HISTORICAL SOCIETY 2005

Every year brings a new story, and 2005 is also delivering its load to posterity and the Fethard Historical Society continued with its mission of remembering the past, heralding the future, but above all, enjoying the present.

The year began with the announcement by the society of its “Tipperariana Book of the Year” which went to ‘Foreign and Fantastic Field Sports – Cricket in County Tipperary’ by Patrick Bracken.  Patrick is a native of Littleton and now works as a librarian in Templemore.

A very special night was held on Saturday 29th January in the Abymill Theatre when two presentations were made.  The first presentation, of a framed hunting scene, was to Tony Newport, as the Society wished to acknowledge his huge contribution over many years as the Fethard correspondent of the Nationalist newspaper.  Future historians will be using his notes as the authentic record of the goings-on in the Fethard area for the past 45 years. Thanks indeed to Tony.

The second presentation was to the winning author Patrick Bracken and this time it was a framed copy of a photo from the Kenrick collection – ‘The Fethard Cricket Group’, which in fact was used by Patrick on the cover of his excellent book.

Then, on Sunday 13th February, the tenth Tipperariana Book Fair was held in the Fethard Ballroom and once again it was a great success.  A sad note on the day was indicated by the oration and a minute’s silence for a great friend of the fair, Rudi Holzapfel. Rudi, who ran the Poor Sinner Bookshop in Tipperary Town, was also a significant poet and he had died only seven days previously on the 6th February.

On the Saturday of the bookfair weekend, i.e. Saturday 12th, we hosted a lecture by Dr. Maureen Concannon on the subject of “Sile na Gigs”, and on 28th February we hosted a lecture by Con Manning (immediate past President of the Royal Society of Antiquities of Ireland) on the subject of, “The Field Monuments of Ireland”.

On Sunday 6th March, an important Australian group came to follow the ‘John Kelly Trail’.  Ian Jones (whose book ‘Ned Kelly-A Short Life’, is regarded as the definitive book on Ned Kelly) and Tony Lee, Curator of ‘Old Melbourne Jail’ (where Ned Kelly was hanged in 1880) and others, came to see the site of the Kelly homestead in Clonbrogan (Moyglass) and the other ‘Kelly’ sites in Mogorban, Newpark and Ballysheehan.

The AGM of Tuesday 26th April 2005, saw the following officers elected: Chairperson, Dóirín Saurus; Vice-chairperson, Mary Hanrahan; Secretary, Margaret Newport; Assistant Secretary, Peter Delaney; Treasurer, Catherine O’Flynn; and PRO, Terry Cunningham.  Committee members: Kitty Delany, Tim Robinson, Marie O’Donnell, Di Stokes, Ann Gleeson, Ann Lynch and Colm McGrath.

The AGM was also treated to a talk and demonstration by Marie Crean on the traditional crafts of Lumra and Rush Weaving . Marie’s work has now featured in national and international exhibitions.

On a beautiful July evening, Friday 1st July, Colm McGrath guided (and drove the bus as well) a group of us to the Priory of Kells and the Monastery of Kilree in nearby Co. Kilkenny.

Later in July, the Society joined the Flower Festival in old Holy Trinity Church by providing a guided walk from Mary Hanrahan on the 23rd and then organising a Craft Display and Fair on Sunday 24th.

The Society took part in Heritage Week in early September when, as part of the Irish Walled Towns Network (organised by the Heritage Council) we also hung the Network Flag from the Town Wall battlements overlooking the Valley.

In early September also, 18 members of the Society went for a week-end to Inis Oirr in the Aran Islands and, apart from a “rocky” crossing on the way out, a splendid time was had by all.

On Friday 23rd September, the Society hosted an unusual event in the Abymill Theatre,  where modern dance was performed to music played on a 16th Century instrument (a ‘viola da gamba’). The show was aptly titled, ‘Movement and Music from the Wild Side’.

On Tuesday 18th October, an illustrated talk by Naturalist Liam Burke  took place in the Abymill and, of course, the Christmas Social is being organized for Friday 2nd December.

Our records for the past year would not be complete without reference to the passing away of one of our greatest supporters, Neddy Delahunty of Market Hill. Neddy was a great man to come to our lectures and especially to go on our bus ‘Outins’. But I don’t think we ever went to a place that he hadn’t been to already! We’ll miss him.

The Society can be contacted via The Secretary, Fethard Historical Society, Fethard, (the Post Office will find him/her) or via e-mail at history@fethard.com.  Membership is €7 for an individual, €10 for a family and €5 for OAP /Unwaged /Student and our newsletters and notices will be forwarded to you anywhere in the civilised world.