SPA§OR SLIEVENAMON
Two eminent geologists working in the area on x-ray photographs taken from the air last summer, which show copper deposits in Ballinard area, have made an extraordinary discovery.  They have picked up very strong signals, the strongest yet, from the space shuttle launched recently to reach an unnamed planet in the outer universe in an estimated 17 years time.  Apparently the latitude and the longitude of the location of Fethard town, as well as the subterranean Petrovsky magnetic field under Slievenamon, are responsible for the strong signals being received.

The rocket scientists who launched the probe have expressed great interest in the find.  They intend, if further tests prove positive, to construct a space station on the summit of Slievenamon. The station will have cable car and helicopter access which will enable locals, and the thousands of expected tourists, to monitor, from a close range as it were, the progress of the space shuttle as it makes its billions of miles, 17 year journey, to the farthest regions of outer space.  Another example of Fethard leads, others follow!

EASTER COMMEMORATION
The Republican Movement in South Tipperary will hold its annual George Plant Commemoration in St. Johnstown Graveyard on Easter Sunday 11th April.  The main speaker will be Mr David Dunne who is their candidate for South Tipperary County Council elections in this area.  The other republican candidates for South Tipperary will also be present.

CAR CHASE IN FETHARD
Nothing short of a miracle was how some, who had a close call, described an incident on Main Street on Saturday night last.  Just as the very large congregation were leaving the Parish Church after the Novena ceremonies, a stolen car being pursued by the police drove up Main Street at what some observers reckon to be at least 70 mph.  Following, what was fortunately, a minor collision with a car driven by a local lady on The Square, the stolen car came to a halt.

The Gardai in the pursuing police car quickly arrested the three young male occupants, who, we understand, were from Cork.  Full marks to the young Garda who chased one of the runaway joyriders down Main Street and brought him down with a tackle outside the Post Office that would have done credit to our rugby international Brian O’Driscoll.

To use the term ‘joyrider’ to describe these individuals is surely not correct.  The manner in which they drove that car up a crowded street was just as dangerous as if they discharged a loaded shotgun in the same area.  As we said at the outset, it is just a pure miracle that someone was not killed or seriously injured.

LONDON REUNION IN JUNE
This years Fethard & Killusty London Reunion will take place on Saturday 26th June 2004 at St. Anthony’s Parish Centre, Garratt Road, Edgware, Middlesex, HA8 9AN.  If you’re interested in going, it’s possible to book flights for €1 at this time using the Ryan Air website (www.ryanair.com) so why not make a weekend of it in London and enjoy some shopping as well. For your information only (not a recommendation): the nearest Tube is: Edgware; the nearest hotel (directly opposite): Premier Lodge, 435 Burnt Oak Broadway. Edgware, Middlesex, HA8 5AQ. www.premierlodge.com or Tel: 0044 (0)870 9906522. Room rate is £58.00 per room per night.  There are other hotels also nearby.

COUNTY COMMUNITY GAMES
The county final of Community Games Under-14 Juvenile Quiz took place in the Park Avenue Hotel, Thurles, on Friday March 26th.  After ten very closely contested rounds of ten questions, Lorrha A and B teams landed the spoils.  Lorrha A team won with a total of 89 points and the B team were runners up on 86 points.  Clerihan A team finished in third place on 81 points with Clerihan B team and Fethard finishing in 4th place on 80 points each.  Others teams who done well were Annacarty, Ballyneale, Cahir, Gortnahoe and Moyne Templetuohy.  

ART & MODEL MAKING
The county final of the Art & Model Making competition will take place in Fethard Ballroom this coming Saturday April 3rd, commencing at 1pm sharp.   Please be in attendance at 12.30pm to enter.  Winner of each category will qualify for National Finals next August.

MACKEY FAMILY
My family come from Fethard and you may know them as I have just seen photos of my Uncle Tom Mackey and Michael Mackey on the Fethard website.  Other members of my family were Anne, Kathleen, Chris Mackey (who still lives there), my dad Billy Mackey, and Jack Mulcahy.  I have visited Fethard a few times and I now live in England with my dad Billy Mackey in Lincoln. It was a lovely surprise to find photos of my family on the net and I look forward to showing my dad the information on this site.  I’m sure it will make him very happy.  I’d like to say hello to my Uncle Chris living in Fethard.  Thanks very much and all the best from, William Mackey, Lincoln, England. (Email: Spanzee5702@aol.com)

SR. M. JOSEPH McCARTHY
Looking through an old copy of The Nationalist of August 1956, we came across a wonderful tribute to Sr. Mary Joseph McCarthy, Buffana, who celebrated the Silver Jubilee of her profession on August 23rd of that year at the Ursuline Convent, New York.  Giving details of her wonderful career as a teacher and a religious, the article stated that unfortunately Sr. Joseph had suffered a severe heart attack and was semi-retired to the community’s Mother House.  However, “Man proposes and God disposes”. 

