Fethard Bridge Club Presidents Prize Results  

Presidents Prize Results
President's Prize: Rita Kane & Kay St. John.
Committee Prize: Monica Anglim & Betty Walsh.
1st Gross: Alice Quinn & Berney Myles; 2nd Gross: Anne Connolly & Eileen Frewen: 3rd Gross: Anna Cooke & Berney O'Meara; 4th Gross: Nell Broderick & David O'Meara; 5th Gross: Sean O'Dea & Marian Walsh; 6th Gross: Frances Burke & Breda Walsh.
1st Nett: Maggie Smyth & Mary Tierney; 2nd Nett: Rita Holohan & Mary Delaney; 3rd Nett: Annie O'Brien & Marie Delaney; 4th Nett: Breda O'Grady & Joan Kelly; 5th Nett: Eileen Ryan & Jim Lahart; 6th Nett: Rose Lonergan & Noreen Evans.

Club Championship: Kitty Hayes Memorial Trophy
Club Champions: Tony Hanrahan & Michael Kenny.
1st Gross: Gemma Burke & Carol Kenny; 2nd Gross: Rita Kane & Kay St. John; 3rd Gross: Nell Broderick & Anna Cooke; 1st Nett: Monica Anglim & Betty Walsh; 2nd Nett: Bridie Lee & Mike Burke; 3rd Nett: Rita Holohan & Mary Delaney.

Player of the Year: William O’Flynn Memorial Trophy
Player of the Year: Rita Kane.
1st Gross: Sean O'Dea; 2nd Gross: Nell Broderick; 3rd Gross: Carol Kenny; 1st Nett: David O'Meara; 2nd Nett: Brendan Kenny; 3rd Nett: Carmel Condon & Jim Lahart.

Individual Championship: Dick Gorey Memorial Trophy
Individual Champion: Rita Kane.

The Lucey Trophy
Alice Quinn & Berney Myles

Most Improved Player: Suzanne Opray Trophy
Most Improved Player: Sean O’Dea.

Shave or Dye  
The total amount raised at the recent ‘Shave or Dye’ event in aid of the Irish Cancer Society was €4,570. The organisers would like to thank the following; our hairdressers on the night Mandy Hickey, Abigail Sheehan and Lizzy Burke; The Well Bar, Fethard, for hosting the event and to all who helped on the night. A big thanks to everyone who supported this worthy cause. Also a special mention to Eoghan Hurley, our youngest participant, who raised a substantial amount.

Fethard Scouting  
Fethard Scouts have returned home after a long hard weekend’s competition at which they won the coveted County Shield Competition, which had many disciplines from Tent Pitching, First Aid, Open Fire Cooking, Pioneering, Hiking, Raft Building, Map and Compass, Campfire Singing to Scouting Knowledge. This great ‘Eagle Patrol’ was led by PL Cormac Horan, APL Megan Bailey, Dylan Ryan, Maria Walsh, Willie O’Meara, Dan Walsh, Cameron Bailey and Eoin O’Donovan. You all have done Fethard proud! They group will now go forward to represent the county at national level in mid August.

Tourist advisers visit Fethard 
Over thirty people involved in the tourism business in South Tipperary recently visited Fethard. The visit was part of a ‘Familiarisation Trip’ being organised by the South Tipperary Tourism Company – the official body involved in the development and marketing of South Tipperary as a tourism destination.

These familiarisation trips are aimed at tourist office personnel, hotel receptionists, B&B owners and anyone else who has the job of advising visitors as to what is to see and do in South Tipperary.

The last stop on this tour was to the Walled Town of Fethard where they were shown around by local guide, Terry Cunningham, of ‘Backs to the Wall Tours’. The visitors were genuinely amazed by the view from the Valley area and by the richness of the medieval heritage in the old town.

Tony Musiol, Chairperson South Tipperary Tourism Company, and Eimear Whittle, Fáilte Ireland, were again very impressed by what they saw in Fethard and by the high standard of upkeep being maintained by the County Council staff and the great voluntary efforts of Fethard Tidy Towns group.

Butler Trail
Tony Musiol further reiterated his desire to have Fethard included in the ‘Butler Trail’ which at present embraces Carrick-on-Suir, Clonmel and Cahir.

