Reminder for submissions to Emigrants Newsletter
Submissions invited for this year’s issue
Work has begun in compiling this year’s issue and club secretaries and organisations have been notified of this year’s deadline for articles, which is Friday, October 17, 2025. This invitation also applies to any individual at home or abroad, who feels like sharing their memories or family photographs for publication in this year’s issue.
We really appreciate our regular contributors and would love to have many more if possible. It is these articles that help make the Newsletter special and unique. It doesn’t matter if the articles are short or long, you will have the support of the editorial committee to help and tidy up and loose ends if required. We encourage you to give it a try . . . you won’t be disappointed. Articles and photos (with captions) can be submitted by email to emigrantsnewsletter@gmail.com or by hand or post to Joe Kenny, Rocklow Road, Fethard, Co. Tipperary E91 XR26.
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 €15 or more will be acknowledged in this year's issue unless you wish to remain anonymous.
Newsletters available online
Our aim is to make all our emigrants' newsletters available online. We currently have 18 issues available online from 1998 to 2015, the most recent being 2015 The others are available at fethard.com/newsletter Many of the older newsletters will need to be reformated to publish online, but we hope to achieve this if time allows.
Celebrating Climate Action Week
Fethard Tidy towns and Climate Action group warmly invite you to come to a composting talk, given by compost expert Nuala Madigan on Monday, October 13, at 8pm in the Tirry Community Centre. The free talk will kickstart climate action week in Fethard, and is free of charge. You won't view those pesky leaves, grass clippings, old cardboard and weeds in the same way again! Magic ingredients!'
Art Exhibition and Charity Auction in aid of Killusty Pony Show and Irish Injured Jockeys’ Fund.
On Saturday, October 11, a charity auction and exhibition of the artwork by David Baird will be held in the Minella Hotel.
A huge selection of paintings by Clonmel based artist, David Baird are currently available to view online and bid on at www.michaelryan.ie/auctions. There are over 100 paintings in the collection and they include personnel and scenes from the Irish racing industry, hunting, showing, eventing and polo.
Many well known local people have been painted over the years and are included in the collection. With over a decade of work represented, each piece offers a rare glimpse into the character and spirit of Ireland’s equestrian community.
The event will begin with a viewing of the artwork at 6p.m. followed by a ‘live’ auction at 8 p.m. The ‘live’ auction on the night will include the first 1-20 paintings which can be viewed in advance online.
Tickets are available at this Link BUY TICKETS
Contact Nicola on 087 674 2401 or Pat on 087 945 1810
Fethard Community Household Survey
Fethard Community Council wants to learn how your household feels about the area, how you experience life in Fethard, and any ideas or suggestions you may have for its future. This survey is completely anonymous and confidential. Surveys will be analysed by external advisers.
When deciding on the answers, discuss the question in your household if you can and try to give the overall household opinion. Please note this survey should take about 15 minutes to complete. Please submit just one survey per Household.
Please complete this as soon as you can; the closing date is Friday 10 October. Just CLICK HERE to go to survey and off you go! Thank you for your participation in shaping the future of Fethard.
If you would prefer to complete the survey on paper, hard copies are available at the Community Office and at Fethard Horse Country Experience. Completed surveys can be returned, anonymously, to the collection box at Fethard Horse Country Experience by Friday, October 10.
Time Travel in Fethard - History Course
The Fethard Historical Society have come up with a novel idea to bring interested local people on a ‘travel in time’ journey through the history of their home area. It’s a seven-week basic course (seven Tuesdays in October and November), that introduces the participants to the ‘thrills and the spills’ of our ancestors as they have played out in the Fethard area - from ancient times right up to the modern era.
The relaxed course will pull together all the information and stories that the members of the Historical Society have gathered up over the past forty years, and put that history in a ‘Timeline of events’ that will show how people and society has changed over time.
What becomes clear is that the history of Fethard is, in many ways, the history of Ireland. What’s pretty unique about Fethard is that the evidence of that history is still to be seen in the town and area. For instance, the church that the incoming Normans built over eight hundred years ago is still there, and still in regular use to this day, which is all quite amazing.
