Book Fair gets better
The dust has settled on the 2008 Tipperariana Book Fair and it is generally agreed that last Sunday's fair was one of the best to date. Last year the fair clashed with the famous first rugby match in Croke Park, which took from the crowd, but this year the punters were back in numbers and the thirty book dealers present were very happy with their day's business. They all say that Fethard is by far the best fair in the country for selling their wares and all the 'regulars' booked in again for next year.

The people of Fethard and area were again very generous in donating books to the Historical Society and these books were then sold on to the dealers and the public on the day. These 'donated books' always throw up some interesting items and the dealers like this aspect of the Fethard Book Fair as well.

Every year great praise is showered on the food served during the fair and celebratory chef, Kitty Delany, and her expert team were again on top of their game. In fact the whole larder was cleared out of food by day's end and this writer was very lucky to get the very last piece of apple tart to be had.

2007 saw a great number of Tipperary books being published and no less than fifteen authors were on site to sell and sign their books. Denis Marnane and Mary Guinan Darmody were present with 'Finding Tipperary', which was the ‘Tipperariana  Book of the Year' for 2007.  Dr. A. D. (Louis) Courtney, author of 'I Go Alone, memories of a Rural Irish Doctor 1878-1985' drove all the way from Cavan with his  book that tells the story of his father's life as a doctor in north Tipperary. Willie Hayes, a Fethard native and prolific author, was there with 'The Parish Churches of North Tipperary ' which is a wonderful piece of work he carried out with fellow author Joseph Kennedy.

Holding centre stage of course was Lisa O’Sullivan who again worked her magic on the piano from her podium on the bandstand. All in all a great day was had by all,  even if a few selfish parkers did block up some of the exits which meant that a few cows were late being milked!

Variety Concert for Hospice
The local support group for Hospice are holding a variety concert in the Abymill on Tuesday 11th March. Local performers, young and young at heart, will provide a night of music, dance, comedy and entertainment to suit all tastes. Tickets are only 10 euro and booking is at O’Flynn’s Menswear, Burke Street, Fethard. Tel (052) 31254. A great night is guaranteed and you will be supporting a great cause.

Community Games
County final of the Art and Model Making Events will take place in Fethard Ballroom on Saturday, April 5th. Please note that due to pressure of work at the moment involved in Preparing for the Games Benefit Night which is on Easter Sunday night (details below) and compiling the Book History of Community Games in Co Tipperary in conjunction with the 40th Anniversary of the organisation which is being celebrated this year, we are unable to co ordinate the Area Finals of the Art and Model Making in the Schools. However, if anybody would like to come on board and organise the event they are more than welcome, or if a child would like to draw a picture on a sporting theme and submit it to the Community Games Office, Grove Road no later than March 7th we will arrange for judging and provision of medals. Age groups are U-8, U-10, U-12, U-14, U-16, boys and girls. Competitors must reside in the parish and be under the age specified on the 31st July, 2008. Entry fee 2 euro.

Co Tipperary Community Games are running a Benefit Night at Clonmel Greyhound Track on Easter Sunday night, 23rd March in aid of funding to publish the 40th Anniversary Book on the history of the games in Tipperary and also to buy extra tracksuits. This is a once off fundraiser in 40 years by the county board and we encourage all areas to support same.

Tickets for a Buster Draw are currently on sale at 20 euro each. In addition to being included in the draw limited to 720 tickets for a first prize of 1,000 euro buster ticket also entitles one to free admission to the track and a free race card. All losing tickets will be put in separate draw for other attractive prizes including tickets for Manchester United v Sunderland match on 11th April. This is a great chance for former competitors who got so much enjoyment from the games over the years to buy a ticket or nominate a dog which also cost 20 euro and be a part of this entertaining evening out. We appeal to all individuals and clubs who had any connection with the games over the years to please book your ticket or nominate your dog now by phoning 052/31906 ASAP to avoid disappointment.  This is your opportunity to put something back into the games. There are many local names cropping up in the book from 1970 to date which makes interesting reading.

Fethard GAA Club News
Our senior footballers commenced the County League with a win over near neighbours Killenaule, played in Fethard on Sunday last on a scoreline, Fethard 1-12, Killenaule 1-9, having led at the break by the same three point margin 1-6 to 0-6. The team was: Paul Fitzgerald, Connie Flynn, Damien Byrne, Ian Kenrick, Cian Maher, Aiden Lonergan, Christopher Sheehan, Eoin Doyle 0-1, Jamie McCormack 0-1, Shane Aylward 1-0, Benny Hahessy, Michael Dillon 0-1, Glen Burke, 0-5 (3f), Aiden Fitzgerald 0-3, Jason Nevin 0-1. Subs used were John Fitzgerald and Philly Blake. Next weeks fixture is away to Mullinahone at 2pm.

