Poster from 1873 – the same year the Patrician Brothers came to Fethard FETHARD & KILLUSTY NEWSLETTER 2008

Dedicated to our friends and relations living away from home

Copyright © 2008

Published by the Fethard & Killusty Emigrants’ Newsletter ISSN 1393-2721

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Layout and design by Joe Kenny, Rocklow Road, Fethard Printed by Modern Printers

Cover: Christmas decorating at Nano Nagle National School

All rights reserved. No parts of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the author. FETHARD & KILLUSTY NEWSLETTER 2008 Table of contents

A short walk back in time ...... 184 I love Fethard ...... 155 A town of strangers ...... 3 In my grandfather’s footsteps ...... 169 Abymill 20th Anniversary ...... 79 Irish Walled Towns Network ...... 136 Abymill Theatre ...... 78 January to December ...... 115 Badgers over 30s social club ...... 38 John Joe’s Corner ...... 108 Billy Fitzgerald 1943–2008 ...... 24 Killusty National School ...... 97 Boherlahan memories ...... 122 Legion of Mary ...... 8 Bro Paul in troubled Kenya ...... 109 Like to spend a week in Fethard? ...... 99 Church of news ...... 6 Lovely Fethard Town ...... 131 Deaths in the parish ...... 172 Marriages ...... 168 Do You Remember . . . 1973? ...... 50 Nano Nagle National School ...... 144 Donations Received 2008 ...... 174 New General Superior ...... 167 Fethard Bridge Club ...... 120 Not Barchester Towers ...... 44 Fethard Community Council ...... 189 Oh, Fethard! I still feel the pain ...... 152 Fethard Country Markets Ltd ...... 154 Old men! ...... 200 Fethard Day Care Centre ...... 170 Our dear departed 2008 ...... 173 Fethard GAA Club ...... 117 Padraig Ua Floinn ...... 111 Fethard Historical Society ...... 25 Parish greetings ...... 5 Fethard ICA Guild ...... 103 Patrician Brothers Bicentenary ...... 19 Fethard Ladies Football ...... 116 Patrician Presentation Secondary School . . . . 160 Fethard Medieval Festival ...... 139 Serving his community ...... 90 Fethard Scouts - 27th Tipperary ...... 40 St . Patrick’s Boys’ National School ...... 157 Fethard Senior Citizens ...... 22 Table of contents ...... 2 Fethard Sewage – a pressing problem . . . . . 188 The Gaels of Fethard ...... 132 First juvenile title in 39 years! ...... 18 The global village ...... 197 Four young pilgrims ...... 165 The Walshes of Carrigeen ...... 30 Greetings from the Abbey ...... 5 To join the brimming river ...... 177 I knew a great man from Fethard ...... 10 Walking to the USA ...... 205

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A town of strangers by Joe Kenny (editor) epresenting Fethard & Killusty an opportunity to participate in the RCommunity Council at this heart of their communities. Fethard year’s national ‘Pride of Place’ awards & Killusty Community Council were ceremony in Cappoquin and accompa- nominated for this year’s competition nied by our diligent secretary Edwina by South Tipperary County Council. Newport, we were privileged to have Addressing the large attendance of Mary McAleese, President of Ireland, representatives from small and large as special guest. communities throughout the 32 coun- This ‘Pride of Place’ competition is ties of Ireland, the President made hosted by Co-operation Ireland com- some very pertinent remarks relat- prising of officials from local authori- ing to community life in Ireland. ties in both parts of the island and is One in particular that struck me was, all about acknowledging the fantastic “Without community we are a nation selfless work being done by people of strangers”. in communities all over the island of Even in Fethard it is possible to see Ireland. It is recognition of the volun- the ‘stranger’ syndrome creeping in tary work being done to create com- to our society as less and less people munities for tomorrow while respect- get involved in voluntary community ing the heritage and culture of the past. work. The sad part is that ‘strangers’ It is also about giving local authorities sometimes expect all the benefits of

Fethard & Killusty Community Council members who represented South Tipperary County Council in the 1,000-2,000 population section of the national Co-Operation Ireland ‘Pride of Place’ Awards Ceremony held in Cappoquin on Saturday 9th November . L to R: Cllr Tom Ambrose, Chairman South Tipperary County Council; Edwina Newport, Joe Kenny, and Margo Hayes, Liaison Officer, Community & Enterprise, South Tipperary County Council

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Chairman South Tipperary County Council, Cllr John Fahey, presenting scrolls to Joe Kenny (Chairman Fethard & Killusty Community Council) and Joan O’Donohoe (Chairperson Fethard & District Day Care Centre) at a special ‘Chairman’s Reception’ held in the County Chamber, Clonmel, on 30th April, in recognition of the community work achieved by both organisations in the town of Fethard . community life without realising how point that, “Historically, Irish people communities work. If, for instance, we always respond and it is in our DNA were to take away the Community to overcome adversity”. Indeed, she Centre, Day Care Centre, Abymill explained that the old proverb, “Ní Theatre, GAA, Fethard Ballroom, ICA, neart go cur le chéile” (There is no Country Markets, Senior Citizens, St. strength without unity), exemplifies Vincent de Paul, Community Field, the spirit of community inherent in Rugby Club, Boy Scouts, Girl Guides, Irish people. Historical Society, Sports Centre and The overall deserving winner in our indeed, the Fethard Youth Centre, section was Cappamore, Co. Limerick. from Fethard, there wouldn’t be much We thank South Tipperary County support for family life in Fethard! Council for nominating Fethard and All these, and a lot more, are for the enriching experience meeting voluntary groups whose contribution other community groups at the Gala form the heart of Fethard community Dinner and Awards Ceremony held in and the projects therein. In these times Cappoquin Community Centre on 8th of change and with our population November 2008. Who knows what showing growth for the first time in the future holds . . . maybe someday many years, lets hope that a rekindling our community in Fethard will also of community spirit will also flourish be ‘Pride of Place’ for community and in the generations to follow. strangers alike. ◉ President McAleese made the

4 2008 FETHARD & KILLUSTY NEWSLETTER Parish greetings reetings to all at home and unique dignity as sons and daughters Gaway, as we come to the of God, let’s focus on the Lord in a end of 2008! A most unusual year in special way this Christmas and as many ways particularly in the financial we look forward we may do so with world. hope. This season is a time to rest In our everyday world it is good and be refreshed and to be renewed for all of us to remember that we are in faith. precious in God’s sight, loved indi- May you have happiness, peace vidually and unconditionally by Him. and understanding in your lives and If we do not realise our self worth and in your homes this Christmas and unique purpose in life we can create may you always have a place for the a vacuum that can be easily filled by Baby Jesus in your hearts. ◉ the ungodly. If we truly believe in our T .F . Breen P .P . and Canon J . Power .

Archbishop Dermot Clifford on a visit to the Secondary School . L to R: Fr . Tom Breen P .P ., Ernan Britton (Principal), Dr . Dermot Clifford, and Emly, and Marian Gilpin (Deputy Principal) . Christmas greetings from the Abbey arm Christmas greetings to meetings, letters and telephone calls, Wall our Fethard exiles from the long-awaited refurbishment at last the Abbey priests. We hope all goes got under way in November 2007. well for you. The church was re-wired, new light We are glad to tell you, especially fittings were installed in the body of those who have not been home for the church, and a new public address over a year, about improvements in system was put in place. Most obvi- the Abbey Church. After years of ous of all, in January 2008 the church

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interior was painted. As a result, the Fathers Gerry Horan, John whole place looks much brighter. But Meagher and Timmy Walsh join me there is still a lot to be done: the floor in asking God to bless abundantly all has to be sanded, the pews have to be of you and the members of your fami- repainted, the Stations of the Cross lies this Christmas, and to grant you, need to be cleaned and the sacristy health, happiness and peace of mind must be re-floored and painted. We in 2009. ◉ hope that on your next visit home you will like what you see. Peter Haughey O .S .A .

Guest speaker, Martin O’Connor, co-ordinator of the Bishops’ Appeal — the Church of Ireland’s World Development and Relief programme — photographed at the Harvest Thanksgiving Service held in Holy Trinity Church of Ireland, Fethard . L to R: Fr . Tom Breen P .P ., Fr . Peter Haughey OSA, Martin O’Connor, Fr . John Meagher OSA and Rev Barbara Fryday . Church of Ireland news ork continues on the upkeep To his wife Diana, his children and Wof Holy Trinity Church. grandchildren we send our deepest Some necessary refurbishments were sympathy. completed, and the two bells in the On Sunday 23rd December our tower are now working. annual Carol Service was held. It was On Thursday 29th December very well attended and a good start to 2007 Dr Paddy Stokes was buried in our Christmas celebrations. Holy Trinity Churchyard following On 29th December Therese Requiem Mass at the Parish Church. O’Brien and Warren Beatty were mar-

6 2008 FETHARD & KILLUSTY NEWSLETTER ried. We wish the young couple a long The service was very well attended as and happy life together. so many remember his family live in Holy Trinity Church benefit- this area. ted from the estate of the late Mr On the 21st September the church Wyndham Hughes. Our grateful was beautifully decorated for the thanks go to Wyndham’s mother, Mrs Harvest Thanksgiving Service. The Joan Johnston, for her generosity. preacher was Mr Martin O’Connor On Friday 18th July 2008 we and €250 was collected for the held a memorial service of thanks- Bishops’ Appeal. A most successful giving for the life of Revd Robert concert by Paul Dooley was held in Brendan Haythornthwaite. The Revd Holy Trinity in connection with the Haythornthwaite died in France on Walled Towns Day Festival. The com- 29th December 2007 and his funeral mittee very kindly gave a generous service followed at the beginning of donation towards the upkeep of Holy January this year. The interment of Trinity Church. his ashes took place in the churchyard On Sunday the 19th October of Holy Trinity Church, Fethard. An Fintan Magner was christened. His address by Bishop Edward Darling sister Matilda read the gospel and took place at the thanksgiving / memo- family came from Australia for the rial service preceding the interment. very happy occasion. ◉

Photographed at the Harvest Thanksgiving Service in Holy Trinity Church of Ireland Fethard are L to R: Hillary Carter, Rev . Arthur Carter and Noel Major .

7 FETHARD & KILLUSTY NEWSLETTER 2008 Legion of Mary he Legionaries of Mary wish during the past year. We remind one Tall of you peace and joy this another that we can gain individu- Christmas and New Year. The Legion ally and collectively if we turn to the of Mary has been in Fethard since Eternal Word Television Network on Tommy O’Connell, Main Street, start- Sky 589 or listen to EWTN on Sky ed The Legion way back in the middle Radio 0147. of the last century. The aim of the The use of all means available to Legion is the glory of God through us enables us to reach our final des- the guidance of the Holy Spirit under tination. All of us can strive to glorify the leadership of Mary, the mother of God each day left to us, as we journey Jesus. to meet Him when He calls. ◉ We thank all of you who sup- ported us with friendship and prayer Fethard Legionaries of Mary

Photographed at Kilmaclugh Graveyard after reciting the November Rosary for the Holy Souls are L to R: Toby Purcell, Paddy Power, Michael Power, John Hassett, Marie Taylor, Eddie Kelly (Passage East), Jodie Lee, Christy Williams, Bee Gould, Paddy Butler, Mary Holohan, Dan Sheehan and Joan Allen .

Fethard Festival Baby Show Winners 1973 Birth to 6 months: 1st prize (boy) - Robert Hickey, Lisronagh; 1st prize (girl) -Valerie Colville, Fethard: 2nd prize (boy) - Jonathan Hannigan . Fethard; 2nd prize (girl) Tanya Comerford, Kilkenny: 3rd prize - Aisling Cleary, Clonmel . 6 months to 1 year: 1st prize (boy) - Martin Coen, Killusty; 1st prize (girl) - Margaret Vokes, Clonmel; 2nd prize (girl) - Orla Murray, Clonmel; 3rd prize - Deirdre Costello, Clonmel .

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Roger Mehta who graduated in Radio Broadcasting from the Institute of Art, Design and Technology, in 2007, is photographed above with his fiancée, Ada Fordonska, and his brother Kumar Mehta (right) .

Tommy Bulfin photographed celebrating with work mates on the occasion of his retirement from Dawn Foods in Fethard in December 2007 . Tommy worked in the factory for almost ten years and was held in high esteem by all his friends employed there . L to R: Lar Looby, Stewart Looby, Brendan Higgins, Tommy Bulfin, Pierce Lyttleton and Maureen McNamara .

9 FETHARD & KILLUSTY NEWSLETTER 2008 I knew a great man from Fethard “When the One Great Scorer comes to write against your name, He marks not that you won or lost, but how you played the game.”

t was a lovely summer’s evening gear bag, alighted and the car headed Ibut then all summer evenings are up Market Hill towards Clonmel. The lovely when you are young. The usual game came to an abrupt halt as the crowd, numbering between 20 and 30 participants all drifted towards the and ranging in ages from as young as newcomer. He vaulted the wall which 9 or 10, to perhaps late twenties, were bound the field and asked which gathered at Clonmel side was behind. The Cross at the bottom of game recommenced Market Hill. Almost with the newcomer every evening a game contesting for the of football and hurl- ‘weak’ side. Nothing ing would be played remarkable there one in the field at the would say, except that cross. Teams would be the new arrival, a local picked by rival captains lad from Garrinch, with the best being had just returned selected first and then from the Ennis Road right down the line to grounds in Limerick us little boys. The cap- where he had won tains were respectful of his first Munster our feelings and would medal, the Minor ‘block’ select at the champion- end so as no one suf- ship with Tipperary. fered the indignity of It was of course, Liam being left till last. Great Connolly. games were played out talking to , The Connollys former Tipperary teammate, at the 1980 at Clonmel Cross in County Football Finals in the Barrack Field . were a lovely family the early 1950s with of four boys and one all of the local families participating, girl, whose father died at a very young from Garrinch, Cahir Road, Red City, age, leaving Liam, the eldest, as the Market Hill, and even some from father figure. Liam was our superstar Lisronagh and Coleman. as we grew up in the 50s. He was One particular Sunday evening the man we modelled ourselves on, sticks in my memory. A car drew up as both on and off the playing field, and a game was in progress. A slim, dark what a role model he was. Quiet and haired young man, with a hurley and unassuming by nature, his slim build

10 2008 FETHARD & KILLUSTY NEWSLETTER provided a disguise for the power- one discipline, but in two. ful athlete that lay hidden beneath. In football, although he could play In assessing his greatness, one could almost anywhere and did, his best not discount his amazing consist- position was perhaps at centre back. ency at both club and county level, From this pivotal area, his great cover- in both hurling and football. As with ing and reading of the play allowed all great players, his positional sense him not only to defend but also to was second to none and ensured that attack. Rarely would one see him possession was constantly gained. In jump for a ball from a standing posi- possession, he invariably choose the tion, but running into the ball he correct option, distribute or finish. would invariably spring high to obtain To attribute greatness too lightly clean possession. If he had been born is to demean the honour and perhaps in Kerry, he would have had several embarrass the recipient. Greatness ‘Celtic Crosses’ in their major code. means the ability to perform effective- He had few opportunities to show- ly at the highest level in one’s chosen case his talents with the big ball. The discipline, over a period, consistent Munster draw during his period saw with the maintenance of an outstand- the minnows oppose either or ing level of sportsmanship. Kerry on alternate years, ensuring just If that definition is acceptable, then one big game per season. He never we can lay down the “terms of refer- missed the opportunity to demon- ence” from which judgment can be strate that he was at home among the measured, allowing for the demands best. His exploits with the Tipp foot- and constraints of a team sport. ballers in Clonmel, Tralee, Killarney • Did the subject attain the highest level possible or Cork, did not go unnoticed, and in his chosen discipline? merited selection on a number of pro- • Did the subject perform at that level for a vincial teams. period, i .e . not just one game or indeed one In hurling he was seen to best effect season? in attack, where his lightning strikes • Did the subject’s performance make a decided won many games for Tipperary. He difference in contributing to the team success? contested two Minor All-, • Was the subject’s conduct, both on and off the winning in ‘53 by five clear goals field, above reproach? against Dublin, but losing the ’54 final • Did the subject, in the thrill of victory or in to the same opposition by 4 pts. Even the agony of defeat, display the same level of allowing for that exposure, it would be respect for his opponents? difficult for him to graduate to senior ranks with his county, coming from We would have no hesitation the South Division which was noted in ticking all those boxes in Liam’s at that time for its football, not hurl- favour. Additionally, we would have ing. Many minors came and went to add that he not alone excelled in and never made the transition to the

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Press cutting dated Saturday 7th July 1962 . Pictured above is a group taken at the Tipperarymen’s Association dance at the Glocca Morra Club, London, on Whit Saturday . The dance was attended by the Tipperary Senior Hurling Team . Included in the picture are L to R: R . Hogan, Cloneen; Jim Stapleton, Sologhead; P . Gleeson, Drangan; Joe Ahearne, Fethard, manager Glocca Morra Club; , Thurles; Liam Connolly, Fethard; and P . Burke, Cloran, Cloneen . big stage. Fate was to take a hand. to victory. To improve hurling in the South Going outside the division to Division where only two senior clubs, the county semifinal against Lorrha, Killenaule and Carrick Swans, oper- Na Piarsaigh were allowed to pick ated at that time, an amalgamation of any junior from the South, and this junior clubs was allowed to enter a allowed the great and team in the senior championship in ‘56 another county man, , both and ‘57. Coolmoyne, Sean Treacy’s playing with Marlfield, to be selected. from Carrick, and Kilsheelan (plus the Lorrha were overcome in Thurles and 12th Batt. of the army from Clonmel Na Piarsaigh went on to the final in if memory serves me right), as Na Cashel against the famous Thurles Piarsaigh were entered as Group C. Sarsfields. The Thurles men were an Other junior clubs made up Groups A all conquering outfit powered by the and B. The South Championship was Doyles, Wall, Byrne, the Murphys and rejuvenated and the ‘57 final was con- the Keanes. What chance had the jun- tested by Killenaule and Na Piarsaigh iors from a football side of the county before a sell-out crowd in Fethard. against a team whose exploits against After a thrilling draw, the replay was the famed Glen Rovers of Cork (in the held on a very wet day in Clonmel. annual Cork Church Fund games) was Another titanic struggle ensued (all the stuff of legend? Indeed there were the games were titanic to us young many shrewd judges who maintained lads) and we roared the juniors home that the full Sarsfields team should be

12 2008 FETHARD & KILLUSTY NEWSLETTER used to represent the county. point lead, when the great Cork custo- The men from the South thought dian, Mick Cashman, made a brilliant differently and actually led with ten reflex save from a Tipp forward. The minutes to play. Liam Connolly was a ball rebounded. This was the open- colossus that day and ranged all over ing that Liam had waited for, had the field, displaying his vast array of indeed anticipated, and positioned talents to the full. The juniors lost, but himself perfectly to finish to the net only just, and this exposure brought for the winning goal. Tipp went all Liam to the attention of the county the way that year and Liam collected selectors for the following year. his first Senior All Ireland Medal. He Liam opened quietly against was to collect two further honours in Limerick in the ’58 championship, but the grade, ‘61 and ’62, with a loss to burst on the scene against Cork in Wexford in the final of 1960. In the Limerick. We were positioned behind latter game, John D. Hickey, noted for the goal at the Ennis end of the his flowery language, delved into the grounds. The game was in the final classics to produce the heading for minutes and Cork holding on to a two his report in the Independent — “The

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Coolmoyne Junior Hurling Team early 1950s . Back L to R: Cly Mullins, Gus Danagher, Liam Connolly, Sean McCormack, Dick Wall, , Tony Newport, Paddy O’Flynn . Front Gus Neville, Seamus Hackett, Tom McCormack, Christy Williams, Michael McCormack, Michael Dineen, Jimmy McCarthy . Assyrian came down like a wolf on but there is too much class in Cork to the fold, and his cohorts were gleam- ever discount them, and they made an ing in Purple and Gold” (from Omar almighty bid for victory. The resultant Khayyam). contest produced a classic. All great players, from whatever The great Bill O’Donnell, who sport, arrive at a time and a place wrote for many years in the Nationalist when everything comes together to on Gaelic games under the penname allow them to turn in a perform- ‘Divot’ (derived from his interest in ance which is almost superhuman. another code), headlined his report, The great Jack Nicklaus arrived at “I have never seen a greater trial of that point in the Augusta Masters of strength”. 1986, when he birdied 5 of the last 7 Tipp needed to be at their very holes to seal an unlikely victory and best to turn back the Cork challenge deprive the great Sevy of the Green and none were better than Liam. If Jacket. Liam’s ‘Masters’ was to be the there were man of the match awards Munster Final of 1960. Cork came to in those days he would have won it Thurles on 31st July as rank outsiders, hands down. with the remnants of the great team of Tipp’s total of 4-13 on that day the 50s, Paddy Barry, Mick Cashman, was barely sufficient to deprive Cork, Jimmy Brohan, John Lyons and of who scored 4-11. The contribution course the incomparable Christy Ring. of the Fethard man, as he performed All were at this stage in the twilight in a zone that only the privileged few of outstanding inter-county careers, are ever fortunate enough to enter,

14 2008 FETHARD & KILLUSTY NEWSLETTER was vital. his first goal, when he gathered pos- Divot reported that Cork opened session near the corner flag, and with as if this was to be their day and complete disregard for personal safety Paddy Barry found the net in the first burst through a forest of defenders minute. The home team played second to find the net. Or when he repeated fiddle for the first quarter when Cork his juggling act a few minutes later to had opened a five point lead. Then, present McLoughlin with the first of “Liam Connolly showed his worth his pair.” when he gathered a Devaney pass, There was always the suspicion made his angle, and despite being har- that the supreme effort required to assed by several Cork defenders, shot dispose of Cork in Thurles that day a great goal. Barely had Cork recov- was the underlying reason for defeat ered, when Connolly made a goal for to Wexford in the final, when Tipp Sean McLoughlin.” failed to perform. But they were back In his summary of the individual again in ’61, with the opposition on displays, Divot commented, “It was in this occasion provided by Dublin. the right corner that we had the real Powered by the Foleys, the Boothmans star of the game. Liam Connolly had and the famous Snitchy Ferguson, the the game of his life. Who shall forget Metropolitans made a determined bid

South Tipperary Minor Football Champions 1952 after returning with cup . Back L to R: Bill ‘Councillor’ O’Dwyer, Gerry Mackey, ?, Tom McCormack, Tom Heffernan, Tossie Stapleton, Joe Dalton, Paddy Tierney, Jimmy Ryan, Paddy O’Flynn, Austin O’Flynn, Brian O’Donnell, Sean Condon, ?, Jarleth Finn, ?, A . O’Connell, Dick Byrne, Dick Fitzgerald, Austin McDonnell, ?, Mikie ‘Cautious’ Cummins . Front L to R: Alfie Brett, Paddy O’Rourke, Liam Connolly (captain), Pat Ryan, Mick Dineen, Mick O’Keeffe, Tom McCormack (Ballintemple), John Keating and Dick ‘Reidy’ Power . Sitting in front L to R: Gus Neville, Percy Flynn and Bro Albert Small (manager) .

15 FETHARD & KILLUSTY NEWSLETTER 2008 for victory, but in a pulsating finish medal. Tipp prevailed by the narrowest of A quiet, unassuming gentleman, margins. he was our hero and brought great The Dublin full back on that day honour to his family, to Fethard and was Noel Drumgoole, who later set- to Tipperary. In a career that spanned tled in Limerick, and founded the Na over 25 years of both hurling and Piarsaigh club in the late ‘60s. I was football, I am not aware of him ever fortunate to captain them to their coming to the attention of the man first county football title in 1975 on with the whistle for an unfair chal- a team managed by the Dublin man. lenge or an ungentlemanly act. Nor Noel assessed did he complain if Liam Connolly as unfair tactics were perhaps the most used to negate his lethal corner for- own contribution. ward he encoun- In the Fethard tered, as much for of the 50s and his distribution early 60s, when and the space he the road was ‘long created for others, and weary’, Liam as for his scoring lifted our spir- exploits. its and gave us Let us not for- a few good miles. get that Liam com- He could have peted on the Tipp capitalized on his team of 58/63, a fame during that forward division Liam Connolly with his niece Marie who is a daughter period. He was which was com- of Joan Connolly, Ballybunion . marketable mate- posed of Jimmy rial and many Doyle, Nealon, Devaney, McLoughlin, offers came from interested compa- McKenna, the Moloughneys, just to nies. He choose to remain in Fethard mention a few, a team often described and who was to say that he was as perhaps the best to ever represent not right. He was ‘targeted’ by one the Premier County, a team not easy particular oil company, but refused to get on, and still he held his own. the offer, remarking, with typical self He was on the bench for the ’63 depreciation, that the only oil he knew League Final against Waterford, a anything about was hair oil. game Tipp lost in Croke Park, and He had a great sense of humour drifted away from the panel at the and seemed to enjoy how intense young age of 27. He was to reappear some players became, particularly in again on the ’66 Intermediate team club games. I remember one occasion when he collected his fifth All Ireland when Fethard and Ardfinnan contest-

16 2008 FETHARD & KILLUSTY NEWSLETTER ed a County football final in Clonmel and before matches. in the late ‘60s, refereed by Walty May the sod of his native Fethard Scott from Mullinahone. Hostilities rest lightly on him, and Liam, thanks had just commenced, and Fethard for the memories. was on the attack, when the referee’s attention was drawn by the cheering “Think where man’s glory most begins and of the crowd at the opposite end, ends, And say my glory was I had such where a veteran Fethard defender and friends .” (W .B . Yeats) an Ardfinnan forward of similar vin- tage, were observed in a “schumoosle” (Michael O Hehir’s terminology) on ◉ the ground. Walty called a halt to pro- ceedings and made the long journey Do not stand at my grave and weep, upfield to the scene of the crime. On I am not there . . . I do not sleep . his approach the combatants disen- gaged and began to run back into In Clonmel, Kilsheelan, or in Cahir, position. The veteran Fethard defend- When the game is on, you will find me there . er, endeavouring to dust himself down Or other fields where I made my mark, and settle the collar of his jersey which perhaps in Limerick, Thurles, or Croke Park . was almost detached from the body, was seen to hold up a restraining hand But in the Barrack Field, I’m always there, to the referee and utter, “Nothing To watch the Fethard teams prepare . wrong here Walty”. The referee, to I’ll lean against the old stone wall, his credit, judged the situation to be I’ll catch each kick, I’ll play each ball . under control, with no harm done, and having waved an admonishing Do not stand at my grave and cry, finger in their direction, journeyed I am not there . . . I did not die . back to the other end. Liam found this so amusing that he would repeat the ­— Tom Burke phrase many times, both in training

Postscript Some years ago, I was invited to play in a Golf Classic in Killarney in aid of Down Syndrome. As is usual in these events, a marquee was set up halfway round where each passing group was treated to light refresh- ments and finger food. When our group stopped, I noticed that the great Kerry footballer, Mick O’Connell, was acting as host (Micko is very active in support of this particular charity). Mick asked us each in turn where we were from, and when he heard Fethard, he replied, “I knew a great man from Fethard, Liam Connolly”.

17 FETHARD & KILLUSTY NEWSLETTER 2008 First juvenile title in thirty-nine years!

Fethard Under-15 Football Team County Champions 1969 . Back L to R: Frank Flanagan, Tom Halpin, Joe Kenny, Andy O’Rourke, Thomas McCarthy, John Keane, Davy Morrissey . Middle L to R: Michael Healy, Michael McCarthy, Davy Ryan, Michael O’Riordan, Michael Kenrick, Aidan Maher, Noel Sharpe, Sean Aylward . Front L to R: Eddie Fox, Andy O’Riordan, Joe Keane and Michael Prout .

ethard’s first juvenile title in a coincidence that the recipient of Fthirty-nine years (from The the trophy on last Friday evening, Nationalist September 1969) . Fethard’s Michael Kenrick, is son of There were scenes of great excite- Jack Kenrick, the man who led the suc- ment in Fethard on Friday evening last cessful side in 1930. when the under-15 juvenile football- Fethard advanced to meet Arravale ers returned home with the County Rovers, the urban-rural champions, Juvenile Championship trophy won in the final of Turas na nOg competi- at Cashel, where Moycarkey provided tion and had a four-point winning only token opposition. Fethard gave margin at the final whistle. This vic- an outstanding display at bright open tory brought to the Fethard boys football and having led by 5-4 to 0-1 the twenty tickets for the All-Ireland at the interval went on to add a further football final in Croke Park awarded 4-4 without reply, leaving the final each year by the Tipp County Board score: Fethard 9-8; Moycarkey 0-1. for this competition. Congratulations This was the first time in thirty- to the team and their mentors on their nine years that a county juvenile win and indeed on their many fine title came to Fethard and it is quite victories throughout year. ◉ 18 2008 FETHARD & KILLUSTY NEWSLETTER Patrician Brothers Bicentenary ednesday 30th January 2008 memorable event, and indeed it was. Wwas a red-letter day, a mile- The Mass opened with the choir stone in the lives of our schools and singing ‘Let all Creation Sing’ — a our community, a dignified day of cel- fitting opening for a mass of thanks- ebrating the bicentenary of the foun- giving. The chief celebrant, Canon dation of the Patrician Brothers who Tom Breen P.P., concelebrated with gave of their dedication and lives to Canon Jim Power, Fr. John Meagher bequeath to us an excellent tradition OSA, Fr. Jim Holway, Fr. Michael of education, a strong ethos, and the Barry, Fr. Tomás O’Connell, Fr. Tony courage to move on to an even more Lambe and the Very Rev. Archbishop challenging future. of Cashel and Emly, Dr. Dermot The church celebration was indeed Clifford, who presided over the cer- moving. Commencing at 11am in the emony. This was a day to celebrate for Parish Church, the palpable excite- the Patrician Brothers who travelled a ment could be felt from early that distance to remember those who went morning as the student population, before them and who dedicated their staff and ancillary staff put the final lives to provide education for young touches to what was the culmina- boys in Fethard since St. Patrick’s Day tion of months of planning. All three 1873. Among the Patrician guests were schools — Patrician Presentation Bro. Cormac Commins, Bro Matthew Secondary School, St. Patrick’s Boys Hayes, Bro. James O’Rourke, Bro. School and Nano Nagle National James Moran, Bro. David Byrne, Bro. School, gathered in anticipation of a James Murphy and the Provincial, Bro

Photographed after the concelebrated Mass for the Patrician Brothers Bicentenary Celebrations in Fethard are L to R: Fr . John Meagher OSA, Cormac Horan, Canon James Power, Canon Tom Breen P .P ., Bro Camillus Regan, Dr . Dermot Clifford, Archbishop of Cashel and Emly, Fr . Jim Holway, Fr . Tony Lambe, Fr . Michael Barry, Fr . Tomás O’Connell and Niamh O’Meara .

19 FETHARD & KILLUSTY NEWSLETTER 2008

Provincial, Patrician Brothers, Bro Camillus Regan and Dr . Dermot Clifford, Archbishop of Cashel and Emly, laying a wreath on the Patrician Brothers Grave in the grounds of Holy Trinity Parish Church . Camillus Regan. Members of the old Laura Rice and Sarah Hayes led the Patrician Brothers Past Pupils Union choir in the responsorial psalm, ‘Lord, and guests from all over the parish it is good to be here’. Canon Tom joined them. Breen P.P., in his homily, spoke about The principal, Mr Ernan Britton, the coming of the Patrician Brothers welcomed all and there followed a to Fethard in 1873, the formation of moving ceremony where memora- the Primary and Secondary schools, bilia of the Patrician Brothers were the Brothers’ dedication to religious presented to the celebrant — a picture and community life in Fethard, and of Bishop Daniel Delaney (founder some of the many local customs the of the Patrician Brothers) by Percy Brothers had, particularly with the O’Flynn; the Patrician ‘Green Sash’ Augustinian Abbey. by John Whyte; an old school roll- A poignant moment at the com- book by Laurence Kenny; a football to munion was the beautiful rendition signify association with the GAA by of ‘Dóchas Linn Naomh Pádraig’ by Alan O’Connor; and lastly a wreath our musical director Kevin Hickey presented by Mr Dick Prendergast and John Shortall on violin. The to place on the Patrician grave in the prayers of the faithful were read by adjoining church yard. The lessons Ms Mary Lysaght, David Gorey, were read by deputy principal, Mrs Siobhán O’Brien, Kate O’Brien and Marian Gilpin, and Mr Denis Burke. Mrs Margaret Prendergast. The pri-

20 2008 FETHARD & KILLUSTY NEWSLETTER mary school children joined the sec- beautiful and for this one must thank ondary school pupils with ‘Prepare Ye Fionnuala O’Sullivan, Marie Holohan, the Way of the Lord’, led by Declan Mandy Quigley, the sacristan Mrs Doyle. Pauline Morrissey and all those who Laura Rice sang a lovely version helped prepare the church for the of ‘Amazing Grace’ at communion, ceremony. Pat Doheny of ‘Premier and Mr Gus Fitzgerald read a very apt Music’ provided the sound and the and sincere reflection on the Patrician local Credit Union kindly donated Brothers. The concluding hymn was the flowers. Our thanks also to John the very appropriate ‘St. Patrick’s O’Donoghue, Clonmel, for providing Breastplate’. This was followed by the the P.A. system for the wreath-laying wreath-laying ceremony. Flanked by ceremony. a student guard-of-honour, and led The reception at the school was a by Bro. Camillus Regan, the Brothers wonderful relaxed occasion commenc- made their way to the grave to pay ing with a tree-planting ceremony tribute to those who went before by Bro Matthew Hayes. Ms Mary them. John Shortall played a moving O’Sullivan procured the silver birch, slow air on the whistle. which, hopefully, will grow to its full The church and the altar looked elegance in memory of this great day.

Patrician Brothers photographed at the Bicentenary Celebrations in Fethard L to R: Bro . Cormac Commins, Bro . Camillus Regan, Bro James Moran, Bro . James Murphy, Bro . David Byrne, Bro . Matthew Hayes and Bro . James O’Rourke . 21 FETHARD & KILLUSTY NEWSLETTER 2008

The main hall in the school was a buzz fine fayre. Ms Mary Anne Fogarty of activity where generous parents had enjoyed showing the guests all the provided beautiful food and Larry work the students had prepared, art- Kenny, Centra Foodmarket, supplied work and Ms Pat Looby’s display the hot food. The Parents’ Association case of memorabilia remembering the were wonderful and kept the ‘kettle Patrician Brothers. boiling’, very ably assisted by Mrs This was the first school celebra- Margaret Phelan, who has such huge tion of the Patrician Bicentenary and, experience from the Ballroom com- one hopes, it will leave a lasting mittee. impression on all who took part in it. Past pupils, board of management, Even the elements smiled fondly on brothers, staff, past staff members, us and the sun shone. May it always parents and students, and, of course, shine on the Patrician Brothers and all the Presentation Sisters, joined by Sr. those who helped to make it a truly Fidelis for the occasion, mingled hap- remarkable day. ◉ pily with one another and enjoyed the Fethard Senior Citizens ur meetings are held on the was to Carlow where we visited the Ofirst Tuesday of the month Arboretum. We were blessed with a in the Tirry Community Centre where beautiful fine sunny day and as we all present are served with tea, sand- browsed around the gardens, some wiches and cakes, followed by a guest of our members bought some flow- speaker, music or bingo. ers and plants. We had a very Last December we had Mass for enjoyable dinner at the Lord Bagnall, our Senior Citizens in the Augustinian Loughlinbridge. Church Fethard at 11.30 after which In August, we paid our annual everybody boarded the bus for the visit to Tramore and again we had one Anner Hotel Thurles where we held of the very rare fine evenings return- our Christmas Party. It was great ing later to Slievenamon Golf Club success and everyone enjoyed them- for dinner. selves. Preparations are now under way Our Easter outing was to Kilkenny for this year’s Christmas Party and where we visited the new shopping we take this opportunity to thank centre and later went to the Springhill everyone who helped us in any way, Court Hotel for dinner. Our members financially or otherwise, to keep our had a good selection of Easter Bonnets club going. which were put on display and judged A very Happy and Peaceful by hotel staff. Christmas to all our friends at home Our summer outing this year and abroad. ◉ 22 2008 FETHARD & KILLUSTY NEWSLETTER

Fethard Festival Challenge Game 1985

Fethard 1957 County Champions taking part in a Fethard Festival Challenge Game game in 1985 . Back L to R: Liam Connolly, Liam McCarthy, Jim Williams, Tony Newport, Ned Sheehan, Sean Moloney, Christy Aylward . Front L to R: Pat Woodlock, Jimmy O’Shea, Sean Connolly, Cly Mullins, Seamus Hackett, Jimmy McCarthy, Pat Ryan and Frank Coffey .

Joe McNamara’s Over 40 All-Stars . Back L to R: Jimmy Connolly, Michael Croke, Waltie Maloney, Dick Fitzgerald, Vincent Woodlock, Sean Hannigan, John Ryan, John Fitzgerald . Front L to R: Lory Byrne, Sean Walsh, Peter O’Sullivan (Capt .), Joe Keane, Miceál McCormack, Ned Connolly and Tom Purcell .

23 FETHARD & KILLUSTY NEWSLETTER 2008 Billy Fitzgerald 1943–2008

Billy Fitzgerald, who died 3rd May in Essex, England, photographed with Michael Fitzgerald (right)

he news of Billy’s death in sorts of scrapes, playing Cowboys and TMay evoked feelings of shock Indians, tearing our clothes when we and great sadness. Shock, because climbed trees. I remember crossing to see that one of your own age has the “Boardy Bridge” over the railway passed on brings you up against your line to get into the inner recesses of own mortality. Sadness, because it the wood. I recall us both as altar serv- brought back a flood of memories of ers at The Abbey in the early 1950s. childhood and growing up together and was happy to see our First Holy on The Green in the 1950s. Communion photo in the newsletter a I left school in 1960, Billy, I believe, few years back. the previous year. I left for England in Billy and I lived a hundred yards 1962 and thereafter saw no more of apart. I saw him almost everyday. Billy. I had heard the odd bit of news We were friends, we spent much time about him from my own family and together and, then, we went our differ- hoped that, perhaps, our paths would ent ways. However, the memories of cross one day. Sadly it was not to childhood are perhaps the strongest. happen in this life. I still see a good, generous person Life in Fethard when we were grow- whose friendship I valued and whose ing up was vastly simpler than today. passing has left me the poorer. There was little money for amusement Go ndeanaid Dia trocaire ar a so we made our own. I recall days anam. ◉ spent in Grove Wood getting into all Tommy Healy

24 2008 FETHARD & KILLUSTY NEWSLETTER Fethard Historical Society n many ways 2008 was a it can be reported that all the efforts of I‘working year’ for the Fethard all the community activists over many Historical Society as members had years are finally paying off and it is to spend a lot of time dealing with now acknowledged at national level, all the different agencies and con- especially by Failte Ireland and the sultants who were involved with the Heritage Council, that Fethard is ‘top town during the year. There were of the class’ as far as walled towns are three large reports being put together concerned. – on the Town Wall, the Town Hall and the overall Public Realm Plan. Tipperariana Book of the Year This generated a lot of meetings and The year began with a presentation research work for many of the com- on 26th January in the Abymill for mittee. Fethard is also a member of the ‘Tipperariana Book of the Year’ the Irish Walled Towns Network (see and the winner for 2007 was ‘Finding separate report). There was also ongo- Tipperary’ which was compiled and ing work on a new South Tipperary written by Mary Guinan Darmody Leader plan, a County Tourism plan, and Denis G. Marnane. The annual a County Development plan and all Tipperariana Book Fair was again held these needed inputs to ensure that the on the second Sunday of February Fethard area featured prominently. But (10th) in the ballroom and it contin-

Photographed at the presentation of the 2007 ‘Tipperariana Book of the Year’ at a reception organised by Fethard Historical Society are L to R: Terry Cunningham, Mary Hanrahan, Mary Guinan Darmody, Des Marnane and Dóirín Saurus (Chairperson Fethard Historical Society) . The award was presented to Mary Guinan Darmody and Des Marnane for their book ‘Finding Tipperary’ — a guide to the resources of the Tipperary Studies Department, Tipperary County Library, Thurles, Co . Tipperary .

