Fethard & Killusty Newsletter 2012
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2011 FETHARD & KILLUSTY NEWSLETTER FETHARD & KILLUSTY NEWSLETTER 2012 Members of Fethard’s new Choral Society photographed at rehearsal for their first public performance in the Augustinian Abbey, December 16, 2012, under the direction of Ann Barry. Dedicated to our friends and relations living away from home Copyright © 2012 Published by the Fethard & Killusty Emigrants’ Newsletter ISSN 1393-2721 WWW.FETHARD.COM Layout and design by Joe Kenny, Rocklow Road, Fethard Printed by Modern Printers Kilkenny Taking part in the Fethard Medieval Festival Parade in August were L to R: Kay O’Riordan, Jennifer Whitney Rothwell, Margaret Newport, John Kelly, Eleanor O’Riordan, Catherine Kearney and Paula Kearns. 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 informa- tion storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the author. FRONT COVER PHOTOGRAPH — FETHARD MAIN STREET 1930s Mary O’Sullivan standing in front of the new site for the Provincial Bank of Ireland 1 FETHARD & KILLUSTY NEWSLETTER 2012 2012 FETHARD & KILLUSTY NEWSLETTER Table of contents The Gathering by Joe Kenny (Editor) 27th Tipperary Scout Group Fethard . 158 Holy Year Cross in the 1950s . 242 50th Anniversary Killusty Pony Show . 172 Home thoughts from abroad – Part 2 . 245 A year in the Life of The Tipps . 227 Hunting in Tipperary . 229 Abymill Theatre . 58 In memory of Liam Quinn . 59 Albert The Great! . 138 Irish Girl Guides . 136 All Change . 134 Jack Connolly’s International Year . 60 Among my souvenirs . 75 John Davin ‘The Tipperary Peasant’ . 237 An Indian Assignment . 20 John Joe’s Corner . 188 Art & Entertainment Award . 187 Junk Kouture all-Ireland finalists . 194 Augustinian Abbey . 8 Killusty National School . 205 Badgers Sports and Social Club . 220 Killusty Sheepdog Trials . 25 Bootcamp Tipperary . 221 Legion of Mary . 6 Community Employment Scheme . 200 Legion of Mary 60th Anniversary . .239 Do You Remember 1983? . 105 Leish . 231 Donations Received 2012 . 218 Marriages . 197 Feast of the Assumption . 243 Memories of Killusty Show . 176 Fethard & District Day Care Centre . 185 My Oz Adventure . 47 Fethard & Holycross, historical links . 62 New York Television award for Sean . 26 Fethard & Killusty Community Council 248 Newsletter Contact Details . 197 Fethard & Killusty Community Games . .96 Our Dear Departed 2012 . 198 Fethard Ballroom Company Ltd . 44 Parading up Main Street . 90 Fethard Bridge Club . 84 Parish Greetings . 5 Fethard Business & Tourism Group . .103 Patrician Presentation Awards Day . 192 Fethard Carnival 1929 . 73 Piano Lessons in Fethard . 168 Fethard Country Markets . 195 Presentation 150th Anniversary . 178 Fethard Faraway . 191 Revisiting Fethard memories . 222 Fethard GAA . 151 September Memories! . 14 This photograph received some years ago from the late Mikie Slattery, The Green, is believed to be of May Fethard Historical Society . 78 Spoiled for choice! . 32 Wall who lived on the Back Green. This photo was used on the cover of The Green Reunion Booklet. Fethard ICA Guild . 30 T .A . Kenrick & Co . 133 very year that passes appears This time last year as I was writ- Fethard Ladies Football Club . 126 The Coffee Van . 165 Eto be a lot shorter than the ing this introduction, I mentioned Fethard London Reunion Photos . 70 The Gathering . 3 previous one! It could be something my childhood living on The Green Fethard Senior Citizens Club . 156 The late Sr . Philomena Croke . 183 to do with getting older and an over- and my dream of a ‘Green Reunion’ Fethard Tidy Towns . 166 The Man Who Lived in 51 . 46 flowing memory filled with useless that might never happen. Well I was Fethard, the Northwest Passage . 101 Up the street came the Rebel tread . 86 and useful knowledge. If one could pleasantly surprised when I received Green & Barrack St . Reunion . 212 Walled Towns Network . 153 only differentiate between the use- many phone calls following the arti- Here’s to Fethard’s next reunion! . 216 William Slattery remembers . 76 ful and the useless at point of entry cle, with offers of help and words Holy Trinity National School . 201 Willie Mullins remembered . 