to get your 'Christmas Shoebox' into the hands of a needy child in Eastern Europe. All they ask is for you to fill a shoebox with a range of simple Christmas gifts, and drop it off at your local drop off point at Centra, Fethard, or Monica Pollard, Rocklow Road, up and including Friday, November 10, 2024. Monica also has some wrapped empty Shoeboxes available if someone needs one. HOW TO BUILD A SHOEBOX

All you need to do is get an average size shoebox (or a plastic storage container would also be great), and wrap it with Christmas paper. This year we are very short of empty shoe boxes and would be very grateful if anyone has some, to please drop them in to Fethard Community Centre.

Mark the Day!


Fethard Men’s Shed FTP will hold a Christmas Coffee Morning Craft Fair in Fethard Town Park On Monday 9th December in what promises to be a wonderful day with Stalls Music Refreshments and Raffle on the Day, if you have a stall and want to come Contact Michael: Tel: 087 279 9533.

Fethard Christmas Market

A bigger and better ‘Christmas Market’ is planned for Fethard on Sunday, December 1, so be sure to mark the date in your diary. Santa is coming with lots of street entertainment and craft stalls. Fethard Convent Community Hall will also have lots of stalls displaying a variety of goods suitable for your Christmas shopping.

Table Quiz in aid of Tipperary Branch of Irish Wheelchair Association in Cloneen

Community Roadshow coming to Fethard Town Park
Carrick-on-Suir Municipal Council are bringing a Free Autumn Health & Wellbeing Community Roadshow to Fethard Town Park (E91 N1F1) on Tuesday, November 19, from 12 noon to 4pm. Health and Wellbeing stands from community organisations around the county will be on display. For more information Tel: 087 4567111.

Reminder for Submissions to Emigrants Newsletter

Donations to Emigrants' Newsletter

You can also make a secure Credit Card or PayPal donation towards this year's Fethard & Killusty Annual Newsletter at www.fethard.com/donate/
All donations of €10 or more will be acknowledged in this year's issue unless you wish to remain anonymous.

Big Picture - Fethard U16 Team v Rocklands New York

The Fethard boys U16 football team that played a visiting team from Rocklands GAA Club, New York, in a challenge game in the Barrack Field on July 31, 1982. The team attended a special reception in the Fethard Arms afterwards. The Americans were excellent fielders and got amazing length into their rather unorthodox method of kicking, and won by double scores, 2-13 to 1-6. (Below is report from Nationalist August 14, 1982)

Spectators at the match in the Barrack Field on July 31, 1982.

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 names or 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 some photographs taken in 1982 from our archives. There may be someone out there with further information that we can add to our files, so if anyone can help us, please do. Please send any comments, photo information, names, to fethardnews@gmail.com

Baby Marie O'Meara, St. Patrick's Place, photographed with trophy after winning Baby Show


Printers Soccer team who took part in the Killusty Seven-a-side Soccer Tournament Final on August 6, 1982. Back L to R: Pat Barry, Ernie Makim (captain), Martin Quinlivan, Larry Fahy, Eddie Anderson. Front L to R: John Hunt, Jeddy Walsh, Billy Byrne, and Peter Barry.


Ballylooby seven-a-side soccer team that beat The Printers team by 2-1 in the final of the Killusty seven-a-side Soccer Tournament played on August 6, 1982. Ballylooby Team: Pat O’Brien, Mick O'Brien, Pat O’Brien, Tommy Fitzgerald, P. J. Moloney, Dick Doyle, Pat Phelan (capt), Eamon Condon and Eamon Gleeson.


Working students from Clonmel at Cahir Castle on August 2, 1982. L to R: Denise Ryan, Pamela Crowley and Paula Coyne


Team entered in the Killusty seven-a-side soccer competition in August 1982. Back L to R: Dermot O’Donnell, Jim O’Donnell, Liam O’Dwyer, Paul Looby, Gerry O’Dwyer. Front L to R: John Fitzgerald, Gerry Horan, Conor O’Connor and John O’Connor.

Please send any comments, photo information, names or stories, to fethardnews@gmail.com

Fethard News for inclusion on this website
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.

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