25 FETHARD & KILLUSTY NEWSLETTER 2008

Photographed at the official launch of the ‘Irish Walled Towns’ book at the Royal Irish Academy, Dawson Street, Dublin, are L to R: Terry Cunningham (Fethard Historical Society), Allison Harvey (Irish Walled Towns Network) and John Givens (Author) . ues to attract a large number of book lated for their very colourful parade. dealers and the book buying public. Hopefully the Festival will go ahead The fair is the society’s main source again in 2009 on the weekend of of funds for the year. The society will 22nd/23rd August coinciding with gratefully receive donations of books National Heritage Day. Funding from for the 2009 fair which will be held on the government may be more difficult Sunday 8th February. to get next year, so a big community effort will be required to ensure that Walled Town Medieval Festival the Medieval Festival can continue A lot of our efforts went into the and hopefully expand. organising of the Medieval Festival on 23rd/24th August. Again, like last Lectures and Outings. year, we were very lucky with the The ‘normal’ activities of the soci- weather and the ‘Medieval Event’ ety, with lectures, outings and our in the Valley on the Sunday was a monthly meetings held on the last very colourful and family friendly Tuesday of the month, continued event. The children of the three local throughout the year. The local out- Primary schools, under the direction ings to Baptistgrange (20th May) and of local artists Pat Looby and Austin Buolick (24th June) were particularly McQuinn, must again be congratu- revealing but the visits to Carnahally

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Centre (near Cappawhite, 3rd July), Presentation to Jimmy O’Shea Kilmallock and Lough Gur (27th The Society presented an inscribed September) and Kilkenny City (15th framed copy of Laurence Kenny’s November) were all very special in winning photo of the Valley to Jimmy their own way. O’Shea as a token of thanks for his wonderful work, over many years, in Photo Competition maintaining the Valley area in such The Society organized the local great condition. His persistent good section of the national Irish Walled example has resulted in a ‘people’s Towns Network Photo Competition. park’ being developed by the County Last year’s (2007) local winner, Council all along the river between Laurence Kenny, won national hon- Madam’s Bridge and Watergate ours with his splendid photo of the Bridge. Valley area. This year’s Fethard win- ner is Edwina Newport and we wish Books for Publication her well in the national competition. A book on ‘Heraldic Memorials We would again like to thank pho- in Fethard’ by Gerard Crotty will tographer John Crowley of Clonmel be published by the Society in early for judging the competition and to all 2009. It will cover all the medieval those who entered. family plaques and coats of arms to

Members of Fethard Historical Society braving the weather on their outing to the medieval parish of Buolick

27 FETHARD & KILLUSTY NEWSLETTER 2008 be found in the town, especially in old the annual subscription to County Holy Trinity Church and graveyard Tipperary Tourism Committee and and also in the Abbey church and this ensures that Fethard appears in surrounds. Failte Ireland has gen- their annul tourism brochure. erously given funding towards the publication which will be of particu- Committee lar interest to families with Norman The officers and this year’s com- roots such as: Butler, Everard, Purcell, mittee are, Chairperson - Terry Cantwell, Shortall, Hackett, Tobin, Cunningham; Assistant Chairperson Roche, Stokes and many more. - Dóirín Saurus; Secretary - Catherine A ‘Complete History of Fethard’, O’Flynn; Assistant Secretary - Marie running to hundreds of pages, is also Taylor; Treasurer - Pat Looby; PRO very near completion by local histo- - Mary Hanrahan; Tim Robinson, rian Michael O’Donnell, Owning, and Peter Grant, Marie O’Donnell, Kitty originally from Kilnockin. This will be Delany, Ann Gleeson and Colm a costly publication and the society McGrath. The committee of the will be seeking help from both public Fethard Historical Society send our and private benefactors to defray some best wishes to Fethard people wher- of the costs of this eagerly awaited ever in the world that you may be. event. Please contact the society if you The society can be contacted by would like to contribute to the publi- email at [email protected] or by cation of this definitive history of the writing to Fethard Historical Society, Fethard area. The Society also pays Fethard, Co. Tipperary. ◉

Fethard Historical Society’s first committee elected 20 years ago on Tuesday 23rd March 1988 . Back L to R: Vincent Doocey, Jimmy O’Connor, Diana Stokes, Christy Mullins, John Joe Keane, Michael O’Donnell, Marie O’Donnell, Joe Kenny (PRO) . Front L to R: Joe Ryan (Vice Chairman), Mary Hanrahan (Secretary), Peter Grant (Chairman), Denis Burke (Treasurer), and Mary Healy .

28 2008 FETHARD & KILLUSTY NEWSLETTER

Fethard Historical Society 20th Anniversary 1988-2008

29 FETHARD & KILLUSTY NEWSLETTER 2008 The Walshes of Carrigeen ooking through a booklet of same class in the Brothers’ national Lpoems published in 1977 by school. Mattie was recently recall- Jimmy Walsh, formerly of Carrigeen, ing some of his memories of Brother Fethard, who spent most of his life Leo who taught them both when they in England, I began to recall some went into the senior class. He remem- pleasant memories I have of his old bers that Leo’s favourite term for any home. It was a of the pupils who well known and did not immedi- much frequented ately come up to place when Jimmy his expectations was in his youth, in class was, “You and for years after mope”. No doubt he emigrated, as every boy in the his mother Bridget class was called a (nee Heffernan of ‘mope’ from time Ballyvaden) was to time, and was a famed boneset- glad if he escaped ter, well known with just such a over the length put-down and dis- and breadth of crediting term. Tipperary and One of even beyond the Jimmy’s poems, county. entitled The Old The Walshes H o m e s t e a d , were our near- stirred some of est neighbours my own pleas- on the northern ant memories of side of our farm Carrigeen. My in Rathcoole, and oldest memory we used to call on Peter Walsh, Carrigeen, and Pat Hayes, Rathcoole, was being taken each other’s hous- as Mayor and Mayoress of Moyglass in a there ‘on holidays’. es at least spas- Fancy Dress Parade of Fethard Carnival I was very young around 1940 modically. There at the time, maybe were seven children in the Walsh no more than four or five. The two family, five boys and two girls. They Walsh girls, Mary and Annie, and were a bit older than most of us my mother were on very friendly Hayeses. Peter, the youngest of the terms. They visited us often before Walshes, was the same age as my Annie emigrated, and they liked shar- eldest brother Mattie, and was in the ing time, especially with the younger

30

2008 FETHARD & KILLUSTY NEWSLETTER

Mary and Annie Walsh with some of the young Hayeses around the year 1934 . Sitting in the back are Mary Walsh, Mattie Hayes, and Annie Walsh, and in the front are Kitty, Gerard, and Pat Hayes . members of our family. I must have My main early memories, however, are been something of a favourite, as of the large kitchen, with its homely, Mary and Annie asked my mother if open hearth fire, and people coming to they could they take me home with have some form of bone-setting done them for a few days. for them by Mrs Walsh. I don’t recall how I was taken the That same kitchen features promi- mile or so up the Moyglass road and nently in Jimmy’s poem. What his over Black’s Bridge to Carrigeen. But I verses lack in poetic quality is made up recall been taken into the sedgy ‘island’ for by the affection of his memories. in the large pond, the so-called ‘lake’, Writing around 1977 he describes close to the farmyard, where water how his mind wandered back to the hens and a pair of swans nested. I also old homestead that he had left some recall being taken up to the top of the fifty years before, and imagines him- castle and shown where Rathcoole was. self peering through the window:

31 FETHARD & KILLUSTY NEWSLETTER 2008

I peered through the window and there within , Was Mam making bread with her rolling pin . The great open fire was glowing red, Whilst hanging from the crane, a large pot overhead . I saw the big kitchen with its concrete floor, Where we played games and chalked up the score . I walked inside to the smell of fresh bread And mother laughed out at something I said . On the table too was a huge apple tart, And a little oil lamp ’neath the Sacred Heart .

Another childhood memory of at Carrigeen sometime in the late mine is being at our own avenue 1940s to see the threshing, which was gateway watching as the funeral of a great neighbourly event. I recall Jack Walsh, Jimmy’s father, passed Martin, the second youngest son, who on its way to Fethard parish church. was a priest of the Pallottine Order, I remember the horse-drawn hearse, immersed in helping, as much as any followed by a few motorcars, and the of the other men, in the manoeuvring seemingly endless procession of pony of the mill into the haggard. Martin and traps and bicycles. was convalescing at home at the time, Mrs Walsh’s hospitality and big- and I’m sure he was not supposed to heartedness were renowned. One be engaged in any kind of physical instance of the spontaneity of her big- work. heartedness will stay with me forever. Martin was ordained in Rome in It was a day when we were saving late 1942, but could not return until hay in a meadow beside the road, and after World War 2. He was not long Mrs Walsh happened to come long working as assistant priest in Hastings, in her pony and trap after shopping in England, when the poor state of his in Fethard. When she saw us she health became apparent. The under- stopped the pony and began beckon- mining of his health was put down to ing. Two or three of us, sticking our the nerve-racking years and the under- forks in the ground, raced down to nourishment he endured in Rome dur- the road, and as we did she threw a ing the war period, particularly when big bag of sweets in over the wall, and the Nazis were occupying Rome. But continued on her journey. Martin was not one to stand and A much later memory is being watch. As the threshing machine was

32 2008 FETHARD & KILLUSTY NEWSLETTER

When on holidays from college I used to call fairly often to Carrigeen, particularly after Martin’s death, to have a chat with Mrs Walsh by the open fire. During the Christmas holi- days Walsh’s pond was a side attrac- tion for me, as it was sure to hold a small flock or at least a pair of mallard ducks. I used to stalk as close as I could to the likely spots of the pond to get a shot. On a few occasions I was accompanied by the late Canon Christy Lee, who was then a curate in Fethard, and, like myself, keen on a day’s shoot. We would stealthily approach the pond from two sides, and one of us was sure to get a shot. Nearby was what we used to call ‘The Racecourse’ – the scene of the Fethard Fr Martin Walsh’s ordination card, recording Races in the 1910s and ‘20s. It had his ordination in St Peter’s Basilica in November some broad drains and in wintertime 1942 at the height of World War 2 the year the the low-lying, rushy parts of it became Nazis began their occupation of Rome . sodden. It was an ideal habitat for being put into place that late autumn migratory snipe and duck in those day in Carrigeen, there he was with days, and I hardly ever came away a shoulder to one of iron wheels. It from it without a brace of snipe and a had been discovered few teal or widgeon. by then that his ill- One winter’s day, ness was developing around a year and into multiple sclero- a half after Martin’s sis. He died at the death, I was out Pallottine Novitiate with gun and dog at Cabra, Thurles, in in the open expanses June 1952. Seeing of the former race- her vivacious son in course, and got a wheelchair must caught in a sudden The inscription on Fr Martin’s grave in the have been immensely former novitiate of the Pallottine Order in deluge. The refuge sad for his widowed Cabra, Thurles . He was the first priest to that immediately mother, and his death be buried there . His two cousins, Fr Willie came to mind was at the age of 32 a Costigan, and Fr John Costigan, of Moyglass, Mrs Walsh’s kitchen are buried in this cemetery also . huge bereavement. and open hearth fire.

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Thoroughly drenched, I must have the eldest son, was the first to take the presented a sorry sight at the door, boat to England where he joined the and the customary welcome was par- RAF. Jimmy was the next to leave, ticularly memorable. I was given and he too joined the British army. In some of Martin’s clothes while my one of his poems, Journey to Aden, he own were put drying by the fire. The describes going in 1940 in a convoy of kettle was soon singing over the fire, ships from Scotland southwards down while a piece of the huge apple tart, the Atlantic and round the Cape, such as Jimmy remembered in his and then up to Aden, at the entrance poem, was warming in the oven pot. to the Red Sea. It was there in that Mrs Walsh died after a long ill- former British colony, noted for its ness in July 1955. It was during a hot climate, that he spent three years hot, sunny spell of weather, and the of the war. After the war Jimmy and front yard was cluttered with people his German wife settled in Germany in groups chatting, while others were for a while, and later returned to in a long line slowly making their was Middlesex, England, with their two into the parlour to pay tribute to a sons, Peter and Steven. Michael great neighbour, who had dispensed (Mikey), the third son in the Carrigeen hospitality and healing in bounteous family, and his two sisters, Annie and measure. Her inherited bone-setting Mary, emigrated as well. Annie went gift passed on to her nephew Jimmy to Australia. Mary became a nurse Heffernan. Her youngest son, Peter, in England and eventually returned was the last of the family left at home, home to Carrigeen, where she spent and after his death the old homestead the last years of her life. which saw so much life and hospitality Sometime after the death of became empty. Jimmy ends his nos- Peter, the last of the family to live in talgic poem, The Old Homestead, on Carrigeen, the farm was purchased by a melancholy note: Coolmore Stud. The old homestead

… I knew the old homestead was derelict now, Nothing was there ne’er a man or a cow . My parents and Father Martin have gone to their rest, And six others scattered, as you might have guessed .

Emigration, which affected so is long since replaced with a modern many families especially in the middle dwelling, and larger barns stand in the decades of the 20th century, took a former farmyard overlooked by the heavy toll on Carrigeen. Jackie Walsh, early 17th century castle. The name

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Walsh’s Farm is on a painted sign on the locked entrance gate, shaded by two great macrocarpa trees. At least the family name is still recorded there. The Irish version of the placename Carrigeen is Carraigín Bhreannóg. I wonder what is the meaning of second word in that old Irish name. ◉

Footnote Jimmy Walsh’s booklet of poems is entitled Arkle and Other Poems, by James F. Walsh, 1977, published by Arthur H. Stockwell Ltd., Devon. Carrigeen Castle, a gabled tower house, probably dating from the late 16th or early 17th century, marks the site of the former farmyard of the — by Willie Hayes Walshes

‘In Line for the Common Market’ — Fethard Carnival 1962

35 FETHARD & KILLUSTY NEWSLETTER 2008

Presentation to Patrician Brothers Secondary School 1984 ‘Munster Cup’ team members who also made their way onto the Tipperary Minor Football Panel who won the Munster Championship title in 1984 and reached the All Ireland Final against Dublin . Most unlucky of these was centre half Willie O’Meara whose broken knee in the Munster Colleges final cost him his place on the County Minor Panel and the Munster Minor medal won by Brian Burke, Tommy Sheehan, John Hackett and Tom Anglim . Back L to R: Michael O’Gorman, Michael Leonard, Billy O’Farrell, Bro John Gallagher, Vincent Doocey, Paddy Broderick . 3rd Row L to R: Timmy O’Connor, Mary O’Sullivan, Kathleen O’Connor, Mary Ann Fogarty, Dinny Burke . 2nd Row L to R: Ann O’Donnell, Anna Judge, Deborah Conway, Mary Lysaght, Annette Coffey, Dick Prendergast . Front L to R: Sr . Consolata, Tommy Sheehan, John Hackett, Tom Anglim, Brian Burke and Bro Virgil Duggan (Principal) .

L to R: Percy O’Flynn (Lady Anna) and Danny Kane (Ole King Cole) from Hogan Musical Society’s “Old King Cole” production 1986

36 2008 FETHARD & KILLUSTY NEWSLETTER

The Fethard Volleyball Team which represented Munster in the Community Games All Ireland in Mosney 1985 . Back L to R: Claire O’Riordan, Dorothy Keane, Anna Bradshaw, Cathy O’Donnell, Lorraine McCormack, Pamela Lawlor . Front L to R: Margaret Quinlan, Rebecca Conway, Mandy Conway, Mildred Lawlor, Monica Kenny and Mairead Croke

Fethard Foróige members photographed on a weekend outing to Youth Hostel in the woods near Bansha July 1985 . Back L to R: Arthur Daly, Maureen Connors, Evan Colville, Mary Tynan, Miceál Broderick, Monica Kenny, Margaret Sayers, Niall Connolly . Front L to R: Alan Colville, Mark Moloney, Michelle Fogarty, Jim Connolly, Ollie Reddy and Lizzy Reddy .

37 FETHARD & KILLUSTY NEWSLETTER 2008 Badgers over 30s soccer and social club t has been a year of mixed for- what they were doing. Strange ball? Itunes for the club. At the end of No net? Keep the line? Lucky for us last year we enjoyed some lively com- Pat found a woman who was a leader petitive games at the new Astroturf in of men and with Jenny Fogarty at the Killenaule. This was helped in no small helm we kept the line and got through part by the presence of a very talent- to the finals. Sadly, we missed out ed part-time Badger, ‘Towney’, and on the last game but our thanks to his equally enthusiastic son. Between Monica Hickey who did a great job them they kept us on our toes and at short notice to make up our team. pushed us to the max! Thanks lads. The Badgers do not have any female We again took on the Clonmel members but any who wish to join are Post Office team and won, but ironi- very welcome. So we missed out on cally we would win our very first the main trophy but did win a shield, silverware in another discipline alto- and great celebrations were had by all. gether thanks to Pat O’Donnell and Hats off to the Fethard Rugby Club the Tag Rugby Club who invited us to who ran this very social competition enter a team in their annual competi- over a few Saturday nights with great tion. We didn’t think we would come celebrations after each one. anywhere as we practiced just two Membership in the club has been nights and people really were not sure as ever, changeable. We welcome

Bowling Badgers L to R: Philip Furnell, Pat O’Donnell, Bryan Steedman, Andy O’Donovan, Kevin Ryan, Liam Croke, Richard Thompson and Mick Tyllier .

38 2008 FETHARD & KILLUSTY NEWSLETTER

Tag Rugby Badgers winners of the shield 2008 Back L to R: Martin Ryan, Pat O’Donnell, Richard Thompson, Alan Connolly, Liam Harrington, Kevin O’Dwyer . Front L to R: Colm McGrath, Liam Croke, Michael Ryan and Monica Hickey . Martin Ryan and Neil McCormack Richard Thompson is at the younger who have been a great asset. On the end of the Badger age group and will down side we lost a few of the older have plenty of time to practice. fraternity as they bowed out to injury Well done to Kevin Ryan, our new or the stresses of everyday life, hence chairman, who organised the bowling we wish Kari the very best of luck night, wiping the eye of others who with the pilates and Owen with the have been trying to organise it for the ballroom dancing. past three years. Because of bad weather this sum- Though the weather has been mer we missed out on our annual lousy this whole year our luck has guest game and barbecue with Monica held out and most Wednesday nights and John Bermingham at Croc an Oir, between 8 and 9.30 have been good. but we made up for it by going out for In fact, early in the spring, when we a great night of bowling and talking came back to the field the ground was over a few pints. If the soccer goes rock hard from the early dry spell. belly up we could have a very com- Seems a long time ago, but it’s an ill petitive bowling team as Kevin Ryan, wind, as they say, and the ground has Bryan Steedman, Liam Croke and been almost perfect since, nice and Andy Donovan clocked up more than soft. Happy days! ◉ a few strikes on the night. Thankfully

39 FETHARD & KILLUSTY NEWSLETTER 2008 Fethard Scouts - 27th Tipperary

Fethard Boy Scouts and Cubs photographed with leaders at St . Patrick’s Day Mass 2008

ur Scouting year, as always, enjoyable with a few hours spent in Oruns from October (2007) the city on Saturday afternoon. to August (2008). There were many A County Centenary Hike organ- activities and events throughout the ized by the County Coordinators was year, especially in 2008 as we celebrat- well attended by all the local groups ed 100 years of Scouting in Ireland. In from around the county. A compe- October we attended a fun weekend tition weekend in Mount Melleray in Mount Melleray which was enjoyed in May proved to be just that, very by all. Our last activity for 2007 was a competitive. We did well, winning one hike from Killusty over Slievenamon event and coming second in another, to Kilcash on 16 December. our training had paid off. With the We started 2008 with our week- weather improving and the evenings ly meetings and outdoor activities, much brighter we held a lot of our including orienteering training, end- meetings outdoors, with short hikes, ing with a competition in March in cookouts and games. Co Waterford with Fethard winning The big event was yet to come, the all of the under-14 1st and 2nd indi- International Jamboree from 2nd to vidual and team events. A weekend 10th August. We needed to do some in Kilcully Scout Camp & Activity hard training for this and another Centre near Cork City was most weekend in Kilcully under canvas.

40 2008 FETHARD & KILLUSTY NEWSLETTER

With new sleeping tents, a marquee ing in the mud. It was most unfortu- and other essential equipment pur- nate that the weather was so bad that chased, we fput ourselves to the test the attendance of our Cubs had to be first in Kilcully in July and as all went cancelled. well we were ready for the Jamboree. We thank all who supported us The ten-day Jamboree was held in during the year, parents, our Group Punchestown, Kildare. The logistics Council; treasurer Mary O’Donnell, of this major event were enormous, chairperson Mary Healy, secretary 12,000 scouts! Having previously Peter Grant, the Ballroom Committee done some training and preparation for their facility, all the leaders, Sean at home and in Kilcully, the experience Cloonan, John Walsh, John McCarthy, gained stood to us. Even the atrocious Mikey McCarthy, Dermot Culligan, weather, God, in all his goodness, Liam O’Brien, Michelle Hammond threw at us, failed to prevent our and Philip O’Donnell who we have Scouts from having great fun, games missed so much since he took a break and craic. and whose return we look forward to They showed how to make music in the coming months. We wish him and song in the rain and the four hot well with his exams in the new year. meals a day, prepared and served We wish all in the Parish and up to us by our leaders, meant the surrounding areas a very Happy and Fethard Scouts were always ready for Holy Christmas and a Peaceful New anything. One of our leaders (Mikey) Year. ◉ even showed us how to do some hurl-

Fethard group photographed before leaving for the Scouting Ireland Jamboree at Punchestown on Saturday 2nd August 2008

41 FETHARD & KILLUSTY NEWSLETTER 2008

Gay Horan, Chairman Fethard Ballroom Committee, accepting the National Community award from Scouting Ireland on behalf of Fethard Ballroom . The award was presented by Sheila Power, County Commissioner, at the weekly Sunday night dance in Fethard in recognition of the Ballroom’s contribution to the local scout group on an ongoing basis . L to R: Paul Collins (ARC Scouts), Mary Healy (Chairperson Fethard Scouts), Robert Phelan (Group Leader Fethard Scouts), Sheila Power (County Commissioner), Gay Horan (Chairman Fethard Ballroom), Sean Cloonan (Chairman County Scouts), Joe Keane (ARC County Scouts), and Peter Grant (Secretary Fethard Scouts) .

Irish Girl Guides ‘Abbey Pack’ photographed with leader, Theresa Hurley, at the St . Patrick’s Day Mass held in Holy Trinity Parish Church Fethard .

42 2008 FETHARD & KILLUSTY NEWSLETTER

Irish Girl Guides photographed with leaders Theresa Hurley and Judy Doyle at the St . Patrick’s Day Mass held in Holy Trinity Parish Church Fethard .

Slievenamon Ladybirds photographed with leader, Catherine O’Donnell, at the St . Patrick’s Day Mass held in Holy Trinity Parish Church Fethard, celebrated this year on Saturday 15th March 2008

43 FETHARD & KILLUSTY NEWSLETTER 2008 Not Barchester Towers lmost twenty years ago I to the large influxes of Catholics Abegan reading the novels of from Europe, first from France as Anthony Trollope. Starting with his the ‘Revolution’ led to persecution of “Barchester” series, I have worked my those who remained loyal to the pope, way through almost thirty of these and almost immediately afterwards fascinating portrayals of life in mid- as the Napoleonic Wars caused large Victorian England. I say England, numbers of Irishmen to enlist in the mindful of the fact that Trollope’s Royal Navy and Marines. The Famine first two successes were set in Ireland led to an even greater influx and so to which he had been sent in 1845 the fortunes of the as a Postal Surveyor for the GPO. underwent a radical transformation. These two I am leaving until last so From being a faith practised discreetly for the moment let me stay with his by a few, often wealthy families who great series on the intrigues of the clung on after the Reformation, it high ranking clergy of the Church became a faith with large numbers of of England. The second of these adherents who just could not be hid- “Barchester Towers” describes the den away. clash between competing ideologies In Plymouth where I have spent within the Established Church in mid the whole of my teaching career, a century. The old bishop, Dr Grantley priest, the Capuchin, Thomas Flynn and his son the archdeacon could be arrived in 1793. He set up in a chapel described as High Church. The bishop over a stable and soon was saying who succeeds him, Dr Proudie, is Low Mass and ministering to an ever- Church. The result is a running feud growing flock. His baptismal register, between the two factions, much of it which I have been reading, records deadly serious, some quite comical. numerous occasions when he admin- At the same time out in the real istered the sacrament to the children world the Established Church was of fathers now serving in the navy facing opposition and from several or marines. He left for the USA in quarters. The Oxford Movement led 1803 having re-established the church by John Henry Newman to promote on a very sound footing. By 1850 reform within the church led Newman numbers were such that the hierar- himself to embrace Rome. The effect chy was established, the first bishop was of earthquake proportions. Here of Plymouth being George Errington was one of the Anglican Church’s who served for just five years. His brightest stars departing the fold, and successor, William Vaughan, was a for Rome. Catholicism was enjoying man with ambitious ideas and his a revival in part due to the relax- first task was to build a cathedral. ing of the Penal Laws but also due Against almost impossible odds he

44 2008 FETHARD & KILLUSTY NEWSLETTER succeeded and on March 25th 1858 1797 it was opened with a solemn High “12th January, I baptiz’d an Mass with several leading figures of infant named Margaret born the church attending. This building 20 of December of the preced- celebrated its 150th anniversary this ing year, Daughter of Willm. year and, to commemorate it, a history And Margaret Dalton, belong- of it was published on which I have ing to the Marine Barracks of been working as researcher during the Stonehouse near Plymouth. The past two years. sponsor was Andrew Hogan.” Bishop Vaughan had big ideas. He would have liked to have been The new cathedral was soon in use able to engage Augustus Pugin to for the everyday functions of a church. design his building. Pugin, fresh from On 23rd July 1856, John Maher of designing the Houses of Parliament, Thurles married Margaret Niblock was the leading architect of the age. of Fethard. The priest officiating was He was, however, rather expensive Canon Edward Windeyer. It would be so the Hansom brothers were hired interesting to know who this Margaret instead. Joseph Hansom had already Niblock was, is there any family in achieved fame by designing the hack- Fethard which can trace a connection ney cab which bears his name, a mode to her? of transport familiar to all who enjoy In the summer of 1875 a new Sherlock Holmes films. The Hansom curate, Patrick Sheehan, arrived at brothers quickly produced a design the cathedral. He had been ordained and work began almost as soon as a few weeks before for the Diocese of they had completed their sketches. Cloyne and his own bishop, having no Despite two building mishaps the parish for him, had lent him to Bishop church was completed in less than Vaughan in Plymouth. The practice of three years, a feat it is difficult to imag- Irish bishops “lending” spare clergy to ine even today. English dioceses was quite common The funds for this ambitious and persisted for decades. This curate project came from two sources, a was to achieve considerable fame few large donations from wealthy later in the literary field. He was the Catholics and the pennies of the poor redoubtable Canon Sheehan, parish who, at that time, constituted the bulk priest of Doneraile and author of nov- of the congregation. Most of these els such as “Glenanaar”, “The Graves poor were from Ireland, most would at Kilmorna” and “Luke Delmege”. In also have been serving in the forces “Luke Delmege”the experiences of a or working in the Royal Dockyard at new curate working for a demanding Devonport. To go back to the end of bishop are based entirely on Sheehan’s the previous century, Fr Thomas Flynn experiences working as curate to records, Bishop Vaughan for Vaughan was a

45 FETHARD & KILLUSTY NEWSLETTER 2008

Tommy Healy, formerly from The Green Fethard, is photographed above at his daughters wedding which took place in Plymouth Cathedral, October 2007 . L to R: Julie Healy, Troy Mitchell, Kathleen Healy, Tommy Healy and Ruth Bath (nee Healy) . gifted man who demanded very high made him a very liberal-minded cleric. standards of his clergy and Patrick Canon Sheehan was one of innu- Sheehan must have felt that he had merable Irish priests who began their been thrown in at the deep end. careers at Plymouth Cathedral and Sheehan’s experiences as chaplain to went on to serve their flocks in other Dartmoor Prison, which held several parts of this geographically large but Fenians at the time, gave him material demographically small diocese. When for “The Graves at Kilmorna.” The I arrived here in 1968, I encoun- sight of heavily fettered convicts going tered the formidable figure of Fr John to their work in the nearby granite Kinane, a native of Goolds Cross, quarry left an indelible impression on who was parish priest of an adjoin- him. He also acquired a reputation as ing parish and who served his whole a powerful preacher and some parish- career in this diocese. He retired to ioners could recall over fifty years later Goolds Cross just a few years ago sermons he delivered while here. His after more than fifty years of service time in Plymouth was short; he was among us. He died in 2002 but is recalled to be curate in Cobh in 1877 still remembered with great affec- but it left him with an even stronger tion by those who encountered him. desire to raise the moral and mate- The present administrator, Canon Bart rial standards of his people. It also Nannery, is a Longford man. brought him into contact with people For forty years the cathedral has of different faiths and of none, and been an ever-present backdrop in my

46 2008 FETHARD & KILLUSTY NEWSLETTER career working in Catholic schools in tory of such a place infinitely absorb- Plymouth. At St Boniface’s College ing and extremely interesting. It has where I spent 29 years, the cathedral made me feel part of the great move- has been the setting for the school ment which revived the faith after two carol service each year. When I first centuries in the wilderness. The build- arrived at the school in 1975, it was ing itself continues to fascinate me, so run by the Christian Brothers, three steeped is it in the history of the past of whom came from Tipperary, Mark two centuries. I was delighted when Devitt from Cashel, Liam Ryan from my own daughter, Kathleen, a regular Tipperary Town and Denis D’Arcy visitor to Fethard, chose to be married from Nenagh. Ryan and D’Arcy now there in October 2007 and I had the practise their profession in celestial pleasure of walking her down the aisle realms and Devitt, like me, is retired. of a building, which has been part of For all of us the cathedral was part of my life these past forty years. ◉ our lives and work in Plymouth. I have found working on the his- Tommy Healy (November 2008)

Tea Party at Carrigan’s, Clonacody 1970s . L to R: Nell Mullins, Statia Leahy and Mary Nagle . In the background are John Halpin, May Walsh and Gerry Skehan .

47 FETHARD & KILLUSTY NEWSLETTER 2008

1953 Inter Cert Class Fethard Presentation Convent . Back L to R: Margaret O’Flynn, Rosie Walsh, Lucy Hanley, Frances Evans, Eileen Woodlock . Second Row L to R: Rita Tierney, Marie Dineen, Elizabeth Dunne, Ann O’Donnell, Mossie McCarthy, Ursula Ryan . Front L to R: Mary Sheehan, Stella Tobin, Patsy Byard, Kathleen O’Donnell and Mary Ryan .

A young Tom McCormack and Mick Dineen .

48 2008 FETHARD & KILLUSTY NEWSLETTER

Who were the “Clashawley Pirates” at Fethard Carnival?

49 FETHARD & KILLUSTY NEWSLETTER 2008 Do You Remember . . . 1973? f you, reader, are under forty lished and distributed by the Legion Iyears you certainly don’t remem- of Mary and its print order was six ber the Fethard of thirty-five years hundred copies. In those days the ago. And yet to those of us who are editor may have been the secretary of older it seems but a few years. So for the Legion who, in 1973, was Kathleen those who are on the wrong side of Keane. As I scribble these few lines I’m forty I hope to revive a few memories looking at my 1973 copy. Since then and for those under perhaps I’ll give the Newsletter has undergone many them some description of a Fethard changes and much improvement, not they never knew. What I have made least the great use made of colour use of to compile this short piece are photography. The legion of Mary also the weekly news items that appeared promoted the annual reunion between in the Clonmel Nationalist. the people of Fethard and their family Did you know that the Fethard and relations then living in the Greater and Killusty Newsletter was fourteen London area. A group of local people years old in 1973, and so in 2009 will were in the Irish Centre at 52 Camden be celebrating its half century. Thirty- Square on 24 May where a very five years ago the Newsletter was pub- enjoyable gathering took place.

Legion of Mary Fethard London Reunion 1968 . Back L to R: Ellen Walsh, Paddy Tobin, Jimmy Coffey, Jimmy Mullins, Paddy Lonergan, Ann Lonergan, Michael Coffey, Michael Browne . Front L to R: Tommy O’Connell and Moira McInerney . 50 2008 FETHARD & KILLUSTY NEWSLETTER

So as to obtain some description of Church. In 1973 the town wall along the Fethard of 1973 the report issued by the river was sadly neglected and by the judges of the Tidy Towns being used as a litter dump, ‘with an competition will serve well enough. unsightly temporary building to com- Theirs was a detailed commentary on plete the degradation’. They bewailed the state of the town to which they the treatment of the town wall along allotted eighty points out of a possible its northern course: increasing the one hundred and fifty. They described height of the wall by a handball alley the town as a fine market centre with and the erection of a lean-to building. a heritage of old buildings, but not This sort of defilement, they wrote, enough effort at that period was being should not be allowed to happen made to highlight the qualities of to historic ruins of national inter- those. There were then a large number est. Conservation led by professional of derelict buildings with some in very advice was what they recommended. conspicuous places. They expressed Another of the buildings that got their horror at the amount of litter that adverse notice was the mill on the was being dumped about the town south side of the Abbey. Today this walls, especially on the south side fac- is the Abymill Theatre and a credit to ing the river. But the judges liked the the initiative of the people of Fethard, attractive shape of the Main Street. but in 1973 the Tidy Towns judges We have to thank our long-ago ances- were lamenting the condition of such tors for that and possibly a medieval a fine building. All the approach roads Archbishop of Cashel who may have to the town were being maintained in helped in the planning of the shape. a worthwhile manner. Today the town They admired the shape and condi- is very fortunate in that its treasures tion of most of the houses about The are appreciated, are being carefully Square, though they were less than guarded, and are being preserved to a pleased at the derelict condition of one high standard. large house on the north-east side of it. As much has changed in the They feared that this house might be fabric of Fethard over those thirty- knocked down and so leave a gaping five years so, too, have the busi- space in a lovely Square. Fortunately, ness premises in the town. For that that house has been renewed today reason I do think it worth compil- and so The Square is intact. The judg- ing a sample of what was then in es noted the number of historic ruins, Fethard. John O’Shea’s Lounge bar; but thought that the Fethard people of O’Connell’s House for Value; South 1973 were treating them as an embar- Tipperary Farmers’ Co-op; O’Flynn rassment and not as a potential valu- Tailors, Burke St.; Henehan’s Grocery, able characteristic. They commented Main St.; Whyte’s Garage, Main St.; that there was no easy access to the J.F. O’Sullivan, Chemist, Main St.; ruins about Holy Trinity Protestant Greyhound Autos; Billy O’Flynn,

51 FETHARD & KILLUSTY NEWSLETTER 2008

Advertisements from The Nationalist Newspaper in 1973 52 2008 FETHARD & KILLUSTY NEWSLETTER

Grocer, Burke St., and Barrack St.; members’ investments had reached Thomas Bulfin, Victualler, Burke St.; £17,000 and the loans were close to Derek Wall, Publican; Dick Hayes, £33,000. Over the years since it has Betting Office; The Forge Tavern; Kay continued to provide wonderful help McGrath’s Fashion House; Trehy’s to the people of Fethard. Garage; Henehan’s Furniture Store, Another which has survived The Square; Pierce Dillon, Chemist, the years is the Sports Centre in Main St.; Richard Gorey, Butcher, the Barrack Field. In 1973 two ten- Main St.; Larry Shortall, The Valley nis courts had been completed and Stores; Eileen Looby, General Grocer, another was almost ready. A double Kerry St.; Sherrards Machinery; handball alley had been built during Munster Sawmills, The Station Yard. the summer by local contractor, John So many changes in so short a time Harrington and Sons. The new alley span. But in 1973 some new busi- had both an outdoor and an indoor nesses did open in Fethard. Three such court with timber flooring and a glass were that of Laurence Kenny who had back wall, which made the alley usable lately opened a light hardware store all the year round. There was specta- for the handyman on The Green. tor accommodation, and up-to-date Another was Mrs. Tess Lawrence dressing rooms. It was estimated at who opened a café and tearooms at that date that the total cost of erecting Burke Street. This last reminds me and finishing the centre would be in of an account which the writer Frank the region of £10,000. But costs were O’Connor published in 1942 of his being kept down through the wonder- journey around Ireland on a bicycle. ful efforts of local voluntary workers. In the summer of that year he arrived But there were many other sports in Fethard, but all he had to say about organisations in Fethard in that year. it was that it was a bad town for a cup For those who were fit and well able of tea – he could find no café and he to run there was the Barrettstown didn’t feel like a pint of stout. And the Harriers. They held their meetings on third was a fully equipped playground two Sundays in each month. Some (Margaret’s) which opened on the examples of where they coursed were Cashel Road next to the Market Yard. at Cashel and Jossestown in January, Naturally it was popular with the local at Mobarnane and Downey’s Cross in children. February and in October they ran at But many other organisations have Brookhill, Kilnockin and at Jossestown. survived and thrived. One such is Only the very fit were able to closely the Credit Union. In 1973 the Union run with them. Also for active peo- was four years in operation and had ple the town had a Badminton Club a membership of four hundred. The which had sufficient numbers to field office opened on every Saturday night two teams in the league competi- and the staffing was voluntary. The tions of that year. One of their very FETHARD & KILLUSTY NEWSLETTER 2008 good players was Norma Hanrahan. in county and Munster events, and In that year, too, Fethard were field- their better performers were Conor ing a rugby team, but it seems to Lonergan and Pat Fallon. These two have been a juvenile team only. For a did particularly well at the Tailteann long number of years Fethard had a games held at Belfield, Dublin, on Coursing Club. Among the committee Sunday 22 July. The club had a novel for 1973 were Danny Carey, chairman, idea for seeing out the old year of Michael Keane, treasurer, and John 1972 and seeing in the new one. This O’Donovan, secretary. And among was road races about the town start- the names on the general committee ing at 8pm on Sunday 31 December. I saw that of Hugh Lynch. In this The entry fee was 10p, and the races year long-standing members Percy ended at the Capitol Ballroom. When O’Flynn and Jack Kenrick did not put the races ended there was a social get- their names forward for re-election. together, with turkey and ham sup- The club had three cups up for con- per, in the Ballroom; a very modest tention: the P.J. Henehan cup, the J.F. 60p was the entry charge for this. Jim O’Sullivan cup, and the Coolmoyne Noonan’s group from Killenaule sup- and Fethard Gun Club cup. Fittingly, plied the music – do you remember two of P.J. Henehan’s sons were on the them? On that afternoon of Sunday committee. the 31st there had been a walk from The girls from the Presentation the Main Guard in Clonmel to the Convent Volleyball team were doing Ballroom in Fethard. particularly well and in the 1972-73 Of course Fethard had a Football season the girls achieved an all-time Club. Beyond a few general com- record by reaching the All Ireland ments I do not intend writing on the Final in all three categories of the com- GAA in Fethard as the subject has petition, Junior, Cadette and Senior. been competently dealt with in yearly Luck was against them in the finals annuals and in county and parish but success was to follow in 1974. histories, the publication of which The outstanding players were Angela reflect great credit on that organisa- Dillon, Trudy Hanrahan and Josephine tion. In January the local football club O’Brien. Included in the teams that elected its committee for the coming year were Bernadette Coady, Anne year. Christopher, Canon Lee was to Hayes, Catherine Newport, Jacinta be the president and Dick Fitzgerald Kearney, Ella Fogarty, May Morrissey, was elected the chairman. The treas- Pattie Harrison, Elizabeth Holohan, urers were Michael O’Riordan and Eleanor Smyth, Angela Dillon, Rita James O’Shea. The selection commit- O’Connor, Trudy Hanrahan, Breda tee proposed for the year were Cly Gorey and Josephine O’Brien. Mullins, Jimmy McCarthy and Ned St. Patrick’s Athletic club was five Sheehan. But in this year the local years old in 1973. The club did well GAA club fielded teams under the

54 2008 FETHARD & KILLUSTY NEWSLETTER

Cadette Volleyball Team defeated by Eccles St, in Carlow 1972-73 L to R: Josephine O’Brien, Trudy Hanrahan, Norma Hanrahan, Ella Fogarty, Eleanor Smyth, Helen Roche and Kathleen Culligan .