Fethard, of course, is also central to the Butler story as it was in Fethard (c1430) that James Butler, 4th Earl of Ormond annexed County Kilkenny and joined that county to his original Tipperary property in what is known as ‘The Statutes of Fethard’. More than likely that ordnance was signed in what we now call Court Castle (beside the Castle Inn, Watergate) as the The Ormonds held their courts there and (we presume) hence the name, Court Castle.
Of course Kiltinan Castle and Knockelly Castle were also Butler strongholds, so without doubt the Butlers had a very firm grip on Fethard and much of the South Tipperary countryside.

Replica Returns for Trinity Sunday
On Trinity Sunday, June 3, Transition Year Students of Patrician Presentation Secondary School will reveal their life-size replica of the medieval St. John the Baptist statue outside Holy Trinity (C. of I.) church, the original site of Fethard's famous wooden statues. Former students of the school created replicas of the other two statues, namely The Holy Trinity and Christ on Calvary, so this project completes the trio that originally graced what was then the medieval parish church. Ms Pat Looby, art teacher, oversaw this creative endeavour from start to finish with her usual verve and enthusiasm. The project was sponsored by the Fethard Historical Society with additional funding from the South Tipperary Heritage Office and the Heritage Council of Ireland. 

The students invite everyone to come along from 2pm to 5pm on Holy Trinity Sunday to view the statue which will, weather permitting, be displayed on the steps of the church as it would have been during the medieval Holy Trinity celebrations. There will also be a lecture about the statues and an unique drumming workshop in the church grounds. Refreshments will also be served.

Further details will be available in next week's update so, for the moment, just please note the date in your diary and come along to see the students' wonderful creation, join in the various aspects of the event, all of which are free, and celebrate Fethard's wonderful heritage.

Day Care Centre AGM
The AGM of Fethard & District Day Care Centre will take place on Thursday, May 31, in The Tirry Centre at 8pm. All are welcome to attend and we would especially appreciate any volunteers willing to help out at the Day Care Centre.

‘Happy Heart’ Proceeds
Irish heart foundation would like to thank all who supported Happy Heart weekend. Thanks to Mary Ann Fogarty and the students of Patrician Presentation Secondary School for their help the sum €273.

Music at Crocanoir
Colin Henry, Janet Holmes and Ivan Muirhead gave a spellbinding performance last year and we are delighted to welcome them back once more to Crocanoir. Janet’s sublime vocals, Ivan’s stunning guitar dexterity and Colin’s wizardry on a variety of instruments weave a magic musical spell. The trio love their annual trip to Tipp and are sure of another warm welcome and a captive audience. Concert starts at 8.30pm

Thanks to everyone for the great support and for making it possible to keep the music alive at the end of the boreen at Crocanoir (on the road to Mullinahone) Tel: (052) 9153117.

Community Lotto Jackpot back at €10,000
The numbers drawn on May 16 were: 13, 20, 21 and 28. We had no Jackpot winner and no ‘Match Three’ winner so the following drawn tickets received €50 each: John Ryan, St. Patricks Place, Fethard; Karl Cooke, St. Patricks Place, Fethard; and Mary Shelly, Moyglass, Fethard.

The three following ‘Lucky Dip’ winners also won €50 each: Mary Fleming, Coolmore, Fethard; Irene Sharpe, The Castle, Fethard; and Michael Lawrence, Woodvale Walk, Fethard.

The next Lotto draw will take place on May 23, and you can also purchase your lotto ticket in local shops or online at www.fethard.com. Buy seven weekly tickets online and get one free! Check on the Fethard website for lots of special offers. Next week’s Jackpot is €10,000 and the Jackpot sellers prize is €1,000. All proceeds go towards community work in Fethard.

Historic Walk in the foothills of Slievenamon
On Saturday, May 26, an evening walk will take place on the southern foothills of Slievenamon. This country ramble of less than three kilometres is being jointly organised by the Fethard Historical Society and The Killurney Sport and Social Club. The walk, commencing from Killurney Old School at 7pm, will take in Ballyboe motte and two ancient church sites in this beautiful area. Watch out for further details next week or phone 086 3905373.