 Our Lotto Jackpot €8,600 was not won. The numbers drawn were 6, 13, 17 and 21. We had one match three winner of €150 to Bernie Byrne (Claremore, Fethard). The €50 Lucky Dip was won by Vera O’Connell (Moyglass, Fethard). The tickets were kindly supplied by Fethard Credit Union.

Died Recently
The death has occurred on 21st January of Mr Paddy Fox, Woodvale Walk. Interment took place in Calvary Cemetery.
The death has occurred on 26th January of Mr John Fleming, Coolmore. Interment took place in Calvary Cemetery.
The death has occurred on 27th January of Mrs Kitty Martin, Mobarnane, Fethard. Interment took place in Moyglass Cemetery.
The death has occurred on Sunday 3rd February 2008 of Mr Tom Walsh, Bufanna, Killenaule. Interment took place at Moyglass Cemetery.

Fethard Juvenile GAA Club
Training for Under-14 football has now begun on Thursday evenings at 7.30 in the community field. We look forward to welcoming all our old faces back and any new members wanting to play are welcome to come along. Training times for all other juvenile age groups have yet to be decided and all members will be notified when times and dates have been set.

A ‘Race Night’ will be held in McCarthy’s Hotel on Saturday 8th March to raise funds for the Juvenile Club. All parents are invited to come along and enjoy a great nights entertainment. Races, jockeys and owners can be bought from any committee member, so please show your support for this worthy cause. Any queries please phone club secretary Caroline Sheehan Tel:  086 1713502.

Country Markets AGM
The annual general meeting of Fethard Cou8ntry Market will take place at 10.30am at the Town Hall on Friday 22nd February. All members are requested to attend.

Coffee Morning
Fethard Country Market is hosting a ‘Coffee Morning’ in conjunction with their usual market on Friday 15th February from 8am to 11am. Proceeds are in aid of Cancer Research. The market supplies a full range of home baking, locally grown vegetables, jams, eggs with a special section of confectionary suitable for celiac.

Fethard Bridge Club Results
The results of our game played on Wednesday 30th January were:
1st Gross: Rita Kane and Kay St. John; 2nd Gross: Berney Myles and Alice Quinn; 1st Nett: Anne and Sean O’Dea; 2nd Nett: Nora Lawrence and Madeleine O’Donnell.

On Wednesday 6th February we played the first round of the Club Championship and the results were: 1st Gross: Berney Myles and Alice Quinn; 2nd Gross: Anne Connolly and Tony Hanrahan; 1st Nett: Suzanne Opray and Ellen Rochford; 2nd Nett: Kathleen Kenny and Breda O'Grady.

On Wednesday next 20th February we play the third round of the championship. Anyone looking for a partner please contact Berney Myles at Tel: 32038.

Fethard & Killusty Community Lotto Results
The numbers drawn on Wednesday 30th January were: 9, 10, 17 and 26. We had no Jackpot winner and one ‘Match 3’ winner €150: Anne Keane, St. Patricks Place, Fethard.
The three €50 Lucky Dip winners were: Dermot Darcy, St. Patricks Place, Fethard; Angela Connery, Rathloose, Powerstown, Fethard; Chrissie Cummins, 53 St. Patricks Place, Fethard. Next week’s Jackpot continues at €10,000 and the Jackpot sellers prize is €1000.

Hunting News
The Tipperary Foxhounds attracted an extra large field of fifty mounted followers to their Monday meet at Dualla on 4th Februrary.  Finding at their first draw in Walsh’s they ran through Meldrum towards the Fethard Cashel road.  Turning right here they ran through Jimmy Cummin’s towards Mayfield putting their fox to ground near the ancient Bricíndonn graveyard.

Moving over Mayfield Hill to Georgesland, the covert by the new by-pass held a brace.  Getting away on one they crossed the road at the old Cashel beagles kennels.  Hunting strongly back through Mayfield and down to where they first found the fox crossed the Mocklershill Dualla road to the big plantation on Connolly’s hill where he was left.  Hacking back to Boscobel Cross they found again behind Messrs. Ryans oil depot.  Hunting right through Boscobel towards Dualla they swung left-handed and crossed the Dualla Furry Hill road.  The dog pack, really motoring now, ran through Thornton’s over McCann’s hill and marked to ground over the Dublin Road near the Slate Quarries.  These were three really top class runs, which we hope all followers enjoyed. The field included visitors from the Co. Limerick racehorse trainer and former National Hunt jockey, Charlie Swan.