Senior Volleyball Team defeated by Eccles St, in Carlow 1972-73 L to R: Deirdre Smyth, Elizabeth Holohan, Elaine O’Meara, Ella Butler, Lillian Gorey, Eileen Wright, Rita O’Connor and Angela Dillon

Junior team defeated by Middleton in Dungarvan 1972-73 Back L to R: Yvonne Donovan, Mary Morrissey, Pattie Harrison, Mary Ahearne . Front L to R: Paula Pollard, Ann Hayes and Paula Carey .

55 FETHARD & KILLUSTY NEWSLETTER 2008 name of St. Augustines which was a Tipperary Foxhounds. In this year combining of Fethard and Kilsheelan. Captain Evan Williams retired as Under this name both parishes had their Master, having already served a team in senior hurling. But in May for nineteen seasons. To mark his of this year some efforts were being leaving a pleasant function was made to have a local hurling team and held at Knocklofty House, the then Miceál McCormack was enthusiasti- home of the Earl and Countess of cally attempting to get young men Donoughmore. To honour the occa- to swing the hurley stick. Locally the sion the Captain was presented with game of hurling had declined in the an inscribed silver tray, seventy-two 1960s after having survived in the pieces of cut crystal and a bound and parish since about 1914; but through- hand-inscribed volume which con- out those decades the driving force tained the names of all the subscrib- had been the men from Coolmoyne. ers to the event, the names of former Importantly, in this year of 1973 the masters of the hounds between 1802 local GAA club were strongly deter- and 1972, and a list of all the successes mined on purchasing the sportsfield and prizes gained by the foxhounds. from the Board of Works. The new master was Michael Higgins Another sport which had long and the first whip was still Michael associations with Fethard was the Flanagan. At their new season meet in

56 2008 FETHARD & KILLUSTY NEWSLETTER

See How They Run performed in the Convent Hall from 21st to 28th January 1973 . L to R: Percy O’Flynn (Sergeant Towers), Goldie Newport (Miss Skillon), Michael Woodlock (Rev Arthur Humphrey), Danny Ryan (Rev . Lionel Toop), Carmel Rice (Penelope Toop), Eddie O’Sullivan (Lance Corporal Clive Winton), Joe Hanley (Bishop of Lax), Anne Connolly (Ida, a maid) and John Shortall (The Intruder) . The play was produced by Danny Kane . Fethard in early November the town for whatever awards or prizes it might was crowded and gay. And what a garner. The areas in revolt were to be picture the riders made as they came found in Tipperary, Waterford, East through the arch at Sparagoleith on Cork and West Kilkenny. And Fethard their way to Rocklow to raise their was chosen as the centre for the festi- first covert. The excitement of chasing val which opened in the Presentation a fox can be read in any of the hunting Convent Hall on Sunday 3 December scenes in Anthony Trollope’s novels. 1972 and ran for a week. The festival Ponies also featured in the annual director was Austin O’Flynn and the Killusty Pony Show which was held committee was chosen from among in July. For the event entries came the ten amateur drama societies in from over the island of Ireland, from the area. This change was praised by Britain, and from the Channel Islands. the late Brendan Long of the Clonmel But Fethard did not neglect its Theatre Guild as it dispensed with mental entertainment and the leading the competitive element which had advocate of this was theatre. Towards become so strong a feature of amateur the end of 1972 certain counties who drama presentations. Such competi- were members of the Amateur Drama tion, according to Brendan, was hav- League had decided to opt out of ing an unhealthy influence on the the competitive drama festivals and general drama movement. hold a festival where drama could be This particular event opened with appreciated for its own sake and not the New Theatre Group of Kilkenny

57 presenting Robert Bolt’s ‘A Man for ship as they had done the previous all Seasons’, and over the week plays year. But they had to settle for second by John B. Keane, Tennessee William, place. Later in the year, under their Sean O’Casey and were producer Austin O’Flynn, the Players staged. A judgement on the perform- were rehearsing Agatha Christie’s ‘Ten ances in each play was delivered by Little Niggers’ which they staged in Mrs Aileen Coughlan of the Athlone the Town Hall over the week from Theatre Guild, though no prizes were Sunday 27 January 1974. The cast in offered. Readers of the Irish Times will this particular piece of drama were, recall Aileen as a leading personality Carmel Rice, Percy O’Flynn, Eddie in the drama movement, a critic with Sullivan, Danny Kane and Gerry considerable insight, and an organ- Skehan. A very young-looking Joe iser of the Athlone finals in the com- Kenny was on sound for the occasion. petitive drama movement. As the local Local young and up-coming tal- Fethard Players were the organisers of ent also got its chance when the boys the event they did not offer a play on and girls of the secondary schools the occasion, but it was an excellent presented G. B. Shaw’s ‘Heartbreak boost for local drama as throughout House’ in the Convent Hall on three the week well-balanced and well-per- nights between Friday 16 March formed plays and exceptional talent and Sunday 18 March. Their play, were on view. which was on the Leaving Certificate But the Fethard Players did present English course of that year, was pro- the comedy ‘See How They Run’ duced by Paddy Maher, a teacher at the Presentation Hall on alternate in the school. Among the cast were, nights between Sunday 21 January Rita O’Connor, Mairead Ryan, Tom 1973 and the following Sunday. The Costello, Breda Gorey, Angela Dillon, admission charges were 30p and Conor Lonergan, John O’Mahony, 20p, and the producer of the piece John White, Vincent Phelan and Pat was Danny Kane. The cast were, Fallon. Anne Connolly, Carmel Rice, Danny Entertainment of another order Ryan, John Shortall, Goldie Newport, was the Festival Week which was Michael Woodlock and Joe Hanly. On run by the Development Association the first Sunday afternoon they very and was held on the week com- kindly laid on a matinee for the senior mencing Sunday 24 June. It opened citizens of the town. The play was with a fancy dress parade. Did you taken to Ballingarry on Sunday night 4 know, reader, that Fethard had been February and on Sunday 11 February organizing a fancy dress parade since it was presented in Dungarvan. At about the mid 1920s and that in the the latter place the Players had hopes pre and immediate post-War years it that their production would again win drew crowds to the town. The parade the Decies Drama Festival champion- walked to the sportsfield led by the

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Thomas Kent Girls Pipe band from sessions of music. On the Sunday Fermoy. Here the entrants were judged night the festival closed with a per- and a set of winners found. On the formance from St. Patrick’s band from same day there was a football tourna- Kilkenny, a feis in the town hall, a ment which began at 3.30pm. This was pedigree dog show at the sportsfield, refereed by Sean Moloney, no mean and an exhibition of volleyball at the performer himself on the football field. Presentation Convent. It all ended On the sportsfield there was a baby with the ‘Farewell Festival dance’ in the show, platform dancing and a ladies’ Country Club ballroom. football tournament. The day ended As the Country Club ballroom with a dance in the ballroom which has been mentioned it is as well to had its name lately converted from the tell that the Capitol ballroom, as it Capital to the Country Club. was known, had passed to a new On the Monday evening there owner in April. The purchaser was a was a motor car treasure hunt over Danny Doyle, a dance-hall promot- a distance of ten miles. At half past er from Adamstown, Co. Wexford. eight that evening there was a senior During April and May he had the football challenge between Fethard ballroom refurbished with new light- and Clogheen. Noteworthy, the ball ing and heating and a new lounge. was thrown in by Frank ‘Scout’ Butler And he changed the name to ‘The of Fethard who had played on the Country Club’ to emphasise that in Tipperary football team on ‘Bloody future the dancing was to be to coun- Sunday’ 1921. On Wednesday night try and western music. Mr Doyle, there was autocross racing on Market a Wexford farmer, was not new to Hill. And on the same night a Festival the dance-hall business as he ran Queen was chosen. The remaining five other dance-halls. He also had a week nights had dancing and various sponsored radio slot on RTE which

59 FETHARD & KILLUSTY NEWSLETTER 2008 was presented by Brendan Balfe. Do but was novel some thirty-five years you remember those radio slots of ago. The association met with vari- fifteen minutes duration? The new ous councillors, including local man ballroom re-opened on Sunday 20 Jack Ahessy, and pleaded their case. May with the music of Gene Stewart What the outcome was I don’t know. and the Mighty Avons. On that same Possibly it was not great in those week it sported Joe Dolan and The rather hard economic times. Drifters. The new manager was Paddy Fethard in 1973 had its May pro- Lonergan of Fethard. cession on Sunday 6 May at 7pm. As can be read above, the The Blessed Sacrament is still borne Development Association was the about the streets of Fethard in solemn driving force behind the week-long fes- procession today. The procession has tival in the town. survived in cer- But the associa- tain parishes but tion did involve the attendance is itself in other far from what it necessary mat- was in the pre- ters. In February, 1973 years. for example, it Throughout was seeking help the year the local from the County Augustinian fri- Council in having ary featured houses built in the in the news. In town for young July a Provincial married couples Chapter was and also for the held in Dublin at aged. Father D. which the follow- C u n n i n g h a m , ing Augustinians then a curate in were appointed Fethard, acted as to Fethard: Father spokesman for the Anthony Leddin association. As to be Father was pointed out to Prior, and Father the Council, the housing for the aged J. Brown to be sub-Prior. The other was sub-standard with, in a number of priests appointed were Fathers C. instances, no running water or proper O’Connor and N. MacFadden. Father toilet facilities. Father Cunningham O’Mahony who had been in Fethard was also ahead of his time in that he was sent to the Australian mission. was seeking ‘home help’ for those This reminds me that a momentous who were old and living alone – a Provincial Chapter was held in Fethard service that is widely available today, in June 1649 at which some forty

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Abbey altar boys photographed in the Abbey grounds with Fr . Leddin OSA in the early 1960s . Back L to R: Michael Nevin, Michael Kenny, Michael Cummins, Richard Burke, Don O’Connell . Front L to R: A .B . Kennedy, Jimmy Hayes, Philip Dillon, John Joe Keane, Jerry O’Riordan Augustinians attended. This was just Convent. At the end of the year the a few months before Cromwell landed Sisters were selling the contents of in Ireland. Soon after, most of the their farmyard. On offer they had Order had to flee to western Europe seven dairy cows, one Friesian heifer, and Father William Tirry paid with four Friesian yearling heifers, a seven- his life for remaining on in Fethard. year-old donkey with its harness and But to return to 1973 matters, in a cart on rubbers. All had to go as had September the friars had a visit from a milking machine, churns, a cooling the Prior General of their Order who unit for the milk, feeding troughs, and recalled that as a young man in Rome milk bins (what were they?). They his Father Prior was none other than also sold off 1,000 bales of bawn hay, the Fethard man Father John O’Flynn 220 bales of straw, and 106 drills of OSA. The friars were hoping to have turnips. The sale was at the farmyard their church painted and brightened on Tuesday 18 December. If you up before the end of the year, and as can remember the nuns’ farmyard Christmas came around the crib in the then you must be on the wrong side old ruined part of the church was put of fifty; pupils of the former boys’ on display. national school would be very familiar Changes of a different sort with it. were happening in the Presentation In this year the Patrician Brothers

61 FETHARD & KILLUSTY NEWSLETTER 2008 were celebrating one hundred years During the summer a bus-load of of teaching in Fethard. To mark the about fifty members went on a tour to occasion a fine booklet was writ- Glengarriff and to the lovely Garnish ten by Jimmy McInerney. Presumably Island. They also spent a delightful every ‘old boy’ has a copy tucked afternoon looking over Mrs Vigor’s away somewhere. The first Brothers splendid garden at Coolmore. had arrived in Fethard on 5 March There was also an Apostolic 1873 and had their first school on the Society of about eighteen members Main Street next to the parish church. which met on every Tuesday evening. They later opened a classical school The purpose of their coming together (‘The Academy’) in the same building, was to prepare and sew vestments, but after a few years this failed and albs and linens of all kinds for the Fethard did not have a permanent sec- priests on the missions. Towards the ondary school until the 1940s. When end of the year the finished products we remember that in 1871, two years were put on display in the Convent before the Brothers came, almost half Hall. The society purchased vessels, the people of Fethard were illiterate crucifixes and candlesticks which were we realise what great benefits the sent out to the missionary priests. Brothers and the Sisters conferred on And they paid the salary (£100) of a the town and countryside. The com- catechist on one of the Augustinian ing of the Brothers was celebrated in Mission stations. Locally, the society the parish church on 3 June with a was also active. They took a bus-load special Mass which was attended by of senior citizens on a tour of Cork Dr. , Archbishop of on a wet day in June. They also ran a Cashel and Emly. At the Mass Billy weekly whist drive which had become Kenrick played the organ and Don part of the social life of Fethard. Any Byard conducted the choir. Prior surplus money from the whist tables to this the Past Pupils Union had was used to fund a Christmas dinner their annual dinner-dance in Hearn’s for the old folks of the town. Hotel on Friday 4 April and had an The Meals-on-Wheels Society was attendance of 240. Tickets cost £2 and active as well. Throughout the year the music was supplied by the Sam this group delivered some 250 din- Doherty Trio. ner plates to people who lived alone The town had a number of or were incapable of preparing a hot active societies in this year. The Irish meal for themselves. The meals were Countrywomen’s Association was one given out three times in each week such. They offered a number of inter- to an average of fifteen people. All esting and practical demonstrations the work – preparing, cooking and to their members, and a meeting of delivering – was undertaken by vol- the county federation was held in untary labour. The total cost of the the Convent Hall on 12 December. food was about £500. During the year

62 2008 FETHARD & KILLUSTY NEWSLETTER

Fethard Past Pupils Union Dinner Dance in the early 1970s

Margaret Lyons and John Keane Miceál and Mary McCormack

Betty (Bradshaw) and Pat Fahey Angela (Bradshaw) and John Connery

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Fethard Past Pupils Union Dinner Dance in the early 1970s

Joan (McCarthy) and Johnny Barrett Josie (Keane) and Gussy Fitzgerald

Concepta (Healy) and Pat Hurley Anne (O’Neill) and Jimmy Connolly

64 2008 FETHARD & KILLUSTY NEWSLETTER the society received gifts of meat and summer they held a field evening at vegetables and also subscriptions of the Fethard Mart on Friday 22 June. money: £10 from Macra na Feirme; Each competing team was composed £50 from the Augustinian Fathers; a of four men and two ladies and they dance organised by the local Fianna dealt with such subjects as Open Fail cumann brought in £50; private Stock Judging, Farm Management, subscriptions brought £18; and bot- Tractor Backing and Household tle collections taken up locally made Management. There was also a sup- £53. A special Christmas dinner was per on this night which was served cooked and delivered. In this year the in the Muintir na Tire Hall and this society consisted of thirty-six mem- again was followed by a dance in the bers and six car-drivers who deliv- ballroom. On this particular evening ered the food. This same six ferried some forty-two teams participated. twenty or thirty people to a chiropody The members also took a bus trip to service when it was in Fethard. Their Galway in September, but rain fell on kitchen was next to the town hall and them all the way from Fethard back had been equipped by the County again to Fethard. Their spirits, how- Council; the society was hoping for a ever, were not dampened and they refurbishment before the year’s end. ended their year with a Halloween The Fethard Country Markets Dance which cost no more than 60p. were still in being and had an adver- The long-running Chrysanthemum tisement on week-ending 17 March Show was held in the ballroom on that from 23 March the market would Wednesday 7 November between open for an hour each week (10.30am 2.30pm and 4.30pm with an admis- to 11.30am) for the sale of home-made sion charge of 15p. There was a confectionary, jams, fresh farm eggs, large attendance and a fine range of fruit in season, and vegetables. Like prizes on the day. The three win- the Country Markets, the Fethard ners in the class one category were branch of Macra na Feirme was also Mrs M. Leahy of Derryluskin, Mrs an active element in the social life E. O’Donnell of Crampscastle and thirty-five years ago. Throughout the Lady Donoughmore from Knocklofty. winter the branch held various get- But other sorts of flowers were being togethers such as a question-time in noticed in Fethard this year: tulips at the Muintir na Tire Hall on Friday 12 Annsgift. Thirty-five years ago Mr January. This they followed up with a and Mrs Hulsebosch were growing supper and dance in the ballroom. At about fifty acres of tulips on the this time the officers in the local branch farm formerly owned by Major and were Michael Smyth, Coolbawn, Olivia Hughes. Their farm manager Pauline McGrath, Lisronagh, Michael was a Mr Naundorf – a name that will Woodlock, Rathdrum and Bob Frewen be familiar to the many from about of Tullamaine. With the coming of Fethard who picked tulip bulbs dur-

65 FETHARD & KILLUSTY NEWSLETTER 2008 ing the summer. The Hulseboshes middle of the Main Street. The local had purchased the farm in or about Housing Co-Operative was actively 1963 and had turned it over to grow- seeking new members with the hope ing tulip bulbs – not flowers – which that an estate could be built on land they exported to Holland. Because purchased on the Kilnockin Road. the concentration was on growing These societies were very active in the bulbs the flower-heads on the tulips 1960s and 1970s when it was difficult were removed at an early stage by a for young married couples to get a special topper. The bulbs were then new home. The Tipperary Aero Club allowed to mature and were lifted were expecting up to twenty small and picked in July; this was where planes from other clubs at the Fly-in the schoolchildren came in. The bulbs which was held at Michael Smyth’s were then dried, graded and exported. airfield at Coolbawn. The event began For all those kids who cycled out to at 2.30pm on Sunday 16 September. Annesgift in 1973 bulb picking is now Planes from Dublin, Cork, Galway, hardly more than a distant memory. Longford, Wexford and Kilkenny flew The local fire brigade was a volun- in for the occasion, and it was esti- tary service which had been founded mated that about one thousand people in 1960 and by 1973 was offering turned up on the day. In June we an excellent service to the town. In read that Mr Vincent O’Brien had January of that year the members had acquired a substantial interest in Tim to undertake an exhaustive course Vigor’s stud farm at Coolmore. Was in fire fighting, and during the same this the beginning of the Coolmore month they were presented with a we know today? On Thursday 14 new fire engine. The names of the men June, to mark the arrival of the first who made themselves available for contingent of Gardai in Fethard on this demanding voluntary service are 14 June 1923, retired Garda Eugene worthy of recall. John Whyte was the Lynch, who was one of that first batch, fire officer and the other nine mem- came back on a visit to Fethard. In bers of the team were, Percy O’Flynn, his own small way he celebrated that Michael Ryan, John Murphy, Sean special occasion when law-and-order Ward, Austin O’Flynn, Alfie Brett, returned to Fethard. Garda Lynch Tony Hanrahan, Frank Coffey and had spent four and a half years in John Shortall. Fethard. When the new Gardai came And then there were the little they occupied the barracks on the bits and pieces that enliven the news north side of The Square which had in any year. At a County Council been vacated by the R.I.C. roughly a meeting in March one of the local year previously. Much later this bar- councillors complained that the public racks was sold by the Dept. of Justice lighting in Fethard was so bad that and became home to the late Mr Tom one could not see a cock of hay in the Barrett. And during the year a circus

66 2008 FETHARD & KILLUSTY NEWSLETTER

Fethard Carnival Fancy Dress Parade 1973

67 FETHARD & KILLUSTY NEWSLETTER 2008 came to town. No, it was not John would be nobody. Mickey had served Duffy and Sons, nor was it Fossetts’. throughout the Great War in the 10th It was Courtenay’s which opened on Hussars. Monday 17 September with acts from The end of 1972 also saw the Spain, Morocco, Hungry and Ireland. death of another and different old It also had a mini zoo which dis- warrior. Sean Walshe of Coolenure, played lions, snakes, monkeys, horses Fethard died in St. Patrick’s Hospital, and dogs. The performances were at Cashel on Sunday 17 December 1972. 4.30pm and 8pm, and if you couldn’t He and his brother Maurice joined sneak in under the tent you had to the Moyglass Company of the Irish pay 30p, 40p, or 50p for adults and Volunteers in the late spring of 1917; children cost 20p, 25p, or 30p. The on that night about thirty young notice does not tell where the circus men handed in their names. Sean at pitched its tent. Up to 1973 there were the time was living with his parents two banks in Fethard, the Provincial at Curraghtarsna. At that meeting and the Munster and Leinster. On Sean was elected 1st Lieutenant and 12 February these amalgamated and his brother became company adju- became the Allied Irish Banks and tant. The company mostly had drills, all business was transferred to 20 parades and marches during 1917 and Main Street. But much more upset- 1918. Sean acted as polling agent at ting for the people of Fethard was Mockler’s Hill for Pierce McCan in the strike among the bus drivers on the general election of 1918. He was the Shamrock Bus service during the part of the contingent that attacked month of July. This company served Drangan RIC Barracks on the night the Thurles/Fethard/Clonmel route of 4 June 1920. Sean’s particular job four times daily and their absence was on the night was to block the road a source of much inconvenience. between Ballinure and Drangan. He An old warrior on Armistice Day also led an ambush on a party of RIC Saturday 11 November 1972 brushed cycling between Ballinure and Cashel up his suit, pinned on his medals and in which the sergeant was killed and put his poppy in his button-hole. With a constable injured. The remainder of head erect and a walk that gave the lie the constables, who surrendered and to his eighty-seven years he marched gave up their weapons and bicycles, down the Main Street to ten o’clock were allowed to go free. After this he Mass in the parish church, but he was was on the run and could only occa- on his own. All that band, including sionally visit his home until the Truce their leader, the Major, which had of July 1921. Following the shooting marched year after year on that day to of Tommy Donovan of Drangan at a the parish Mass were now dead and raid in Killenaule on 31 October 1920 Mickey Kearney of The Valley was the Sean was appointed commandant of only survivor. And very soon there the 7th battalion of the 3rd Tipperary

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Brigade. Up to the date of the Truce ies. Another well-known and promi- he was active in a number of events nent figure who died in January was in south Tipperary. After the Truce William Mulligan of Villa Therese, he devoted himself to increasing the The Valley. He was a native of Co. membership of the I.R.A. and he was Roscommon, and was a senior figure in charge of a training camp which had with one of the insurance companies. been organised at Ballinard Castle; he During his years in Fethard he gave later moved to Mitchelstown. He took his time to many good causes and no part in the Civil War of 1922/23. social events, and in his later years was Full military honours were given at a leading member of the local branch his graveside by a colour party from of the Credit Union. Mr Willie Farrell Kickham Barracks, of Kerry Street Clonmel. His chil- died in February. dren were Liam, In his young days Sean (the later he had worked well-known fig- as a clerk at ure), Jim, Francis, Buggy’s on the Diana, Patricia, Main Street. How Claire and Agnes. many readers of A number this, I wonder, can of people died recall Buggy’s? throughout 1973 Willie later moved who should have to Co. Wexford, some claim to but returned to our attention and Fethard on his remembrance. On retirement. In 6 January 1973 Willie and Mary Heffernan, Main Street, with their March Willie children Peggy (baby), Paddy (centre) and Mary Nathaniel Burke of (1 year old) . Photograph taken c .1916 . Heffernan of Barrettstown died. Congress Terrace He was formerly a veterinary surgeon died at the good age of eighty-five. and was born at Bansha. He had spent Older readers of the Newsletter will twenty-five years as a vet in British recall the bicycle repair service offered Nigeria. He should be remembered for by Willie and his father. Those were his association with and for the help the days when the bicycle was an he gave to the Irish Augustinian fri- important element in our lives; indeed ars. When the missionaries from that our only mode of transport. But Willie Order landed in West Africa in 1940 was a man of many parts. He was a he gave those first priests invaluable founder member and the first treas- help. His wide experience of Nigerian urer of the Fethard Football Club; he ways and customs helped greatly to was an enthusiastic member of the ease the early work of the missionar- Fethard Brass Band; and he was a

69 FETHARD & KILLUSTY NEWSLETTER 2008

Fethard Carnival 1970 . Photograph taken at Fashion Show “Past Times - Going to the Theatre” L to R: Ann Coffey, Mary Gorey, Goldie Newport, Marie Lawless and Ester Nevin . keen race-goer. And Willie rode and sixty-nine years old. This was Jack owned one of the first, if not the first, Weston. Jack, an old native of Fethard, motorcycles seen about Fethard. In was a building contractor by trade. his youth Willie was an outstanding Incidentally, he built the Presentation athlete. Though an all-rounder he Convent School on the Dungarvan concentrated in the main on the long Road outside Clonmel. He was an and high jumps, and on cycling. He ardent sportsman with a particular won in his day a number of titles at interest in hurling and football. In his club and county level. Deservedly, young days he played in goal for the his coffin was wrapped in the Fethard great Fethard football teams of his day Football colours and he was buried (‘The Fethard Fifteen’). Very old fol- in the Catholic plot in Holy Trinity lowers of Fethard, if any are still alive, Protestant Church graveyard where will recall his dazzling performances all old Fethard natives take their final as he kept the goal mouth. Another rest. Another who had long asso- of the old Fethard footballers to die ciations with Fethard football died in this year was Ned Cummins who in Clonmel after a long illness aged a few months previously had sold his

70 2008 FETHARD & KILLUSTY NEWSLETTER home in New York and retired to a such men, he began his day’s work at house on the Cashel Road. Ned was 6am and walked around his delivery a stylish football player and no bad route which was about sixteen miles. handball player. Ned’s father had in In his early years he served under his time been captain of the Fethard Mrs Carter who kept the post office in football team. Ned himself played on Burke Street. the Tipperary county football team But to end this short account of the that won the All-Ireland in 1922. year on an upbeat note. At the end of He emigrated to New York in 1926 1973 the Esso Oil company calendar and found employment with the city for 1974 appeared. Over the dates for transport system. In time he rose to each month it had colour photographs a high position on the supervisory of the different crafts to be found in staff. But he remained a Fethard man Ireland. The picture for the month of all his life as did Jack Weston. In July July was Phyllis and Helen O’Connell Michael (Mike) Croke of the Rocklow engaged in Lumra Rug making in the Road died. For over forty years he had garden of their home on the Rocklow served as postman in Fethard where Road. ◉ in the early days, like so many other Michael O’Donnell . (Owning)

Fashion Show “Off To” c .1967 L to R: Helen O’Connell, Betty Holohan, Anna Henehan, Goldie Newport, Billy Flynn, Joan Anglim and Veronica Bulfin .

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Fethard Past Pupils Union Dinner Dance in the early 1970s

Gerry Fogarty and Mary Sheehan Rena and Chris Maher

Eileen and Tom Purcell Chrissie Murphy and Bro Ultan

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Fethard Past Pupils Union Dinner Dance in the early 1970s

Matthew and Mary Tynan Betty Holohan and Ollie Delaney

Michael and Mary McCarthy Thomas Barrett and Joe Kenny

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Fethard Past Pupils Union Dinner Dance in the early 1970s

Pat Hurley, Tony Hanrahan, Frank Carroll Patricia Brett, Jeff Hanrahan and and Deborah Conway Sheila Burke

Eithne Dunne and Ian Maher John Shortall and Nellie Shortall

74 2008 FETHARD & KILLUSTY NEWSLETTER

Fethard Past Pupils Union Dinner Dance in the early 1970s

Tommy and May Carey Nell and Paddy Broderick

Pat Sheehan and Martha O’Dwyer Austin and Ann Woodlock

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This old school photograph c .1933 was supplied by Stasia Nagle, Bansha, who is a half-sister to the late Paddy Grant from The Green . Back Row L to R: Larry Meagher (Ballinard), Gerry Maher (Drumdeel), ?, Gussy Cummins, ? , ? , ? , Paddy Walsh (The Green), ? Hannigan (Ballyvaden) . Fourth Row L to R: Kevin Danagher, Jimmy O’Shea, George Mathews, Tommy Fitzpatrick, John McCormack (Kilnockin), Willie Maher (Cloneen), Paddy Coady, ? . Third Row L to R: Tom Ryan, Mikie Slattery, Henry Heffernan, Jimmy McCarthy, Michael O’Donnell, Philly Anglim (Farranaleen), Philly Dillon, Dinny Flynn . Second Row L to R: Michael McInerney, Eddie Butler, Paddy McCormack, Dick Grace, Bob Grace, Tara Ryan, Joe Ahearne, Christy Somers . Front L to R: Joe Green, Jackie Madden, Peter Walsh, Gussy Heffernan, John Donovan, Percy Dillon and Tom Kelly .

Photograph taken outside slaughter house L to R: Cly Mullins, Jimmy Madden and Spot Leahy .

76 2008 FETHARD & KILLUSTY NEWSLETTER

‘De Camptown Races’ 1945 L to R: Pat Hayes and Pat Mullins (jockey), Paddy Anglim and Mickie Stokes (jockey), Bill Holohan and P .J . ‘Sa’ Anglim and Jim Sullivan .

50th Anniversary of Fethard ICA in 1977 . L to R: Joan Anglim, Francie Noonan and Olivia Hughes

77 FETHARD & KILLUSTY NEWSLETTER 2008 Abymill Theatre

Fethard Players cast of ‘My Three Angels’ staged in the Abymill Theatre from 28th November to 3rd December 2008 . Back L to R: Pat Brophy, Marian Gilpin, Jimmy O’Sullivan, Joe Hanly, Colm McGrath, Matt O’Sullivan, Niamh Hayes . Front Anne Connolly, Gerry Fogarty and Angela Dillon-Whyte .

his May 26th 2008 Abymill Jodie Gilpin and produced by her Ttheatre celebrated its mother, Marian. 20th Anniversary. It took place in The theatre still enjoys its McCarthy’s Hotel where Joe Kenny Thursday night Bingo and a host of presented a virtual memorabilia of other activities are held in the build- wonderful scenes and events associ- ing – dancing, Pilate classes and other ated with the Theatre. artistic pursuits. Malian Gilpin, secretary of The board of directors appointed Abymill, and representing the Fethard at the AGM held on 27th May were Players made a presentation to Austin as follows: Chairman – Joe Kenny, O’Flynn, and thanked him, on behalf Secretary – Marian Gilpin, Treasurer of all groups associated with the thea- – Agnes T. Evans, Administrator tre, for his foresight and innovation – Austin O’Flynn. Board: Michael thoughout the years. McCarthy, Carmel Rice, Eileen Maher, Fethard players staged their pro- Vincent Murphy, Bernard Walsh and duction of ‘My three Angles’ — a sea- Mary McCormack. sonal comedy at the end of November. A thank you to all who helped The secondary school production to make Abymill a viable establish- took place in December – ‘Malibu’– a ment and particularly to Austin musical set in California written by O’Flynn, without whose care and

78 2008 FETHARD & KILLUSTY NEWSLETTER attention Abymill would not have our caretaker Christy Mullins, and sustained its potential. We also thank our maintenance and cleaning crew, Gerry Fogarty and Jacinta O’Flynn Michael McCarthy, Mary and Benny for their help running weekly bingo, Morrissey. ◉ Abymill’s 20th Anniversary his year marks the 20th anni- the history of the locality, from the Tversary of the Abymill Theatre, stationing of a colonial garrison in the the existence of which must rank town to the present. as one of the delights of living in By 1983, the mill remained in the this area. Originally built in 1847 by ownership of Mrs Pauline Coffey of Richard Harding, this building served Burke Street, but it was now being as a corn mill until it ceased to func- looked at as a possible solution to tion as such in 1933-‘34, by which time the ongoing difficulty faced by the it also contained a shop and a bakery Fethard Players who had no home and that supplied bread to the locality. so were forced to stage their produc- In the 1940s the building served as tions either in the town hall or the a corn storage depot for Vincent Ballroom. A plan was not so much O’Brien who was later to gain national hatched out but more an idea came to and international success with horses; be that the mill could be cleaned up, these animals continue to influence, dug out, seating would be inserted

First Abymill Management Board . Back: Carmel Rice, Michael McCarthy, Noelle O’Dwyer, Tommy O’Brien, Mary McCormack, Jimmy O’Shea . Front L to R: Jimmy Connolly, Agnes Evans (Treasurer), Austin O’Flynn (Chairman), Marian Gilpin (Secretary), Joe Kenny (PRO) . May 1988

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Coffey’s Mill staff c .1930-40s . L to R: Tom Clarkin, manager, Tom Daniels (O’Donnell), Jack ‘Baker’ Dwyer, Mary Daniels (O’Donnell), Nicholas Keating, Will Power, Tommy ‘Phillips’ O’Connor . and then a stage built. Looking back approved by the National Lottery. at it from today’s vantage point, it was Anco – the precursor to FÁS – had something of a madcap idea with lit- been approached; architects and engi- tle chance of success but foolishness, neers had given advice and after con- bravery and determined idealism won siderable deliberation, the go ahead the day. was given for work to commence in Atisha, the great Indian sage, 1985 and this monumental task took advises us to, ‘commit random acts three years to complete. of kindness.’ And so Mrs. Coffey, a Joe and Pauline Coffey are well feisty woman who lived well into her remembered by many people in nineties, sold the mill for a nominal Fethard for the three tennis courts in sum to a trust which effectively gave the back of their house where more the building to the people of Fethard. than one generation enjoyed their Mr Ogden White, one time owner of youth. Mrs Coffey is also remem- Kiltinan Castle, donated a substantial bered by the undersigned who, on a amount of money, on the good sale chilly day in the 1990s having crossed of a fine horse, towards the cost. the footpath from his heated car to Sponsorship was sought, donations McManus grocery shop – a grand given and applications were made and distance of four feet – and met Mrs

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Coffey and complained about the about sixty apprentice tradesmen over cold while she by way of reply, gave a the three year period completed the withering look and asked, “Have you main work as it is found today, and it ever stood naked in a bog on a cold is suggested that more than one of the winter’s day?” apprentices subsequently settled in the A building committee had been town. One of the masterstrokes of the formed by 1985 and it is rumoured enterprise was that for the main seat- that prior to their ing area, a slope participation not down to the stage one of them had was made with a grey hair. It has the poured con- to be repeated, crete and a fall of however, that three and a half great credit is feet was achieved due to them for as well as a slope their persever- in the stage of ance and willing- about one inch ness to undertake per foot. The seats the responsibil- came from the ity. As the work Belltable Theatre commenced and in Limerick where progressed, as they had been happens in many used in a cinema building jobs, the and two hundred actual renovation of them cost a became far big- fiver each so recy- ger than origi- cling has been nally envisaged. with us for some Foundations had time. to be supported, Coffey’s Mill workers photographed outside the Mill On Thursday a fire escape had in July 1911 L to R: Tom Daniels (O’Donnell), 26th May 1989, to be added, new Crampscastle, Jim Butler (Scout Butler’s the Theatre was father from The Green) floors were built, opened, mass was a basement had to be dug out, nine celebrated in the Abbey and Catherine universal beams had to inserted by O’Shea, the mayoress of the town, crane and for good measure, the cut the ribbon. People were invited tail end of Hurricane Charlie passed to view the restoration and the new by. The foreman on site was Tom home of the Fethard Players and the Burke form Ardfinnan and with Tony Hogan Musical Society who in truth Lawton from Dublin and Joe Nixon were the twin power-houses of the from Waterford, it is estimated that project. The first show that was put on

81 FETHARD & KILLUSTY NEWSLETTER 2008 in the Abymill was a variety concert years. Galloglass Theatre Company featuring performances by most of the from Clonmel had its first show in local talent. the Abymill; an Irish premier of a Over the next two decades, each play by Arthur Fugard, the renowned year both the Fethard Players and the South African playwright also took Hogan Musical Society, who are rest- place there, and recently there was ing these latter few years, performed, the BBC televised production of the practised and produced their shows in final of a talent show for the lead role the Abymill. In recent years, both the in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s West End primary and the secondary schools put Musical, Joseph and His Amazing on their shows for three nights, there Technicolor Dreamcoat. Perhaps the is a dance show each year that goes big question on that night was not on for six nights, bingo is held each who would be Joseph but who from week on Thursday nights and the his- the town managed to obtain a seat in torical society and a woman’s group the audience. One other note of inter- frequently hold their meetings in the est is that posters from the plays and venue. Touring theatre companies, musicals produced over the years are musical recitals, local rock bands and displayed in the foyer and these are of many shows have taken place over the great interest to patrons of the theatre.

Cleaning out the mill September 1983 are Back L to R: Michael Allen, Austin O’Flynn, Jimmy Connolly, John Fogarty, Jim Allen, Percy O’Flynn . In front kneeling L to R: Michael McCarthy and Jimmy O’Shea .

