Annual Emigrants Newsletter collection
The Annual Church Gate Collection in aid of the Fethard & Killusty Emigrants Newsletter will take place in the parish (after Christmas) weekending, January 2, 2011. Proceeds will go towards covering the cost of posting over 900 Newsletters free of charge to our emigrants living throughout the world.

We appeal for your support as our annual donations have dropped by 25% over the past two years and we accept this is due to the effects of the current recession. But in recession time, the number of emigrants from our parish drastically increases and with this in mind we ask you to enable us to continue our service by supporting our church gate collection or by making a donation online at: www.fethard.com/donate/

Please hand in your change of addresses and any new address for the Emigrants’ Newsletter mailing list to Joe Kenny, Rocklow Road, or Carmel Rice, Brookhill, as soon as possible. Every year, a certain number of Newsletters are returned because people have changed address or come back home to live. Please help us avoid this waste of postage costs by checking if your family member’s addresses are up to date and letting us know if they have changed since last Christmas.
The Newsletter has gone to print and will be on sale in local shops in the coming week.

Vandals destroy landmark house at Watergate
At 11.45pm on Friday night, December 10, Fethard experienced another unfortunate incident when local vandals set fire and deliberately destroyed the premises of the late Jimmy Ryan at Watergate. This building, one of the few remaining at Watergate, defines the street plan used in a typical Norman town layout and its loss and would be detrimental to Fethard maintaining its medieval character.

In March 1963, 70 year-old semi-invalid, Bridget Corcoran, lost her life in a tragic fire at Corcoran’s shop on the corner of Burke Street and Watergate, which led to the formation of Fethard Fire Brigade at that time. Mrs Corcoran’s house was demolished shortly afterwards, to be replaced by a ‘green patch’. If the same fate is to happen Jimmy Ryan’s house it would be an awful shame, and all the result of some kids ‘sense’ of enjoyment for that moment.

We strongly recommend that people with any information cooperate fully with the local Gardaí and come forward to finally help put an end to this spate of destruction to private and public property in Fethard.

It lately appears that some members of our community accept this kind of behaviour as ‘normal’ and that ‘someone’, ‘somewhere’, at ‘sometime’ is ultimately responsible for these kids unacceptable conduct . . . and so it well might be, but where is the teaching of ‘respect’ for other people’s property and other people’s lives.
There is an awful lot to be said for the ‘old school’ way of thinking and an obvious lack of principles in the ‘new way’! This is our town and we need to defend it.

Reconciliation Services for Christmas
The reconciliation service in preparation for Christmas will take place in the Augustinian Abbey at 7.30pm Mass on Saturday, December 18, and in the Parish Church on Monday, December 20, at 7.30pm.

Jack takes top honours
For the second year in a row, Jack Connolly, The Green, has been voted ‘Boxer of The Year’ at Clonmel Boxing Club’s annual awards night held on Monday, December 6. Jack was awarded the Billy Kane Perpetual Trophy for his outstanding achievements during the year.
Jack continued his successful run, when on Saturday night, December 11, he was competing at the St. Francis Boxing Clubs Tournament, in Limerick, where he defeated John McDonagh from Ennis Boxing club. Jack was in top form, and put in a flawless display, winning by a unanimous decision.

Jack had to be on top of his game, when after a few hours rest, he was back in the ring again on Sunday December 12, at St Nicholas Boxing Club, Carrick-on-Suir, where he was up against the tricky south-paw of Victor Medvediuc, of Tramore Boxing Club.

This was a very close fought contest, but after three rounds of boxing, all three judges gave their points to Jack. This victory was even made more sweeter as Medvediuc is a holder of a European bronze medal and a year older than Jack.
With a total of sixteen fights on the programme, there was yet another top award on its way to the man from Clonmel Boxing Club, when Jack picked up the ‘Best Boxer of The Tournament’ award.
Behind all good boxers, there are very good coaches, and any of these don't come much better than Clonmel Boxing Club’s head coach Martin Fennessy – from one of the best, if not the best, boxing club in the country.

Again well done Jack, and continued success for the coming season.

Christmas Carol Service
The annual Carol Service at Holy Trinity Church of Ireland will take place on Sunday, December 19, at 8pm. All are welcome.