The Tipps had another very good run from the Ballydine meet on Thursday. Finding at their second draw at Mr Joe Ryan’s they hunted a big circle right-handed towards Ballinahinch and back to where they found. Getting on terms with their fox here they hunted through Mr Thomas Ryans and marked to ground just short of Ballymore bog.  This was a very fast run with a two-mile point and at least twice as far as hounds ran.  Hounds were quite busy during the rest of the afternoon with shorter runs from Longfield, Bawnmore and the Old Railway Bog. The day provided plenty of good jumping for the large field with many muddied coats in evidence at the days end.

With the White Heathers
From Downey’s Cross on Sunday hounds were taken into Fethard and drew up the Banogue river under Laurence Kenny’s Glebe House. Finding here the fox crossed the river to Crampscastle. By Everardsgrange cemetery they hunted well over Bennettshill to Rathkenny where they lost him. Moving on to Byrne’s rock by the sawmills they were quickly away again. Running down through Byrnskill, almost to the kennels at Milestone Mill, they re-crossed the link road to Bannixtown. Hunting well through Tierney’s they hunted their fox back to the roc where he got to ground.
Drawing the Muilleannbawn, they found again below the pump house. Quickly into Grove they hunted down the screen inside the Killusty road crossing the rear avenue near the back gate. Down by Grove House they crossed the river and ran to the Kilsheelan road near Bradshaw’s. Turning short of the road, Charlie ran back to the front avenue where he crossed the Kilsheelan road through a drainage pipe at Grove Wood. Hounds hunted him around here for a short while where they had to give him best. A good day all round!
The Ballyluskey White Heather Harriers meet next Sunday, 17th February at Thorny Bridge at 11am. 

Patrician Presentation Secondary School
Our annual Open Night was a great success with prospective pupils from the surrounding area and their parents in attendance. Teachers and pupils were on hand to show them around the school and there were numerous displays of pupils work including a very impressive art display by Ms Pat Looby’s pupils. A cup of tea was provided for all the visitors with confectionary baked by the school’s Home Economics pupils under the able direction of Ms Maher.
The display cabinet of Patrician memorabilia was on view in advance of the Bicentenary celebrations. A special word of thanks to the Parents’ Association for its faithful support of all our school activities. Their work is greatly appreciated by the school.

Fethard & District Juvenile Rugby Club
Fethard & District Juvenile Rugby players travelled to all over the County at the weekend to enjoy the game of rugby. Our Under 7s gave us a great show of guts, determination and team work against a strong and well versed Kilfeacle other 8s. Fethard kept together and scored a couple of valuable tries and never shirked their responsibility. They proved to all that they will be a force for the future. The team saw tackling and driving from Luke Bradstock, Harry Cummins, Danny Gleeson and Gerard Kavanagh. Frankie Meagher, Dale Murphy, Ciarán O’Dwyer and Gavin Ryan showed their combination of passing and tackling is improving all the time. Both Jack Spillane and Connor Vaughan were to the fore in the game providing support to their team.

Under-8s played two games on Sunday. Their first game was against Clonmel’s 8s and resulted in a well-deserved win for Fethard. All of the team consisting of Harry Butler, Jack Dolan, Ned Grogan, Darragh Harcourt, David Healey, Mark Heffernan, Richard Holohan, Darragh Lynch, Ross Mullins, James O’Connell, William Pratt and Jack Ward showed their worth taking the game by strong tackling, fluent passing and driving forward. In the second game against a physical Kilfeacle 8s, Fethard again showed their stamina by coming back to be awarded a draw. All the boys from the first game along with Dale Murphy and Frankie Meagher played a textbook game of rugby and are to be commended for their performances on the day.
Under-9s Played Clonmel in the first game and they all played very well. Eoin Shaw scored two tries. Great work from Gus Brown, Kerry Purtill, Keith Cleere and Andrew Phelan all showed great tackling with constant tackling in defence from Brian Norton. In their second game against Kilfeacle, which was a very tough match, we won 2-1. We had a great try from Keith Cleere and then Eoin Shaw, along with great teamwork from all the team playing very well. Killian O’Dwyer, Colm Hayde, Michael Gaynor and James Walsh completed the exceptional tackling shown on the day.

Our under-10s played Clonmel and Kilfeacle. We had great numbers on the morning and everybody got a game. We had two very hard games and we were evenly matched. In the first game against Clonmel it was 1-1 draw. We saw a huge amount of tackling and great continual defensive work from Harry Tobin along with Padraig Feehan and Jack Gleeson. Ben Murray scored our try from great teamwork with Katy, in her first game for us showing impressive tackling, Rory, Eoin, Mark Collins and Gearóid Fahy as well as Luke Grant and Luke Ryan played great. Another big tough game against Kilfeacle with a draw 2-2 seeing a break away try by Ben Murray. There was huge defending required and the team provided this with great tacking especially from Padraig Norton and Gearóid Fahy. Christian Casey and Thomas Murphy played well throughout the morning. We subbed on and off for the mornings games. Thank to all the parents for their help and support throughout.