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By all accounts there was little is the ever-obliging Christy Mullins opposition to the restoration project and the management committee of and many people have contributed to the Abymill, charged with the task its ongoing success over the last two of keeping the venue going for the decades. The White Memorial Theatre future are Agnes Evans, Joe Kenny, in Clonmel and Jimmy O’Shea, Brewery lane Marian Gilpin, in Carrick-on- Bernard Walsh, Suir were going Vincent Murphy, concerns before M i c h a e l the Abymill but M c C a r t h y , this restoration Carmel Rice and project is consid- Eileen Maher. ered by some to If you are still have served as a alert after this catalyst for other rambling piece groups and indi- you may be viduals within wondering why the county to there is no men- undertake similar tion of a certain ventures for their individual. He is own communi- somewhat like ties. the humble shep- Can Fethard herd who leads be defined by its from behind, buildings and its Pauline Coffey photographed at the opening of the Abymill who shuns the wall and the sto- 26th May 1988 limelight while ries they tell us? directing the Or, is a town really composed of its players in a trustworthy fashion. He people and the energy these people is, of course, the instigator, the inspira- bring to the town. Here we have a tion and the main player, the one who building that worked as a corn mill, has given so much to the community. then decayed and became derelict You will see him on the last night of but modern construction turned the the annual Fethard Players produc- building into a theatre, a living and tion when he is called on stage by the vibrant space within the community. cast. They clap and cheer, as does the There are other buildings within the audience, while he briefly takes a shy town that may require similar thinking bow as befits a wonderful man, he is or do we hold them forever in their Mr Austin O’Flynn or should that just present state, loath to change them. read Austy. ◉ The caretaker for the last few years — John Cooney

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Opening of the Abymill Theatre 26th May 1988

Ladies helping with the catering at the opening of the Abymill Theatre on 26th May 1988 L to R: Jacinta O’Flynn, Noelle O’Dwyer, Joan O’Connor, Mary McCormack, Carmel Rice, Annie O’Brien, Kathleen Harrison and Nell Broderick .

Catherine O’Shea, ‘Mayor of Fethard’, cutting the tape at the opening of the Abymill

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Opening of the Abymill Theatre 26th May 1988

Group photographed at the opening of the Abymill Theatre in 1988

Pupils from Nano Nagle National School performing at the Opening Concert 27th May 1988

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Opening of the Abymill Theatre 26th May 1988

Willie Corbett, Mary Byard and Mrs Willie Corbett

Group of children in the Abymill 1988

L to R: Jennifer Whyte, Kay O’Riordan, Pat Looby and Geraldine McCarthy

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Opening of the Abymill Theatre 26th May 1988

L to R: Tessie Leahy holding baby Noelle, Olive and Derry Curran

L to R: Diana Burke, Tom Burke (Foreman ), Joe Nixon (ANCO), Pauline Coffey and Deirdre Burke

L to R: Laurence Kenny, Davy McCormack, Jimmy Connolly, Maureen Purcell and Mick Ahearne

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Opening of the Abymill Theatre 26th May 1988

L to R: Fr . John Stapleton, Gerry Nevin, Moira Morrissey and Johnny O’Flynn

L to R: Nuala Delaney, Nellie Fitzgerald, Phyllis McDonnell, Pauline Coffey, Tess Maher & Joan Anglim

L to R: Michael O’Donoghue, Jimmy Connolly, Sean Ward, Johnny O’Flynn & Willie Ryan

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Abymill Theatre 20th Anniversary 26th May 2008

L to R: Mary Fogarty, Mary McCormack, Jenny Fogarty, Eileen Burke and Miceál McCormack .

Austin O’Flynn cutting the cake at the Abymill 20th Birthday Anniversary Party in McCarthy’s Hotel

89 FETHARD & KILLUSTY NEWSLETTER 2008 Serving his community e was a small man, dressed in his village produced copra, the dried Htypical Solomon Islands garb skin of the coconut and this was the – T shirt, baggy shorts and flip flops. only cash crop of the area. It was a He first made contact with me late one bulky product and it had to be carried afternoon in Honiara, the administra- in sacks down a dry riverbed to the tive capital of the Solomon Islands, an nearest wharf where the buyer called archipelago in the South Pacific made every week. up of over one hundred islands. David wanted a small grant, the In the office later than usual, I equivalent of about one thousand was told by the five hundred night watchman euros, to buy that a man was stone and sand in asking to make an order to build a appointment to rough road from see me. His name Kiu to the wharf. was David and The work would he was from the be done voluntar- island of Malaita ily by the villagers and he wanted to and that would be discuss a small their contribution road building to the project. project. Jimmy Trehy, Donoughmore, Lisronagh, photographed After check- with his sister Mary at Tipperariana Book Fair R e c k o n i n g ing the Roads that the discussion would not take too Allocation of the European Union to long, I agreed to see him and asked the Solomon Islands Government, it the night watchman to send him in. was apparent that with approval from When he came in, he introduced him- the Government the funds could be self as David Kausamai, the headman made available. It was agreed to make of the village of Kiu on Malaita Island. the request to the Government of the He had a big envelope and handed Soloman Islands and David said that me a sheaf of papers which docu- he would follow it through in the mented the project that he wanted to Ministry of Transport. And because be considered. The documents were the amount involved was small and well presented and the work was voluntary input significant, the request costed for site clearing and materials could be sanctioned by the European for a rough road approximately five Union office in the country. kilometres in length. He explained With the official business out of the background to the request in the way, David relaxed and, over cups great detail to me also. The people of of coffee, we chatted about various

90 2008 FETHARD & KILLUSTY NEWSLETTER matters. Inevitably, my visitor asked to UK to attend the Commonwealth what country in Europe I came from. I Conference and also to attend a told him that I came from Ireland and Conference in Primary Education in I lived in Dublin, the capital city. Dublin. His time in Dublin was short “Ah,” he said, “I have been to but very informative and he got ideas Dublin, a very friendly city”. I looked from the discussions which were after- at him in amazement and asked him wards adapted to Solomon Islands what brought him to Dublin. The conditions and incorporated in his story that he told me was fascinating. education programme. He had been a Member of At the end of a very busy four Parliament for his area and served years, David Kausamai was exhausted two terms in Parliament after Solomon and in poor health so he decided not Islands got independence in 1980. He to stand for election again. But his was, he said, a very reluctant M.P. education programmes became the because in 1980 he was illiterate. But foundation of the education system because his family were always the into the future. It was supported chiefs of the area, he had been chosen financially by the British Overseas to stand for election. Development Aid Programme and the During his first term in Parliament Solomons have benefitted from train- in Honiara, he took lessons and ing of teachers by trainers from UK achieved a reasonable level of compe- and – yes – a few Irish also. tence in ‘pidgin’ the most commonly David’s contribution to educa- used dialect in the Solomons. He tion was recognised by the British contributed “a little bit, no more” to Government and he was knighted parliamentary debate on issues that by the Queen when she visited the concerned his constituency. Solomon Islands in 1989. At the end of the life of that par- I met Sir David on a few occasions liament, he was re-elected and the after that and had the pleasure of party to which he was affiliated had a being present when his road was offi- majority in the House. He was offered cially opened in 1999. And, while his the Education Ministry and, though health was not good, he presided over it was a frightening prospect for him, the ceremony and feast that followed. he accepted. In his typical humble In the atmosphere of his home village, way, he said that he had a very able it was obvious that he is held in high Permanent Secretary and between esteem by his people. ◉ them they developed an education policy the primary purpose of which — by Jimmy Trehy was to develop literacy programmes for all ages. Jimmy retired some years ago from his position as EU’s Resident Advisor in the Solomon Islands and now lives During his time as Minister, he at Donoughmore, Lisronagh . and his Permanent Secretary travelled

91 FETHARD & KILLUSTY NEWSLETTER 2008 Fethard and District Credit Union Ltd.

Credit Union Student Awards 2008 for Business and Enterprise were presented to two groups . ‘GNT’ and ‘Gardens’ L to R: the ‘Gardens’ team of Adam O’Donnell, Dylan Cahill, Sean White, Mr . Jonathan Gilpin (vice-president of Chapter X Irish League of Credit Unions), and the ‘GNT’ team of Ted Barrett, Noel O’Brien and Gavin Lonergan . n a difficult year for international Schools’ Credit Union Table Quiz in Ibanking institutions the credit January 2009. union has maintained a personal and Board members: Marian Gilpin valuable service to our community. – President; Kate Healy – Treasurer; Our Friday morning opening from Eddie O’Brien – Secretary. Credit 10am to 12 noon and Saturday nights Committee: Jonathan Gilpin, Kay from 7 to 8.30pm remain busy. We Spillane and Jacinta O’Connell. also have loan application opening Credit Control: Kathleen O’Connell hours from 7.30 to 8pm every Tuesday. and Betty McLaughlin. Supervisory: We continue our involvement Philomena Morrissey. with various community events one Since the last publication of the of the main one being the busi- newsletter we sadly lost one of our ness and enterprise award at Patrician supervisors, Marian O’Connor RIP. Presentation Secondary School John Barrett also retired during the Awards Ceremony. The presentation year. We appreciate the valued service to two groups of young entrepreneurs they both gave us. – ‘GNT’ and ‘Gardens’ was made by To any of our members who are Jonathan Gilpin now Vice President of unwell we wish a speedy recovery, Chapter X of the I.L.C.U. and we take this opportunity to extend Our annual general meeting takes seasons’ greetings to all our members place in December and the Primary and friends at home and abroad. ◉ 92 2008 FETHARD & KILLUSTY NEWSLETTER A mother’s love remembered ednesday 16th July 2008, caring for frail elderly people or termi- Wour mother Rita died unex- nally ill people had touched so many pectedly at home in Friarsgrange. She people over her lifetime. had been discharged from hospital At the age of 17 she travelled to on the Monday evening before, after Liverpool and trained to be a nurse spending a week in South Tipperary at The Countess of Chester. On her General Hospital in Clonmel. She return to Ireland she married our had been diagnosed with a bleeding father, Mick, at the age of twenty-one. duodenal ulcer and had received some Her nursing skills were soon called treatment for it. upon when her mother, ‘Granny Fahy, Her sudden and untimely death suffered a stroke and was left with caused a huge some degree of shock and disbe- paralysis. Despite lief to us her fam- having two young ily but to a whole children, she cared community of for Granny ‘til neighbours, and she sadly passed friends far and away. Over the wide. Our fam- years she also ily spent many nursed family hours discussing members, neigh- her death and try- bours, friends and ing to make sense many sick people of it all but we from the locality. just could not Regardless of the understand it. Our time of day or telephone never night, if someone stopped ringing The late Rita Kearney with grandchild Peter Boland needed help, she with people enquir- would be there. ing if what they had heard that morn- She was a very warm hearted lady ing was correct. People called to our who loved the simple things in life. A home, still not believing that Rita had keen gardener, she spent many hours died. We as a family were completely in the garden growing vegetables, fruit overwhelmed by the hundreds of peo- and beautiful flowers. She especially ple who came to offer sympathy and loved sweet pea and picked bunches words of condolence. of them for visitors and people sick During those very sad days we in hospital. She always baked bread heard many stories about how her and cakes, cooked delicious meals kindness, compassion and devotion to and made jams and chutneys with

93 FETHARD & KILLUSTY NEWSLETTER 2008 the homegrown produce. One of her Carne Beach in Wexford with Fethard trademarks was her apron which was Senior Citizens and she loved this put on first thing each morning and ‘holiday’. We know she really enjoyed came off last thing at night. In fact these times helping as carer and she when she arrived home from hospital loved telling us all about what had she put her apron on as soon as she gone on, the music, sing-songs, danc- got in the house! ing, card playing and those who She loved sitting in the garden would recite poetry. She loved danc- looking at Slievenamon. The view ing, singing and telling yarns her- from our house is spectacular and self. She also enjoyed a drink and a she was always very proud to tell cigarette and was great company to people that she lived in ‘the valley of be with. Slievenamon’. I am sure we all could She was a wonderful mother, sing the song ‘Slievenamon’ before grandmother and great-grandmother we went to school. Each spring she and had always been there for us would watch out for the arrival of the throughout our lives. She taught us to first swallow. She looked forward to have respect for others and ourselves. the swallows nesting in the old sheds She was a lovely, kind, caring and as they did every year knowing that compassionate person whose gentle summer was on its way. When the nature touched everybody. She never time came for them to leave again, she judged people by race, religion or was sad watching as they began to social standing; she always looked for gather on the telephone wires outside the good in people. the house. We know that our mother is in a She was also a great historian and better place now but it does not ease could trace back many years of local the pain and sadness in our hearts. history with lots of interesting stories Her memory will always live on in to tell. She had great respect for the our hearts and in the hearts of our beliefs and knowledge of the genera- children and in their children. tion she always referred to as ‘the old Good night and God bless you people’ and loved talking to them Mam, we all love you and miss you about bygone times. more than words can say. Thank Mammy worked very hard all her you for all you did for us, Daddy, life and on many occasions she also Cinta, Joanne, Michael, Jim, Monica, cared for sick people at night, after Rosemary and Rita. spending the day rearing her seven May I also take this opportunity, children at home. We now look back on their behalf, to thank everyone and wonder how she managed it, who came to offer their condolences. always greeting everyone with a big It was very much appreciated. ◉ smile and a huge welcome. For the last 20 years she went to — Monica McCahery (Kearney)

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Boy in front Lory Dineen, Greta Lavin, Sally Finn, Mary Byard, Mrs Croke (Aggie Barrett’s mother) . Back: Marie Dineen, Don Byard, Betty Dineen, Agnes and Frances Evans .

Bournemouth 1955 . L to R: Rita Allen (Hennebry), Patsy Byard, Madge Lally (Kenrick), Wendy Allen (child) and Billy Allen, Barrack Street .

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Budding musicians John Casey and Declan Mulligan .

L to R: Rosie Walsh, Patsy Byard and Helen Marshall

96 2008 FETHARD & KILLUSTY NEWSLETTER Greetings from Killusty National School

Kate O’Donnell, Killusty National School, presenting a cheque for €350, the proceeds of a coffee morning, to Sinaida Jansen, South Tipperary Hospice, on behalf of the people of Killusty . Also included with the pupils are Ms Frances Harrington (Principal), Tracy Wallace (Special Needs Assistant), Helena Delany, Josephine Mackey, Sarah O’Sullivan, Ann Darcy (School Secretary) and Jim Bond (South Tipp Hospice) . nother busy year in Jack Pollard, Lorna Smyth, Luke AKillusty National School. Coen, Rebecca Kenny and Thomas In September 2007 we had three Morgan. new entrants, Cathal Ryan, Kieran • Michelle Walsh, Shannon Hickey, O’Donnell and Phoebe Duggan. Our Kate O’Donnell, Niamh Crotty, academic year, punctuated by various David Morgan, Derek O’Brien activities unfolded thus: and James Harrington received the • A school Mass in September, cel- Sacrament of Confirmation. ebrated by Rev. Fr. T. Breen, started • Rev. Pat Coffey, a member of the our school year in a prayerful way. Diocesan Support Team, visited our Our school community also attended school to appraise the religious edu- Masses during Lent. In December, cation programme in our school. our carol service was enjoyed by all • We went on our school trip to the parents and the school commu- Waterford Institute of Technology for nity. We also visited the local nursing an activities based day. home where our pupils entertained • We had our Sports Day, with the residents with Christmas songs. Cloneen N.S, and Kilvemnon N.S., The year was brought to a close with in Cloneen. a Graduation Mass in June to cel- • Our various fundraising activities ebrate the ‘Moving On’ of Michelle included the Hospice Movement, The and Shannon. Irish Heart Foundation, Brother Paul’s • First Holy Communion was received Eldoret Appeal and Mrs Quinn’s by Aoife Sheehan, Chelsea Kenny, Charity Shops appeal.

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• We attended a performance of ‘The Irish Sports Council, by all the staff, Bus’ by the Barnstorm Theatre ensured a huge variety of physical Company in the Watergate Theatre education experiences for the pupils in Kilkenny. going forward. • We also attended ‘Santa’s Sleigh’ in • The Magic of Music Programme, in the Excel Theatre in Tipperary town. term three, developed the children’s • Our pupils also enjoyed recorder love and appreciation of music fur- tuition on a weekly basis throughout ther. the school year. • Our pupils participated in football • All pupils enjoyed their Irish dancing and hurling matches, and weekly lessons in term one. training sessions with Noel Byrne, • Swimming lessons were enjoyed, GAA representative. over a ten-week period in term two, • Our pupils enjoyed Kool School, by all pupils in First to Sixth classes an eight–week programme of co- • There was ‘A Big Splash’ in April, operative games and physical health when our Junior and Senior Infants education in the summer term. descended on Clonmel Swimming • Our sixth class Michelle Walsh Pool, to whet their appetites for the and Shannon Hickey moved on, in swimming lessons to come. June, to commence their Secondary • All pupils enjoyed a ‘Fabric and Fibre’ Education, bringing with them, we art day in May. hope, an appreciation of our vision • ‘A Fire Safety in the Home Day’, for them. facilitated by a member of the Fire Department in Clonmel, provided a Yes, a year full of variety, helping valuable learning experience for all. us to implement our vision for Killusty • Participation in the Buntus N.S., that each child would be devel- Programme, a physical activity train- oped intellectually, socially, spiritually, ing programme, delivered and sup- physically and morally. ported through the South Tipperary A Peaceful and Happy Christmas Sports Partnership and funded by the and New Year to you all. ◉

Table quiz team L to R: Kate O’Donnell, Niamh Crotty, Shannon Hickey and Michelle Walsh

98 2008 FETHARD & KILLUSTY NEWSLETTER Like to spend a week in Fethard?

Open 25 years, the Sunday Fethard Car Boot Sale drawing in larger crowds than ever

ocal tour guide Colm McGrath river walk, calling into Fethard Folk Lhas made a few suggestions on Museum which is jam full of amazing what one could do on a week’s holi- old farm machinery, carts and car- day in the Fethard area. Colm is based riages and fascinating implements of a in Fethard and his ‘Tipp Tours’ offer bygone age. very affordable, full personal holiday Back to the hotel for dinner; hope- packages. For further information visit fully the Guinness stew is on the his website www.tipptours.com menu today — I hear it’s great. This afternoon I am going to relax back at Friday the Gateway, maybe have a chat with Up early for a hearty breakfast at Paddy because tonight might be a late the Gateway B&B on Rocklow Road, one as I intend sitting in on the local not because I have to get up early but band’s weekly Friday night session; an because I want to get to the Country intimate evening with the ‘Pheasant Market held early every Friday morn- Pluckers’. Going to meet a friend I ing in the medieval town hall on Main met along the way in Burke’s Bridge Street. The plan is to get some fresh Bar first, just the place for a nice quiet cakes and meet some of the characters cosy chat. of the area. Afterwards take a stroll Saturday around to the antique shop and Town Up early to investigate the cattle & County for a potter round before mart, take in the atmosphere; wheel- coffee and a scone at McCarthy’s. ing and dealing and strong smells of Now set for a nice brisk walk around frightened livestock. Might drop into the Rocklow Road through to the Jimmy Sullivan’s chemist for a dash of Cashel Road via the quiet grassy eau de toilette on the way for my cof-

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fee and scone this morning. Sunday Later I am calling in on Emily’s After an all-important lie-in there Deli on Burke Street for something is much to choose from and so little tasty that I can bring with me as I go time. I have to get to the Car Boot for a long walk in Grove Wood and Sale, one of the best in Ireland, which surrounding area. I hope to take in is held every Sunday from 11am to Crampscastle Pottery too and maybe 4ish? Time goes by so fast here with pick up a nice piece of pottery as a gift so much to see and you always meet or souvenir of my stay in Fethard. some interesting people to talk to. Tonight I’m going in search of Today I’m having dinner in Sadel’s some loud live music and no better Restaurant on Burke Street. Hard to place to begin than Butler’s Sports believe this was once a tiny pub where Bar on Main Street. Always a lively only a small select few were allowed crowd there, as well as the music to to experience its hospitality. Today it’s enjoy. But variety is the spice of life a beautiful spacious eating-house and and Lonergans pub on The Square guesthouse with the cosy atmosphere also provides some great live per- still. formers and an equally warm atmos- Being the day that’s in it, there has phere (a must visit for Halloween and to be a game of hurling or football to Christmas for spectacular makeovers). attend either in the local Barrack Field The only way to end a night like or one of the many surrounding clubs. tonight is with a bag of chips from Tonight then I might just skip The Lantern take-away for the short the light fantastic on the beautiful walk home. dance floor of Fethard Ballroom for

100 2008 FETHARD & KILLUSTY NEWSLETTER some popular dancing to a live band. Tuesday Up and out on the open farm at Monday Rathkenny, first a brisk walk with Have booked a full day tour with the dogs through the rolling hills and Colm from TippTours.com. A good newly planted woodlands which offer part of it takes in the Walled Town breathtaking views of Slievenamon, itself and it’s truly amazing to hear the the Galtees and Knockelly Castle. stories behind the ancient buildings of Later, going to experience some of the the town as well as the more recent workings of a farm with sheep, cattle, history and characters of the town. It goats and hens etc.. really puts things in perspective! In the afternoon may try a hand at I’m staying out on Tipptours farm the treasure hunt or go down the road accommodation in Rathkenny tonight to Mullinahone for fun on the quads to experience the greater rural area. at Guiry’s Farm. It’s just four miles from the town and the route to it offers some great Wednesday scenic views of the real valley of Moved back into town for my last Slievenamon. couple of nights. No vacancies at the Colm has arranged for a visit to Gateway B&B but that’s okay as there the famous Thatch Pub in the village was a cancellation at the Cozi B&B, of Cloneen just a couple of miles Redcity, on the Rosegreen Road, and away. it’s on another lovely side of town. Today I am feeling energetic and have

Sunday night dancing at Fethard Ballroom

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Pheasant Pluckers session at McCarthy’s Hotel managed to get myself a slot in the lunch today at Lonergan’s Bar. I also Slievenamon Golf Club for a round of had an offer of a game of tennis at the greens with lunch there to follow. the Sports Centre just outside the Plan to take it easy in the afternoon Town Wall so that should work off so might just get a DVD in town. any excess. Afternoon I’m taking Also while I am there, call to Carroll’s a trip out to Clonbrogan, the birth- Framing Shop as I noticed a great place of John ‘Red’ Kelly, the father selection of pictures and photos of the of Australian outlaw Ned Kelly. The area that would make great gifts. local pub has the full Kelly story docu- Tonight I am going to the com- mented and on display. munity field where I hear the Badgers Tonight I’m having dinner at over-30s play soccer every Wednesday Kellett’s Restaurant adjacent to evening and all in that age bracket are McCarthy’s Hotel and afterwards I’m welcome. Long time since I played going to chance my luck at the weekly any football so I’ll bring the phone Thursday night bingo game in the numbers of Kari Laaksonen and Kathy beautifully restored Abymill Theatre. Doran, both local experts in massage. Who knows, I might even win a few Euro to replenish my pockets for the Thursday trip home. My, the week has really flown . . . Well, time to get back to work better start packing all those gifts and after a very ‘different’ but enjoyable go and check the travel times at the holiday. If you feel like giving it a try Internet Café based in the Community and need some guidance from one Information Centre in Barrack Street. who knows! Give me a call or drop The last time I was there I met me a line: Colm McGrath, Rathkenny, some great characters at the Day Care Fethard, Co Tipperary. Tel: +353 52 Centre. 9152129 Mobile: +353 86 3502360 I’m treating myself to a Chinese Email [email protected] ◉ 102 2008 FETHARD & KILLUSTY NEWSLETTER Fethard ICA Guild he year 2007-08 was again a the year we had a very enjoyable night Tbusy one for the Guild, with trying our hand at some painting, and 29 members on our books. One of another night getting some very good the main events of the year was a advice on the care and management of Craft Display & Sale held on 21st our gardens. We would like to express October in aid our sincere thanks of two charities. to all those speak- The sale was a ers who gave so wonderful suc- generously of cess with a total their time and sum of €1,714 expertise. raised. Later The sum- we presented a mer outing this cheque for €1,000 year was to the to Concern and Castlecomer Craft €714 to the Village, a place Christina Noble well worth a visit. Foundation. We travelled on The sec- to a garden cen- ond big event tre and then spent of the year was some time in the success of Kilkenny city, fin- Marie Crean, ishing up the day who this July at with a lovely meal the RDS won in Hotel Kilkenny. 1st Prize in the Our AGM National Crafts was held in May C o m p e t i t i o n , and the offic- plus the RDS Marie Crean, who won 1st Prize in the National ers elected for P e r p e t u a l Crafts Competition at the RDS, plus the RDS Perpetual the year were, Challenge Cup as overall winner for her beautiful chris- Challenge Cup tening gown worked in crochet . President, Anne as overall winner Gleeson; Vice for her beautiful crochet christening President, Sheila O’Donnell; Secretary, gown, cap and bootees. Anne Horan; and Treasurer, Margaret Over the year we had very inter- Phelan. esting speakers on many subjects We meet on the 2nd Tuesday of ranging, from beauty treatments and every month and are happy to wel- make-up, health care from a local prac- come new members at any time. ◉ tice nurse to flower arranging. Later in

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‘Not All Tea & Buns’, Fethard ICA float at Fethard Festival 1984 L to R: Nellie Shortall, Hannie Leahy, Annie O’Brien, Marie Crean, Mary Leahy and Mrs Fahey

Fethard finest athletes photographed on a sunny day in November 1982 . L to R: Davey Purcell, Evan Colville, Pat Phelan, Noel Maher, John Stokes, Christy Looby and Keith Tobin

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Jackie Mulcahy-Mackey, formerly of Red City, Fethard, and now living in Croyden, Surrey, England, is photographed riding his first winner at Southwell, England, in 1948 . (photo supplied by Chris Mackey)

L to R: Tommy O’Shea, Kim Lonergan and Jim Carroll . August 1999

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L to R: Ann Kenrick, Phil Kearney, June Kennedy and Concepta Healy . Taken September 1965 .

David Purcell 2nd Prize in Fethard Festival Fancy L to R: Gene Walsh and Austie McDonnell Dress Parade 1979 1947

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Platform dancing during the first year of ‘An Tostal’ at Kilnockin includes: Danny Carey, , Neddy Trehy, Tess Murphy, Toby McCormack, Peggy Kenny, Alice Keane, Eileen Carey, . (Supplied by Tom Butler)

Platform dancing at Kilnockin — includes Jack Fleming, Tommy Butler, Paddy Butler, Mary Fitzgerald, Sarah Murphy, Nellie Noonan . (Supplied by Tom Butler)

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John Joe’s Corner by John Joe Keane Terrier Racing in the Sportsfield they went on their daily walks and he grand parade of the Carnival talks with their armful of colourful Thad reached its destination, the flowers, sometimes in wicker baskets, Barrack Field, many events were tak- the finer world. ing place, and to the left, going in the gate stood the starting boxes, acquired Fruitful Paradise unlocked by Sean Henehan. All the partici- s a child, knocking on a door pants brought their pets to compete, Ain The Green and requesting sheepdogs, mon- apples from the land- grels, terriers and lady, Mrs Delmege. various others. Being led to the orchard Into the boxes they of abundance and sup- were put. Around plied, of a sunny day, came the hare the with a near flat bas- trap doors were ket of pears, apples, lifted and streak- plums, raspberries, ing ahead were Joe strawberries, really, a O’Dwyer’s terriers, hard to believe hamper small and swift. of nature’s goodness. Other dogs went Could only marvel at off the track, and what careful husband- Joe was in busi- ry could achieve, to a ness, his dogs were farming mind, it was in demand and a wonderful, interlude the breed became in an otherwise frugal famous. time of measurement, ‘German Goddess’, Marian Springer, who was watchfulness, and big au pair at Walshe’s . Burke Street . difference, fine. The Abbey Florists t Mass, Benediction, all devo- German Goddess Ations in hard times, there was eightened teenage years always a supply of fresh beautiful Hof flairs, really we were an flowers brought by Jo Barrett (Mrs eager motley crew. An au pair from O’Connor), Mary O’Connell of the Germany, a furore that was the cen- Cloneen road, and Girlie Healy, who tre of attention, more and more. in their own way performed remark- She glowed by the campfire, behind able feats in acquiring, arranging and McGraths, tall, tame, blond, what a brightening the church. Quiet ladies hoo haa. Dancing in the Tirry Club whose dedication could be seen as to records. Ice cream cones at Flynn’s,

108 2008 FETHARD & KILLUSTY NEWSLETTER rewards. Alas, her heart was to a twelve o’clock, next day in the parish French man, sophisticated, mature, church receiving our maker for the serious and grand. The ship, passed in first time, a large photograph, taken the night, an interlude part of growing outside the chapel, up to the station, up as we should. on to Thurles’ steam train, heading for Clonmel, going to Woolworths, Suited for God picking and choosing sweets. Money rought down to O’Flynn’s in ‘do phóca’ and putting away the Bof Burke Street, measured, suit for another time, afterwards. at seven years of age, tailored and Would not be possible without par- fitted to perfection, skilfully. Oh the ents and teachers. ◉ night before communion, fasting after Bro Paul in troubled Kenya

L to R: Seamus Hayes (Playing for Life) photographed with two Patrician Brothers based in Kenya, Bro Paul Brennan and Bro Colm O’Connell . Bro Paul would like to thank the Fethard community for their ongoing support for his work in Eldoret, Kenya, which is much needed and appreciated . t was the best of times; it 27th December. They got a peaceful “Iwas the worst of times . . .” and very interesting election and the Dickens’s words could be applied winds of change swept over the land very aptly to the last week of 2007 from the beautiful Indian Ocean in for us here in the north Rift Valley the East, to the mighty Lake Victoria of Kenya. Our people celebrated in the West, and from the desert of Christmas in their inimitable Turkana in the North to the Maasai here as finances permitted and looked Mara Park in the South. forward to a peaceful election day on Who could have really foreseen

109 FETHARD & KILLUSTY NEWSLETTER 2008 what would happen on December Then on 29 February, as a result of 29th . . . total mayhem and in many a coalition cobbled together by Kofi cases plain savagery over the dis- Annan, people were able to wish each puted results of the election. Thirteen other a very much delayed “Happy hundred paid the ultimate price and New Year” . . . almost euphoria. nearly 40,000 lost whatever little they The world saw what was happen- had. Panic and fear gripped the land. ing here . . . perhaps saw more than Roads became cluttered with truck we ourselves who were in the mid- and bus-loads fleeing as best they dle of it! It needn’t have happened. It could to God knows where. Some shouldn’t have happened. It should are still far from their one-time homes never happen again. and still living in tents. Education of That is our prayer and the prayer children was severely disrupted and of all right-thinking Kenyans. May in the long run, a threat of food short- the scars heal sooner rather than later age. Our own new Patrician school in and our politicians have something to Kabongo saw enrolment drop from answer for! ◉ a possible 440 to 230. Our numbers — Bro . Paul D . Brennan, Administrator have recovered to about 395 now, of the Patrician Complex at Kabongo . thankfully. Email: patriciankabongo@gmail .com

Laurence Kenny photographed with Tracy Piggott on this year’s ‘Playing for Life’ trip to Tanzania and Malawi . Tracy is a founder member of ‘Playing for Life’ charity which is involved in tremendous development work in Africa, offering relief, assistance and empowerment of peoples in need through sport & vocational training . If you would like to be a volunteer next year, contact Seamus Hayes, Kilconnell, Fethard, Tel: 086 2307330 or visit the website: www .playingforlife .ie 110 2008 FETHARD & KILLUSTY NEWSLETTER Padraig Ua Floinn

Mr and Mrs Padraig O’Flynn, Burke Street, Fethard, on the occasion of the sixtieth anniversary of their wedding, which they celebrated on Thursday 27th June 1957 . Mr O’Flynn was one of the first to join the Sinn Féin movement and was a founder member of Fianna Fail, since when he has been chairman of the Comhairle Dail Ceanntair . One of the many gifts received in honour of the occasion, was a beautiful set of Waterford Glass from the three local Fianna Fail Dail deputies, Messrs . Breen, Davern and Loughman . The above informal gathering was pictured on the occasion of the latter presentation Left to right, Front: Mr . F . Loughman, T .D .; Mr and Mrs Padraig O’Flynn; Mr . Dan Breen, T .D . Back: Messrs . Sean Cleary, N .T .; J . Stapleton; P .J . Coffey, B .E .; Rev . Fr . John O’Flynn; Messrs . John Feehan U D. C. ., Cashel; Michael Davern, T .D ., J . Kennedy, M .C .C ., T . Ryan .

n any local area where there has of the past so as to not end up with a Ibeen a serious community strug- glib and lazy view of what has taken gle for power and freedom, there is place and fail to see that our mistaken often found, thereafter, in the uncer- views of the past can lead to difficul- tain victory, a reluctance to describe ties for the future. the old rivalries or the deeds com- There is a double debt of grati- mitted even in the name of a people tude owed to Padraig Ua Floinn from forced to take up arms in order Burke Street, Fethard in this regard to extract themselves from the tight as not alone did he participate in the clutches of a neighbouring empire. war of independence but he was will- However, it would appear there is a ing to recall what happened through necessity to partake in the uncomfort- his participation in the Irish Military able act of remembering in order for archives undertaken in August 1955. us to gain a thorough understanding Two incidents are described which

111 FETHARD & KILLUSTY NEWSLETTER 2008 indicate the complexity of relation- Communications between the vol- ships that existed at the time when the unteers in Fethard and Dublin were colonised tackled both the coloniser mainly channelled through Pierce and those who were in the service of McCann — who was born between the coloniser. Fethard and Cashel and who, after the Briefly, to set the scene, Mr rising, was a T.D. for South Tipperary O’Flynn was born in Lisronagh in and who later still, died in a British 1875 and having trained as a tailor, jail. Mr O’Flynn’s premises in Burke he moved and set Street was used up a tailoring and as the centre from outfitting business in where dispatches to Fethard in 1897. On outlying posts were Easter Sunday 1913, organised, including a company of Irish Clonmel. National Volunteers Initially, there was founded in was an order for the Fethard at Kilnockin units to participate in Hill and Mr O’Flynn the rising and mobi- was elected company lise and then later captain. When the there was a coun- 1914-1918 European ter command. Eoin war of empires McNeill is today broke out, the Irish credited with the National Volunteers issue of that counter split into the command and he is, National Volunteers of course, the grand- who followed Mr father of the second Redmond and the last leader of the PDs Irish Volunteers who who faced a similar followed Mr Pearse. Éamon De Valera making his way to Fethard dilemma during the Parish Church for Padraig O’Flynn’s Funeral Needless to say, over last general election time the split also occurred in Fethard about whether to go or stay with Bertie and a branch of Irish Volunteers was Ahern during the election campaign. subsequently set up in the town and On Easter Sunday evening 1916, it contained about forty members. Mr O’Flynn describes how Sergeant Perhaps it may be appropriate to com- Clancy from the R.I.C. Barracks in memorate this group who struggled Fethard approached him to inquire for our freedom. whether there was truth in the rumour During Easter Week in 1916, that the Rosegreen Brigade of Irish there were rumours around that a Volunteers was to mobilise and attack general arising was to take place. the Fethard Barracks as the Sergeant

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Padraig O’Flynn’s remains leaving Fethard Parish Church for Lisronagh was mindful lest he should move his had talked to Mr O’Flynn about the wife and children out of their barrack Rosegreen Brigade, Mr Morrissey had accommodation. Apparently he was been on his way to bring news to assured that no rising was to take Rosegreen of the counter command. place and that his family was safe. Mr O’Flynn was able to continue In the following month after the his activities and he addressed public rising did take place in Dublin, the meetings in many parts of the county. British authorities conducted a seri- In the 1919 local elections he was ous investigation around the county. elected to the County Council for the Two people from this locality were Fethard area where he also served as a arrested and interned in Frongoch presiding magistrate in the new courts camp in Merionethshire, Wales. On and was also responsible for the col- the day of their arrest, the County and lections of subscriptions to the Dail District Inspector of the R.I.C., accom- Eireann fund. He also remained active panied by Sergeant Clancy and oth- with the local volunteers. ers, called on Mr O’Flynn to inquire One day about three weeks prior about his whereabouts on that fateful to the truce, Major King, Commander Easter Monday. As the questioning of the British Garrison in Fethard sent began Sergeant Clancy is alleged to a message to Mr O’Flynn to come have stepped forward and assured immediately to the army barracks and, both inspectors that Mr O’Flynn and even though he had been brought his brother-in-law were both present there previously for questioning, Mr when they had been checked by the O’Flynn states that he agreed to the Sergeant on that fateful day which was request. There, Major King informed not strictly true as, when the sergeant him that three British soldiers had

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been found spying in the Rosegreen respectable people who had taken up area and had been killed. Major King arms were able to return again to nor- advised Mr O’Flynn to leave Fethard mal day-to-day life as three-quarters as he feared that the troops under of the island was granted limited free- his command would extract repris- dom by the London Parliament. als within the community and that Padraig O’Flynn with members of Padraig O’Flynn would be a target. his family ran a successful tailoring He left the town on that day and his business (noted indeed for its sales of wife had to go with their children blueshirts in a later decade) in Fethard to Tullamaine when members of the for many years until he died in 1959 at British Army raided their premises. In the great age of 83. He is buried in the a matter of weeks, however, the treaty old cemetery in Lisronagh. ◉ was signed and ordinary decent and — John Cooney

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January to December The following ‘old rhyme’ was sent to us by Tom O’Connell whose mother, Kathleen from Burke Street, related to him from memory on 16th November 2008 . She must have learnt this off in school around 80 years ago . Kathleen was 90 last August .

January: brings the snow Makes our feet and fingers glow February: brings the rain Thaws the frozen lakes again March: brings breezes loud and shrill Stirs the dancing daffodil April: brings the primrose sweet Scatters daisies at our feet May: brings flocks of pretty lambs Skipping by their fleecy dams June: brings tulips, lilies, roses Fills the children’s hands with posies July: Hot July brings cooling showers Apricots and Lily flowers August: brings the sheaves of corn Then the harvest home is borne September: Warm September brings the fruit Sportsmen too begin to shoot October: Fresh October brings the pheasant Then to gather nuts is pleasant November: Dull November brings the blast Then the leaves are swirling fast December: Chill December brings the sleet Warm fire and Christmas treat.