The seven sessions, in the Tirry Centre, will run from 8pm to 9.30 pm on the seven Tuesday evenings, from 14th October onwards, and the cost is €5 per night. Second level and third level students go free, as the Historical Society wishes that the younger generations will go on to love their town and area as much as their elders do. A place on the course can be booked by emailing: history@fethard.com. All welcome.
Fethard &
Killusty Community Council's 'Split The Cash' Lotto
Well done to Louise Breen for winning our Community Split The Pot of €255 this week. Ticket drawn by Michael Morrissey. Thank you to everyone who is supporting our weekly draw. All money raised from this draw will be used to benefit our town.
Our next draw takes place on Thursday, October 9. Envelopes are €2 each or 3 for €5 and are available at the Tirry Community Centre, Kennys Centra Fethard, Lonergan's Bar, Fethard, and Butlers Off Licence, Fethard. Also we have a new scan to pay option. Please remember to fill in all three envelopes if you avail of the 'Three for €5' special offer.
Public Rosaries at our Grottos during October
- Our Lady’s Grotto Fethard Parish Church
On Mondays and Thursdays at 6.30pm’
- Our Lady’s Grotto Killusty
After Mass on Sundays and on Tuesdays at 7pm
- Our Lady’s Grotto in the Abbey grounds
On Sundays at 4.30pm and on Wednesdays at 6.30pm
Also, in the Parish and Abbey churches before daily Mass.
- Special Appeal – Please join us in praying the Rosary at the above venues during the month of October. Pray Our Lady's Rosary, for her Rosary is the weapon against the evils of the world today. – St. Padre Pio.
Parish Church Lotto Draw Results
There was no jackpot winner in the Parish Lotto on Thursday, October 2, 2025. The numbers drawn were 1, 7, 14, and 21. The winner of the weekly draw for €30 was John Neville. Next week's Jackpot for Thursday, October 2, is €5,000.
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
Cuan Aoise Memory Cafe a great success
Photographed at the Cuan Aoise Memory Café are L to R: Michael Costello, special guest Michael 'Mouse' Morris, and Fionnuala O'Sullivan.
A huge 'Thank You' to everyone who attended our inaugural Cuan Aoise Memory Cafe. Our special guest was Michael 'Mouse' Morris, who brought his Cheltenham Gold Cup and Grand National trophies along. We were also joined by Cllr Mark Fitzgerald, Leas Chathaoirleach Tipperary County Council, who entertained us with some songs. Our next Memory Cafe will take place on Tuesday October 28.
Cllr Mark Fitzgerald, Leas Chathaoirleach Tipperary County Council, who entertained all present with some songs.
GAA Sports Development Lotto Results
Fethard GAA Sports Lotto draw results for September 30, 2025, are as follows: the numbers drawn were: 7, 10, 17 and 32. We had no Jackpot winner and one Match 3 winner who received €150: 'Peter'. One lucky dip winner received €100: John Hurley. The next draw takes place on Tuesday, October 7, 2025, when the jackpot is €4,400. More Results
Munster and All Ireland Winners
Well done to Faye Lavin and Torrie Doyle, collecting their Munster and All Ireland medals at a reception in Cahir House. Both Girls played an important part in winning both competitions this year as part of the Tipperary U17 Development Squad. The girls won the All-Ireland back in May beating Kilkenny by 4 points with Faye scoring three points on the day.
Fitness Classes at Fethard Ballroom
The following Fitness Classes will start at Fethard Ballroom: Circuits on Tuesdays from 7pm to 8pm. Low Impact Aerobics on Thursdays from 10.15am to 11.15am. Classes are suitable for all fitness levels. Must be over 18 or older. For more information contact Bobbi at 087 2130414. Classes cost €10 per class. Please bring Mat, Water and Hand Weights (optional).
Social Dancing at Fethard Ballroom
Social Dancing continues at Fethard Ballroom on Sunday night, October 5, 2025, to the music of, ‘Brien McDermott’. All are welcome to come along and enjoy a terrific night’s social dancing from 8.30pm to 11.30pm. Admission is €10, which includes refreshments.
Fethard Community Playgroup AGM
The AGM of Fethard Community Playgroup will take place in the Playschool, Rocklow Road, on Monday, October 13, at 8pm. All are welcome.
