01CPT2025-01-29

Brigid’s Day inspired concert for Nenagh

The acclaimed singer-songwriter and Tipperary woman, Edel Meade, will present Brigid, Gobnait & Sheela-na-Gig at Nenagh Arts Centre on Saturday, February 1, St Brigid’s Day, at 7.30pm. Commissioned under the Brigid1500 scheme to mark 1500 years since the passing of St Brigid, this striking production weaves Irish folklore, mythology and traditional Irish songs into a celebration of the Divine Feminine. Meade’s performance honours Brigid, Gobnait, and Sheela-na-gig, while also paying tribute to contemporary Irish warrior women like Sinéad O’Connor and Biddy Early. Through a rich tapestry of music,

stories and reflections, Meade explores the enduring wisdom of pre-Christian goddesses and their relevance to today’s environmental and societal challenges.“Brigid was a major source of inspiration for my album Brigids and Patricias,” says Edel. “This new show feels like the perfect opportunity to shed light on the many facets of the Divine Feminine in Ireland and to celebrate the power of women through time.”Meade, known for her “mesmerising voice” and “fearless delivery” (Sunday Business Post), blends Irish folk and contemporary music with powerful storytelling. Her 2021 album ‘Brigids and Patricias’,

recognised as one of The Irish Times’ Best Irish Albums, reflects on Irish history, folklore, and contemporary women’s stories. With standout tracks like Song for Bridget Cleary and Ode to Old Noll, she has cemented her reputation as a bold and innovative artist unafraid to confront Ireland’s past and present.This

special St Brigid’s Day event promises to captivate anyone drawn to Irish music, folklore, mythology, Celtic spirituality, and the stories of women Event details

Date: Saturday, February 1, at 7.30pm in Nenagh Arts Centre. Tickets: Visit www.nenagharts. com or call 067 34400.

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Singer-songwriter Edel Meade.

MURPHY TD Michael

CLINIC EVERY MONDAY, FRIDAY AND SATURDAY Contact Michelle For Appointment

Constituency Office: 43 Upper Gladstone Street, Clonmel, E91 WN88. Office Landline: 052 6156041 Office Mobile: 087 3226699

michael.murphy@oireachtas.ie Search “Michael Murphy TD

Year New Career

FARMING IN FOCUS

Bord Bia predict strong start to 2025 for lamb prices - IFA Pig Market Update

IFA Sheep Chair Adrian Gallagher said market conditions point to a strong start for sheep meat prices in 2025 driven by reducing supplies in all sheep producing countries.

Adrian Gallagher was commenting following the Annual Bord Bia Review and Outlook seminar on Friday last where reduced supplies of lamb across the EU and from NZ and Australia were identified as the key drivers of the trade for the year ahead.

He said supplies of lamb here will be extremely tight particularly early in the year and with Chinese and US imports increasing from New Zealand and Australia cheaper imports to the

EU and UK markets should be diverted to these markets helping drive demand for Irish sheep meat in our well-established markets.

simply must maintain and build on the prices these markets have become accustomed to paying for sheep meat.

The IFA Sheep Chair said live exports of sheep are playing an important role in maximising competition for farmers with 50,000 exported last year, this trade will continue to have a positive impact in the coming weeks and months providing viable alternatives for farmers to factories.

There was no change in Irish pig prices on Friday last following the previous weeks drop of 4c/kg, with producers reporting quotes ranging from €2.05 – €2.10 available from processors in ROI – It’s worth nothing that there is good demand for pigs.

The EU average price for week 2 for grade E carcass was 191.7/kg excluding vat. This represents a -1% change in last week’s prices and is -1.9% behind prices for the same month last year, while it is -8.4% behind the EU average grade E price for the same week in 2024.

The weekly throughput for week ending the January 19th was 66,822 of which 2,273 were sows.

The reality is numbers of suitable sheep for processing on the ground are extremely tight, factories have very lucrative customers to service each week and

The IFA Sheep Chair said farmers should not be panicked by unfounded negativity from factories on market conditions.