115 FETHARD & KILLUSTY NEWSLETTER 2008 Fethard Ladies Football his year, Fethard Ladies Congratulations and well done to TFootball came up against some Sinead Delahunty and Barbara Ryan very strong teams at under-12 and who brought back two All-Ireland under-14 age groups. We can look Intermediate medals to Fethard and forward to next year with some very the club. The committee is: President talented players keeping the club Fr. Tom Breen; Chairman Thomas going. At junior level we were unable McCarthy; Hon Sec. Joseph Keane; to field a full team for either league Treasurer Maureen McCarthy, or championship. We seem to have Derryluskin; and Trainer / Coach a breakdown between under-16 and Michael Ryan, Tullamaine. junior teams. This is where we have Thanks to all parents for their help some very good players who are and cooperation during the year. We unwilling to continue playing. look forward to a successful 2009. ◉

L to R: Sinead Delahunty and Barbara Ryan photographed holding the Mary Quinn Memorial Cup following Tipperary’s win over Clare in the All-Ireland Intermediate Football Final . Congratulations to the Fethard Club girls and the entire Tipperary team who did their county proud!

116 2008 FETHARD & KILLUSTY NEWSLETTER Fethard GAA Club

Fethard Senior Football team who were beaten 0-8 to 0-3 by Moyle Rovers in the South Final

lub Officers for 2008 are: Shane Walsh and Aiden Lonergan CChairman Jimmy O’Shea, shone in defence but on the day Secretary Mary Godfrey, and it was a great team performance. Treasurer Nicky O’Shea. J. P. McGrath between the posts did The Fethard Club had a mixed not put a foot wrong and, for his year on the playing field having par- first Intermediate match, showed years ticipated in five South Finals and win- of maturity. Astute substitute, Benny ning two titles, Intermediate hurling Hahessy, won out the day for the after a replay, and Junior A football. Friary town. Well done to all in bring- We lost out on the Senior Football, ing the Jerome O’Dwyer Cup back to Minor A Football and the Minor B Fethard. Hurling titles. Team: J. P. McGrath, Michael Carroll, Shane Walsh, Eoin South Intermediate Hurling Final O’Connell, Aiden Lonergan, Michael The much awaited South Ryan, Cian Maher, Brian Coen 0-1, Intermediate Hurling final replay was John P Looby, Jamie McCormack, played in Kilsheelan on Sunday 2nd Aiden Fitzgerald 0-11 (8f), Miceál November and ended the GAA year Spillane, Christopher Sheehan 0-1, with Fethard winning their 6th title, Eoin Doyle, Kenneth O’Donnell. Subs third since 2000, in a very sport- were: Benny Hahessy 1-0 for Kenneth ing game, they were lucky to get a O’Donnell 54min, Dean Tobin for vital goal near the end of the match Miceál Spillane 56min. which gave them a lead for the first time. After some excellent displays South Junior A Football Final from Aiden Fitzgerald 0-11 (8f), Chris On Friday night, 26th September, Sheehan 0-2, the game ended on a Fethard Junior A footballers won the scoreline, Fethard 1-13, Moyle Rovers South title on a scoreline, Fethard 0-14. 2-7, St Patricks 0-9, our 12th title in

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Fethard 7-a-side football team of the past (supplied by Marie O’Sullivan) L to R: Jimmy Hayes, Joe Ahearne, Hugh O’Donnell, Dick Hayes, Mick Hayes, Tom Wright and Mick Byrne, Killusty . total and created history as the first McCarthy 0-5 (3f). Subs were: Michael team to win a South adult title played Carroll for Tom Anglim (10m), Aaron under lights in Ballyporeen. Fethard O’Donovan for Cathal Gorey (20m), had fine displays from the full back Eoin O’Connell for Johnny Neville line, William O’Brien, Nicky Murphy (45m), for Martin Coen and Philly Croke. Philly Blake and (60m), and Mike Kelly for Philly Blake Alan O’Connor cut off attacks with (62m). Aaron O’Donovan, Miceál Spillane Paul Fitzgerald and Conor McCarthy in good form Pride of Place in the Fethard Club up front. must go to Paul Fitzgerald when, on The team was: J P McGrath, 1st November, he brought home the William O’Brien, Nicky Murphy, first ever Donnelly Sponsored Railway Philly Croke, Philly Blake, Willie Cup football medal to Fethard GAA Morrissey, Alan O’Connor, Thomas Club. This was Munster’s 15th success Keane, Cathal Gorey, , in Portlaoise. They won on a scoreline, Martin Coen 1-1, Miceál Spillane 0-1, Munster 1-9, Connaught 0-7, having Johnny Neville, Tom Anglim, Conor defeated Ulster in the semifinal the

118 2008 FETHARD & KILLUSTY NEWSLETTER previous week in Fermoy. Paul played to 1939 without success. Well done in goal and kept a clean sheet. Having again to Paul who hails from Kiltinan been a member on the Munster panel and is the eldest son of Gus and Josie since 2005 without success, he now Fitzgerald. holds a memorable place in the his- Our condolences to the Sayers tory books along with the great Jim family on the passing of John (Buddy) Williams, Clonmel, who was the last who graced our playing fields in his Tipperary man to win in both 1941 younger days winning a South Senior and 1946. Jim was a member of the football title in 1950 before departing Munster panel seven times in the our shores for England; also to the period 1936 to 1947. Many other great Hanrahan family from The Green on players from the Fethard Club played the passing of Sean. Go ndeana Dia on losing sides over the years — Dick trocaire orthu. Allen, Tony Newport (goalie), Gus South Tipperary GAA History Danagher, Dinny Burke, Brian Burke 1907-2007 Books are still available. and Tom Anglim. Dick Allen played Contact Noel Byrne, South Secretary, for six consecutive years from 1934 Email: [email protected] ◉

A lot of familiar faces in this photograph . . . Who knows the other team?

119 FETHARD & KILLUSTY NEWSLETTER 2008 Fethard Bridge Club

Photographed at Fethard Bridge Club’s Coffee Morning in aid of Hospice L to R: Carol Kenny, Mary Fitzgerald, Tina Shine, Catherine O’Shea, Ann Marie O’Sullivan, Bernie O’Meara, Kathleen Kenny, Johnny Nevin and Tommy Bulfin . ethard Bridge Club is now in to Anna Cooke and Bernie O’Meara; Fits 32nd year. At our AGM Club Championship (Hayes Trophy) on 21st May 2008 the following to Alice Quinn and Berney Myles; officers and committee were elect- Player of the Year (O’Flynn Trophy) ed: President Gemma Burke; Vice to Alice Quinn; Individual Champion President Kathleen Kenny; Secretary (Dick Gorey Perpetual Trophy) to Anne Connolly; Treasurer Rita Kane; Alice Quinn; Most Improved Player Assistant Treasurer Anna Cooke. (Suzanne Opray Trophy) to Anne Tournament Directors, Alice Quinn, Connolly; and The Lucey Trophy to Betty Walsh, Frances Burke and Gemma Burke and Carol Kenny. Gemma Burke. Partner Facilitator, We note the death this year of Berney Myles and the following com- former club member, Eve Goodbody, mittee members: Bernie O’Meara, Nell Clonacody. Eve was a popular mem- Broderick, Marie Delaney and Ellen ber of the club for a long number of Rochford. years. Although she hadn’t played At our President’s Prize din- bridge for the past few years she will ner held at Fairways Restaurant on be fondly remembered by the club 16th May 2008 our president Bernie members. O’Meara presented the following priz- We played for the free sub for the es: President’s Prize to Brigid Gorey coming year on 1st October and 8th and Betty Walsh; Committee Prize October and the winners of the gross

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President’s Prize presented by Bernie O’Meara to Brigid Gorey (left) and Betty Walsh (right) . free sub were Carmel Condon and party was held in the Tirry Centre Brendan Kenny, and the free nett sub on 14th December at which our was won by and Bernie O’Meara and Christmas prizes were presented. Anna Cooke. May we take this opportunity On 12th November we held a char- to wish all bridge players (and non- ity night and donated the proceeds for bridge players!) at home and abroad a the evening to the Augustinian mis- very happy and holy Christmas and a sion in Ecuador and the Presentation prosperous New Year. ◉ Sisters in Zimbabwe. Our Christmas

Player of the Year, Alice Quinn receiving her prize from Bernie O’Meara (left) .

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Boherlahan memories by Tony Newport

Traditional farming scene saving hay

ometimes we are asked where visits to Boherlahan during the late Swe were when events of world- 1940s when I went to visit my great wide significance took place. I have Boherlahan friend, Jack Doherty. I no difficulty in recalling where I was first met Jack Doherty when he visited when the first Olympic Games after our shop in Fethard, having played the 1939-45 World War took place a hurling match with Boherlahan in London in 1948. I was on holiday in Fethard sportsfield on a Fethard in Boherlahan. Teenagers of today, Carnival Sunday. This was the start no doubt, who go to France, Spain, of a long friendship and indeed I was the Canary Islands or wherever to saddened to learn that Jack had passed celebrate their Leaving results will ask to his eternal reward, in England, just what on earth could you find to do in over a year ago. Boherlahan. I will try in this article However, in Boherlahan I was to tell them and I hope wherever they introduced to my first visit to the bog. go, whether it’s Biarritz, Barcelona, Early on a Monday morning we set Brazil or the Bahamas, they will have out for the bog on our trusty bicycles as much fun, craic and enjoyment as loaded to the hilt with cakes of brown we had in Boherlahan all those years bread, apple tarts, a few skelps of ago. This is an account of the many home-cured bacon and cider flagons

122 2008 FETHARD & KILLUSTY NEWSLETTER of milk. I thought we were going for novice at the game and he calmed a week. I did not know then what down and resumed. a bog appetite was like. When we When it came to the tea-break, arrived, having left the bicycles at Mrs Jack complained that he found the Todd’s, Horse & Jockey, the slanes- going hard as he was very much man was already there. This was a bothered by a boil on the side of his man, I think, called Tom Gleeson, an forearm. I told him I had heard that if excellent slanesman, but very eccen- you put some boiling water in a bot- tric. I was shown how to catch the tle, emptied the water out, applied the sods flying from his slane and place neck of the bottle to the boil it would them on the cart. “Catch them soft”, draw it out. We decided to try the I was told, “or they will bust”. I soon remedy. It worked very well except got the knack. However, with lack of for one snag – we got the boil and its concentration I took my eye off the contents into the neck of the bottle ball, so to speak, and turning I discov- alright but we also got the bottle weld- ered a flying sod almost on my chest. ed to Jack’s arm, and the problem was Making a very quick grab at it, it burst how to get it off. No alternative but in bits, with about half the sod landing to break it. Luckily for Jack it worked on Tom’s bald head in the bog-hole reasonably well. He tied a piece of rag below. We very nearly had the first on the arm and carried on regardless. Bord na Móna strike, as Tom downed Thus passed my first day on the bog. the slane and threatened to leave until Other events that took place on it was explained to him that I was a the bog were chasing and trying to

Cutting turf

123 FETHARD & KILLUSTY NEWSLETTER 2008 catch the young wild ducks. When endary goalkeepers, gave me a hurley they were learning to fly they could he had made himself. It was my most not travel very far. The idea was to treasured possession until I broke it chase them ‘til they were exhausted accidentally by hitting the goal post and catch them. I’m afraid we got a with it in the half dark in Fethard lot of wettings, but very few ducks. sportsfield. I mourned that hurley for There were also stories of salmon a month. making one way spawning trips up With regard to the hurling, Jack the streams and laits that led from the was home from England a few years bog to the Suir. Of course I would not ago to attend a wedding which was take part in any such poaching activi- also attended by the great Mickey ties. We also went catching hares for ‘Rattler’ Byrne. On being asked, did the annual Boherlahan coursing. The he know Jack, Mickey replied, “Do boys of the club purchased a new, I know him, the big foxy so and so. very long hare net from Kilroy’s of I can still feel the belt he hit me in Tullamore. The first day out a fox hit Boherlahan the day the new field in the new net. Pandemonium! “He’ll the village opened”. As they say, sin bust it, he’ll bust it”, someone shouted. scéal eile. The poor fox did not chance it as my While on the subject of hurling, friend, Jack, ran up, caught the fox by Jack Doherty, Senior, was an old the throat and choked him. Tobberadora hurler and played full- Tuesday and Thursday nights back on the Tipperary 1916 Senior meant a bi-weekly trip to the GAA All-Ireland winning team. The argu- field for training for the Boherlahan ments with regards to the merits and hurling team. I wonder if some of demerits of hurling standards from today’s players had to face a three- his day to the forties used to range mile cycle to the training field, after a fast and furious. Jack always finished hard day’s manual labour on the bog by saying, “Will ye shut up, ye don’t or on the farm, how they would fare know what ye are talking about. Look out? Not so good, I expect. On most at those what ye call solo runs, in my of those nights, Boherlahan could time if Sean or took off muster two full teams in the GAA field on one of those he’d need medical and a full match was played. Indeed, attention before he was gone very far”. I felt honoured to be asked to play in “Were ye that tough, Mr Doherty?”, such illustrious company. The play- I’d enquire, innocently. “Tough, sure ers I can remember from those far-off one day we played Borris in the days are Jimmy Maher, Eamonn and ‘Jockey’ and, even after bringing on Jack Doherty, Bob Manton, a very several spectators, they ran out of classy James O’Meara and Sonny subs”. Red cards and yellow cards Maher. I felt doubly honoured when how are you. He was highly amused Jimmy Maher, one of Tipperary’s leg- one morning while milking the cows

124 2008 FETHARD & KILLUSTY NEWSLETTER

Notice how many families had seats outside their houses where they could sit and have a chat while smoking their fag . L to R: Agnes Allen, Bidden Brown and Jim Ryan sitting on seat in Kerry Street .

Macra Field Day in Fethard in the 1960s

125 FETHARD & KILLUSTY NEWSLETTER 2008

Does anyone recognise the young girls in these photographs from the 1950s or 60s?

126 2008 FETHARD & KILLUSTY NEWSLETTER when his grandson, his daughter all dances had to start at 8pm and Maggie’s boy, home on holiday from finish at 12 midnight. Boherlahan London said, “Oh, Granda, in London was the only hall I ever danced in, we get our milk from a nice clean bot- and I certainly danced in enough of tle, not from a dirty old cow”. The them, where all the patrons were in same boy, on his first day in school in by the time the second dance con- London, when asked his nationality, cluded. The dances there were most said, “I’m not sure, Mum’s Irish and enjoyable. The bands I remember Dad’s a Corkman”. playing there were Mick Coates from Rev. Dean Lee told me the fol- Templemore, Kieran McNamara and lowing story concerning Jack Snr. Jackie Glasheen from Thurles and One day, when driving from Thurles Mick Fogarty from Cashel. There to Cashel he picked Jack up at was also a very good outfit from Grangemore Cross on the Dublin/ Roscrea, I just can’t recall the name of Cork Road. On enquiring if he was the leader. One night, amongst the he going to Cashel, Jack replied, “ I attendance was a member of the trav- am Father, my son Jack has a friend of elling community. He wore a bomber his, a young fellow from Fethard, stay- jacket with elasticated cuffs and a ing with us. We were thinking that wrist-watch outside the elastic. The the home-cured bacon out of the stan Boherlahan hall was roofed hay-barn might be a bit strong for him, so I am style and became sauna-like in the going to Cashel to get a bit of fresh summer. Our traveller friend, with his meat for him”. “Who is he?”, enquired jacket, was certainly not dressed for the Dean. “His name Father, is Tony the temperature. He had also liberally Newport”, Jack replied. “Well, if it’s applied a few four-penny bottles of the same Tony Newport I remember hair oil, available in every huckster’s when I was a curate in Fethard, you shop. Very soon, our friend was need have no worries on that score. coated in a liberal mixture of perspira- I guarantee you, put it on the plate, tion and hair-oil. Nothing daunted whatever it is, Tony will eat it”. He he carried on regardless. Fair dues to never said a truer word. A typical the Boherlahan girls, he seemed to get example of Tipperary hospitality at plenty of dances. Every window of its best. the hall had a few of his fellow trav- One of the highlights of my many ellers peeping in to see how he was visits to Boherlahan were the dances getting on. in the Parish Hall. Boherlahan hall Speaking of the Boherlahan las- was unique in the diocese. When sies, sure where would you see the the usual hours for dancing in every likes of them? Top class dancers, each hall were 9pm to 3am in the winter and every one, and great exponents and 10pm to 4am in the summer, in of the Cashel Set which they could Boherlahan as it was a Parochial Hall, step out in style. I was told that the

127 FETHARD & KILLUSTY NEWSLETTER 2008

Fethard Badminton team in the 1960s . Back L to R: Tony Newport, Jimmy McCarthy, Cly Mullins, Liam Connolly . Front L to R: Anne Connolly, Ann O’Sullivan, Philly Kenny and Goldie Newport . Boherlahan lads had a most unusual Thurles station and brought home by chat-up line. Of course, I would not pony and trap. That night we loaded dream of using it myself as it did him onto a bicycle, tied a greyhound not sound the right approach to me. collar and lead to the handlebars, Instead of, “What do you think of the towed him down to Boherlahan hall band?” or, “Do you come here often?” and got him out on the floor where the Boherlahan chaps had, “Do you he danced an old-time waltz — a typi- know what, for a big girl, you don’t cal example of the toughness of the sweat much”. Now, that is what I Boherlahan men of that era. was told, and in those days I’d believe Boherlahan, like all Irish districts, anything. had its share of characters. Some of Another recollection I have them were knights of the road, like of Boherlahan hall, is of Eamonn Pak Morrow. Pak had been in the Doherty, Jack’s eldest brother, who First World War and was badly shell- had to have a leg amputated from shocked. He usually carried a tin can below the knee. On the day he was on the end of his stick which he rattled fitted with his artificial limb, the hos- to attract attention. He would call to pital authorities put him on a Thurles Doherty’s, get a bite to eat, sleep the train in Kingsbridge. He was met at night in the barn, get breakfast and

128 2008 FETHARD & KILLUSTY NEWSLETTER leave next morning with a few bob. suffered from them either. Johnny The Junction lived on his own Thus in the stilly night on the Dublin Road with more than ‘ere slumbers chain has bound me a few rats for company. He told us, Fond memory brings the light “the big fellow that comes out of the Of other days around me . . . hole in the corner nearly got me the other night. I let fly with a lump of And, I recall the days a stick at him, I did not get him but I cut the glasses off him”. Bill Coman, ‘Bill the Black’ as he was known, a When all the world was young lad man who took part in the Connaught And all the trees were green; Rangers Mutiny, a regular attender And every goose a swan, lad, at Boherlahan coursing was another And every lass a queen . . . I recall. These are just some of the memo- These are just some of the memo- ries I have of my trips to Boherlahan, ries I recall of those happy days in can it be all that many years ago? Boherlahan so long ago. Yes, the dance has ended but the melody and In Retrospect memories linger on. Sitting at the big Time moves on and so do we, open fire in winter-time, at night, in and as time passed, my visits to Doherty’s kitchen, a fire which inci- Boherlahan became less frequent. My dentally did not go out day or night, friend Jack Doherty, like thousands winter or summer, for well over 100 of others took the emigrant ship, old years. The yarns, the stories and the Jack and Mrs Doherty passed on. craic. To hear one of the lads say, Christy is now the only one remaining when the fire ran low, “go out for a of a truly great Tipperary family, still few Monday morning sods”. It took residing in the old family homestead. me a while to figure that this meant The old open fire with crane bellows, large sods of turf, the ones that were which had not gone out for over a cut first on a Monday morning when hundred years, is long since quenched the slanesman was fresh. Sitting in and replaced by a modern cooker in a Doherty’s kitchen was the last place new house which has replaced the old I heard the cricket sing, I wonder if thatched farmhouse. I did, however, there is one left in Ireland now. manage to keep in touch with local I hope I have brought back memo- Boherlahan affairs by meeting with ries of at least some of what rural life Christy Doherty, on his twice weekly and amusement was like, way back visits to Fethard as salesman with Suir then in rural Ireland. Certainly, if Valley Ice Cream. I have been back boredom, recessions and depression to visit the beautiful refurbished and existed I, or others of my time, never renovated Parish Church and read heard of them or, thank God, never the names inscribed on the monu-

129 FETHARD & KILLUSTY NEWSLETTER 2008 ments erected in memory of the great of Boherlahan sportsfield following a hurlers of the parish at Ardmayle and Fethard – Cappawhite hurling game Tobberadora. The old hurling field at last year I noticed two young boys Gail is also a thing of the past, where playing hurling, one on goal the other so many great men played, replaced on the twenty-first yard line. I was by the excellent new pitch near the particularly impressed with the style village, and the field at Gail may be and artistry with the camán, left and just a thing of memory. The spring right, of the boy on the twenty-one. at Tobair na Deora, however, still Nothing remarkable about this you rises and flows on the great spirit of might think, as I wondered would Tobberadora and its famous Blue and he some day play for Boherlahan or Gold still lives on and is worn still so Tipperary. The only thing unusual proudly by the hurlers of Boherlahan about it was the young boy was black, and Tipperary. God willing the and I’d say it’s a safe bet that his ‘Blue and Gold’ will be carried to the name is not Maher or Ryan. Surely highest honour, as so often before, another indication of how cosmopoli- when Tipp win the All-Ireland Senior tan Boherlahan, Tipperary and Ireland Hurling title in Croke Park on the first have become. ◉ Sunday in September. Coming out Slán go fóill agus Tiobraid Árann Abú

Fethard Presentation Convent Fifth year and Leaving Cert 1964 / 65 . Front Row . Noreen Crean, Ann Purcell, Phil Keating (teacher), Mary Stapleton, Teresa Skehan (Clonbrogan) . Middle Row . Marian Healy, ? , Eileen Lalor, Mary Kenrick, Clare O’Flynn, Eileen Hayes . Back Row . - ? , Joan Leahy, Attracta O’Flaherty .

130 2008 FETHARD & KILLUSTY NEWSLETTER

Lovely Fethard Town (sung to the air of ‘Glenswilly’)

My friends I’ll take my pen in hand and write a verse or two About a spot dear to my heart its tale I’ll tell to you Its stories and its history have long since been written down It’s that place of sweet childhood memory, it’s lovely Fethard town .

The Valley fair beyond compare where I first saw the light And old Coffey’s Mill sure I see it still where we sported with delight At Watergate with its Castle great, the Town Wall of famed renown ‘Neath Slievenamon where it looks down on lovely Fethard town .

St Patrick’s Place each familiar face where I grew from boy to man The plans we made and the games we played in the Ring we hurled and ran The old Barrack Field where our heroes played sure they seldom let us down Oh “Come on the Blues” was the cry we’d use in lovely Fethard town .

The Abbey old I still behold when I close my eyes to dream Whose ancient walls could still recall cruel Cromwell’s tyrant scream The Main Street and Square with its “Armchair” so rare Where old men their days put down Oh these childhood scenes still invade my dreams of lovely Fethard town .

On summer days we would make our way to Newbridge swimming hole By Barton’s stile we would rest awhile as along Grove road we’d stroll Clashawley and the Jesuit’s walk with its abbey long pulled down These were just a few of the places I knew in lovely Fethard town .

And now my story is ended but the memories still remain Of that dear spot in Tipperary may its beauty never wane If God would just grant me one last wish as life’s road I journey down ‘Twould be to rest in that blessed ground just outside of Fethard town .

— Michael Maher

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The Gaels of Fethard All Gaels of Tipperary, a warning take from me, ‘tis time ye were preparing for the championship to be, For rumour lately has it, there’s a big surprise in store, As the gaels of Fethard Parish are united now once more .

On the ninth day of February, in the year of ‘forty-two, The Burkes’ held their convention, their achievements to review, In his statement to the meeting, the Chairman made it clear, “That we’re out to sweep the County, without a doubt this year, That with such a large selection”, now, says he, “I know we will not fail, To bring the County honours to the cradle of the gael” .

“The title bring to the parish and to keep our colours flying, With the help of propaganda, plus Killusty and Coolmoyne” . “Ah yes”, says he, “I must confess that I feel proud to-night, As I must admit our prospects have never been so bright . For once more we will have the Hayes’, the Walsh’s and young Crean, Leahy, Wall and Treacy, Flynns, White, Jerry Maher and Walsh from Carrigeen” .

Then the meeting got excited and began to cheer and shout, Says the Chairman, “you’re delighted as I am myself no doubt . But now let me continue and be quiet a minute boys, And you’ll learn before I’ve finished that is not the big surprise, We will also have Killusty, they’ll be with us to a man, The home of stalwarts of the game, since the GAA began . The Lees, Byrnes, Holohan, not forgetting Joe Dwyer, Whose tactics on the playing field we always did admire, To great veterans of the past our call was not in vain, We have also got a promise from Ned Lawrence and Joe Keane .

With renewed youthful pride and vigour they’d be with us at the hour, While that wonder-man Jack Nagle swears himself will be a power . We will halt to rout Kilsheelan on our way to rare Clonmel, Where the Shamrocks and Commercials shall fall beneath our spell .

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Then we’ll crush Bob Hall and Killenaule then on to Mullinahone, When we’re finished with the Kickhams, Tom Walsh will stop his blowing . Right on through the County we will whack them every one, And never cease our efforts ‘til the County Final’s won . Then we will be County Champions, with the cup and medals safe, When the news gets down to Fethard, how the town will celebrate There’ll be bonfires bright to greet us, blazing high on Market Hill, Saying Tipperary Gaels “that shook ye”, we can see ye’re rocking still” . Slievenamon looks proudly on Tipperary’s best fifteen, From the town down in the valley, by Clashawley’s silvery stream .

The author of the above ballad is still taking a very keen interest in local unknown. Could any reader help out and county GAA affairs. Jerry Maher here? A letter to the Nationalist say- is the other one. If Jerry is reading ing the split from Fethard would be the this, in far off Australia, where he now downfall of Coolmoyne prompted the resides, best regards. Jerry, now in his late to write the famous mid-eighties, was one of Fethard and reply, in rhyme, which is called “The Tipperary’s brightest and best young Downfall of Coolmoyne”.Published players. Like many others of his time, in a previous Newsletter, it described he was forced to take the emigrant a great victory by Coolmoyne over ship, first to England and then to Mullinahone in Drangan, without the Australia. Jerry, you are still remem- Fethard players. The only surviving bered in your native Fethard. ◉ players mentioned are young Crean, now no longer so young, Willie Crean, by Tony Newport

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School group taken 1949-50 in the Presentation Convent Back L to R: Damien McLellan (Main Street), ? Power (Lower Green), Ken O’Neill, Tommy Healy (The Green), Noel Whyte (Main Street), Tommy Whyte (Main Street) . Middle L to R: Raymond McSweeney (Munster & Leinster Bank Main Street), Noel Morrissey (St . Patricks Place), Willie Ryan (Coolanure), Waltie Moloney (Market Hill), Jim Sayers (St . Patrick’s Place), Danny Ryan (St . Patrick’s Place), ?, Jimmy O’Neill (Congress Terrace) . Front L to R: Jimmy Fitzgerald (St . Patrick’s Place), Eddie Fogarty (Garrinch), Michael Maher (St . Patrick’s Place), Alan Power (St . Patrick’s Place) and Morgan Fergus (Cashel Road) .

Banna Strand, Tralee, July 1962 L to R: Paddy Aylward, Michael Maher, Jimmy O’Connor, Hugh O’Neill, Rick Flynn and Tony Holden (Clonmel)

134 2008 FETHARD & KILLUSTY NEWSLETTER

Old friends, the late Derek Wall and Jim Kenny chatting in the Castle Inn

Would you like a job in Tipp? asks our three hurling fans of Kilkenny team manager Brian Coady . L to R: Larry Kehoe, Brian Coady (Kilkenny hurling manager), Michael Sheehan and T .J . Sheehan .

135 FETHARD & KILLUSTY NEWSLETTER 2008 Irish Walled Towns Network e mentioned the IWTN logical practice, Oxford Archaeology. Win last year’s report. 2007 This firm undertakes work all over brought us very substantial fund- Europe. Our C & M Plan was put ing (€100,00) for two specialist together by a team of archaeologists reports relating to Fethard and a third including Oxford’s Head of Buildings (€53,000) relating to the Town Hall or Archaeology, Julian Munby (one of ‘Tholsel’. The Tholsel feasibility study Time Team’s TV archaeologists) and has been undertaken by the inter- Deirdre Forde from Cork. Deirdre national consultants KPMG and we actually moved to Fethard for the ardently hope that it will unlock the job of drawing the detailed inside potential of this wonderful building elevations of the Town Wall by hand. which is one of the oldest municipal Deirdre moved from garden to garden buildings in Ireland (1608). On top of and got to know a lot of people along all this funding in 2008 we in Fethard the way and she reports that every- were exceptional in receiving a further one was most helpful and charming €197,000 for Capital Works (repairs although she has now had enough tea and reinstatement) to the Town Wall. and cakes to last a lifetime. The other The first two reports were deliv- side, the outside, of the wall is present- ered and then sent back and forth ed in the C & M Plan as a continuous during 2008 to be adjusted or fine- photograph produced with digitally tuned. This has been a slightly clumsy rectified images. The state of repair of process because both reports were each stretch of wall is then described undertaken by specialist firms based in a gazetteer and each section ranked in the UK. in order of priority. The C & M Plan The Public Realm Plan, produced provides an ongoing archaeological by the Paul Hogarth Company has template and it is a requirement of the been the most contentious because Heritage Council that this plan must it seeks to apply a vision of how be in place (and adopted by South Fethard should be and suggests the Tipperary County Council) in order means to implement this vision step to qualify Fethard and for funding in by step. The resulting Public Realm future years. Plan is a gloriously impressive docu- Architect Margaret Quinlan & ment and it is hoped that the grand Associates were the successful appli- vision it embodies will suit the people cants from amongst a number of of Fethard. highly regarded conservation practices The Conservation and that applied to implement the Capital Management Plan for the Town Works Programme in 2008. Margaret Walls is a technical document pro- supervised works on the Town Wall duced by Europe’s largest archaeo- in 2007 and has been responsible for

136 2008 FETHARD & KILLUSTY NEWSLETTER repairs to Holy Trinity Church. Works most public part of the wall in a poor on the Town Wall did not get started state of repair. Large areas of cut stone until late in the year because the fund- that had been ‘robbed away’ have ing was itself confirmed at the very been replaced using Irish limestone last minute and local government ten- supplied by Killenaule Stone Quarries dering and procurement procedures and the area outside the wall has been must then be followed to the letter cleared of undergrowth and tons of - and that takes time. Other walled rubbish. towns who undertook capital works In Tony Sayers’s property behind to their walls had the same problem the Sheela-na-gig, it was found that of timing. much of the inner facing of the wall Anthony Morris Construction of had long since been lost and it was felt Rathronan, Clonmel were appoint- that the wall was so precarious here ed on the instruction of Margaret that it would soon be beyond saving. Quinlan and they have effected a All this has now been fixed: repointed, good number of essential repairs repaired and reinstated. This detailed in the tight time schedule available. work has included the rebuilding of The three main areas that have been the arched embrasure behind the two cleared and made safe include the late arrow slits and is a demonstration of Jimmy Ryan’s piece of the wall adja- the importance of restoration. cent to Watergate Bridge. This is the Finally, the huge run of wall that

137 FETHARD & KILLUSTY NEWSLETTER 2008 has lain hidden under ivy and bind- report that Seamus Maher will con- weed between Barrack Street and tinue as Chairman of the IWTN with Burke Street has been revealed. It Labhaoise McKenna (Heritage Officer, appears to be in good structural con- South Tipp) and Terry Cunningham dition and has now been cleared of on the committee. The new Project invasive vegetation. The largest of the Manager for the Heritage Council is cavities where stone has been robbed Conor Brennan. out in antiquity have now been refilled While going to press, we under- with stone and lime mortar and the stand that conservation and restora- whole strip of land running along the tion of the walled towns remains a wall has been cleaned up. government priority and that funding The AGM of the Irish Walled for the Capital Works to the Town Towns Network was held in Dublin Wall is likely to continue into 2009. Castle in Thursday 20th November From 2009 local authorities will be and this saw the launch of the required to provide 10% of the fund- Department of the Environment’s ing for works. This proportion is set to document National Policy on increase in later years if the financial Town Defences. Fethard was well landscape remains bleak. Hindsight represented at the event by Diana will record that 2008 has been a good Stokes, Peter Grant, Joe Kenny, Tim year for Fethard’s Town Wall and Robinson, Ann Gleeson and Terry thanks are due to the Irish Walled Cunningham. Dinner in St Patrick’s Towns Network, Failte Ireland and Hall was addressed by the Minister, The Heritage Council. ◉ John Gormley and we are pleased to

138 2008 FETHARD & KILLUSTY NEWSLETTER Fethard Walled Town Medieval Festival

Colm McGrath and his crew at the Medieval Weaponary stand

ethard’s Walled Towns Festival the town’s potential as a tourist des- Farose from an initiative of The tination gave its support from the Heritage Council in setting up the outset. The festival organisers are also Walled Towns Network. This group- fortunate in having the support of ing of 21 Irish towns places an empha- South Tipperary County Council with sis on their medieval heritage in terms staff members Julia Walsh, Outreach of buildings, walls, carvings and his- Education Officer with the County tory. This heritage is both preserved Museum and Labhaoise McKenna, and celebrated through the Network Heritage Officer, on the festival com- who designated Walled Towns Day mittee. to coincide with the first Sunday of Fethard lends itself as a wonderful National Heritage Week every year. natural location for a medieval festival Fethard has a long history of running as there is a spacious green area along a carnival. This carnival was an annual the South Wall, through which the event up to a few years ago and the Clashawley river flows. This natural Community Council were delighted flat open space abuts the 13th century to participate in a revival, albeit in a Trinity Church, a mural tower, two slightly different format. castles and a medieval town house. Fáilte Ireland when introduced to With heraldic flags hanging from the

139 FETHARD & KILLUSTY NEWSLETTER 2008

L to R: Isobel Kennedy and Lauren Dooley who were prizewinners in the Medieval Parade town wall and flags of the four prov- the riverbank. Food prepared by the inces hanging from the corners of the local rugby club was available at a church tower, the area becomes festive reasonable rate. Families and friends in a very natural and contained way. informally sat around the food area People of all ages were encouraged chatting and listening to the music of to dress up and join in the parade. The the Lee Valley String Band. focus to date has been on heraldry Paul Dooley, acclaimed harpist with the children carrying beautifully and expert on the medieval harp gave illustrative shields that they have made a very enjoyable and well-attended themselves earlier in the year under talk and recital on the Irish harp in the guidance of local artists Pat Looby Trinity Church on Saturday night. and Austin McQuinn. The festival Momentum is gathering with the appeals to a broad audience by adding festival each year and local groups a modern flair through music. Two come on board to lend a hand. The local youth bands, Naked Mr America local rugby club did delicious dis- and Zero Tolerance, played in the count catering and farmers market Square before the parade began. The stalls sold their homemade goodies. historical re-enactments and target Macra na Feirme provided a ‘medi- practice also had a broad age group eval stocks’ where wet sponges were appeal. The presence of five wolf- thrown at various willing volunteers! hounds leading the parade caught the There was also a wide variety of nov- attention of teenage boys in particular elty tents such as fortune telling, Fair who later took them for walks along Trade and felting. Local landowners

140 2008 FETHARD & KILLUSTY NEWSLETTER

Willie O’Meara and his daughter Caoimhe from Taking part in the Festival Parade: Tina Whyte Killusty at the medieval parade and her children L to R: Lucy, Paddy and Katie .

Taking part in the Festival Parade were L to R: Taking part in the Festival Parade were L to R: Amy Cowlard and Aisling Gorey . Ciara and Abby Tillyer . 141 FETHARD & KILLUSTY NEWSLETTER 2008

L to R: Amy O’Donovan, Sinead Sheehan and Anna Tobin

Enjoying the Medieval Re-Enactment display were L to R: Harry Butler, Conor Ryan, Shane Ryan, Nell Spillane, Lucy Spillane, Jack Spillane, Heather Spillane and Emily Spillane .

142 2008 FETHARD & KILLUSTY NEWSLETTER provided access to land, electricity ers, publicity, concerts, exhibitions and supplies, etc. Live music was also held in the parade. This year two French during the weekend at the McCarthy’s musicians - Doulç’amor - dressed in walled garden. medieval costumes were flown over One of the main features of this for the weekend which they thorough- year’s festival was the Medieval ly enjoyed. They played informally Heraldic Parade from The Square around the town and also played to the Town Wall via Main Street at the concert in Trinity Church. and The Valley. The parade included They have experience of playing at a large variety of Heraldic Coats medieval festivals in France, such as of Arms made by the pupils of St Carcassonne, and are very helpful in Patrick’s Boys School, Nano Nagle providing feedback and advice on National School and Killusty National our event. Members of the festival School under the direction of project committee have researched medieval manager and local artist, Pat Looby. festivals in France and are gathering The festival is a very visual one ideas, feedback and proposals for next and emphasis is placed on the visual year’s event. ◉ aspect and this is evident in the post-

Enjoying the festival music L to R: Elsie Malone (nee Burke) home from USA, Mary McCormack, Margaret Tobin (nee Burke) home from Cheshire, England, and Johnny Burke

143 FETHARD & KILLUSTY NEWSLETTER 2008 Nano Nagle National School

Junior Infants Class 2008 Back L to R: Eimear O’Sullivan (Abbey View), Natasha McGarry (Woodvale Walk), Oleg Shabrat (Ard Ailing), Keenan Ahearne (Prospect), Kieran McGuire (Bawnbrack), Patrick Kennedy (Drangan) . 3rd Row L to R: Conor Walsh (Baptistgrange), Melinda Csuzi (Kerry Street), Lauren Needham (Slievenamon Close), Cian Lawrence (Woodvale Walk), Patrick Walsh (Kilnockin) . Second Row L to R: Ava Ward (Garrinch), Simon Brawders (Abbey View), Laura Harrington (Kerry Street), Alex Bradshaw (Slievenamon Close), Michael O’Meara (Garrinch), Toby Collier (Prospect) . First Row L to R: Emma Lyons (Coolmoyne), Hanna Sheehy (Garrinch), Tamara Power (Barrack Street), Áine Ryan (Tullamaine) and Aisling Hennessy (Kilnockin View) .

ano Nagle staff for the cur- Kelly, Learning Support\Resource Nrent year. Sr. Maureen Power Teacher; Mrs Peg McGarry, Resource (Principal), 3rd & 4th Classes; Mrs Teacher; Ms Lorraine de Lacy, High Maureen Maher (Vice-Principal), 1st Support Unit; Ms Ann-Marie Harty, & 2nd Classes; Mrs Rita Kenny, 6th Special Needs Assistant; Mrs Mary Class; Sr. Winnie Kirwan, Senior Morrissey, Special Needs Assistant; Infants; Mrs Margaret Gleeson, Junior Mrs Anne D’Arcy, Secretary; and Mr Infants; Mrs Mary Hanrahan, Learning Willie Ryan, Caretaker. Support\Resource Teacher; Ms Denise In June, we said goodbye to Ms

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Aoife Gleeson who had been with us government’s cuts in spending on for two years as Learning Support\ education. We have lost our ex-quota Resource shared with Cloneen N.S. post, thus losing a teacher from our We will miss Aoife’s enthusiasm and staff, our Principal, Sr. Maureen has her infectious good humour and we returned to full-time class teaching thank her for her dedication to all the and all our classes from 1st Class pupils with whom she worked. We upwards are double classes. In conse- are happy to report that she hasn’t quence, these class numbers now aver- gone too far and we wish her well in age 31, the workload for all teachers the next stage of her teaching career has increased and, of course, it is the in Cloneen. We would also like to most needy pupils who will be most congratulate Ms Denise Kelly who adversely affected. Grants for resource got married in Killarney this summer, equipment, etc. have also been dis- we wish her and her new husband, continued. While this year’s Budget is P.J., every happiness in their future responsible for all the above, we see together. the cutbacks as a continuum of the Our school, like so many through- reduced spending on education which out Ireland, has been affected by the began as far back as 2000, when the

Sixth Class at Nano Nagle Back L to R: Molly Proudfoot, Rachael O’Meara, Shannon Dorney, Jennifer Rice, Niamh O’Meara . Middle Row L to R: Kate Quigley, Anastasia Blake, Jane Morrissey, Kelly Keating, Larissa Clancy, Amy Sweeney . Front L to R: Clodagh Bradshaw, Michelle Carroll, Hanna Tobin, Kayleigh Higgins, Shauna Mackey and Gráinne Fanning .