May we offer a sincere belated birthday greeting from all her friends in Moyglass and Fethard to Sr. Joseph who celebrated her 90th birthday on Saturday last.  Not alone did Sr. Joseph not stay semi-retired, but over the years, many generations of pupils have profited from her counselling and teaching.

Incidentally, The Nationalist of 1956 that contained the tribute to Sr. Joseph, was published in their old mid-week edition.  The main edition was not in circulation in those years until Saturday.  A two or three page tabloid edition was published mid-week on Tuesday and sold for 1 1/2d, which in today’s currency would be less that 2 cent.

FETHARD JUVENILE GAA CLUB
Please note that the under/14 and under/16 hurling training has now commenced in the new community sports field on Tuesday evenings at 6.30pm. Training for the under/12's and down has not yet commenced and members will be informed of training times and venue when decided.

THE WELL GOLF SOCIETY
A couple of reminders for our members. Firstly, our next outing is on Saturday April 17th at Rathdowney Golf Club. Tee off is at 11 o'clock. Secondly, and more importantly, our Easter Draw will take place on April 11th, cards to be returned on or before Good Friday, to Kevin Ryan, Danny Mullins, Michael Kenrick or if you wish you can leave them with Mick and Marie in The Well.

concert In AID OF CHRISTMAS LIGHTS
World class Irish artist Eleanor Shanley, currently on tour with Frankie Lane and Paul Kelly, will play the Abymill Theatre in Fethard on Friday 2nd April at 8.15pm. The concert, run in aid of the Fethard & Killusty Community Council’s Christmas lighting fund, will commence with a cheese and wine reception at 8pm. Tickets are €25 each and can be booked at McCarthy’s Hotel Tel: 052 31149 or 086 8119625.

Eleanor Shanley grew up surrounded by music. Her mother’s family were all fireside singers.  Upon leaving school she worked in the personnel department in FAS and studied drama at night time. Eleanor continued to sing at informal sessions and it was at one of these in Dublin pub " The Merchant " that she was discovered by famed Galway traditional band De Dannan.  They asked her to go to Galway to discuss her joining the band as they had a tour of Finland lined up in two weeks time.  She was to stay five years with the well-travelled trad ambassadors.

She toured the world with De Dannan and recorded two critically acclaimed albums "Jacket of Batteries" and the groundbreaking" Half Set in Harlem".  After five years on the road with De Dannan, Eleanor quit in December 1992 deciding that it was time to pursue a solo career.

Eleanor then began singing and performing with future Eurovision winner Charlie McGettigan and Brendan Emmet. It was Charlie who introduced her to manager Mattie Fox, who secured a solo deal for her with Warners in Ireland and Grapevine in the UK.

Eleanor then began work on putting together her first solo album. She spent month sifting through tapes before finally deciding to record her first album, "Eleanor Shanley", which featured hits such as "Road To Glory" and "In The Ghetto".

After the release of her first solo album Eleanor began touring extensively in Ireland, UK and Europe, where she supported Christy Moore as well as doing solo shows. She released her second album "Desert Heart" in april 1997.

"I grew up with traditional music and it’s still my main love, although I’ve probably broken away from it slightly with some of these songs", she says.

In the year 2000 Eleanor got together with Ronnie Drew and they completed a 16 date sell out tour in Ireland, which proved to be an outstanding success. Eleanor and Ronnie then recorded an album together "A Couple More Years".

Eleanor has just finished recording her new album “Eleanor Shanley & Friends”. The album has many guest singers, including, you guessed it, Ronnie Drew and Eddie Reader.

Eleanor will be accompanied by Frankie Lane and Paul Kelly with whom she has just finished a very successful tour in Austria and Denmark.

Frankie Lane is one of Ireland’s best-known performers and traditional musicians of international renown, Frankie was the original front man of the legendary Fleadh Cowboys. The “Fleadhs” gathered a huge fan base at the Olympia Theatre in Dublin and went on to support legendary performers such as Bob Dylan, U2, The Pogues, Emmylou Harris and B.B. King.  In January 2004 Frankie was nominated for a prestigious Meteor Music Award. These awards are the Irish Music Industries highest accolade and one which Frankie is fully deserving of, given his tireless and sometimes revolutionary work in the music scene in Ireland.