Adrian Gallagher said farmers should continue to sell lambs as they become fit, but shop around and strongly reject any unfounded negativity around market conditions from factories and their agents.

Warm welcome for farm ambitions in draft Programme for Government

Reacting to the draft Programme for Government published last week, the President of ICMSA, Denis Drennan, said that sections dealing with agriculture contained much that was both interesting and encouraging and he said that aside from the ambitions set out, there was an admirable change in tone evident that saw farming and food production as the positive force in Irish life that it undoubtedly was, and not some ‘necessary evil’ that had to be curbed and handled.

“Certainly ICMSA read this with encouragement and will look particularly on those commitments given on steadfast opposition to Mercosur, the maintenance of our Nitrates Derogation, meaningful and stepped-up support of the our potentially game-changing ‘Dairy Calf to Beef’ sector, the taking-on of the last Government’s commitment to a budgetary measure for curbing excess farm income volatility, and the absolutely critical question around farm succession and

getting the next generation of farmers onto their farms and in position to take over what is still the key indigenous economic activity in the state”, said Mr. Drennan.

The ICMSA President said that these objectives were as attainable as they were necessary and he cautioned against any positioning of these, and the other aims set out in the draft,

as ‘vaguely desirable’.

“That’s just not going to be enough this time; these have to be set out and time lined. In other words, measurable progress towards each must be achieved by publicly announced dates. We must know when we are going to get to these objectives and – more importantly – the civil servants and other policymakers have to made to realise that these are real targets to be hit and not just ‘wouldn’t it be nice’-style aspirations”, continued Mr. Drennan.

Mr. Drennan said that ICMSA would work with anyone charged with delivering those targets and he repeated his call for a whole of industry agreement that would plot the way forward across the whole range of sectors, identifying agreed problems and blockages and then deciding on solutions.

“We called for this kind of intensive focussed agreement last year and we’re repeating that for the benefit of whoever is going to be appointed Minister for Agriculture, Food & the Marine.

We need to all come together and establish where we are now and where we need to be in five and then 10 years. We simply have to move away from ‘StopStart’ policymaking for a sector that needs long ‘lead-in’ times and where decisions taken today will not see results for many months, if not years. That’s why we need certainty and these ambitions in the ‘Programme’ to be time lined for achievement and those schedules adhered to. At least the incoming Government seems to be signalling the end of the period where Irish farming was seen by our own Government as a ‘necessary evil’ to be regulated and undermined. There’s a chance now to show how our world-famous dairy and beef sectors are completely sustainable and to be positive about the changes already underway. ICMSA thinks that an agreement that takes that realisation as a starting point would be a very good idea and a clear signal that the mood – and policy – has changed for the better”, said Mr. Drennan.

Reports this week from the Destatis in Germany show that the number of pig farms in Germany has declined significantly, with a 3.4% (-600 farms )drop in one year and a 41.7% (-11,200 farms) decrease over the past decade, leaving 15,600 farms as of November 2024. Despite a steady pig herd size of 21.2 million (pigs raised in Germany), structural changes include larger farms averaging 1,400 pigs, while the total herd has decreased by 25.2% since 2014, reflecting a shift in farming practices.

Hog prices in China as of the 21.01 were reportedly 15.45 RMB lw which equates to €2.64/kg at 77% dw.

Weekly Cattle Prices

Prices reported as quoted or paid to IFA members on week of 22nd Januay, 2025.

Strong demand. Factories paying 10c/kg to 20c/kg above quotes. Steer base €5.80/5.90/kg. Heifer base €5.90/6.00/kg. Young Bulls R/U €5.90/6.20/kg. Higher prices for larger and specialised lots. Cows €5.10/€5.90/ kg. In-spec bonus 20c/kg for under 30 months and 8c/kg for 30 to 36 months. 12c/kg bonus for under 30 month steers and heifers grading O- and those with a fat class of 4+ that meet all other in spec criteria.