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Pupils from Fethard Nano Nagle National School and St . Patrick’s Boys’ School who received their First Holy Communion in Holy Trinity Parish Church Fethard on Saturday 10th May 2008 . Department of Education and Science efforts on our behalf. The generous began to apply ever more stringent support of our parents is a major fac- criteria to applications for resources tor in the success of all our undertak- for children with special needs. As ings and so we would like to take this a result, many pupils who were for- opportunity to thank them all for their merly entitled to one-to-one teaching continued support and co-operation. are no longer guaranteed the indi- Fifth & sixth classes made their vidual help they need but must cope Confirmation on 18th April in Holy as best they can in a group setting. Trinity Parish church this year. The Teachers and parents nationwide have girls were confirmed by Archbishop registered their opposition to these Dermot Clifford, together with the arbitrary measures by taking part in boys from St. Patrick’s Boys N.S. and public demonstrations throughout the the pupils of Killusty N.S. making it country. We await the government’s a real community celebration. Sixteen response with interest! 2nd Class pupils also made their First Our Parents Association is Holy Communion on 12th May and, involved in various events through- as usual, there was a great turn out to out the year: the annual cake sale in support the children on their special October, table quiz, the sponsored day. walk and our ever-popular Fun Sports Our school tours took place, as Day in June. We thank the association usual, in June with the Junior and and very much appreciate all their Senior Infants going to visit ‘Nell’s

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Farm’ near Carrick-on-Suir. The Library and the County Museum, and rest of the pupils enjoyed a trip to we also have the facility of the travel- Bunratty Castle & Folk Park, followed ling library coming to our school. The by Cragganowen. The tour of the County Library has proved invaluable castle and the houses of ‘long ago’ fas- in enabling us to further extend our cinated all of them. In Cragganowen, Learning Support resources by giving the girls got the chance to explore pas- us long-term loans of specialised read- sage graves, crannogs and a Norman ing schemes, phonic programmes and fort as well as a chance to see the cur- supplementary materials. Furthermore, rach of ‘the Brendan Voyage’ fame. It we can use our library membership was Irish history brought to life in a to freely access the Encyclopaedia most entertaining and instructive way. Britannica on-line; a major plus for Our pupils are going swimming pupils whatever topic they happen to again this year and athletics has also be researching. Local history, needless figured prominently during the first to say, also figures strongly on our term with our pupils competing in curriculum with tours of the Town Thurles. Ceili dancing will resume Wall supplemented by visits to the next term. Throughout the school Fethard Folk Museum, both churches year the children participate in a of the Holy Trinity and, of course, the number of local and national art, pho- Augustinian Abbey. tographic and writing competitions Promoting environmental aware- and we are pleased to report that they ness also continues with ongoing have had considerable success in their recycling of cans, mobile phones and endeavours. The older pupils have computer ink cartridges, the promo- made a number of visits to Clonmel tion of a litter-free environment and

Children from the Parish of Fethard and Killusty who received the Sacrament of Confirmation in Holy Trinity Parish Church, Fethard, on Friday 18th April, photographed with His Grace, Most Rev Dr . Dermot Clifford, Archbishop of Cashel and Emly .

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Pupils from Nano Nagle National School who received the Best Environmental Project award from South Tipperary County Council for their project “Live simply, so that others may simply live” . The award was presented by Cllr John Fahey, Chairperson of South Tipperary County Council, who was accompanied by Jim Dillon, Environmental Officer, Cllr Susan Meagher, Cllr Jimmy O’Brien, and Deputy Mattie McGrath . the ‘planting-up’ of the courtyard. The This has been made easier by the grove of trees planted just below the installation of a covered tank with a playground has matured beautifully, tap, collecting rainwater from a down- and this past term brightened our pipe, thus conserving water. days with a magnificent display of We are in the process, too, of autumn colours – a spectacle guaran- developing a school vegetable garden, teed to lift the spirits. It is also a great with the expert help of some parents, resource for the school as it contains near our Nature Walk adjoining the a wide variety of trees, with a special playground. Our first season pro- emphasis on the native Irish species. duced onions, lettuce and beans and Mrs Maureen Maher, ably assisted the Senior Infants’ sunflowers added by the Parent’s Association, spear- a welcome splash of colour along headed the rejuvenation of our court- the boundary wall. This autumn, the yard area by giving it a much-needed children have been involved in plant- ‘make-over’. It now boasts a wonder- ing a wild flower patch and we look ful display of colour throughout the forward to seeing it blossom in spring. year. The apple trees (in containers) Our sixth class, for the second con- have blossomed, fruited and been secutive year, took part in Challenge harvested to the great delight of eve- to Change, an exciting learning oppor- ryone. The pupils have also been tunity developed by the Presentation involved in planting seeds and bulbs, Sisters and funded by Irish Aid, as well as taking responsibility for Department of Foreign Affairs and the watering plants during dry weather. Presentation Trustees. Their project,

148 2008 FETHARD & KILLUSTY NEWSLETTER entitled ‘There’s No Place Like Home’, to donate €1,000 to organisations focused on the plight of the home- helping the homeless. less in Ireland and abroad. The girls’ Ms Alice Leahy, who hails origi- chosen aims were to highlight the nally from Fethard, is the co-founder plight of the homeless, to raise aware- of TRUST, am organisation providing ness in our school and in the local a non-judgemental befriending, social community, to look into the causes and health service to the homeless, of homelessness, to seek solutions by in operation since 1975. Alice was an researching best practice and to study obvious point of contact for the girls agencies who are tackling the problem and she very kindly took time out in Ireland. They undertook the project from her hectic schedule to visit the with great enthusiasm and, under the class and give them the benefit of her guidance of their class teacher Mrs vast knowledge and experience. Guest Rita Kenny they accomplished an speakers from The Simon Community amazing amount. The girls did lots of also came to the school to talk about research using the library, newspapers the work they do with the homeless. and the Internet. They then decided The girls then decided that it was to talk to people who are actually time for them to take a pro-active engaged in working with homeless approach thus taking the project to people in order to gain an insight into the next level. Their action plan took the reality of the problem in modern- various forms: day Ireland, which prompted them • They held a Christmas Carol fund- and then they held a Christmas Carol raising event, which enabled them to fundraising event, which enabled them donate €1,000 to organisations help-

Alice Leahy and RTE presenter , who launched the book, photographed with children from Nano Nagle School who attended the launch as part of their ‘Challenge to Change’ project on the homeless .

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ing the homeless. Kilkenny, where they also got the • They wrote, by email, to our local opportunity to view the other projects representatives regarding their poli- and participate in related workshops. cies on homelessness. Tom Hayes, T.D., responded and promised to An unexpected addendum to visit the school to talk on the issue. the project came in the form of an • They sent articles and photographs to invitation from Alice Leahy for the the local newspaper. entire class to attend the launch of • They involved classes from First class her new book called ‘Wasting Time upwards in our school. with People’ which took place in the • They invited our local schools, pri- City Hall, Dublin at 7 pm on 29th mary and secondary, to see our April 2008. All the proceeds of the project and they also did an oral book go to ‘TRUST’. Sixth class were presentation. delighted to accept the invitation and • They made a Podcast (a first it was decided that they would, in fact, for our school) with the help of spend the whole day in Dublin before Joe Kenny. It can be accessed at attending the launch. Mrs Kenny and www.fethardpodcast.com. Mrs Hanrahan accompanied the class • They presented their project at the on what proved to be a whirlwind ‘Challenge to Change’ seminar in tour of Dublin taking in the Irish Aid

Pupils from Nano Nagle National School Fethard who were prizewinners in the Community Games Art and Model Making . Back L to R: Sr . Maureen Power (School Principal), Svetlana Novikova, Christina Myler, Tara Horan, Emma Walsh, Aobh O’Shea . Front L to R: Megan McCarthy, Róisín McDonnell, Farrah Cummins Doyle, Sarah Slattery, Sally Nagle, Darragh Hurley and Wiktotia Wiezersnka .

150 2008 FETHARD & KILLUSTY NEWSLETTER headquarters on O’Connell street, the friends who introduced himself simply Garden of Remembrance, the Hugh as “Robbie”. He was delighted to chat Lane Gallery, the Book of Kells and about his life, his daily routine and, the Long Room in Trinity College, of course, his friends in ‘TRUST’ He, interspersed with a trip on the Luas, too, posed willingly for a photo with refreshments at Captain America’s the girls — a telling reminder of exactly and ‘time-out’ in St. Stephen’s Green. what the book launch was all about. The girls even managed to squeeze in We definitely feel that the whole a little retail therapy along the way- school benefited from the 6th Class and all this before they even got to the project as is illustrated in the following book launch! feedback from Ms Denise Kelly, our Dublin City Hall provided a mag- 3rd \4th class teacher: “The Challenge nificent setting for the occasion and to change this year was very impres- RTE broadcaster, Pat Kenny, launched sive. It was clear when my class and the book for Alice, commending her I visited 6th Class to hear about what work on behalf of the marginalised they had done, that each girl was very in our society and acknowledging the involved and had learned lots about sad fact that the problem of homeless- homelessness in Ireland. My class was ness is an ongoing feature of 21st invited to help with the Art Display century Ireland. The girls realised how and all the girls really enjoyed making privileged they were to be invited model houses from around the world. when they saw that they were the We were very impressed with the only children present among a very girls’ project and the interesting facts distinguished audience. Alice very they passed on to us.” kindly mentioned them during her In conclusion, it only seems fair to speech, referring to their project, and give the final say on the matter to the afterwards they had a photo oppor- 6th class girls themselves: “We were tunity with both Alice and Pat Kenny. happy with our fundraising and our They also had great fun collecting efforts at raising public awareness. We autographs from, as they termed really enjoyed doing this project and them, ‘famous people’ present: Robert learned a lot from it. We thank the Ballagh, Fr. Peter McVerry, Louis Presentation Sisters and Irish Aid for Copeland, Justine McCarthy, Mary giving us this opportunity.” Wilson and many more. Needless to As we prepare for Christmas 2008, say, Pat Kenny was a major draw, and we would like to send seasonal greet- he signed autographs and posed for ings to all who read this newslet- photographs with seemingly endless ter, especially all those Fethard folk patience. The most significant encoun- who find themselves far from home. ter, however, was probably the girls’ Beannacht Dé Oraibh agus Nollaig meeting with one of Alice’s homeless Shona Dhíbh go léir. ◉

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Oh, Fethard! I still feel the pain by James O’Mara was invited to a First Communion contact with my left hand and to my Icelebration earlier this year, here horror when I withdrew it, the tip of in Amagansett on the South Fork my index finger resembled a crushed of Long Island, New York. It was a acorn with blood pouring from it. beautiful May morning in spring. The My reaction was that of any eight cherry and magnolia blossoms that year old child. I ran screaming to the outlined the lush green lawn outside kitchen in search of my mother. A the church made the perfect setting for make-shift bandage was applied to the families having photos and videos my now throbbing finger and before taken of the occasion. As I stood to you could say “Jack Robinson” I was the side observing the proceedings I hoisted on the back of my mother’s could not but reflect on the occasion bike and we set off to see the doctor of my own First Communion in a very in Fethard. different setting many years ago. How Having climbed the steep Castle vivid still are the memories of that Hill in Lisronagh we were soon free weekend in May 1946 in the village of wheeling through the village, over Lisronagh in . the bridge at Quarry Hole and on Our class of a dozen or so boys and our way. There was little if any traffic girls was well prepared by our school on the road except for the occasional mistress, Mrs Hannon. We knew our cyclist or horse drawn cart. The blood catechism back to front and had our was now seeping through the bandage first confession heard by Fr. Coughlan but I clung on gamely with one hand in the church of John the Baptist. My to the belt of my mother’s coat. new grey suit and accessories were laid Perhaps as a distraction to my out in impeccable readiness together discomfort she pointed out land- with a white rosette for my lapel and a marks along the way, the house in prayer book with a shiny white cover, a Ballygambon where I was born, the present from my grandmother. stately Carrigan Mansion visible Week-end chores on the farm through the trees at Kellet’s Cross. however had to be done as usual. So Further on, we passed the Lakefield there I was on that Saturday afternoon Estate with its quaint stone lodge at its sitting astride a length of firewood, roadside entrance. Shortly thereafter holding it steady while my father and we reached the top of Market Hill and brother Pat sawed it into logs. Perhaps peering from behind I could see the it was the exciting anticipation of the town of Fethard nestled in the valley prospective jingle of coins in my new down below us, as we freewheeled trousers pocket the following day down the hill. We parked the bike that made my mind wander. One outside McCarthys at the bottom of mighty swipe of the cross-cut made the town, and walked up the steep

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Hannie Leahy received these photographs after Mick Maher of Lisronagh died . He originally came from Coolmoyne . The only one she knows is Paddy Leahy on the tractor who was then working in Annsgift with Major Hughes . The horse and trap was taken outside Maher’s house at the creamery cross in Coolmoyne .

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hill and across the sloping square to what he seemed to consider a stupid Dr. Stokes’ house. Only now did the thing for me to have done in the first reality of the situation and the upcom- place. He then proceeded to remove ing encounter with the Doctor hit me. what was left of the nail and clipped Terror gripped my young heart. off jagged pieces of skin. Having Dr. Stokes, a rugby player of note applied a new bandage, fitted me with in his youth, was widely respected in a sling for my arm and instructed me the community. The rough nature of to return in a week, we left for home. the game of rugby however seemed When picking up the bicycle outside to influence his bedside manner! He McCarthy’s, a kindly Miss McCarthy did not suffer wimps or whiners easily who considered I had been through and rarely if ever dispensed sympathy “quite an ordeal” rewarded me with a to his many and devoted patients. He bar of chocolate for my bravery. was a tall silver haired man, wore a The weeks that followed meant dark suit, black coat and hat and spoke routine return visits to Dr. Stokes in a deep gruff tone. He drove one of to have the dressing changed until the few cars in the area and frequently finally the healing was complete. Then made sick calls to our house to treat one Saturday sometime later, dressed my father who was a chronic asthmatic. again in my First Communion suit I We sat alone like mice in a waiting was taken to Michael Keating’s studio room that had rugby pictures hang- in Clonmel to have my photo taken. ing from the walls. Having waited for Sadly the portrait did not survive my what seemed to me like an eternity we many changes of address around the were ushered into his surgery. While world over the years. inquiring for my father’s state of I am not without a souvenir, how- health from my mother, he filled a ever. As I write this I am looking at the bowl with scalding hot water, added index finger of my left hand that is a a solution that turned it milky white, little shorter than its right hand coun- and then with a vice like grip dunked terpart and with a nail slightly askew. my wounded finger into the steaming It is forever a reminder of my first visit mixture. I knew better than to wince to Fethard – a fond though “painful” or cry as he kept shaking his head at memory. ◉ Fethard Country Markets Ltd he Fethard Branch of coun- cut flowers), Christy Williams (vegeta- Ttry Markets Ltd. is still going bles), David O’Donnell (fresh eggs & strong in the Town Hall, Fethard, each plants), Maura Meaney (vegetables, Friday morning from 8am to 11am. cut flowers & jam), May Kennedy Those selling home-grown and fresh (baking) and Rose Corbett (baking, produce are: Hannie Leahy (baking & including gluten free products). ◉ knitting), David Curran (vegetables &

154 2008 FETHARD & KILLUSTY NEWSLETTER

I love Fethard by Lyubov Novikova

Patrician Presentation Secondary School ‘Writers Quill’ students award presentation 2008 L to R: Ms Barrett (teacher), Tara Horan (Junior), Joseph Sheehan (Senior), Lyubov Novikova (Intermediate) and Ms Whelan (teacher) . y name is Lyubov Novikova. words, ‘yes’ and ‘no’. The school was MI am a second year student at very good and the teachers and pupils the Patrician Presentation Secondary were very helpful to me. My favourite School in Fethard. I was born near subjects are P.E, French and Maths. Kiev, the capital of Ukraine. I came to I had many friends in the Ukraine Ireland when I was 13 and now I am and spent most of my time with them. 15 years old. The Ukraine is a very Every weekend we would go to a beautiful country. It would be better if disco and have a good laugh. My we had a good government. There are class was finishing in their school last many beautiful parks and museums. year and I couldn’t go because I didn’t Life is not that different in the Ukraine. get my visa in time. I miss the Ukraine I was studying in a school with about and my friends and relatives so much. 800 other students and the subjects I was in the Ukraine for my summer are the same in the Ukraine except holidays and all my friends were very I studied Russian instead of French. happy to see me. We had a great time Students are anxious to do well so as together. to get a good job. I have two sisters and one brother. I came to Ireland not knowing My father is working at a stable and English. Now I know three languages, it is a really nice place to work. I like Ukrainian, Russian and English. It was roller-skating around Fethard, because difficult to start school and not know it’s fun. I’m also good at art. I love to what was happening. I only knew two sing and play my guitar and to spend

155 FETHARD & KILLUSTY NEWSLETTER 2008 my time with my friends. because I like Fethard and love going I wrote this poem about Fethard to school in Fethard so much. ◉

Fethard An ancient castle A river so clean A beautiful town We are all living in The town is quiet The people are good The oldest of churches In this town stood A Medieval tower And not so big school The lovely classrooms And students quite good My town, my Fethard I love you Love you!

Neighbours having a chat L to R: Ann Slattery, Eileen Cahill, Lizzy O’Shea and Micky Flanagan .

156 2008 FETHARD & KILLUSTY NEWSLETTER St. Patrick’s Boys’ National School

Sixth Class at St . Patrick’s Boys’ National School, Back L to R: Adam Fitzgerald, Jack Connolly, Eoghain Hurley, Donal Walsh, Niall Doocey, Tommy Anglim . Front L to R: Charlie Manton, Cormac Horan, Michael Halley, John Bernard O’Reilly and Jody Sheehan . Also in the class are Graham Meagher and Darragh Bradshaw . hroughout this school year pictures were sold. Tboth pupils and teachers have On the sporting front there was taken part in many enjoyable and ben- involvement in a wide variety of eficial activities and projects. During activities. 1st and 3rd class added to the autumn term, 5th and 6th class and developed their swimming skills were involved in a South Tipperary in Clonmel Pool. In the field of athlet- Local History Project run by the ics 3rd to 6th class pupils took part in County Museum. The students, under the Cross Country event in Clonmel. the guidance of their teacher Mrs Darragh Bradshaw won an individual O’Sullivan, produced a very impres- bronze medal and all the other pupils sive PowerPoint presentation based won bronze medals in the team event. on the history of the Holy Trinity The school football team did very Church, and a realistic model of the well to emerge unbeaten from their Church was created. group but were beaten by Thurles We held an Open bay in June Gaelscoil in the final. We took part for family to visit and view our Art in a hurling competition on the Astro Exhibition. Each pupil created two Turf pitch in Cahir organised by masterpieces, which were framed and Johnny Cummins. 3rd class and 4th displayed in the hall. This proved to class won their category. We also took be a great success as the majority of part in the Lift and Strike Competition

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Pupils of St . Patrick’s Boys National School Fethard photographed with Eamon Quirk from Bóthar who spoke and answered questions on life in Uganda and Tanzania . 10th March 2008 in Ardfinnan without success. In May hop and other types. 5th and 6th class we had two teams in the Five-a-Side pupils are looking forward to compet- soccer competition in Thurles and all ing in a Spikeball Blitz in December. teams performed well. This is an adapted form of volleyball We are taking part in the Buntus to suit Primary School children. P.E. Programme organised by the We’ve had a few staff changes this South Tipperary Sports Partnership. year. Our best wishes to Mrs Carmel This aims to develop sport and Maher who resigned and has been increase physical activity among all replaced by Mrs Sarah O’Sullivan. children. We welcome back and congratulate The pupils took part in a series Ms Carmel Lonergan who returned of eight dance lessons with Maura from a career break during which time Tynan, Clonmel. This included waltz, she got married. ◉ marching, skipping, ballet, step, hip- Patricia Treacy & Staff

St . Patrick’s Boys School Fethard team who were winners of the Category A section of the regional Credit Union Primary Schools Quiz held in Fethard Ballroom . L to R: Jonathan Hennessy, Eoin O’Donovan, David Smyth and Connie Coen .

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St . Patrick’s Boys School Fethard team who were winners of the Category B section of the regional Credit Union Primary Schools Quiz held in Fethard Ballroom . L to R: Gerard Gorey, Eoghan Hurley, Colin Grant and Cormac Horan .

L to R: Josef O’Connor, J .J . Roche Freeman, Luke Bradstock and Paul Moloney .

L to R: Brian Healy, Charlie Manton, Tommy Anglim and Niall Doocey .

159 FETHARD & KILLUSTY NEWSLETTER 2008 Patrician Presentation Secondary School

Patrician Presentation Secondary School captured the Junior A (Boys) All Ireland Volleyball title when beat- ing Drumshanbo of Leitrim in the final in Loughrea . An entry of twenty-two teams was finally down to two and Fethard’s win over Dungarvan, Lismore and Mountmellic led to the meeting with Drumshanbo . Back L to R: Denis Burke (coach), Louis Rice, Ted Barrett, Garreth Lawrence, Dylan Fitzgerald, Dion Butler, Gavin Lonergan, Andrew Maher, Dylan Cahill, Bernie O’Connor (coach) . Front L to R: Noel O’Brien, Ronan Fitzgerald, Cathal Hurley, Tony Myler, Dean Sharpe, Gavin Carroll and Gerry Horan . reetings to all past pupils and girls are doing very well and winning Gfriends wherever you may be all their volleyball matches and hope- in the world. fully we will have two All-Ireland out- The school members are on the ings in 2009. increase each year and we presently Transition Year has been very have four International students from rewarding over the past few years, and Brazil, Germany and Italy. This is the they have participated in a multitude third year of this programme, which of activities as well as work experi- has been a great success. We also have ence – School Bank, Mini Company, students from the Ukraine and Poland school shop, Daffodil Day and other in Junior cycle. worthwhile fundraising events, and One of the highlights of the past of course their participation in the year was the junior boys winning the annual school show. Last year’s show All-Ireland Volleyball title. ‘Abbabuja’ was enjoyed by all. Who Of the many events taking place in doesn’t like the music of ABBA! This the school the summer activities with year we are off to the West Coast of our teacher Mr Damien Byrne of the America and surfing land, thus the school completion programme has title ‘Malibu’. This script was writ- been a ‘Big Hit’ in June and August. ten by a past-pupil Jodie Gilpin and Presently both our senior boys and has an appeal for all ages. It will be

160 2008 FETHARD & KILLUSTY NEWSLETTER staged in Abymill on 12th and 13th We are presently in the process December 2008. of adding a new dancing area with In January we held a very success- kitchen and a parent’s room. In fact ful ‘Open Evening’ where teachers and each day brings a new event, and an students mingled with parents and engaging activity. students of out-lying primary schools One of the highlights of the year and our own local primary schools. is Awards Day which was held on Prior to our open evening pupils from Friday morning, 17th October. Canon the school classes in Fethard, Cloneen, Tom Breen celebrated the mass and Killusty, Drangan and Moyglass our guest for the occasion was Brother enjoyed a period of activities in our Cormac Commins, education officer school in the areas of physical educa- for the Patrician Secondary Schools. tion and home economics. Of course At the conclusion of the mass, Mr academic success is also of the utmost Ernan Britton, welcomed all, congratu- importance and here we would like lated the award recipients, and said to congratulate our leaving certs and that this was not just a day of celebra- junior certs on their excellent results tion for award winners, but for the received at this year’s state exams. entire school community.

Pupils of Fethard Patrician Presentation Secondary School photographed at Pilates classes in the school organised under the ‘Women in Sports’ initiative by South Tipperary Sports Partnership . Pilates exercises teach awareness of breath and alignment of the spine, and aim to strengthen the deep torso muscles . Back L to R: Valerie Connolly (South Tipperary Sports Partnership), Samantha Morrissey, Ida Carroll, Molly O’Dwyer, Chloe Byrne, Deirdre Dwyer, Geraldine Houlihan (Instructor) . Front L to R: Sarah Hayes, Carrie Sweeney, Sarah Conway and Lucy Butler .

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Award winners photographed at the Patrician Presentation Secondary School Awards Ceremony . Back L to R: Joseph Sheehan (Writers Quill Award Senior), David Gorey (Gradam na Gaeilge Award & Attendance Award), Dylan Cahill (Enterprise Award), Siobhán O’Brien (Attendance Award), Adam O’Donnell (Enterprise Award), Sean White (Enterprise Award), Noel O’Brien (Enterprise Award & Attendance Award), Ted Barrett (Enterprise Award) . Middle L to R: Fiona Crotty (Attendance Award), Lucy Butler (Student of the Year 2nd Year), Lyubov Novikona (Writers Quill Award Intermediate), Tara Horan (Writers Quill Award Junior), Mary-Ellen O’Reilly (Gradam na Gaeilge Award), Melissa Wallace (Attendance Award), Aisling Dwyer (Sports Award), Ida Carroll (Student of the Year 5th Year & Gradam na Gaeilge Award), Mark Fogarty (Attendance Award), Tony Myler (Sports Award), Gavin Lonergan (Enterprise Award) . Front L to R: Owen Healy (Padraig Pearse Award & Paddy Broderick Award), Mary Ann Fogarty (Student of the Year 3rd Year), Alannah Browne (Best Overall Leaving Cert Result), Mr Ernan Britton (Principal), Bro Cormac Commins (Education Officer for the Patrician Secondary Schools), Ms Marian Gilpin (Deputy Principal), Mr Jonathan Gilpin (Vice-President of Chapter X Irish League of Credit Unions) and Mr Denis Burke (Organising Committee) . Mr Britton then introduced Cert results. The Padraig Pearse Brother Cormac who spoke about Award, for the best Junior Cert was the ‘vision’ of education for all, held presented by Mr Britton to Owen by Daniel Delaney, founder of the Healy. Owen also received the Paddy Patrician order. He encouraged the Broderick Award. Mr Denis Burke students to also have a ‘vision’ and then presented the sports person of follow in the footsteps of such great the year 2008 awards to Aisling Dwyer figures as Daniel Delaney and Martin (5th year) and Tony Myler (3rd year). Luther King – ‘to follow their dream’. Mrs Marian Gilpin, Deputy Brother Cormac presented the Principal, then invited Mr Jonathan Student of the Year 2005 ‘Druid Gilpin, Vice-President of Chapter X Cuchulainn’ to Lucy Butler (2nd Irish League of Credit Unions, to Year); Mary-Anne Fogarty (3rd Year), present the Business and Enterprise Ida Carroll (5th year) and Alannah Award, which this year of 2008 Browne on the best overall Leaving went to two young groups of

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Staff members at Fethard Patrician Presentation Secondary School photographed with Vincent Doocey and family on the occasion of his retirement from teaching . Back L to R: Fr . Tom Breen, Michael O’Gorman, Michael Leonard, Mary Lysaght, Justin McGree, Mary O’Sullivan, Denis Burke, Marie Maher, John Cummins, Majella Whelan, Bernie O’Connor, Billy Farrell, Cathriona Hyland, Dick Prendergast, Joan Walsh, Margaret Prendergast, Noel Maher, Deirdre Mulhall, Paddy Broderick, Ann O’Donnell, Mary Ann Fogarty, Pat Doocey, Nuala Aherne, Francis Tyrrell . Front L to R: Fr . Gerry Horan OSA, Ernan Britton, Margaret Doocey, Vincent Doocey, Marian Gilpin and Aine Doocey .

Pupils from the Patrician Presentation Secondary School Fethard pictured with trophy presented to them by the South Tipperary County Museum on Wednesday 20th February . Students presented a project on ‘Medieval Fethard’, which included paintings, drawings and pupils’ photographs of Fethard’s rich herit- age . The project was presented as part of the ‘South Tipperary Schools Heritage Project 2007/2008’, which focused on Medieval Tipperary (400AD-1600AD) . Back L to R: Esther Müller, James Cotter, Colm Horan, J P. . McGrath, Angelica Bano . Front L to R: Annemarie Limpach and Michelle Garrett .

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Entrepreneurs; ‘GNT’ — Noel O’Brien, ten certificates, were presented by Mrs Gavin Lonergan and Ted Barrett, and Prendergast. ‘Gardens’ – Adam O’Donnell, Séan Mr Britton and Mrs Gilpin pre- White and Dylan Cahill. sented best school attendance awards Mr McGree, Ms Whelan, Mrs to Mark Fogarty, Noel O’Brien, Fiona O’Donnell and Ms Barrett organised Crotty, Melissa Wallace, Siobhán the “Fethard Quill Writers Awards”. O’Brien, David Gorey and Colm Mrs Gilpin called upon the win- Horan. At the conclusion of the cer- ners and Ms Barrett presented the emony a framed photograph was Senior category to Joseph Sheehan, presented by Mr Britton to Brother Intermediate category to Lyubov Cormac, to commemorate his visit Novikova and Junior category to Tara to the school. A special thank you Horan. is extended to all who took part in The ‘Gradam na Gaeilge Awards’ the ceremony, and in particular the were then presented by Mrs organising committee; Mr Michael Prendergast, who spoke about the O’Gorman, Mr Richard Prendergast number of students who were suc- and Mr Denis Burke. cessful in achieving scholarships to In conclusion we wish all reading the Gaeltacht this year. David Gorey, of the newsletter a Peaceful, Happy Ida Carroll, Mary-Ellen O’Reilly, plus and Healthy Christmas. ◉

Through the Oireachtas Outreach Programme third year students from Fethard Patrician Presentation Secondary School attended a morning workshop on Monday 24th November on the work of the Oireachtas . Local politicians Tom Hayes, Martin Mansergh and Phil Prendergast also attended a subsequent question and answer session with the students . Also included in the photograph with the students and politicians are Majella Whelan, Marinella Raftery, Emma Ryan, Michelle Edwards, Margaret Barrett and Orla Barrett . The Houses of the Oireachtas Education Programme will run in all post-primary schools nationwide over the next two years . Front L to R: Majella Whelan, Tom Hayes, Marinella Raftery, Phil Prendergast, Martin Mansergh, Emma Ryan . Back L to R: Margaret Barrett, Rachel Prout, Michelle Edwards, Orla Lawrence, Gavin Lonergan, Sarah McManus, Gavin Carroll, Shannon Keating, Mary-Anne Fogarty, Damien Morrissey, Jane Fitzgerald, Gareth Lawrence, Jamie Walsh, Andrew Maher, Louis Rice, Tony Myler, Ted Barrett, Noel O’Brien, Alex Bloomfield and Orla Barrett . 164 2008 FETHARD & KILLUSTY NEWSLETTER

Four young pilgrims by Sr . Monica Kevin OSU

Four young Fethard girls, L to R: Nuala O’Brien, Monica Kevin, Kitty McCarthy and Nellie Carey, leaving on the boat from Cobh to join the Ursuline Order in New York in 1935 .

he photo (above) that appeared strains of ‘Come back to Erin’, ‘I’ll take Ton the Fethard website during you home again Kathleen’, ‘Molly the past year of four girls, Nuala Bawn’ et al. O’Brien, Kitty McCarthy, Nellie Carey The photograph was taken on the and Monica Kevin has sparked a deck of the ‘Harding’ in 1935. Life on flood of nostalgic memories. board was exciting and after the first We left home on August 8th 1935 day we had adjusted to movement, to join the Ursulines of Tildonk in got our sea legs and stopped watching New York City. A space of 73 years the water. There were lots of activities dims the memory but there is a resid- like shuffle board, horse racing (on a ual thirst for home in all of us that we table), some dancing on deck to music take to our graves. provided by a German man who had We sailed from Cobh on a tender a concertina. As I recall, the Reverend that brought us to ocean liner, the U.S. Mother who was travelling with us President Harding. That short trip is was not pleased when she heard I had embedded in my memory as a first been dancing. In many ways it was a class wake and tear jerker. Most of culture shock that was a good experi- the people who were emigrating were ence for young Convent School girls. crying anyway and the music was no After eight days of sea and sky help. We sailed in the dark of night to we approached New York Harbour.

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To this day the sight of The Statue of be lonely, there were so many Fethard Liberty evokes the memories of that girls in the Order. She was shocked day. I knew I was in a foreign land to hear my response (from a 15 year and was determined to make whatever old), “We live our own lives.” adjustments would be necessary. I had The pilgrimage has taken all four arrived at step number one along my of us in many directions always in pilgrimage. I knew three years before service to the Church and to the that I wanted to be a nun. I also people of God. Kitty McCarthy, Sr. believed I was called by God and had Vincent, went home to her reward a a responsibility to respond to that call. few years ago. Now in our twilight Several other girls from the years we three are nearing the end Presentation Convent School in of our pilgrimages. We thank God Fethard had already entered The for all His blessings that have come Ursulines in New York. Cissy Power, our way and for the loving support a classmate of my sister Mai, had and friendship of the members of our entered a few years before and I recall community — the Ursuline Sisters of saying to myself, “If Cissy Power Tildonk — whose motto is, “Ut Unum can do it so can I.” I recall Mother Sint“, That All May be One. ◉ Benignus telling me that I would not

Will and Anne Power with their daughter (Cissy) who lived in the Convent Lodge, they formerly lived in the Valley . Cissy Power took on the name Sr . Benignus, at the Ursuline Convent, New York .

166 2008 FETHARD & KILLUSTY NEWSLETTER New General Superior from Fethard

Sr . Margaret O’Brien O .S .U . photographed with her father, Pat O’Brien, from The Valley, Fethard .

r. Margaret O’Brien OSU, of Ursuline Sisters of Tildonk on 30 Sthe U.S. Province, is the eld- April, 1818. After 1900, new founda- est daughter of Pat O’Brien from tions were established in India (1903), The Valley, Fethard, and was elected Canada (1914), and the United States General Superior at the recent General of America (1924). In 1935 four young Chapter of the Ursuline Sisters of Fethard girls, Paula Carey, Nuala Tildonk in Belgium on 5th August, O’Brien, Kitty McCarthy and Monica 2008. Kevin sailed from Cobh to join the The Ursuline Sisters of Tildonk Ursuline Order in New York. In 1995 minister in India, the Democratic all four happily celebrated sixty years Republic of the Congo, Belgium, in religious life. Sr. Vincent McCarthy Canada, United States and Guyana. died in 1999. The other three, Sr. Paula John Cornelius Martin Lambertz, Carey, Sr. Philomena O’Brien and Sr. a holy priest of Tildonk, Belgium, Monica Kevin are still based in New founded the Congregation of the York with Sr. Margaret O’Brien. ◉ 167 FETHARD & KILLUSTY NEWSLETTER 2008 Marriages Weddings in the Parish Michael Redmond, Enniscorthy, and Claire Fogarty, Fethard Andrew Doyle, Rosegreen, and Mary Ellen Needham, Fethard Kevin Nicholson, Donegal, and Siobhán Carroll, Coolmore Conor Paul Long, Cork, and Rosemarie Casey Thomas Connors, Wexford, and Mary Kelly, Wexford Michael Ryan, Fethard, and Mary Kane, Fethard John Frain, Rosegreen, and Michelle Foreman, Cashel Patrick Fennelly, Killenaule, and Marie Cloonan, Fethard Weddings outside the Parish John J . Fogarty, Curraghscarteen, and Carmel Ann Ryan, Clonoulty Mark Hickey, Clonmel, and Joanne Clancy, Fethard Garret Byrne, Killusty, and Marilyn Myers, Clogheen Richard Flynn, Abbey View, Fethard, and Sinead Blake, Moyglass Donal Mullins, Fethard, and Stephanie Pagliaccio, Lausanne, Switzerland Edward O’Connor, Farranaleen, and Theresa Ahern, Goggin, Bandon Michael Ahearne, Prospect, and Linda Corbett, Holycross Thomas Bourke, Tullamaine, Joanne Murphy, Duncannon Elaine Fogarty, Cluain Ard, and Sean MacCormaic, Kerry Street

Claire Fogarty & Michael Redmond Elaine Fogarty & Sean MacCormaic

Mary Kane & Michael Ryan Kevin Nicholson & Siobhán Carroll

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In my grandfather’s footsteps by Michael Lavin married a lovely Irishwoman the There was a truce in the North of Isame way my grandfather, John Ireland at that time and I asked her Lavin, did so many years ago. His would she like to do some exploring. New York wedding in 1927 was to The angles must have been smiling Monica Halley, one of three daughters on me because she agreed, but with born to John two conditions. and Johanna in First was that Fethard at the our friendship dawn of the was to remain twentieth cen- exactly as it tury. The family was, thank soon emigrated you, and the to America and second was after passing she didn’t want through Ellis to reach into Island, relocat- her pocket for ed themselves money. to Woodstock, How could Queens, an out- I turn down door borough a good deal of the city. My like that? It grandfather’s John Halley photographed with his wife Johanna (Wall), their was a lovely family had also three daughters and husbands . L to R: Thomas Burke, John train ride up emigrated and Lavin, Herbert Nasher, John Halley . Front L to R: Evelyn Burke, to the Botanic Monica Lavin, Mary Nasher and Johanna Halley . settled into the A v e n u e Lower Eastside of Manhattan. Station. We walked around and over Their marriage produced two chil- the barricades in the streets of Belfast dren, Eileen and a son named John for three days. The people were won- Lavin. I am Michael, the second son derful to this ‘Tanned Yank’ and his of John. Although I didn’t marry ‘Smiling Colleen’, as they referred to a Fethard girl like my grandfather, us. Their accent was very different I did meet and meet and marry a and I only understood half of what pretty colleen from Strokestown, Co. they said. Roscommon. I met Margaret Duignan By the time we arrived in Fethard in a Dublin café on my first visit to we were like old friends. We loved the Eire in 1995. Her accent was like music majestic walls and we spent time stud- to my ears and she soon agreed to ying the names on dates on the head- show me all the tourist sights around stones on the adjoining graveyard. town, but the day passed too quickly. On our walk through the town I pur-

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Michael and Margaret Lavin photographed in Galway chased a blue cardigan at O’Flynn’s told me as a boy. Menswear in Burke Street. At the end When we finally drove back to of the afternoon we visited my cousin, Margaret’s house in a rented car, on Ann (Wall) Keane, in St. Patrick’s the opposite side of the road than I Place and had a wonderful chat. I had was accustomed to, she was quick to with me a copy of my family tree and explain to her stern faced father that we could follow it back three or four the red-headed ‘New Yorker’ really generations to the point where our did have Irish blood running through families converged. It was a real thrill his veins. We were married some to meet a distant relative whom I only years later by a priest in a small chapel knew through the stories my father on a tiny Caribbean Island. ◉ Fethard & District Day Care Centre he Fethard & District Day Care a longer life expectancy the Day Care TCentre, now in its 12th year, Centre has become a very important is expanding and catering for the place and somewhere they feel com- needs of our senior citizens as they fortable and safe. A daily programme arise. We purchased a new mini-bus is set out to incorporate as many inter- in January with a grant secured from ests and hobbies that our clients might The National Lottery. This enables us enjoy. We are currently preparing to transport more people to and from for our annual Christmas Bazaar and the centre. The aim and objective of clients are busy sewing and knitting, the Day Care Centre is to provide making a variety of crafts including day care and support for our senior Christmas cards and Christmas gift citizens helping to live at home in their tags, hand made tea cosies, hats and community. With people now having slippers, which will be on sale.