Paul Kelly has been at the heart of the music scene in Ireland since the early eighties. He first came to prominence as the fiddler with The Sackville String Band, a five-piece bluegrass outfit who brought American Traditional music to a wider audience in Ireland.  Throughout that decade he concentrated on American Music, playing with various bands such as Mick Hanly’s, ‘Rusty Old Halo’ and the Fleadh Cowboys as well as appearing on many albums as a session musician. He returned to his roots in the early nineties as a member of The Sharon Shannon Band, playing fiddle and mandolin and touring the U.S. , Europe and the UK.

"Eleanor Shanley is, without overstating the case, one of the greatest vocalists this country has ever produced." (Michael Gallagher - Roscommon Champion)

"That she has a highly distinctive voice is an incontrovertible truth; it is both how it is used and also the material on which it focuses, that tickles the taste buds." (Hotpress)

FETHARD BRIDGE CLUB
The results for Wednesday 24th March 2004 are:

1st Gross: Tony Hanrahan and David O’Meara,

2nd Gross: Frances Burke and Breda Walsh,

1st Nett: Nora Ahearne and Olive Looby,

2nd Nett: Ellen Rochford and Suzanne Opray.

On Wednesday next 7th April we will be playing for prizes sponsored by FBD Investments. Anyone looking for a partner please contact Annie O’Brien Tel: 052 31862.

PROGRESSIVE 25 RESULTS
Results for the Progressive 25 game played on Friday 19th March.
Winners on 13 games: Willie Kennedy and Michael Browne.  Runners up on 12 games: Bridie Lee and Chris O’Brien, Michael O’Brien and Seán Callaghan, Veronica and James Muldowney, John St. John and Pat O’Dwyer.  Table prize: Gus Neville and Alice Quinn.
Results for the Progressive 25 game played on Friday 26th March.

Winners on 11 games: Robert and Bernie Phelan.  Runners up on 10 games: Paddy Butler and Tess Maher, Nora Lee and Nora O’Donnell.  Rubber winners: Greta O’Donovan and Tom McCormack, Lory Byrne and Jimmy McCarthy
Next game takes place in Fethard Ballroom on Friday 2nd April at 8.30pm sharp.

DANCING
On this coming Sunday night, April 4th, we have our social dancing night at Fethard Ballroom.  Music supplied by Donal Bird and his band.  All are welcome.

A GOOD NIGHT OUT
The table quiz held recently in the Secondary School attracted a very large attendance competing for excellent prizes.  The Parents Association would like to thank all who attended for their support and gratefully acknowledge the generous sponsorship from Superquinn, Kenny’s Centra Supermarket, Glanbia, Slievenamon Golf Club, Galtee Meats, Sally Hayes and others.  Thanks to all who provided sandwiches for the tea-break and all who assisted on the night, especially Helen, Sarah, Siobhán and Roseanne who were kept busy with the score-keeping. A special thanks also to Fethard and District Credit Union for their very generous donation towards the Lourdes Fund. 

Each year, two 5th year students from Fethard Patrician Presentation Secondary School assist the invalids with the Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes and the proceeds of the Table Quiz will help defray their travel expenses.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY
We are breaking the mould a bit this week with happy birthday wishes.  A young lady in The Valley celebrates an ‘all the fours’ birthday on Saturday next.  Happy birthday to Isobel Kennedy, daughter of Bill and Liz, who will be all of 4 years old on the 4/4/04.

Forty years will pass before, God willing, Isobel celebrates another ‘all the fours’ birthday on 4/4/44.  The mind boggles if the past 40 years are anything to go by, on what changes Isobel and all children of her age will witness in the ensuing 40 years.

CAR PARKING
Some time ago, the Fethard Presentation Sisters were approached by a few people who had difficulty walking from Main Street to the Parish Church, for permission to park their cars in the Convent Grounds.  This was readily given, to allow the not so fleet of foot easy access from the Convent to the rear of the Parish Church.  The Sisters generosity has, however, been taken advantage of.  The Convent grounds are private property and it’s not unusual now to see between twenty and thirty cars being parked in the grounds on any Sunday morning.

A special appeal has been made to those who are able to walk the short distance from the street to the church, to please not use the Convent grounds as a car park.

RELATIONS SOUGHT
We have had an enquiry from James Dean, Appleton, USA, re his ancestors from the Kylenagranagh and Ballycullen areas.  James’s grandfather, also James and son of James Denn and Catherine Hennessy, Ballycullen, emigrated to USA in 1876.  It is also likely that his brothers and sisters emigrated to USA around 1880, probably along with their father.

Perhaps our friends in the Cloneen-Mullinahone area could help on this one.  Mr Dean will be visiting Fethard in May of this year.  His postal address is: James Dean, 920 Foxmoor, Appleton, WI 54911, USA.

Apparently somewhere along the way, the spelling of the surname was changed from Denn to Sean.  Mr Dean (Denn) was actually in Mullinahone a few years ago but unfortunately his request for Deans in the area brought no response.