FACTORY BASE QUOTES C/KG

Potato Market Report

Retail demand and home consumption has been slightly subdued since the holiday period, but this should begin to pick up. There should not be downward pressure on markets as yields are average and stocks should not be in excess following last years shortages. The availability of seed potato for the upcoming season is a concern.

Across Europe, the export market is coming back to life after the holiday season with good demand from Spain for Agria. Demand is slow to improve after the holiday. Prices are holding but more growers appear to be looking for movement. Factories are clearing contracts as a priority but there is also demand for free buy for immediate movement and to secure supplies for the coming months. Growers now have more confidence in the market and are looking for higher prices.

President of ICMSA, Denis Drennan

O’Halloran brothers make Tipp senior hurling panel

All from Carrick Swan would like to congratulate both Aaron O’Halloran and Gavin O’Halloran who have been named as part of the panel. This marks a proud time for Carrick Swan as it’s the first time since 1977 we have had two from our club named on the Tipperary Senior Hurling Panel.

We wish the O’Hallorans and the Tipperary Seniors the very best of luck in the coming weeks and months for the upcoming Alliance Hurling League and Munster Championship. Tipp started the league with a good win in Galway on Sunday.

Carrick Town in around the

‘Is Uisce Eireann fit for purpose any longer?’

Local Boil Water notice now in place for two months

The above question has been raised countless times over the years since the inception of the organisation. Highlighted as recently as December last when a motion was passed receiving unanimous support for the winding down of the body.

In Carrick there would also be a near unanimous response from one and all to seek Uisce Eireann to be ‘dissolved’ and power and control of the local water and sewage infrastructure handed back to local authorities.

For over two months now some areas of the town have been placed on a boil water notice, joined in recent days by almost every other area of the town. To top of the reoccurring boil water notices, over last weekend a large portion of the town that was on the notice, woke up to find that the water that they were supposed to boil was in fact not even present in their

taps. Since its formation in 2013 as Irish Water, a subsidiary of Bord Gais, the organisation has been to the fore in finding new ways to upset the public. Sometimes by way of enormous bonus payments to staff, some ranging in the region of €30,000 but mostly by being completely inept at the tasks it was created to perform.

KATIE COUGHLAN IS TWO MONTHS ON A BOIL WATER NOTICE

Local woman Katie Coughlan explained that she has been on a boil water notice on a regular basis over the last few years, sometimes for days, often for weeks but this time the notice is still in place two months after it was first deemed necessary. Katie, who is a member of the meals assistance

St. Patrick’s Day Parade makes novel decision

The organising committee had been sitting on a new and novel idea for their annual parade for the past couple of months and have announced that the parade will move to Sunday the 16th of March for 2025.

There are multiple reasons for this decision but foremost in the minds of the committee was the ability to involve more groups from around the area who would otherwise be involved in parades in bigger towns in the vicinity. It is hoped that by hosting the parade on the day before everybody else they can entice more marching bands and floats and visitors to the town.

In another change to the normal parade, the day will be a full day of activities revolving around the parade itself with the carpark on New Street being the centre of all activities.

The organisers are working hand in hand with various other groups to ensure that the day will be a success.

Over the course of the last thirteen years since the restart of the parade the organising committee have constantly being looking to find novel and unique ways of improving the oarade experience for the public, including hosting the country’s first ever night time parade complete with fireworks and lit up tractors. This initiative is just another way that they are trying to improve the day for their community and bring as many as possible from around the locality into the town to see just what a vibrant and enjoyable place Carrick is to visit.

committee also pointed out that the notice has an adverse effect on the running of that group as they must spend money, which largely comes from donations, on purchasing bottled water. “It would be irresponsible and possibly dangerous for our group to use the tap water for washing vegetables, making soup etc., given the age profile and health issues that a lot of our clients have,” said Katie.