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Our clients took part in an Arts Lifestyle Centre, Leighlinbridge, Co. course sponsored by the South Tipp Carlow. We enjoyed a lovely lunch VEC Adult Education Service. An and evening meal in the Lord Bagenal exhibition of their work will be on Hotel. display in the centre. We take exercise The Day Centre Committee meets classes every day and all feel the ben- once a month. We still continue to efits of keeping our joints supple. We provide our Senior Day, where our visited Slievenamon Golf Club cour- elderly neighbours who do not attend tesy of the Clonmel Lions Club and the centre can avail of a chiropody enjoyed a lovely afternoon of beautiful service, meet the district nurse and food followed by music and dancing. have a hot meal. We held a Table Quiz in Butler’s We thank the staff, volunteers, Bar, Main Street, in February and transition year students, committee November. We members who thank Philip & continue to Anne (proprie- provide the tors) for facili- best service tating us and possible for all our sponsors our clients. The of prizes and committee is as those who took follows: Joan part or who O ’ D o n o h o e helped in any ( c h a i r p e r - way to make son), Jimmy these nights a Connolly (vice- huge success. c h a i r p e r s o n ) We also thank F i o n n u a l a the Dualla-Ballinure Gun Club who O’Sullivan (secretary), Liam Hayes also helped our fundraising by organ- (treasurer), Thelma Griffith, Carmel ising a table quiz. Rice, Nora Lawrence, Joe Kenny, In April we were honoured with Breda Nolan, Desmond Martin, Marie a Civic Reception held by Councillor Murphy, Geraldine McCarthy (super- John Fahey, County Chairman, at visor) and Michael Cleere (driver). We Council Offices Clonmel. In May we would like to thank Nellie O’Donovan took part in the Tipp Bealtaine Festival, who retired from the committee this celebrating creativity in older age. We year for her hard work. also spent a week in Bantry, West A very happy and peaceful Cork where we enjoyed great outings, Christmas to our families, neighbours fantastic food and brilliant company. and friends and especially to you Our summer outing this year was a our readers from all at the Day Care trip to the Arboretum Garden and Centre. ◉ 171

FETHARD & KILLUSTY NEWSLETTER 2008 Deaths in the parish The following is a list of deaths that occurred in the parish during the year. We have also included many of the deaths (from information supplied) that occurred away from Fethard and, in brackets, the place of funeral service if known. Ahessy, Mary Ballinard (Cloneen) Lalor, Jenny, Annsfort (Rathronan) Briggs, Billy, USA (Killusty) Martin, Kitty, Mobarnane (Moyglass) Bulfin, Cathleen, The Valley (Calvary) McLellan, Phyllis, Clonmel & St . Patrick’s Place Burke, Dick, Lower Main Street (Calvary) Meaney, Martin, St . Johnstown (Peppardstown) Cummins, Billy, St . Patrick’s Place (Dually) Molloy, Pat, Moyglass (Moyglass) Cummins, Sean, St . Patrick’s Place (Dublin) Murphy, Davy, Cashel Road (Dublin) Cunningham, Raymond, Tullamaine (New Inn) Murphy, Thomas, Fethard (Sheffield) Dalton, Claire (Morrissey), London Nagle, Mary, Knockbrack (Calvary) Fitzgerald, Billy, The Green & Essex (Calvary) Napier, Nora (Hickey), St . Albans, England (2006) Fleming, John, Coolmore (Calvary) Neville, Jim, Mobarnane, Fethard Fogarty, Jim, Garrinch (Calvary) O’Connor, Marion, St . Patrick’s Place (Calvary) Fox, Paddy, Woodvale Walk (Calvary) O’Donnell, Breda, Knocklofty & Cashel Road (Calvary) Goodbody, Eve, Lakefield (Lisronagh) O’Shea, John, Ardsallagh (England) Grant, Joe, Fr . Tirry Park (Kilfeacle) Ryan, Maureen, Cloneen . (Oxford) Grant, Mary, Killerk (Lisronagh) Ryan, Nellie, Coolmoyne (Calvary) Hannigan, Peg, Ballyvaden (Calvary) Ryan, Patricia, St . Patrick’s Place (Calvary) Hanrahan, Alice, Chiswick & Castleblake (Calvary) Sayers, John ‘Buddy’, St . Patrick’s Place (Calvary) Hanrahan, Sean, The Green (Calvary) Shine, Nessa, Burke Street (East London) Hennessy, David, Fr . Tirry Park (Calvary) Slattery, Ann, Coolmoyne (Calvary) Kane, Marion, The Valley (Cashel) Slattery, Vincent, Coolmoyne (Calvary) Keane, Bridget (nee Carroll) Peppardstown (USA) Stokes, Dr . Paddy, The Square (Holy Trinity) Kearney, Rita, Friarsgrange (Killusty) Walsh, Tom, Bufanna (Moyglass)

John Fleming Marion O’Connor Dr . Paddy Stokes Pat Molloy Mary Grant Newsletter Contact Details Articles for publication Joe Kenny, Rocklow Road, Fethard, Co. Tipperary. Tel: +353 52 6131663 Fax: +353 52 6130051 Email: [email protected]

Donations, Letters, Change of Addresses Carmel Rice, Brookhill, Fethard, Co. Tipperary. Tel: +353 52 6131134

172 2008 FETHARD & KILLUSTY NEWSLETTER

Our dear departed 2008 from available photographs

Sean Hanrahan Nessa Shine Jim Neville Kitty Martin Sean Cummins

Jenny Lalor Vincent Slattery Ann Slattery Jim Fogarty Patricia Ryan

Nellie Ryan Eve Goodbody Mary Nagle Bridget Keane Peg Hannigan

Rita Kearney Buddy Sayers Marion Kane Joe Grant Dick Burke

Billy Fitzgerald Thomas Murphy Tom Walsh Paddy Fox David Hennessy

173 FETHARD & KILLUSTY NEWSLETTER 2008 Donations Received 2008 Acknowledged below are donations (€10 and over) received from readers and organisations up to 30th November 2008. We would also like to thank all those who wished to remain anonymous.

Aherne, Joan (Murphy), Clondalkin, Dublin Connolly, Thomas, Essex UK Allen, Vincent, Edenderry Connor, Phil (O’Hanrahan), Tramore Anglim, Joan, The Valley, Fethard Cord, J ., Sussex, England Anglim, Monica (Woodlock), New Jersey USA Crane, Tom, Illinois USA Arkell, Joan (O’Donnell), Warwick Croke, Kevin J ., Cheshire, UK Armstrong, Monica (Dwyer), Northampton England Cross, Carl, Blackrock, Dublin Aylward, Christie, Clonmel Culligan, James, Cahir, Co . Tipperary Aylward, Mrs . Mary, Bray Cummins, Gus, Peterborough Aylward, Tony & Paula, Naas Cummins, Joan (Sayers), Cashel Barnes, Frances (O’Halloran), Kent, Cummins, John, Dublin 5 Barrett, Angela (McCarthy), Ardfinnan Cummins, Liam, Clonmel Barry, Fr . Michael, Borrisoleigh Cummins, Michael, Yorkshire Barry, Michael, Kilkenny Cummins, Mrs . R ., Hemel Hempstead, UK Barry, Rose (Ryan), Lismore Curran, Timmy, Welwyn Garden City, UK Beavis, Pat (Finn), Herts ., England Curtin, Jacqueline (Moloney), Stillorgan Bishop, Marie (Horan), Somerset, England Dalton, Michael, Howard Beach, N .Y . Boyce, Sean, Donegal Danaher, Celine, Dublin 15 . Bradley, Teresa (Fogarty), West Sussex, UK Darcy, Mr & Mrs Phil, Kent, England Bradshaw, Mattie, Ardfinnan Davey, Catherine (O’Connor), Penzance, Cornwall Brazil, Peg (Shine), Cappamore, Co . Limerick Davern, Honor (Mulligan), Cashel Brennan, Helen, Garristown, Co . Dublin Davin Haran, Mrs Lois, New York Brett, Peg & Alfie, Rocklow Road, Fethard Delany, Kitty, Parsons Hill, Fethard Browne, Dolly, Dublin 17 Delguidice, Mick & Peggy (Bedford), London Burke, Eamonn & Nora, Tralee, Co . Kerry Devlin, Rt . Rev . Msgr . B . P ., Gibraltar Burke, James, San Francisco, USA Dineen, James, California Burke, Mary, Thurles Dineen, Lory, Tramore Burke, Patsy (Byard), Killenaule Dixon, Patrick, Enniscorthy Burke, Richard, Gleneleamy, Clonmel Dodman, Gemma (Walsh), Eastbourne, UK Butler, Liam, Sutton Coalfield, UK Doheny, Noel & Marion (Fitzgerald), Ealing, London Butler, Mike, Limerick City Douglas, Patsy (Mackey), Sweden Butler, Sean, Lisronagh Downes, Mary, Cahir Byard, Dr . Donal, New Jersey, USA Downey, Fr . Michael, Dorset, UK Byrne Healy, Peg, New Jersey Duggan, Biddy, Killusty Byrne, John, Ballincollig, Cork Duggan, Eugene, Christchurch, New Zealand Byrne, Michael, Wellington, New Zealand Dusbiber, M . Catherine, Saint Paul, USA Byrnes, George, Texas, USA Eustace, Teresa, Ballintubber, Co . Roscommon Canty, Mary (Casey), Tramore Everard, Richard, Holland Caraher, Pat, Ballybay, Co . Monaghan . Fagan, Joan, Dublin 7 Carew Jones, Jeanetta D ., Acworth, USA Fahey, Betty (Bradshaw), Clonmel Carroll, Brendan (Morrissey), Isle of Anglesey Farrelly, Eileen (Cummins), Virginia, Co . Cavan Carroll, Mary (Shine), South Australia Fergus, Helen, Monaghan Town Caruana, J .P ,. George J ., Bondi Junction NSW Fethard & District Day Care Centre Casey, Rosemarie, Wimbledon, London Fethard & Killusty Community Council Clear, Margaret (Gough), California USA Fethard Ballroom Ltd . Coady, Johnie & Mary, Dorset, England Fethard Community Employment Scheme Coady, Michael & Elizabeth, Manchester Fethard Community Games Collins, Olivia (Schofield), Templemore Fethard Country Markets Colville, Peggy, Spittlefield, Fethard Fethard Historical Society Colville, Tony & Maeve (O’Shea), Tullamore Fethard ICA Connolly, Liam, Tramore Fethard Legion of Mary

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Fethard Senior Citizens Club Kevin OSU, Sr . Monica, New York Fitzgerald-Ryan, Denis & Sheena, Middlesex, UK Kidd, Ethel (Whyte), Waterford Fitzgerald, Con, Bradford King, Eddie, Ilkeston, Derbyshire, England Fitzgerald, Mary & Michael, Killusty Road, Fethard Knight, Mai, Wantage, UK Fitzgerald, Paddy, Wrexham UK Landy, Philip, Wolston, Warwickshire UK Fitzgerald, Patrick, Leicester UK Lanigan, Helen, Faugheen Fitzpatrick, Jo Beatty, Long Island, NY Lavin, Michael James, New Jersey, USA Fitzpatrick, Thomas, Woodlawn, New York Leahy, Gerry, Kilkenny Flanagan, Frank & Rita (Fitzgerald), Bristol, BS7 UK Leahy, John, Grantham, Lincs . Flanagan, Tony, London W5 Lee, John, Cork Flynn, Denis, Redhill, Surrey Lines, Ellen (Flynn), Milton Keynes Flynn, Pat, Killenaule Local Studies Dept ., County Library, Thurles Fogarty, Joseph, Tramore Lonergan, Conor A ., Killiney, Co . Dublin Fogarty, Madge (McGrath), Glanmire, Cork Lonergan, Paddy & Ann, Clonmel Fogarty, Veronica & John, Redcity, Fethard Lonergan, Paddy, Clonmel Fox, Andy, Thurles Lonergan’s Bar & Oriental Gardens, Frewen, Willie, Fenor, Co . Waterford Looby, John & Patricia (Halloran), Surrey, UK Gibson, Mrs M ., , Co . Kilkenny Lovatt-Dolan, Elizabeth (Quirke), Dublin 14 Gleeson, Joan & Eileen, Fethard Lynam, Ann (Morrissey), Dublin 12 Gleeson, Pauline (Ryan), Boherlahan Lyons, Alice (McDonnell), Birkenhead Gorski, Alice (Fitzgerald), Middlesex Maher, John & Anne, Texas, USA Grant, Gerry, Blackrock, Dublin Maher, Mary (O’Donovan), Moyne Griffin, Ena, Herts AL7 England Maher, Michael, Newcastle, Co . Dublin Grimson, Douglas, Queensland, Australia Mallon, Nuala (Kenny), Sandymount, Dublin 4 Gunne, Sean, Clonmel Malone, Mary (Maher), New York Haide, Theresa (Quinlan), Bucks . UK Mannion, Cathryn (Byrne), Athlone Halley-Pennisi, Patricia, Florida, USA Marshall, Tom & Patricia, Portlaoise Halley, John, Dublin 16 Martley, Sr . Margaret, Cork Harkin, Jennifer (Cummins), Old Leighlin McCarthy, Tony, Clonmel Harris, Neil & Di, Reading McCole, Nora (O’Shea), Perth Hayes, Canon Matthew, Bath, UK McCormack, Thomas, Gwynedd, Wales Hayes, Denis, Victoria, Australia McElroy, Paula (Carey), Newry, Co . Down Hayes, Joe & Eleanor, Bantry, Co Cork McLean, Arthur, Thompson, USA Hayes, Joe & Mossie, Fethard McLellan, Billy & Phyllis, Clonmel Hayes, John, Toronto, Canada McNamara, Joe, Templemore, Co . Tipperary Hayes, Willie, Roscrea McNulty, Mary (Maher), Bedford, UK Healy, Majella, Wexford Meagher, Bridie (Phelan) RIP, Birmingham Heffernan, Austin, Wellford, N .Z . Meaney, James J ., London SW19 Heffernan, Larry & Inger, Oslo, Norway Meehan, Mrs Ellen, Oklahoma, USA Henehan, Paddy, Dublin 20 Millett, Augustine, West Norwood, London Hennessy, Mary (Smith), Middlesex, England Mohan, Breda (O’Donnell/Danaher), Surrey, England Hennessy, Mary, Coleman, Fethard Moloney, Patrick F ., Bucks . UK Hetterley, David & Frances (Kenrick), Hereford, UK Moloney, Tom, Northampton UK Hoey, Cathleen (Murphy), Birmingham, England , Anna (Skehan), Belfast Homfray, Rev . Kenyon, Convoy, Co . Donegal Mooney, Noel, Roquefort-les-Pins, France Horan, Anne, Jossestown, Fethard Moore, Mary (Gorey), Drogheda Hunt, Maureen (Mackey), Staffordshire, UK Moran, Bro . James, Abbeyleix, Co . Laois Jakeman, Rodney, Cheshire UK Morgan, Dee (Gordon), Michigan USA Jones, Mrs . Barbara, East Sussex Morrissey Owen, Brigid, Warwickshire, UK Kane, Dermot, Dublin 8 Morrissey, Billy, Herts . UK Kavanagh, Rena (Keyes), Waterford Morrissey, Colm, Delgany, Co . Wicklow Keane, John, Tullamore Morrissey, J . J ., Tralee, Co . Kerry Keane, Patrick & Bridget (Carroll), Mass . USA Morrissey, Pauline, Fethard Kennedy, Bill & Liz, The Valley, Fethard Morrissey, Sean, Newcastle Upon Tyne Kennedy, Fr . A . B ., Portumna Morrissey, Shaun, Cheshire UK Kenny, Carol & Billy, The Green, Fethard Morrissey, Teresa (McCarthy), Ballymacarbry Kenny, Maura (Stokes), Dublin 6 Mullins, Denis, New Jersey Kenrick, Paddy, Clonmel Mullins, Paul, London

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Mullins, Vincent, North Yorks UK Pullan, Roger, Bedfordshire, UK Mulvihill, Yvonne (O’Donovan), Ballylongford, Co . Kerry Purcell, Tom, Burke Street, Fethard Murphy, David, Dublin 16 Quinn, Anthony, Malahide, Dublin Murphy, Muriel (Mullins), New Ross Quinn, Elaine (Maher), Ennis, Co . Clare Nagle, Anastasia (Kelly), Bansha Reeves, Maureen (Fogarty), Shrewley, UK Neville, Michael, Cork Roberts, Alice (Flynn), South Australia Neville, Roger, Tullamore Robinson, Bridget (Smith), Dundalk Neville, Seamus, Tramore Roche, Peggy (Kenny), Thurles Newport, Tony and Mary, Congress Terrace, Fethard Ryan (Jnr), Mattie, Buffana, Killenaule Nichols, Betty (Dineen), Warwick UK Ryan, Breda (Grant), Golden O’Neill PP, Rt . Rev . Msgr . William, Savannah, USA Ryan, John (Boxer), Clonmel O’Brien, Margaret (Butler), Limerick Ryan, Majella (Neville), Ballinure, Thurles O’Brien, Mary (Kenrick), Limerick Ryan, Mary (Murphy), Cashel O’Brien, Mike, Ontario, Canada Ryan, Michael J ., St . Albans, Herts O’Brien, O .S .U ,. Sr . Margaret, Brussels, Belgium Ryan, Michael, Monasterevin O’Carroll, Lila, California Ryan, Philip, Paulstown, Co . Kilkenny O’Connell, Gabrielle (Hayes), Waterford Ryan, Thomas, West Midlands, UK O’Connell, Katie, West Yorkshire, UK Sayers, John ‘Buddy’, Hants ., England O’Connell, Mrs Freda, Scunthorpe Sgarlata, Patricia (Sheehan), Loudonville, N .Y . O’Connell, Peg (Darcy), Basildon, Essex Sharkey, Neil, Galway O’Connell, Peter, Victoria, Australia Sheehan, Don, Cincinnati, USA O’Connell, Seamus, Essex, England Sheehan, Patrick, Hitchin, Herts UK O’Connor OSA, Fr . John, Dungarvan Shortman, Mary (Quirke), Herts, England O’Connor, Mary, Westport, Co . Mayo Skehan CSsR, Rev . William, Philippines O’Donnell, Anna (Mackey), Niles, Illinois Skehan, Nicholas, Dublin O’Donnell, Jimmy, Dublin 16 Slattery, William, Mitchelstown O’Donnell, Liam, Glasnevin, Dublin 11 Squires, May (O’Dwyer), Essex O’Donnell, Michael, London N4 Stapleton, Martin & Rita (O’Grady), Dublin 7 O’Donnell, Tony, Dublin 9 Stapleton, Peggy, Thurles O’Donovan, Gabrielle (Mackey), Tullow Road Carlow Staunton, Rena (Stokes), London NW1 O’Dwyer, Chris & Johnny, Strylea, Fethard Sweeney, Carol (Delahunty), Westminster, USA O’Flynn, Patrick, Glen Ellyn, Illinois Szwarc, Agnes (Culligan), Kent UK O’Flynn, Peggy, Ballincollig Taylor Family, Saucestown, Fethard O’Gorman, Paddy, Woking, Surrey . Tingley, Ellen (Culligan), Seven Oaks, Kent, UK O’Hanrahan, Patrick, London W9 Tobin, Patrick & Ellen (Walsh), Clonmel O’Hara, Catherine, Oxford, England Torpey, Kitty (Strappe), Cambridge O’Keeffe, Larry & Helen (Cummins), Clonmel Trehy - Halliday, Max, Sydney O’Keeffe, Michael & Hazel, Birmingham Tumpane, Breeda (Lucey), Naas O’Mahoney, Laura (Ward), Ballybay, Co . Monaghan Voss, Eleanor (Morrissey), Surrey UK O’Mara, Jimmy, New York Wade-Palmer, Eileen (Doherty), Hampshire O’Meara Family, Killusty Walker, Eleanor (O’Donnell), Australia O’Neill, Hal, Cork Wall, Mr . J ., Kent O’Neill, Ken, Dublin 6 Walsh OSA, Fr . Joseph, Victoria, Australia O’Riordan, Jerry, Dublin Walsh, Gerard, Ontario, Canada O’Rourke, Andy, Dublin 15 Walsh, Hugh, Tallaght, Dublin . O’Rourke, Paddy, Dublin 6W Walsh, Pat, Leeds UK O’Sullivan, Brian & Edith, Glasgow, Scotland Watson, Simon & Amanda, North Shore City, New Zealand O’Sullivan, John & Claire, Clonmel Whelan, Miriam (O’Brien), Drakesland, Kilkenny O’Sullivan, Michael, Rathvin, Fethard Whelan, Paddy, London SE13 O’Toole, Fidelma (Maher), Essex, England Wilkins, Christine (Sayers), Taghmon, Co . Wexford Ostler, Alice (McInerney), Southampton Woodlock, Austin, Birmingham Parkinson, Teresa (Hickey), Lancashire UK Woodward, Sheila Aline, Warkickshire UK Patrician Presentation Secondary School, Fethard Wright, Ann (Flanagan), Wantage, Oxon Pereira, Geraldine (White), Madeira, Portugal Wyatt, Phil & Frank, Fethard Power, Ned, Wolverhampton UK Wynne, Monica (Dwyer), Clonmel If, for any reason, we have omitted your name, please let us know and we will acknowledge your donation next year.

176 2008 FETHARD & KILLUSTY NEWSLETTER To join the brimming river

or much of my childhood the great pastime for those of us released Fmain source of amusement in from school for two whole months summer was the river. In my case each July. That part of the stream was it was the Clashawley, which, I am very dirty, today a cut would require amazed to see, figures in numerous treatment at the hospital A & E depart- entries on Google. It rises somewhere ment. It never seemed to bother us near Killenaule and flows quietly to and I cannot recall anyone suffering join the Anner a mile or so below anything more serious than having his Loughcopple Bridge. foot in bandages for more than a few As a young boy it provided in days. Today it would, no doubt, merit summer such diversions as paddling. stitches and anti-tetanus injections. Here you had to be very careful We must have been a tough bunch for because on the stretch which ran such treatment never happened and through Fethard you could easily we all seemed to survive. encounter a broken bottle and sustain As a teenager I discovered the joys a nasty cut. I was lucky, I never did of trout fishing so the Clashawley step on such a hazard, others were assumed for me a significance which not and squeals of pain and the sight continues to this day. I got on the of a foot dripping with gore often most intimate terms with that river interrupted the serious business of and can still in my mind’s eye trace catching brickeens and routags, the its progress from Rocklow to its con-

177 FETHARD & KILLUSTY NEWSLETTER 2008 fluence with the Anner and beyond. mer. The water was deep here and, However, I shall confine myself to the because it was fed by springs, very Clashawley because for over several cold. To boys of that time the cold years it was the source of much simple seemed not to matter and summer pleasure and I still think about it near- days often resounded to the splash of ly fifty years after I left for England. bodies attempting to execute Olympic One of my earliest memories is style dives into its icy depths. A few going to Rocklow House with my hundred yards further on the river uncle Michael who worked there. flowed past what we called “The I remember see- Kennels”. I believe ing all the saddles the Tipperary and bridles laid Foxhounds had out in the tack once been quar- room clean and tered there, hence highly polished. its name. Here a Being a devotee dam of sorts inter- of Roy Rogers, rupted the flow the sight which and created a deep captured my pool where, again, admiration was swimmers used the Western sad- to congregate in dle and I longed warm weather. to ride a horse This dam was the with it and emu- relic of an attempt late my heroes of in the early years the silver screen. of the last century However my abid- to generate elec- ing memory is the tricity and light sight of the river the town. It had just below the but short-lived house. Here it had success, electric been widened and Breen’s Bridge lights appeared deepened, prob- in Fethard giving ably in the 19th century when such it the distinction of being one of the things were the fashion, to create a first towns in Ireland to be so illu- mini lake. Trout swam in it and the minated. My grandmother told me lake overflowed to join the river and that the entrepreneur who initiated carry on past Breen’s Bridge towards the scheme went bankrupt and the the town. experiment came to a sad and prema- Breen’s Bridge was a popular ture end. However, some of the lamp swimming hole during the sum- standards, which still provide light to

178 2008 FETHARD & KILLUSTY NEWSLETTER the town, date from that time, provid- and closed to regulate the flow of ing a connection with an enterprising water onto the wheels. A few years innovation. later the mill closed for good, as a mill Downstream was the osiery, that is, for now it houses the Abymill owned and operated by the Cummins Theatre. The weir itself has decayed family. Here in the swampy ground and the sluice gates, which diverted by the stream willows grew in abun- the water, fell into ruin long ago. That dance. In fact looking upstream from aspect of the mill is now a sad sight the Convent Bridge the view was indeed. blocked by the willows which erupted Another ruin is the Abbey Bridge. from both banks and met in a canopy I bet there are many young people in mid-water. The family used them to who do not know it existed. In my make baskets and other items such as time it was used to take cattle from sheep hurdles and seemed to prosper the field by the Abbey Church to the from the trade. I wonder how much of friars’ land on the other side. It was a the trade now remains for the willows precarious structure, as I remember, are still there and you still cannot see until in the early 1950s, it was rebuilt upstream from the bridge. by Joey Fogarty and Tommy Molloy. The Convent Bridge was where Joey worked the Abbey Farm and in pre-television days groups met in Tommy was employed at Jim St John’s the evenings to discuss the affairs of farm nearby. I can recall the two using the football team and the world in horses to drag long poles across the general. All that generation has now old bridge, removing the rotten planks passed from the scene and contempla- and nailing old railway sleepers to tion of the sight brings back memories the poles to create the new structure. of characters who set you in time That too decayed over time, the farm and place as you grew up and were was run down and so the need for the the nuts and bolts of your existence. bridge disappeared. Still the centre Relapsing into nostalgia is a habit I pier remains in place and, maybe, one still find it difficult to resist so I shall day someone will rebuild it. move on. A short distance further is Coffey’s Weir was so called Whelan’s where the river is joined because it had been created to enable by the stream which flows from the a portion of the water to be diverted to direction of the Rectory and so adds power the corn mill belonging to that to the volume of water and makes family. In my childhood the mill was for some very good trout fishing, or still in use, if only perfunctorily, and it did in my time. It was along this sacks of grain arrived to be ground stretch that I caught my first trout, into flour or, more frequently, animal a specimen of about half a pound feed. The great millstones were still in weight, caught one evening in August place, a set of sluice gates was opened 1958 as it was getting dark. It fired my

179 FETHARD & KILLUSTY NEWSLETTER 2008 enthusiasm for the sport and made len by the springs of the Mullinbawn. me a hopeless addict. Thereafter until It also becomes bitterly cold but yields I left home the seven months long some very big fish. Here the weeds season from March to October would grow lush producing a wide variety see me plying my trade along either of insect life on which the fish gorge the Clashawley or Anner and get- themselves. I once got permission to ting unbelievable enjoyment from this fish in Grove and made some fine most absorbing of pastimes. Much of catches there. The stretch below Grove my fishing was done during the long Bridge was especially productive and I summer holiday from school. I recall caught some fine specimens from the catching some fine fish during June “Turning Hole”, an exceptionally deep and July as it grew dark. There were pool. Here in autumn salmon on their a few pools where Whelan’s passed way upstream to spawn would rest by the boundary of the Grove Estate and it was one of the few occasions to which were particularly productive spot these lordly creatures. The New during late summer evenings. Here a Bridge, the haunt of generations of large sedge, a very bushy fly, would swimmers, did not yield much sport tempt the wary as darkness fell. Here for the angler but Tinsley’s Bridge at I recall John Sayers making the efforts the boundary with Kiltinan did. That of the rest of us look negligible as he is if you were agile enough to negoti- could be relied on to double or triple ate it for, in my youth, it was largely what we mere mortals might achieve. derelict and dangerous. I am glad to I remember in particular watching hear that it has now been restored. him try to tempt some fish which were Kiltinan was where the river addicted to the midge with a small received another transfusion of spring Red Quill and watching his blood water, this time from a stream which pressure rise as these wily old speci- flowed from beneath a rock a little mens ignored his fly and took the next upstream from the castle. Here the natural insect to float by. Eventually stone was red, stained, legend has it, he gave up, one of the very few occa- by the blood of a martyred bishop sions on which I saw him frustrated. A flung from the battlements. In real- few days later I took several of these ity it is because the rock is Old Red fish with an imitation midge which I Sandstone, a strange intrusion into a tied on a 4 millimetre long hook and land dominated by limestone. In the which could only be tied to a nylon late 1950s, I was given permission cast of hair-like thinness. I gave a cou- to fish it by the then owner, Mrs La ple of these flies to John and it must Terriere. She was a most remarkable have been the only occasion on which character. She was one of the first I found that I had discovered some- women to ride astride instead of side- thing which had eluded him. saddle, something which gave her the As the river enters Grove it is swol- reputation of being a “fast woman”.

180 2008 FETHARD & KILLUSTY NEWSLETTER

L to R: Jim Healy, Monica (Owens) Healy, Michael Healy holding baby Michael, Catherine, Tommy, Ann and Concepta Healy .

L to R: Kathleen Kenny, Marie Dooley and Catherine Healy taking a ride on horse and cart .

181 FETHARD & KILLUSTY NEWSLETTER 2008

Ned Healy at Grove Nan Healy who lived at Grove Lodge

Dan Hynes, Jim Healy, Ed Healy and Michael Dan Hynes, Michael Healy and Tommy Healy Healy taken at Kiltinan . on Rocking Horse .

182 2008 FETHARD & KILLUSTY NEWSLETTER

She was not; her generation was the possessed. Cast a passable imitation one which produced the suffragettes, of that insect over them and they were women of independent mind and easy prey. I can see why the mayfly boundless energy. I found her to be season is still regarded as the high- a most fascinating character. Her first point of the trout fisherman’s year; husband had been killed in the Great fish were seldom easier to catch. War. She had driven ambulances in A mile below Loughcopple the that conflict and could tell hair-raising Clashawley met the Anner at a place stories of her exploits. She kept a col- we called ‘the meeting of the waters’. lection of shell cases; she once showed I do not know if the scene is on a me that of a French 75, an artillery par with Thomas Moore’s location piece in which the French Army had at Avoca for I have never visited the an almost mystical faith. It certainly latter sight. I did visit Moore’s grave figured prominently in the Battle of in the village of Bromham in Wiltshire the Marne and, I believe, France keeps some years ago. He lies in the church- one example of it on display today yard a short distance from Slopperton to show what gratitude they still Cottage where he spent the last thirty have for it. Her second husband, the years of his life. I noted that the village Frenchman, La Terriere, had a repu- is twinned with Avoca the place where tation as a rake. He certainly had a the television series “Ballykissangel” penchant for fast cars and his passage was filmed in the 1990s. Where the through any village caused scenes of Clashawley ends the Anner takes panic and consternation. My father over. It emerges from beneath a thick once told me that the only casualty canopy of trees and bushes. I tried he caused was that of a hen too slow on one or two occasions to fish it. It to get out of his way. Mrs La Terriere proved impossible, you could not cast was one of those characters you no easily and the loss of several flies and longer encounter, when they made her their attendant casts proved what an they broke the mould. impossible operation it was. Below Loughcopple Bridge the As Tennyson said, “at last by river widened. Beds of lush river weed Phillip’s farm I flow to join the brim- bred some formidable fish. Before that ming river”. When I was young the abomination called arterial drainage farm belonged to the Long family. I wrecked the natural habitat you could have been away too long to know if find deep pools which harboured they still own the land. Whoever does great fighting trout. Catching one on they have in their possession a scene a mayfly in early June is one of my which played a vital part in my grow- pleasantest memories. The arrival of ing up and which I still remember with that insect in late May seemed to great affection. ◉ deprive fish of any sense of caution or restraint they might have hitherto by Tommy Healy (November 2008)

183 FETHARD & KILLUSTY NEWSLETTER 2008 A short walk back in time ust before Christmas last year, It was bitterly cold so they were wise Jmy brother, Paddy died, follow- to keep moving. Though sad, I felt, ing a long battle against disability. My “All’s right with the world, Fethard is a family came to the funeral. To them wonderful town”. their memories of visiting Fethard, That I was born and brought up in when my parents were still alive, were Fethard, I consider to be my extreme of a place where you got ice cream good fortune – even though a long every day, mostly supplied by Paddy time ago, the memories are vivid and People also gave them pennies. This varied. never happened anywhere else! My grandparents lived in Burke Last year, like me, they appreciated Street — my first venture – out the the crowds who came to the funeral back gate and turn left. First visit was and the warmth of the tributes paid to to O’Flynns workshop – their display Paddy. He was laid to rest at the beau- windows were across the street. There tiful historic Church of Ireland. During were five or six tailors sitting ‘cross- the burial, I was standing higher up so legged’ on a large platform at table I could look over the Town Wall at height. They never stopped stitching four or five houses galloping in a field. but were always ready for a chat. I

Two lads, with bags packed, leaving The Green in the early 40’s . L to R: Alice Carey, Katie (Kenny) O’Brien, Ursula O’Brien, Mary O’Brien, Bridget and Maggie Carey, Jimmy Walsh and Mattie Higgins .