Harvest Festival Service on October 19
This year's Harvest Festival Service will take place in Holy Trinity Church of Ireland, Fethard, on Sunday, October 19, at 7pm. All are welcome and refreshments will be served afterwards. The service will be taken by Heidi Good, and Fethard Choral Group will attend. Well known 'Harvest Hymns' will be sung. Organist is James Clooney.
A new colourful booklet will also be launched at the event, entitled 'The Medieval Church of Holy Trinity Fethard'.
Fethard Ballroom AGM
Please Note: The AGM of Fethard Ballroom will be held in the Ballroom on Tuesday, October 14, at 8pm.
Big Picture: Holy Year Cross Slievenamon 1950s
This photograph was one of the first pilgrimages to Holy Year Cross on Slievenamon in the early 1950s, and we've had many requests to identify some of those in the photograph while we still have people with us that can. If you are one of those, please email us at: fethardnews@gmail.com and send us your valuable information, using the number on photograph along with the name of the person you recognise. We will publish same at a later stage as we receive them.
You can zoom in closer to see more detail by clicking the photograph to zoom-in, and double-clicking the photograph to zoom-out or use the controls when you hover at the bottom of the photograph. 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
The Cross on Slievenamon – a historic day in 1950!
A special contributor gives this impression of the first pilgrimage to Holy Year Cross on Slievenamon, which took place on Sunday, November 12, 1950.
"It was a pity the day was so bad", "We had great compassion for ye on Sunday". These were some of the phrases that greeted us as we returned from the blessing of the Cross on Slievenamon. But, fellow pilgrims, did not need these words of pity and compassion after Sunday's ceremony. The climb was stiff and steep; it was rough and wet. At times we had hardly enough breath to sing our hymns or to answer our rosaries on the pilgrimage up to this cross. A sleety shower caught us on the bleak bear mountainside, but not one turned back.
It blew a gale at the Cross as His Grace Most Rev. Dr O'Donnell gave his triple episcopal benediction to his noble memorial of the Holy Year and the Dogma of the Assumption. His grace sprinkled it with holy water from the sprig of the mountain heather and then humbly kissed the base of the cross.
The wind still tugged and tore at us as we devoutly, up there, high praised above the plains of Tipperary, answered Mary's prayer and as we listened to His Graces address, and Canon Ryan’s, both of which breathed forth our strong Catholic faith, and love for famed gentle, beautiful Slievenamon.
We witnessed with pleasure the rewarding of the committee who were responsible for promoting and erecting the cross.
Each member was presented to His Grace, who gave each one a medal His Grace brought just recently from Rome. The medals bear on one side the profile of Our Holy Father and on the other a beautiful representation of Our Lady being assumed into Heaven. And those men – Michael Mulcahey, Jim Corr, Dan Davis, Michael Byrne – and all the rest, indeed deserve reward for work so well done.
The wind blew all that time, fierce and strong, but thank God and Our Lady, there was no rain. Were we sorry we went up? On the country, we were glad and delighted, I may say.
We had, high up there, a sense of achievement, or triumphing over difficulties, of having made a true pilgrimage, of having gone, in some sense, the ‘Way of the cross’.
The memories of that day will never die – to see Bill Prout carry out the pilgrimage cross exultingly and joyously at the head of our procession; to see His Grace of Brisbane, make the last difficult ascent as a humble pilgrim on foot of the mist of pilgrims; to see Canon Ryan so boldly ride his white horse to the Cross – these are things we shall always remember.
Yes November 12, 1950, on Slievenamon will always be a historic in our lives."
Faces and Places from the Past
This week we have a variety of photographs taken at a Coolmore Family Sports Day held on June 9, 1996. We invite people to let us know any missing names, including first names, or any other information that we can add to our files for future generations. If anyone can help us, please do and send any comments, photo information, names, to fethardnews@gmail.com
Coolmore Family Sorts Day, June 9, 1996
Coolmore Family Sorts Day, June 9, 1996
Coolmore Family Sorts Day, June 9, 1996
Coolmore Family Sorts Day, June 9, 1996
Coolmore Family Sorts Day, June 9, 1996
Coolmore Family Sorts Day, June 9, 1996
Coolmore Family Sorts Day, June 9, 1996.
Coolmore Family Sorts Day, June 9, 1996
Coolmore Family Sorts Day, June 9, 1996
Coolmore Family Sorts Day, June 9, 1996
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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