One must not forget that the organisation is also responsible for the sewage systems in our area, but thanks in the main to our local council staff this matter has not become too big of a problem for most but there have been times, including as late as last week when local council staff could be seen outside a local business on New Street working on a sewerage problem.

The matter of Uisce Eireann being fit for purpose

goes well beyond those distant days of protesters standing in their thousands refusing to repay for a service that they were already paying for.

It is apparent that Uisce Eireann is without a doubt not fit for purpose. Call centres with those answering unable to find the correct location of problems was a major issue back in 2013 and 2014, but that problem has seeped into a minor inconvenience now, as countless hundreds of our community are left without consumable water on a regular basis, that is if the product actually comes out of the taps.

By Sunday night, after a full day of homes being without water the only information available on the water outage was a generic post on the Uisce Eireann website. It is 2025 in a so-called first world country, surely a clean, safe water infrastructure is the least we could expect to have?

ADULT HURLING

The County Tipperary G.A.A Master Fixture Calendar for 2025 was released last week. We have some dates for your diary. The County Hurling League begins on St. Patrick’s Weekend, the w/e of March 16th. The County Hurling Championship begins on the last weekend in July. The dates for the South Senior Hurling Championship will likely be released in April. It’s expected to take place in early July if Tipperary are not in the All-Ireland Championship, at that point.

Our adult hurlers met last week, in preparation for the year ahead and have some games planned in the coming weeks ahead of their County League opener in March.

CYGNETS HURLING

NURSERY REGISTRATION

The registration night for our U7 Cygnets for the 2025 season will take place on Wednesday, 26th February, at 7 PM in the Carrick Swan Juvenile Hall (Parkside - beside the libraryEircode: E32 XN61).

Training returns on Wednesday, 5th March, at 7 pm, start-

ing in the Swan Juvenile Hall until the weather improves, when we’ll move to the Astro in Páirc na nEalaí for our regular sessions, then. All children must be registered before returning to training.

We’re looking forward to another fantastic year of fun and development with the Cygnets! New members aged 4-7 are always welcome to join our Cygnets. If you have any questions, feel free to contact Martina at 087-9784249.

SWAN SOCIAL

MEMBERSHIP

Membership for 2025 is now open, and we kindly ask all players and supporters to pay their dues promptly and efficiently.

You can pay your membership through any committee member, online via the Foireann app or directly here: carrickswan.com/membership.

SWAN LOTTO

There was no winner of last week’s Carrick Swan Lotto. Six people matched 3 and won €40 each. Numbers were 6, 8, 13, 28. This week, our Lotto jackpot is €2,500. This week’s draw takes place, on Thursday night, and it costs just €2 to enter.

CONDOLENCES

Carrick Swan club would like to pass on our condolences to the Flynn family of Pearse Square on their recent bereavement.

Tickets for the Swan social can be collected this Friday night, January 31st, in Páirc na nEalaí between 7pm and 8pm. It’s the last night for ticket collection as we need to finalise numbers for buses and the hotel. We also have a waiting list in place for tickets. Unfortunately we dont have a card facility, so cash is needed for the tickets. €50 per ticket. Call in to collect yours. See you Friday.

CARRICK SWAN GAA CLUB

Carrick Swan under 15 hurlers - South, County and Féile na nGael winners in 2024

Cashel Town in talk of the

By Liam Browne

Community School among the prizes at BT Young Scientist Exhibition

Cashel Community School once again showed its commitment to excellence at this years Young Scientist Awards with wins in two different categories at the prestigious awards ceremony. Oisín Howley, Sean Slattery and Adam Whyte picked up a third place award for their research into how CAT4 results can be used as a predictor of Leaving Cert performance. Two other Community School students, Mary Ellen Holmes and Emma Brosnan, won a Display Award for their research into how Delta Wave induction techniques improve sporting performance. Both projects took a huge amount of work, with the students using other students in the school to carry out blind test research, to come up with the experiment results. In the boys case, they were able to use CAT 4 results, which interprets data collected early in a students school life, to predict the range of results that

the same student might achieve later on when they are finishing school with their Leaving Cert.