Under-11s had a good turn out and their first game was against a Kilfeacle team that appeared to be an under-12s team. We lost 5-0, however, our under-11s gave a great account and a player to mention was Kieran Whyte who gave a demonstration of tackling taking all around him. This team with Ciaran O’Connell, Cathal Mahoney and Cathal Meagher also played very well. In their second game they met Clonmel’s under-11s. They played very well and it was hard luck to loose 2-0. David Heffernan played well in the game. Ciarán O’Connell, Cathal O’Donnell and Liam Kelly also played very well on the day. 

Under-12s had a great day out and met Clonmel first and beat them 5-1. Players that excelled were Joey Purtill, Tommy Anglim, Robert Horan, Colin Kelly, Jimmy Feehan, Shane Cleere, Jack Kennedy, Josh Murray, Cian O’Connell, Paul Butler and Russell Casey. These guys played an expansive game of rugby from side to side and their rucking and mauling was exceptional. In their second game they met Kilfeacle under-12s. Fethard played one of their best matches all season and won 6-0 with great attacking and defensive play.
The under-14s played Nenagh and won 21-12. We travelled in great numbers and after some early pressure the first score came. This happened with a good break from Dylan Fitzgerald and Eoin Fennelly ending in Dylan Fitzgerald finishing off for a good try with Eoin Fennelly converting to leave Fethard 7-0 at halftime. At the start of second half Fethard piled on pressure but failed to finish off a lot of possession out wide. At last the breakthrough came with a great solo effort from James Holohan to score under the post and again Fennelly converted. Fethard kept up the pressure and were rewarded with a further try when Gavin Delaney and Gareth Lawrence barged over together. Once more Fennelly added the points to extend Fethard to a 21-0 lead. In the dying moments Nenagh grabbed two late tries to leave the final score 21-12. The highlight of this match was the tackling performance given by Joe Morgan throughout the match and Dan Walsh when he came on in the second half.

The under 18s ended on a scoreline, Fethard 34, Galbally 5. A bright spring morning and the going was good in Galbally on Sunday morning. We travelled light but the opposition had a decidedly youthful look. Galbally attacked up front from the kick-off but were quickly repelled by our pack who looked up for a challenge. Some solid forward driving pushed Galbally back on their heels and with quick ruck ball our backs soon appreciated the goodness of the surface. Straight running and quick hands released Stuart Hanrahan who took his try in the corner. The lads remained focussed from the kick off and were soon knocking on the door when the ever-dependable Nicolas Hoyne pounced for a well-taken try. Galbally were now under pressure and Fethard came hunting. Cathal Gorey broke and swatted away tackles as he ran hard and fast for a well worked try. Hanrahan again showed his speed after some clever footwork from Kevin Waltzer turned the Galbally rearguard, who then presented it for Stuart to finish with style. More hard work up front saw Jack O’Sullivan through for another, before the pace and straight running of Alan O’Connor yielded yet another try. All round things were clicking. Well worked line-out moves, good back row breaking by Billy Horan and solid kicking by Declan Doyle kept Galbally under the cosh. At half time 34-0 was how it read. But Galbally have pride and they wanted to make a statement. They came at Fethard with a simple but effective plan. This pushed us back, and with indiscipline and disarray we found ourselves defending within our 22. But the tackles came and Galbally were held. Eventually though whilst trying to play too much in our 22, and with determination and grit, Galbally got over. The rest of the game followed the same pattern. Galbally played it tight, we fought hard in defence. However, the referee was in no mood for infringements and backchat meant we were always on the back foot. But to their credit the boys in blue were resolute in defence, notable tackles being made by Joe Fogarty, Colin Blackmore, Paddy Teehan and Dick Walsh. Full time saw the score 34 to 5. A great first half followed by a stern test in the second. But credit to all, Willie Power broke well and got his line moving efficiently. Joe Kelly gave his all, especially when poaching around the rucks and mauls. Nigel O’Connell continues his apprenticeship in the front row and looks for work all day. Darragh Dwyer worked hard on the blindside wing, covering, tackling and attacking when needed. Young Matt O’Sullivan joined his brother late on in the back row and looked eager to impress. Overall, a good result. Well taken tries and stout defence when needed. Training as usual next week. Well done lads.