With the White Heathers
Having been well entertained by Mr and Mrs John Halley at Rathvin the White Heather Harriers commenced to draw from Fethard Car Park on Sunday last. Foxes have been very scarce in the area this season and Sunday last was no exception. Hounds did not find until they reached the fort at Dr. Condon’s. They hunted from here to the Rathcoole Sandpits where they lost him. Finding again in the Sandpits the fox crossed the Fethard-Moyglass Road running right-handed to O’Connors. Swinging left here they ran through Ballyvaden to the upper reaches of the Clashawley where they lost him. Drawing back through Rathcoole and Rocklow blank they found again at Flynn’s Furze. This fox got to ground almost as soon as he was found. Down through Monroe to the Osiery where they started they did not find again. With the day getting on Donie decided to give one last try behind Meagher’s Londis at Kerry Street. They found a brace here but with scent failing they could not make much of these, they did hunt one slowly to Redcity Graveyard where they lost him. From Fethard to Farranaleen Cross is three miles plus three back, that is as the crow flies.

As the huntsman and younger followers travelled on Sunday it is at least double that. All for the sake of the sport and good sportsmen all. Hounds meet on Sunday next at Peppardstown House at 11am.

Carol Singing in aid of CRC
The annual ‘Carol Singing’ on the streets of Fethard will take place on Thursday, December 23, commencing at Fethard Town Hall at 8pm. All are welcome. Proceeds will be donated to the Central Remedial Clinic in Dublin to supplement their annual 'Santa Bear Appeal'. This is a very worthwhile cause for the CRC’s on-going support and help for affected children and their families.

Community Lotto extra Christmas Prizes
The numbers drawn on Wednesday, December 8, were 6, 22, 24 and 28. We had No Jackpot winner and one ‘Match Three’ winner who received €150: Therese Barrett, The Green, Fethard.

This week we have six ‘lucky dip’ draws for €50 each because of the cancellation of last week’s lotto due to weather conditions. The lucky winners were: Nellie Donovan, Fr. Tirry Park, Fethard; Mary Healy, The Green, Fethard; Liam Foran, Strylea, Fethard; Olwyn Wall, Chapel Lane, Fethard; Con Hurley, The Green, Fethard; and Arthur Daly, St. Patricks Place, Fethard.

We also had six Christmas turkey & ham draws this week the winners were:
Christmas Turkey Winners: Miriam Mansfield, Newtown, Drangan; Tommy Shine, Monroe, Fethard; Dermot O'Meara, Woodvale Walk; P.J. Shine, Red City, Fethard; Anna Cooke, St. Patricks Place, Fethard; and Carol Kenny, The Green, Fethard.
Christmas Ham Winners: Phil Tobin, Fr. Tirry Park, Fethard; Tom Ryan, c/o Nellie Ryan; Tony Maher, c/o Lonergans; M. Flanagan, c/o Tom Purcell; Marianne Butler, The Valley, Fethard’ and Anthony Foran, c/o Burkes Bar, Fethard.

On the weeks leading up to Christmas we will have extra draws for turkeys and hams. The lotto will then take a two-week break over the Christmas period, therefore there will be no lotto draw on December 22 and 29. The lotto will resume on Wednesday, January 5, 2011.
Remember you can also purchase your lotto ticket online at fethard.com. Buy seven weekly tickets and get one free! Check on the website for lots of special offers. Next week’s Jackpot will start at €3,300 and the Jackpot sellers prize is €330. All proceeds go towards community work in Fethard.

Rugby Club Christmas Party this weekend
Fethard & District Rugby Club will host their Christmas Party in the Ballroom on this coming Saturday night, December 18. The evening will commence with a mulled wine reception at 8pm, before dinner at 8.30pm. There will be a full bar facility, and dancing until late. With tickets keenly priced at only €35, the Christmas Party would be a great way to celebrate with work colleagues, or with family and friends.

You don't have to be a member of the club to join us - and you will be assured of a warm welcome on the night. So make a date, pick up your tickets from any committee member, from O'Sullivan's Pharmacy, or call 087 1600722. Looking forward to hearing from you!

St. Vincent de Paul
The local conference of St. Vincent de Paul would like to advise anyone who have already applied for help and have had not yet received a reply before Tuesday 22nd December to contact either Vincent Doocey at Tel: 6131698 or Denis Burke at Tel: 6131852.