Fethard GAA Club Lotto Results
The GAA Sports Lotto Results for draw that took place on May 15 are as follows. The numbers drawn were: 18, 25, 26 and 32. There was no jackpot winner and no ‘Match Three’ winner so the following drawn tickets received €30 each: Billy Byrne, c/o Merrys; Mary Godfrey, Derryluskin; Anne Butler, Main Street; David Ryan, Tullamaine; and T.J. Sheehan, Killusty. The €50 Luck Dip winner was Bernie Byrne, Claremore, Killusty

Thanks to all promoters, supporters and to AIB Fethard who kindly sponsored printing of tickets. Next week’s jackpot is €3,400 and the draw will take place in The Gaule’s Bar on May 22.

Appeal for Corpus Christi Procession
The parish of Fethard & Killusty will hold a special preparatory celebration on Sunday, June 3, of the forthcoming Eucharist Congress in Dublin, June 10-17 next.

The Corpus Christi Procession will depart from the Parish Church at 6.45pm via Main Street, The Square, and St. Patrick's Place to the GAA sportsfield for open air Mass and Benediction of the Most Blessed Sacrament.

In addition to all families and individuals, the parish clergy invite all clubs, societies and groupings in our parish to participate and if at all possible, under your own banner, flag or marking.

By your participation, please help make this occasion a worthy parish celebration of 'Our Union with Christ and One Another', which is the theme of this 50th International Eucharist Congress.
Canon T. Breen P.P. & Fr. Anthony McSweeney C.C.

Patrician Presentation Jottings

Leaving Cert Graduation Mass
The Leaving Cert Graduation Mass will be held in the school on Thursday, May 24, and we invite cordially invite all the Leaving Cert Parents, the Presentation Sisters, the Board of Management Members, Past Teaching Staff  and Parents Association to attend this important celebration for our Leaving Certs. Traditionally, the school organises a Spiritual Day for them before the evening Mass. It is the final opportunity for them (a) to spend some time together as a school group, (b) to reflect on the past six years and (c) to look forward to their future in hope. They will be accompanied on this trip to Clonea Strand by their teachers: Ms Whelan, Mr McGree and our good friend Fr. Gerry Horan O.S.A.

The Management and Staff of Patrician/Presentation are proud of our students’ academic and personal achievements in the school and wish them all the best in the future. Well done to you as parents for having successfully reached this milestone with your child.

Newgrange
On Thursday, May 10, the Transition Years accompanied by their Art Teacher Ms Looby and Sr. Juliana visited the megalithic sites of Newgrange and Knowth in Co. Meath. In all, archaeologists have recognised the remains of about thirty passage tombs in the Boyne Valley Cemetery, the best known of which are Newgrange and Knowth. On the 21st of December each year, the sun’s rays shine through the passage and lights up the burial chamber at Newgrange. There are about 600 megalithic stones in Europe with 400 of these to be found in Knowth. Later the group visited the famous High Cross in Monasterboice.

Drumming Workshop
The school resounded to the sounds of African Drums on May 3 last as John Sutton from Cork conducted a workshop on these drums for Transition Year, 5th Year Art Students and the Homework Club. Later on in the evening, the parents and teachers of the JCSP pupils were given the opportunity to try out the drums as part of the JCSP end-of-year celebration. It was an enjoyable experience for all.

School Magazine
This year’s edition of the school magazine Off the Wall is now on sale €8 and is available in the school office. Well done to the T.Y pupils and their teacher Ms. Mulhall for all their work on the project. A non-uniform day to supplement the cost of production will be held on Friday, May 25. Thank you to all the local sponsors for their continued support of the venture.

Students’ Council 2012-2013
The following people have been elected to the students’ council, for the coming academic year, by their peers and with the approval of staff: Chairperson, John Paul Fitzgerald; Deputy Chairperson, Molly O’Dwyer; Treasurer, Dylan Maher; Vice-Treasurer, Aobh O’Shea; Secretary, Anastasia Blake; Attendance Officer, Annie Prout. PR Team: Corey Carroll, Rachel O’Meara, Dominik Adamczak and Eoghan Hurley.

The Students’ Council is mentored by Ms Maher who recently facilitated a Training Day for the Students’ Council in the Horse and Jockey Hotel. Thank you to Ms Sinead Burke who organised the training programme and who also facilitated the event with Ms Maher.