210 there might be a little more room left of encouragement to go ahead and to appreciate the passage of time. organise a ‘Green Reunion’. A meet- 2 3 FETHARD & KILLUSTY NEWSLETTER 2012 2012 FETHARD & KILLUSTY NEWSLETTER ing was called on June 27, 2011, and have moved away, their relatives, Parish Greetings following a very enthusiastic discus- friends and descendants, and invite sion from a very enthusiastic crowd, them home. To keep up with what’s reetings again to all our read- the past year to rejoice with Goldie it was decided to have a ‘Green and happening or planned visit: www. Gers. As we enter the middle of Newport in her celebration of 50 Barrack Street Reunion’ on Saturday, thegatheringireland.com December the evenings grow even years as our organist and the recipi- August 18, 2012. Here in Fethard it would be lovely shorter as darkness falls noticeably ent of the Papal Medal ‘Benemerenti’. The reunion was a tremendous to have a ‘Fethard Gathering’ over earlier each evening. But as they Goldie’s mother Ciss also served as success with over 200 attending the a weekend where some emigrants grow shorter we know that soon organist for 50 years. We thank them event in the old Convent Hall. We might return to meet their friends after the joy of Christmas time, they both just as we thank all who have held an informal walkabout in The and relatives. As we go to print we will begin to grow longer again and contributed to our parish in any way. Green and Barrack Street in the after- have no definite plans but, when we we are renewed with a sense of hope May the Lord reward you for all noon followed by a Mass in the have, we will publish details on the for the future. your kindness and may he guide Augustinian Abbey for past residents above website and www.fethard.com It is good for all of us to gather at each of us now and always. May God from the area. After Mass everyone Over the past year many of our Christmas and rejoice for what we bless and care for each of you. ◉ then retired to the old Convent Hall young residents have had to emi- are and to thank the Lord Jesus for where a reception was held with grate to find work in various coun- coming among us in such a special Canon Tom Breen P .P . food and wine, photographic display tries. I would like to take this oppor- way. Just as it was wonderful during Rev .Anthony McSweeney . of old photographs and a continu- tunity to wish them every success in ous large screen display of over 700 their lives abroad and hopefully, they photographs gathered for the occa- will return to their native town again sion. A souvenir ‘Reunion Booklet’ when times get better. was also given to everyone present. I thank all those who contribut- The evening was very informal and ed articles and photographs for this it was great to see old school friends year’s newsletter and in particular meet up and chat after so many all who made donations, from home years. A ‘reunion’ cake was cut by and abroad, to help meet the cost of the five eldest residents. My personal publishing the newsletter and post- special thanks to all the members ing it free of charge to almost 1,000 of the hard-working committee who emigrants throughout the world. I helped my dream come true. would also like to thank our newslet- This coming year, 2013, has been ter team who organise the annual chosen nationally as the year of ‘The church gate collection, Carmel Rice Gathering’ when Ireland will open for correspondence and secretarial its arms to hundreds of thousands of work, Brendan Kenny and his team friends and family from all over the of helpers for distribution, packaging world, calling them home to gather- and posting of the newsletter, and ings in villages, towns and cities. Gemma Burke for proofreading. Over 70 million people worldwide Finally, I take this opportunity to claim Irish ancestry. The Gathering wish all our readers a very Happy Canon Tom Breen P.P. making a special presentation of a Papal Medal ‘Benemerenti’ to organist, Goldie Newport, marking over 100 years’ service as church organist to Fethard Parish between herself and her Ireland 2013 provides the perfect and Holy Christmas and a Very late mother, Ciss Newport. L to R: Goldie Newport, Canon Tom Breen P.P., Fr. Anthony McSweeney C.C. and excuse to reach out to those who Prosperous New Year! ◉ Aisling Gorey who also made a presentation on behalf of this year’s Confirmation Class. (Feb 5, 2012) 4 5 FETHARD & KILLUSTY NEWSLETTER 2012 2012 FETHARD & KILLUSTY NEWSLETTER Legion of Mary May Procession leaving Burke Street for The Abbey, May 1988 May Procession leaving Burke Street for The Abbey, May 1988 our Eucharistic Saviour and to recite our parish. This will be celebrated reetings to all readers from many areas in our parish. Catholic the Rosary each day. with a Mass on December 2, 2012. GFethard Legionaries of Mary, papers, leaflets, booklets, medals Won’t we be happy when we are To survive and continue the work in this the ‘Year of Faith’. We extend and scapulars are provided for sale called to account and we look back of the Legion many more members our prayers and wishes to all of you by the Legionaries of Mary. They and know that we did do our best are required.