184 2008 FETHARD & KILLUSTY NEWSLETTER noticed that tailors’ thimbles had no “Rose on the door, tops — the surface used mostly by Kiddies on the floor, dressmakers. One of their number Who could ask for more, was deaf and dumb but I was able In Sleepy Valley!” to talk to him as my grandmother One dreadful day I found her in had taught me the deaf and dumb floods of tears. Her niece, Alice, was alphabet. going to America to become a nun I’d then travel down past O’Flynn’s and Maggie would never, ever, see her ice cream shop where they sold new again. She continued with the ironing and delicious whipped ice cream. I while telling me all the under-clothes didn’t often have money and the she had to bring with her. I remember request for a penny from my Dad thinking she’ll never live long enough usually bought the reply, “Yes I have a to wear them out! penny and do you know why, because Forty years on, Alice wrote to the I have sense enough to keep it!” So, no Newsletter reporting that it was then ice cream. 40 years since she and two compan- I often met ‘Jim the Wrecker’. He ions from Fethard area had entered had a birthday every fair day, once a the Ursuline Convent in New York month. It was cause for a celebration and were all alive and well. I wrote as, also was pig market day, once a telling her of the distress her departure week, so he was a cheerful man. caused her Aunt Maggie. I’m told she Jack Kenrick had a barber’s shop did visit Fethard but, not until her – I had no reason to visit so on past aunt’s death. Tom Hickeys. He trained and con- My grandmother was an austere ducted Fethard Brass Band. The band lady, dressed in dark colours with a turned out on important occasions modesty vest of pleated silk on ecru and played “Faith of our Fathers” loud crochet. She wore a black velvet rib- and clear. bon or beads round her neck and Next lived Miss Brown with her also wore a wig – I know this as I father and brother. My conversa- discovered a spare one in the house tions took place with her in Main soon after her death. She taught me Street where she kept the books with my prayers, how to knit and sow, and beautiful neat writing at O’Donnells several useful ‘ditties’ –‘Thirty days butchers. hath September’ . . . and much more. Now I turned left into my grandfa- At this stage my grandfather was not ther’s yard. In the kitchen was Maggie often home during the day but I got to Carey, a nice little lady, grey haired know him later. and wearing a large white apron. She Next important stop was the was often to be found with a mixing Abbey church, Miss May Coffey, bowl on her lap, using a hand whisk wearing a hat and always smok- to make a sponge cake, singing, ing a cigarette, prepared us for the

185 FETHARD & KILLUSTY NEWSLETTER 2008 procession. This took place on the even heard of the ‘New Look’. At this Sunday after Corpus Christi each stage she learned how to draft pat- year. Beforehand, we were arranged, terns, which I found interesting. I was two by two, according to height and allowed to help and, so, promoted drilled. Each girl (no boys) carried from picking up pins. Girlie was a a little basket which we decorated very talented dressmaker, pity she did with red and white crêpe paper full not train others to carry on. of flower petals on the day, but for On the way home, I recall visit- now empty. We were trained to bow, ing O’Grady’s, two ladies. I don’t strew the flowers, bow again, all turn think I ever knew their first names but together, eight steps, they had a garden and all turn together, bow, would give me flowers and so on. This con- to fill my basket for tinued from the altar the procession. I clear- in the Abbey, through ly remember they gave the church, turn right me a bunch of Lily of along the road, right the Valley for my First again into the Abbey Holy Communion. grounds, and so on Next house of to the altar where, importance was weather permitting, Kenricks – Mrs Benediction was cel- Kendrick was organist ebrated in the open and choir mistress for air. This was an annual the Abbey church and occurrence. I never a very powerful choir remember getting a it was. They sang in note telling me to be Latin of course. there – we just knew! Next stop was After the Abby I Holohans – thought it often visited Innisfall was a pub, I could go (the house in which I One of the dresses that Girlie Healy copied in as Josie gave me was born) to see Girlie piano lessons – they Healy – always busy dressmaking – I ended when she married and went to learned much from Girlie. She visited live in Derryluskin – “ relatives in America just as the ‘New from the mountain speaks Irish words Look’ was becoming popular there. galore – The biggest building in the She returned brim-full of ideas. I can town, is Aunt Maud’s candy store.” assure you we in Fethard, were decked Does anyone remember more? out in those lovely dresses with fitted Maudie Green’s shop was tiny. waists and full skirts (kind to those She lived there with her mother and with big bottoms) long before London son Joe, who, being a hunchback

186 2008 FETHARD & KILLUSTY NEWSLETTER

Josie Carey outside O’Shea’s Shop in Burke Street didn’t go out to play with other boys, whom we met at my grandmoth- instead he did beautiful fretwork. He er’s house. My father changed his drew pictures on hen’s eggs which we shoes frequently and laces seemed to had at Easter. I don’t remember hav- break far too often, pre-nylon. This ing chocolate eggs for years yet and meant that whoever was near at the then, just one for the whole family. time dashed over to O’Meara’s for a We have now reached O’Flynns new pair. I never remember waiting high class tailoring establishment run for money. Whenever the shop was by Mr O’Flynn’s son Jimmy, who shut, Sundays on half-day, I knocked looked after materials and orders while on the hall-door and was given the Billy was tailor and cutter. They were required laces – never a grumble or a know and used far and wide. Mrs cross look. O’Flynn, a delightful silver haired lady They ordered the comic, ‘Rainbow’, immaculately dressed, measured the for me every week. It came without fail ladies. I know, I had jodhpurs made. I hope I paid for that, I think I did! I felt very important as ‘Mamma’, Time to go home – I have only Jimmy and I went up to the parlour travelled one street and am only seven where she wielded the tape while or eight years of age so, you see, even Jimmy wrote down the measurements. then Fethard was a remarkably inter- Kindly Mrs O’Meara owned the esting town. ◉ next-door drapery shop run, mostly by Josie, niece of Maggie Carey, by Rena Staunton (nee Stokes) London

187 FETHARD & KILLUSTY NEWSLETTER 2008 Fethard Sewage – a pressing problem

Barrack Street during 1937 Fethard Sewage Scheme . The house in the background was occupied by Mr & Mrs Jack Cummins, part of Mary Purcells house can be also be seen . Back L to R: Michael McInerney, Alice McInerney, Jim O’Mahony, Agnes Allen, Eddie Coffey, Jimmy McInerney . In front: Mick Hennessy, Kiernan Kelly .

n the early thirties the disposal of with Dr Stokes and Mr Connolly (C. Isewage in our town area become Engineer), the existing drainage con- a pressing problem. An outbreak of sists of a stone-built sewer of primitive typhoid and the possibility of further type and intended, in the first instance, cases brought a positive response for surface water only.” from the South Tipp Health Board. This runs on the north side of The sewage system then was, to Main Street, Barrack Street and Burke say the least, primitive and for surface Street with an appreciable number of waste only. Waste land and laneways lavatories linked up to it. At a number were to often fouled with human of points along the river, sewage and waste – where an unwary traveller was effluent is emitted. At one point near more than likely to put ‘a foot in it’. Dr the ‘pound’ crude sewage in volume Naughton, the then County Medical pours onto the public passage. In Officer of Health in Clonmel, wrote periods of dryness the stream flow is to a meeting of the South Tipperary very small and much nuisance arises Board of Health in Clonmel, “Having of foulness from stream and riverbed. previously surveyed the system in part As regards the ‘Green’ area in

188 2008 FETHARD & KILLUSTY NEWSLETTER

Fethard, there is no water laid on. The years and the last order made was that water distribution system as originally Mr Mead (County Surveyor) was to planned has not been completed for submit plans for a sewage scheme for this area. Fethard.” That is three years ago. The estimated cost for prop- Commissioner Meehan decided to er drainage for the town would be ask the minster for local Government approx £3,000 pounds to sanction the appointment of a So having in view the very recent consulting engineer for this and such occurrence of typhoid in this town other sewage or water schemes that and the possibility of further cases may be considered urgent by the arising from defective sewage and County Medical Officer. Suffice to also the large population (over 1200 say, that our present system has pro- persons), I regard the installation of vided this basic need for the last a complete modern sewage disposal seventy years and provides us with a system as an fundamental and urgent sharp contrast in the way things were necessity. I many add that it is the all those years ago. At least now we most pressing problem I have seen in can wonder off the beaten track with- this county yet! out putting a foot in it! ◉ Secretary — “That matter has been before the board for the past four by Jimmy McInerney Fethard & Killusty Community Council his year, the Community Connolly (Treasurer), Very Rev. TCouncil continued with its Canon Breen P.P., Ger Manton, ongoing efforts to create and maintain Thelma Griffith, Maria Murphy a viable, vibrant and visible com- (PRO), Peter Grant, Paddy McEvoy, munity in the Parish of Fethard & Brian Sheehy, Liam Hayes, Diana Killusty. Continuing on in the tradi- Stokes and David Woodlock. tion of Fethard & Killusty Community Meetings are held monthly (usually Council, since its inception in 1976, on the third Tuesday), at 8.30pm, in the present committee and members, the Fr. Tirry Community Centre. If while sustaining their ongoing activi- you feel that you have something ties, brought some of their projects to contribute to the community or to completion, and, looking to the if there is an issue you would like future, took on many new endeavours to have addressed, please bring it to in 2008. the attention of the committee or any The Board of Directors of Fethard member of the organisation. & Killusty Muintir Council Limited The Community Council would comprises of Joe Kenny (Chairman), like to take this opportunity to thank Edwina Newport (Secretary), Jimmy and acknowledge the presence and

189 FETHARD & KILLUSTY NEWSLETTER 2008 co-operation of the great staff on At the outset of 2008 one of the the Community Employment Scheme main objectives of the Community who contribute so much, not alone, Council was the refurbishment and to the wider community, but also, redevelopment of the former Convent to the activities of the Community Hall into a dedicated Youth Centre. Council. This year, for various rea- We are delighted to now have this sons, many new faces joined the project completed. Meticulously and scheme, we would like to welcome methodically well-guided by Jimmy you all on-board. There is no doubt Connolly, Tynan Construction Ltd., that the strongest link on the scheme Moyglass, worked tirelessly on site is Joan O’Donohoe. In her role, for the past number of months and as Supervisor of the Community on the first Sunday of December Employment Scheme, and manager the facility was open for viewing of the Community Office and the Fr. by the community. The committee Tirry Community Centre, Joan is an and members of Fethard Community integral part of the many and varied Council would like to take this oppor- activities of the Community Council. tunity to sincerely thank the directors Always obliging and ever diligent and staff of Tynan Construction Ltd., an enormous amount of credit and for their excellent work and atten- gratitude is due to Joan. ‘Thank You’, tion to detail in bringing the building Joan, for all your work and for keep- and its grounds to its current condi- ing the ship afloat. tion. We hope that in early 2009 the

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Mr Barry Andrews TD photographed with committee members on his visit to Fethard Community Playschool on Friday 22nd August . L to R: Benny Tynan, Abby McKay, Joe Burke, Pamela Morrissey, Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Mr Barry Andrews, Deputy Mattie McGrath, Cllr Jimmy O’Brien, Ger Boland (County Childcare Committee), Cllr . Tom Ambrose, Chairman of South Tipperary County Council, and Cllr Pat Norris . 190 2008 FETHARD & KILLUSTY NEWSLETTER

Dr . Martin Mansergh, Minister of State, photographed on his visit to view the Fethard & Killusty Community Council’s Youth Project in response for assistance to the committee’s submission for government funding for a Youth Officer . L to R: Joe Kenny, Diana Stokes, Benny Tynan, Jimmy Connolly, Cllr . Siobhán Ambrose, Dr . Martin Mansergh, Ger Manton, Liam Hayes and Peter Grant

Youth Centre will be furnished and funded. At present, other sources of open for use. It is envisaged that the funding are being identified by the facility will provide a safe and secure Community Council. place in which young people can ACORN Childcare Fethard Ltd enjoy their leisure time. It is hoped are well advanced with their plans that this will be made possible by to develop a purpose-built childcare the involvement of adult supervisors. facility adjacent to the local primary Already a number of adult volunteers schools. Their application for fund- have pledged their involvement to the ing was endorsed by South Tipperary Youth Centre. County Childcare Committee and On the 22nd August this year, has been forwarded to the Minister’s the Minister for Children, Mr Barry Department for consideration. A Andrews T.D. paid a visit to Fethard. response is awaited, but the cur- The purpose of this visit was for him rent economic environment will prob- to see, first hand, the work being done ably delay such announcements with regard to the provision of services for the foreseeable future, at least. for the younger members of the com- Meanwhile, the ACORN Committee munity. Both Fethard Community are progressing with plans, in collabo- Council and the newly established, ration with a number of other com- ACORN Childcare Committee had munity organisations, to acquire the made applications for funding to sup- identified site from South Tipperary port their efforts. The Community County Council. Council had hoped to secure fund- In April, a very interesting and ing for a dedicated Youth Officer for well-attended public meeting took the Convent Hall. Unfortunately, place to inform locals of the proposed due to declining economic conditions Fethard / Saratoga Sister City initia- no new projects are currently being tive. Two visitors from Saratoga, Dr.

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Mike Cahill from Saratoga photographed with friends of the late Eily Cahill from Coolmoyne . L to R: Tony Newport, Margaret Flanagan, John Slattery, Mike Cahill, Joe Ahearne and Rosanne Carroll .

At the Fethard and the Town of Saratoga sister town presentation were L to R: Brendan Kenny (Slievenamon Golf Club), Maurice Moloney (Coolmore), Mike Cahill (Saratoga), Cllr John Fahey (Chairperson South Tipperary County Council), Dave Cummings (Saratoga) and John O’Flynn (South Tipperary Farming) .

At the Fethard and the Town of Saratoga sister town presentation were L to R: Mike Cahill (Saratoga), C .J . Harrington (Saratoga), Dave Cummings (Saratoga), Cllr John Fahey (Chairperson South Tipperary County Council) and Joe Kenny (Chairperson Fethard & Killusty Community Council) .

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Mike Cahill and Mr. Tom Cummings, essential services, local authorities also highlighted the many links, both exist- have a responsibility to build com- ing and potential, between the two munities. 2008 is the sixth year of communities. They stated that the the competition, which has enjoyed three primary links identified were tremendous success and continues to Equine, Cultural / Historic and Youth. grow in terms of prestige and popular- An open invitation was extended to ity. Since its inception hundreds of the community of Fethard to visit community groups have participated Saratoga and it is likely that an entou- in the competition, with nominations rage from there will travel to spend being received from almost every local some time in Fethard, possibly in authority in Ireland. 2009. Judging for the Pride of Place Fethard Community Council competition took place, in Fethard, were delighted to be nominated, by on Wednesday 16th July. On this South Tipperary County Council, for afternoon, the judges were introduced the Pride of Place Competition this to the community of Fethard and the year. This competition is hosted by activities – past, present and future – of Co-operation Ireland under its Local Fethard Community Council by means Authority Programme in conjunction of a remarkable presentation, prepared with the all-island Local Authority and delivered by our Chairman, Joe Steering Forum comprising officials Kenny. This was followed by a from Local Authorities in both parts short question and answer session of the Island. The main thrust of before departing the Tirry Centre on this competition is to celebrate com- a walking tour of the town, so that munity contribution to local society the visitors could see, for themselves, and the creation of civic pride. The the outcomes of community develop- Pride of Place Competition is all about ment in Fethard. The day concluded acknowledging in a meaningful man- with the judges being brought along ner the fantastic selfless work being the Town Wall, in the grounds of done by people in communities all Holy Trinity Church, which impressed over the island of Ireland. It is recog- them greatly. The Gala Awards nition of the work being done to cre- Ceremony for the Competition took ate communities for tomorrow while place in Cappoquin, Co. Waterford in respecting the heritage and culture of November, at which Fethard was rep- the past. It acclaims the work being resented by Chairperson, Joe Kenny, done to create viable, vibrant and and Secretary, Edwina Newport. visible communities. It is also about This event was hosted by Waterford giving local authorities an opportu- County Council in association with nity to participate in the heart of their Co-operation Ireland and The Pride communities, because while acknowl- of Place Committee. The venue for edging that, in addition to providing the Gala Ceremony, Cappoquin

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New Internet Café open to the public at the Tirry Community Centre Community Centre, a wonderful mul- Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays. ti-functional community facility, is in The availability of broadband Internet itself a testament to what communities access, for a nominal fee, is especially can achieve when local people power welcome to those who do not have a is harnessed in a focussed and ambi- computer or Internet access in their tious way. Special guests on the night own homes. This service is particu- were President Mary McAleese and larly beneficial to school-going youths her husband Dr. Martin McAleese. who wish to access information from President McAleese has visited count- the world-wide-web to assist them less communities around the island with school projects, etc.; for newcom- and has spoken passionately about the ers to Fethard, especially those from role that communities play in ensur- abroad, who wish to maintain contact ing that the society we develop, is one with home or for visitors to the area which is people centred, inclusive and who wish to access e-mails or make one which we can all be proud of. It further travel arrangements as they go. was therefore most appropriate that The Internet Café is temporarily situ- the President honoured the organisers ated in the Tirry Community Centre and their guests with her presence on and will be relocated to the Convent the night. Hall when feasible. An Internet Café was established During 2008 it became possible to in the Autumn by the Community purchase Fethard Community Lotto Council in collaboration with the tickets on-line at fethard.com. This National Learning Network work method of purchase provides an ideal experience programme. This facility opportunity for Fethard people, who is manned by Jack Kenny and is open do not reside here, to subscribe to from 12 noon to 4.30pm on Mondays, and support the local lotto. The

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Community Lotto continues to be facilitated funding to be allocated for the main fundraising activity of the re-development works on the Town Community Council, many thanks to Wall. Such work is currently under- all those who support it. way in the Watergate area. Also, a The importance and recognition Feasibility Study was undertaken by of Fethard as “the most important KPMG on the Town Hall (Tholsel). medieval small town in Ireland”, par- Numerous contributions and opinions ticularly the presence and condition of were noted on the day and work is the Town Wall, gained further promi- ongoing on the final document. Two nence this year. Another successful other documents, also nearing com- Walled Towns Day, promoted by pletion, are the Public Realm Plan the Community Council in conjunc- and Town Wall Conservation and tion with South Tipperary County Management Plan. In future, the con- Council, Fáilte Ireland and the Heritage tents of these plans will be considered Council, was held on Sunday August in conjunction with the Fethard Town 24th. Blessed with one of the best Development Plan. The Fethard Plans days weather of the year the event was Administration Committee was for- extremely well supported, by stall- mally established as a sub-group of holders, side attractions and visitors the Community Council this year. from many countries. The National Two new initiatives currently being Heritage Council of Ireland, through promoted by Fethard Community the Irish Walled Towns Network, has Council are the acquisition of Fairtrade

Members of Fethard & Killusty Community Council photographed with a group of Polish visitors who came to Fethard to look at various community projects undertaken in the town and to learn how they were achieved . The group visited the Fethard Town Wall, Fr . Tirry Community Centre and the Abymill Theatre and were accompanied by Paul Keating, Irish Leader Support Unit, Tipperary Institute, and Catherine Corcoran, Rural Development, Tipperary Institute .

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Status and the possible development development agencies in Ireland. The of Fethard as a Transition Town. The more Fairtrade goods we buy, the Community Council are being advised more producers can be supported. and supported on both projects by The Transition Town concept is a Ms. Catherine Corcoran, Fethard resi- voluntary community initiative work- dent and Rural Development Specialist ing to help make the transition from at Tipperary Institute. Fethard a dependency on fossil fuels to a Community Council have taken the low carbon future. Having realised first step to enable Fethard to become that governments aren’t facing up to a Fairtrade Town. At the September the looming energy and environmen- meeting, the organisation ratified a tal crises each town implements its motion of support of the proposal and own version of energy descent and agreed to serve Fairtrade products at begins a “Skilling up for powerdown”. its events. Initial meetings have taken What began in Kinsale – the world’s place between the primary and sec- first Transition Town – in 2005, has ondary schools to get them involved become something of a movement and to help promote the Fairtrade internationally. Maybe Fethard will initiative. The next step is to convene a be the next Transition Town? local steering group to encourage local In the spirit of the Pride of retail and catering outlets to stock Place Awards Fethard & Killusty and serve Fairtrade products and to Community Council continues ensure continued commitment to the to strive to create a community for Fairtrade status. The Fairtrade Mark tomorrow while respecting the herit- is the only independent guarantee of age and culture of the past. Happy a better deal for third world produc- Christmas and every good wish to ers and is supported by all the main you for 2009. ◉

Helping with the postage of your Fethard & Killusty Annual Newsletter at the Tirry Community Centre last year were L to R: Shamie Hickey, Brendan Kenny, Eddie O’Brien, Tina Conran, Jessica Conran, Shannon Hickey, Daniel Hickey, Linda Kenny, Rory Walsh . Front L to R: Evelyn O’Connor, Monica Hickey, Margaret O’Donnell, Marion O’Connor (RIP) and Aaron Conran . 196 2008 FETHARD & KILLUSTY NEWSLETTER The global village

Photographed at the ABBA Extravaganza Mamma Mania’ night in aid of Cystic Fibrosis are L to R: Mira Nagey, Jessica Cooke and Louiza Lima

ethard, like almost every Originally, this article was going Ftown and village in Ireland, to focus on the arrivals from the has become more multicultural in Eastern European Countries, but as I the past decade. There are people researched the article, I saw that there living here from England, Scotland, was a broader sphere, so I spoke with Wales, France, Germany, the Czech Luiza, a student from Brazil who is Republic, Hungary, China, Poland, here to study English, with Lucie from Australia, Chile, the USA, Brazil and the Czech Republic, who arrived in New Zealand. Some of these are here Fethard in a very roundabout way and for many years and now call Fethard has been here almost four years now, home. Others are part of the mass and Sarah who arrived in Fethard migration that Ireland has witnessed from New Zealand to visit her sister from Eastern Europe since the political nine years ago, met an Irishman (the restrictions have been lifted in their author of this article), and moved here countries and huge numbers were in 2001. needed to build the new Ireland. As I Luiza Lima is a student from Sao write, the Celtic Tiger is well and truly Paulo in Brazil, a city with a popu- gone and record numbers are leaving lation of 20,000,000. She came to the country again as jobs are drying Fethard via an agency that places up. I spoke to a cross-section of the students with families in Ireland. The new arrivals and asked them what aim of her visit was to learn English, they think of Ireland. so she spent her time living with Bill

197 FETHARD & KILLUSTY NEWSLETTER 2008 and Liz Kennedy and their family for to and fro for both of them between four months. She went to school in New Zealand and Ireland, she gave Fethard and returned to her up her job as a retail manager with the native Brazil with an All Ireland gold family business and moved to Fethard. medal, which she won with the school Sarah loves the Irish countryside volleyball team. and has probably seen more of it Her stay in Ireland was enjoyable, than most Irish people, as she has as she took part in many activities, travelled to all thirty two counties. both in school and The cultural differ- outside of it. When ence wasn’t that big, asked what she liked, coming from New she said that she Zealand, though liked the people, the she did have trouble food and she found with some accents the countryside and the speed of our very beautiful. Her speech when she first major dislike was the arrived. weather and the lack Like Luiza, she of any decent form of found the weather public transport. She hard to adjust to, also found some of especially the damp. the Irish habits a bit Another negative strange, such as peo- was the litter. She ple saying that they couldn’t get over would call, but never Sarah Murphy with her children Kate and Lily the amount that is did, and the fact that dumped along the Irish people rarely met up in each roadsides from passing cars. other’s houses, preferring to go to the That said, she definitely calls pub. Ireland home now. Married in 2002 When asked the million dollar and they now have three daughters, question, “Will you return to Ireland?”, Kate, Lily and Suzie. she said that she would in the future, Lucie Horska came to Ireland from to visit but not to live. She likes the the Czech Republic. Unlike most peo- sunshine in her native Brazil. ple who relocated to Ireland from the Sarah crooks came to Fethard from Czech Republic, Lucy didn’t come for Palmerston North in New Zealand in a better wage or a higher standard of 1999 to visit her sister Leisa, whose living. She came because she thought husband Michael Hurley was working that she was going to a concert. She with John Halley’s veterinary practise was at a party, a little the worse for in town. She met her future husband wear, when her friend asked her if in McCarthy’s, and after two years of she would go somewhere the follow-

198 2008 FETHARD & KILLUSTY NEWSLETTER ing day. She agreed to go, and when tioned that another interviewee hated her friend turned up at her door, she the litter, she laughed and said that asked which concert they were going Ireland is shining compared to her to. Ireland, came the reply, “We’re country where they only tidy up if going to visit a friend in Dublin”. So some important dignitary is visiting she grabbed her passport and headed town. She doesn’t know how long she off to the airport. That was four will stay in Ireland, but doesn’t envis- years ago. She started out in Dublin, age leaving in the near future. moved to Dungarvan and after that My intention was to interview to Clonmel, where she answered an more people for this article, but time advert in the paper looking for staff just ran out. One group that agreed in G&T’s Restaurant. That was three to talk (I’ll get ye next year!), are from years ago and she still lives and works Hungary. A common thread running in Fethard. through their stories was that one per- She was a legal secretary in the son arrived in Fethard, got a job and a Czech Republic and now works as a place to stay, and then the others fol- waitress come trainee chef in Kellett’s lowed on from home. All seem quite Restaurant in McCarthy’s. content in Fethard. Lucy’s favourite thing about It will be interesting to see in ten Ireland is that she gets paid weekly or twenty years time if this first wave and not monthly as she did at home. of people become part of the ‘New As with the other two ladies, she Irish’, settling and rearing families, as doesn’t like our ten-month winters, the Irish did in America, England and but that is counterbalanced by the Australia in past generations. ◉ people and the lifestyle. When I men- — by Vincent Murphy

Photographed at the Frank Purcell Memorial Golf Classic Barbecue are L to R: Ivica Garbinska and Tibor Michacs

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Old men! by John Fogarty We followed, calling out to him, I heard the old, old men say, trying to provoke him into chasing “Everything alters, us again. And one by one we drop away .” He stopped when he got to the (W .B . Yeats ). row of tall evergreens that concealed the bank house from passers-by. ne Sunday evening after the Abruptly he dropped to a sitting posi- Odevotions that old man from tion on the grass-covered remnants of somewhere out near Market Hill came the low wall opposite. staggering slowly homeward along He pulled out a packet of The Valley. Stopping often. Fumbling Woodbines and shook one out. at his pockets. Searching for some- ‘I’m on me way home from Pearl thing. I remember him well. How he Harbour’ he muttered, attempting wore a long dark crombie overcoat to light up. ‘Got bombed in Pearl with shiny forearms. Even though it Harbour’ he said. Then: ‘I’m found- was July. Black, scuffed-out boots on ered’ Suddenly he lurched to his feet, his feet. A greasy Paddy cap on his feinting to run after us, almost falling head. A collarless shirt. over as he did so. He laughed as we We followed him along, a bunch fled. of jeering boys, laughing at his erratic, ‘Can’t ye go home our that ye lit- uncertain progress, like the children of tle feckers - who the hell owns ye at Hamelin behind the Pied Piper. Once all’ he said. He bent forward, elbows he swung round and lurched after us, on his knees, smoking his Woodbine, roaring: ‘Will ye shag off home to eyes fixed on the ground, muttering whoever owns ye!’ sometimes to himself, ‘Who the hell We fled from him, screaming, owns ye at all?’ ‘Hey Pad, Pad,’ we delighted. He ran out of breath at called, wanting him to chase us again. Paddy Dahill’s and stopped chasing He ignored us. Just kept dragging us but continued on, going in the deeply on his Woodbine until the red wrong direction, heading back the end was almost in to his lips. Then way he’d come. Someone called to he stretched out on the flat of his him. back. He didn’t move for ages. We ‘Hey Pad, yer going the wrong wondered if he was dead and began way.’ He stopped, realised his mistake. tiptoeing up to him. Fearfully, lest he ‘Tis all yeer fault ye little bostoons’ really was dead – or only pretending he shouted. He righted himself, and so that he could grab one of us when began to make his way back up The we got close. Suddenly, as we came Valley, the river and crumbling town right up to him his jaw dropped and walls to his right. a loud snarling noise escaped from his

200 2008 FETHARD & KILLUSTY NEWSLETTER open mouth. We scattered in terror, when we were in the Wood we’d go stopping a short distance away, nudg- to his house. Not to visit though. It ing one another. was a tumbledown affair with a rust- ‘Is he after dying? ’someone asked. ing galvanised roof. There were a few Some of the older lads said that was fields full of briars and buachalainns the kind of noise people make when surrounding it. We’d sneak as close as they die and others said, no, it was we could to the house and lob stones only a snore or a belch. We watched onto the galvanised roof. They’d land and waited. with a crash then After a while slither noisily to Pad turned over the ground. If and rolled into the Simon was inside grass margin. He he’d come rushing woke up with a out. We’d show volley of curses. ourselves from a ‘Feck off home safe distance then to whoever owns disappear into the ye, ye little bost- wood as he came hoons’ he said, towards us with when he saw us intent. still there, looking What we at him. wanted was for After a while him to chase us he got to his feet through the wood. and leaned against And sometimes he a lamp- post for did. We were able ages. We watched to keep well ahead him make his way of him because slowly up The he was old and Valley, saluting couldn’t run very Mamie Mackey Patsy Fogarty photographed with Phyllis Herrick who well with his bro- and Josie Barrett used to stay with her aunt Liz Mackey ken boots and stiff who watched him legs. We’d hide in pass with disapproving little shakes of the undergrowth, secure, watching their heads. He turned at the judy and him go past, agitated, muttering to vanished into Kerry Street, heading himself. He may have been slow, home to Market Hill. We didn’t see but he was relentless. Implacable. He him again for a long time after that. just kept going and going. And if he There was another old man who latched onto your trail the fun soon lived in a house at the top of Grove disappeared as he kept up a dogged wood. Simon was his name. Often pursuit. Once he managed to catch

201 FETHARD & KILLUSTY NEWSLETTER 2008 somebody, Billy Sayers, I think, and Mockler’s Terrace Simon had delved gave him a few kicks up the arse. We into his pocket and thrown some coins didn’t throw stones on his roof for a on the road. Mostly pennies. A few long time after that. hapennies, and maybe, just maybe, Sometimes he’d come to town the brassy glint of a threepenny bit. A along the Grove road. He’d make free for all had developed. We’d dived his way down through the wood after the coins as they spun and rolled in his broken boots. Wearing an along the road. Everyone desperate to old belted top coat full of tears. His get one. Shouldering one another out hair grey, always mussed up. He of the way. Nobody found the three- was thin, very thin, penny bit. Maybe with a grey mous- we’d only imag- tache on his thin ined there was a face. If we were threepenny bit. But on The Valley and for days afterwards not gone off some- some of us would where gallivanting, return to comb the word would flash grassy margins around that Simon along the road and was coming in to scuff through the town. We’d run accumulated road- out past the cream- side dust. The pos- ery to meet him. sibilities that would Shamelessly we’d arise from the find- call out to him for ing of that three- money. penny bit were an ‘Have you any irresistible lure. money, Simon’ We’d do that too ‘Give us money, - search for coins Simon’ A penny, - when the amuse- some ha’pennies, Fan Dalton and Nora Fogarty (right) photographed ments that came for a threepenny bit - at the back of Dalton’s house in Redcity . Both were the Carnival had left anything would do. neighbours in the Valley before moving to their new the Barrack Field. houses in Redcity . c .1960s With a penny you Slowly we’d search could buy a penny’s worth of broken through the big patches of whit- biscuits at Ned Meagher’s. A three- ened grass where the stalls had been. penny bit would be real wealth, you’d Always anxious lest someone else have to think carefully about how should find something first. Usually, you’d spend that — a sherbet; slab tof- though, the Patrick’s Place lads had fee; black twists of liquorice. anything that was there hoovered up. Once as he was coming in by But Hope springs eternal. And for

202 2008 FETHARD & KILLUSTY NEWSLETTER a long time afterwards when Simon Whenever I lift anything heavy, like came to town we’d run to meet him, a bale of hay he always says ‘You do eyes fixed on that hand, willing it to the lifting young fella and I’ll do the move towards his pocket. Hoping for grunting.’ He stops often to fill his a repeat of that day- coins bouncing pipe. As he does he talks and talks. and rolling along the road. He never I listen. I like listening to Neddie. It did repeat it though. Mostly he just beats forking dung. walked on and ignored us. Still the He traces to me about the epic memory of those coins spinning along hunts that he took part in with the the road drew us back. Irresistibly. Tipps when he was younger, how he Later, much later; years later. I’m practically lifted his hunter over a stone aged fourteen, left school and out wall one time beyond in Hollyford. He working, like most in my class at half-squats, knees touching, hauling school. A few have gone on to sec- upwards on imaginary bridle reins as ondary school. I work on O’Connell’s he demonstrates how he managed it, farm out in Rathvin. Every morning breaking wind in the process. Another I wait for Neddie O’Connell, who time, he tells me, he faced a massive seems very old to me, to come from bank in Ardmayle; he was the only the house into the yard. He walks with one who got over it on account of the a stoop and wears an old discoloured cob he was riding having feet like a trench coat. My first job every morn- cat. Great balance he had, that cob. I ing is to help him into that coat, hold- learn of how he bought the cob from ing it open like an officer’s batman as a farmer out around Cloneen and the he thrusts his arms into the sleeves, great bargain he drove. I begin to then jerking it up onto his shoulders, form a picture of Neddie dashing gal- pulling it across his front. It’s the most lantly across the countryside, bound- dangerous job of the day as he grunts, ing effortlessly over streams, ditches, spits and often clears his nose with a stone walls, gates. blast, one finger pressed to a nostril as Then one day Mickey Kearney I dodge around straightening him up. arrives and I work with him pulling Finally, I place a tattered black beret buachalainns. He also spends a lot of on his head. time filling his pipe and tracing. He With Neddy resembling an Irish traces mostly about horses that he has agricultural version of Don Quixote broken for various farmers and mem- he begins the task of initiating me bers of the gentry. And the gallons of into the mysteries of farm work. He porter that he’s drank over the years. shows me how to muck out stables, He talks about The Great War and saving as much dry straw as possible, tells stories about French brothels. throwing out the droppings. From I mention Neddie’s prowess in the him I learn how to tackle a pony and saddle. Mickey squeals with what I get him between the shafts of the cart. take to be laughter. ‘Neddie jumping

203 FETHARD & KILLUSTY NEWSLETTER 2008 is it, sure he couldn’t sit straight on a There is one cow in the herd with a hobby horse!’ white face and two malevolent black Later, when Neddie comes along rings around her eyes. Neddie blames the two of them fill their pipes togeth- her for all the breaking. er and spend ages chatting. I listen ‘Bad cess to her anyway sure the and look on. Mickey claps Neddie on divil must be in that ‘aul cripple!’ he’d the back and tells him what a great roar in exasperation as she shies away pilot he was, what a great ‘sate’ he had from the gap once more. Neddie takes on board his hunter in years gone by great care in showing me how to fence when he rode to the opening meets. a gap with briars, cut from the ditch How all the women used to be eye- with a slasher. But next morning when ing him up. I am confused but say we come with the pony and trap to nothing. fodder them the field is empty and the Neddie’s favourite story, which he bushes trampled into the ground. The tells often, is about some character in whole process begins again. And con- the town who was fond of drinking tinues like that throughout the winter. and was frequently to be seen lying on Days have passed, become years. the footpath, scuttered. One day while Pad, Simon, Neddie and Mickey, slumped against a wall on the Main those old men of yesteryear, have Street the parish priest happened gone somewhere beyond the horizon. along. ‘Drunk again today’ he says to You are older now, but you don’t yer man. ‘Arrah don’t worry about it think that you’re old, not in the way Father, sure so am I’ was the answer. that you thought the old men of your Everytime he tells this story Neddie childhood were old. Then you notice wheezes and shakes with laughter. that the youngsters around you are ‘Sure so am I’ he repeats. looking at you with a kind of quiz- When winter comes we spend a zical, indulgent expression on their lot of time going around the bounds faces. An expression that seems to say ditches fencing the gaps where the ‘sure he’ll be all right in a minute just cattle have broken. But first we have listen and let him ramble on, maybe to go find them and drive them back. we’ll get a laugh out of him.’ They are always reluctant to go back And you remember where you through the gap and often it takes saw it before. Many years before, on numerous attempts before we succeed. your own face. ◉

204 2008 FETHARD & KILLUSTY NEWSLETTER

Walking to the USA — by Vincent Murphy man told me one day that he all watching, she had to gather her Aused to ride to Canada from papers, try to gather herself, and walk the United States for his lunch, just out the door. He just looked at me. because he could. He lived along the “Next”, he said. border of the two countries and could He was bright and articulate and cross between them with ease in the enjoyed putting me in my place. Like forest without the hassle of passport the girl before me, he told me that control, guards and guns. A few years he thought that I was going to work later some men turned airplanes into illegally in the USA. I pointed out bombs and made the world a more that I had a job running the family dangerous place. Governments got bar and undertaker business. “So you scared and ripped a security line pull pints. You can make more money through the forest where the man used pulling pints in the States. You don’t to ride his horse. He now knows that get much money here”, he announced if he leads his horse onto that strip, to all who wanted to listen. I explained he will trigger an alarm that will have that the business would one day be him surrounded by men with guns. mine. He asked me what I would do So now he eats his lunch at home. if he refused me the visa. I pointed His story reminded me of the day in out that I was flying via Toronto, the early 1990s when I walked into so I would quite happily spend my the USA. holidays there instead. He gave me a Like thousands of people in the four-week holiday visa. 1980s and 90s, I had to visit the A few weeks later, having spent a American Embassy in Dublin to look couple of days with my cousin Johnny for a visa to visit the USA. Unlike in Toronto, we set out for New York. most in the queue, I was lucky enough We got a drive in a horse trailer from to have had a job at home, so I was the racetrack in Woodbine to the only looking for a holiday visa to border at Fort Erie. The driver talked. go and visit some friends that were He had a tale to tell and he told it working over there. As I waited for well. His childhood years were spent my interview at a window in a large in Europe. Then a crowd called the open room that allowed no privacy, I Nazi’s met him and didn’t like his listened to the girl in front of me being religion so they threw him into a con- interviewed. She was crying. The man centration camp. Another crowd came behind the glass wall carrying out the along and opened the gates and left interview was young and unnecessar- him out again. They were Americans. ily harsh. He was ‘God’ and she was He took one look at what was left of not getting a visa. He told her to leave. Europe and decided that he didn’t like In front of a room full of strangers, it very much, so he got on the first

205 FETHARD & KILLUSTY NEWSLETTER 2008 boat out of there, crossed the Atlantic going nowhere . . . well I’ve arrived. and ended up in Canada. He was Bye sir.” And hang up and leave him sixteen and he had nothing. But he wonder what the hell that was about. saw a man riding a race one day and But as I said, I had no phone so I decided that he could be a jockey. He paused for a minute enjoying my time had never sat on a horse in his life, but in nowhere, and then stepped into the someone showed him how to ride and USA. he rode his way to the racing hall of We walked past immigration offi- fame. He won over 4,000 races. Along cials checking the papers of people in the way he had good times and bad vehicles, but no one gave us a second times. He had built up three fortunes. glance. So we kept walking and walk- He also married three times. Each wife ing. Pretty soon we were at a loading took one of the fortunes. So he was bay for trucks without having our down to training in Toronto and liv- papers checked. So we walked back. ing in the flat in his trailer, moving We asked a half asleep security man from track to track. He said that he where we could get our passport was never happier in his life. And then stamped and he woke up pretty fast. he left us off at Fort Erie. We stood “What are you doing this far into the at the Peace Bridge, the gateway into United States without your paperwork America. in order . . .?”, and he went on and on. As we walked across, people Then he told us where the office was. looked at us from behind glass. They The gentlemen there were much were all in vehicles of some descrip- more polite. We even became the tion. We were the only ones on foot, focus of attention of all the staff in so we had the footpath to ourselves. the office when we announced that About half way across, we came to a we had walked across the bridge. By small flag painted low on the bridge the looks that we were given, it had wall. It was the Canadian flag. Then been a long time since anyone had there was a gap of a few feet to anoth- walked from Canada to the USA. er painted flag. It was the stars and They wished us well, but couldn’t stripes of the United States. Between tell us how to get to the nearby city them was no-mans land. Nowhere. of Buffalo on foot. None of them We stood nowhere on Earth. I wanted had ever taken the journey on foot. to make a phone call to my old teach- So we jumped off the far side of the er but there were no phones around. truck loading bay and onto the grass It was a few years before the mobile margin that divided the traffic flowing phone revolution. “Remember me, sir! into and out of the two countries and It’s Murphy sir! Remember what you walked off into the US of A. ◉ told me in class one day . . . that I was

206 2008 FETHARD & KILLUSTY NEWSLETTER

Dan Mullins, formerly from The Valley, Fethard, photographed with his family of three children and eight grandchildren celebrating Christmas 2007 in New Milford NJ

Pat Broderick photographed with his son Callan while Frank Quirke, chairman of the Tipperary Foxhounds at home in Fethard on holidays in July this year . Pat presenting Mr Tony Newport with life membership is living in Melbourne with his wife Rowena for the of the Tipperary Foxhounds in recognition of his long past fifteen years and have two children, Aisling and years of dedication and support . The presentation was Callan . Pat works as a Production Manager with a made at the Tipperary Foxhounds New Year’s meet health company in Melbourne . held at Fethard on the 1st January 2008 .

207 FETHARD & KILLUSTY NEWSLETTER 2008

Lar Whyte photographed with his twin daughters Katie (left) and Siobhán, and also their friend Marie O’Connell (right) at the 60s Rock & Roll Weekend at Lonergan’s Bar

John Carroll photographed with Joan Carroll (left) and Ann Browne at the ‘Rock ‘N Roll’ weekend in aid of Paws at Lonergan’s Bar .

208 Photographed at the presentation of the Mick Ahearne Memorial Trophy at the Hospice Fundraiser in Fethard Ballroom . L to R: Gertie Corcoran (organiser), Killenaule,; Tony Marshall (Chairman Dancers Club), Ballyboe, Billy Corcoran (organiser), Killenaule;Monica Ahearne, Fethard, who presented the trophy on behalf of her late husband Mick, Siobhán Barry and Robert Phelan, Fethard, winners of the competition .

Zero Tolerance band at the ‘Battle of the Bands’ L to R: Ted Barrett, Garreth Lawrence, Louis Rice, Noel O’Brien and Tony Myler . The band also entered the RTÉ 2FM School of Rock competition in October along with thousands of other bands from Ireland . Five bands were picked from each region and in November it was announced on the Show that Zero Tolerance were one of the five selected from Munster . On 6th December they will go on to the next round and battle against the other four bands selected from Munster . If successful they will go to Dublin for the national finals . Purchasing their daffodils for ‘Daffodil Day’ outside Fethard Post Office are L to R: Sarah Murphy, Hannie Leahy, Joe Barrett and Kitty Ahearne

Photographed at the Halloween Party at Lonergan’s Bar are L to R: Gemma Coady, Oliver Coady, Tony Randell, Frances Coady and Maura O’Connell .

ISSN 1393-2721