The results of the research can then be used by students when making subject choices for the Leaving Cert after they complete their Junior Cert or Transition Year.

In the case of the girls project, they studied how the use and manipulation of Delta Waves in the human brain, can be used to improve sporting performance. One of the sports under the microscope was darts, where they tried to show that certain massaging techniques can be used by a player to calm themselves, and increase their potential scoring once the darts are thrown.

The students were supported at the event by newly installed principal Brian Moran, who has pledged his support for science study as part of his stewardship of the school.

Cashel Girls welcomes Grandparents back to school

Grace Morrissey with her Grandparents Joanie Morrissey and Marcella Gleeson

It’s often said that schooldays are the best days of your life, so the grand mothers and fathers of the girls in St John the Baptist National School in Cashel, went back to celebrate Grandparents Day last week with their loved ones. It’s always a day of fun when the grandparents come in, and they were treated to songs and dances by the young students, as well as a tour of the building. Many of those grandparents would have left their own children off to the building on the Old Road, and there was many smiles and stories for the older generation back to the younger ones too.

The kids of course get a huge kick out of bringing Nanny and Granddad in to see their classes and their work. There were plenty of pictures taken and memories made, and no doubt in years ahead they themselves might be the ones being invited in, and they’ll have their own memories to share.

Jamie Lee Hewitt and Robyn Doherty with their grandparent

Joan Doherty

The Cashel man, Maradona, and the myth of the Tipperary jersey on South American football fields

THE CURRENT CASHEL TOWN Football Club manager Brian Glasheen, carries an unusual nickname, ‘Boca,’ which might make one wonder, has it any connection with the famous football club in Buenos Aires, Boca Juniors. If it does, then it’s a great coincidence.

Because there’s a wonderful story about how the famous Tipperary town, has a unique connection with the club who launched the career of famous Argentinian players such as Juan Riquelme, Carlos Tevez, and the most famous of them all, the genius that was Diego Armando Maradona. The man who founded the club, Paddy McCarthy, was born in Cashel, where he lived his young life, before making the trip into football history.

Paddy McCarthy was a keen sportsman and boxer but his fame is mainly associated with the founding of one of South America’s most famous football teams, Club Atlético Boca Juniors, the club that was the launchpad for Maradona. In his youth, Paddy attended the Christian Brothers School the old Dublin Road, and was highly regarded for his sporting prowess. But opportunities were limited in Ireland for a young ambitious man and in 1900, at twenty-nine years of age, he left his hometown to travel to Argentina, leaving by boat from Southampton and before eventually arriving in a bustling and fast-growing Buenos Aires.

On arrival there, he secured a post teaching English and athletics at the Commerce School, whose headmaster was Co. Clare-born James Fitzsimons. He also started coaching amateur boxers at the Boxing Club of Buenos Aires. Although professional boxing was outlawed in the South American country at the time, he took up training some of his charges to fight for money, and courted the help of a religious man to change the country’s laws. The Rev. Henry Brady, the assistant chaplain in St. John the Baptist Anglican Church, was responsible for the “Missions to Seamen” in the port of Buenos Aires, and together they initiated several boxing festivals.

The first professional boxing match in Argentina was fought on 9 October 1903 between Paddy McCarthy and Abelardo Robassio from

Italy. The “match-to-finish” was organised by “El Gladiador” magazine in their rooms and the chief of police Francisco Beazley acted as time-keeper (though boxing was still banned at the time!). Paddy won the fight by knockout in the fourth round, winning the gate money which was a record $500. He subsequently abandoned boxing citing family reasons as his decision for leaving the sport.

He was then appointed a member of the sports municipal committee in Buenos Aires and began coaching at Lobos Athletic Club. Lobos was the first football club in the rural area of Buenos Aires and was founded on 3 July 1892 by a group of Irish Argentines. After some success, he moved on to Club Atlético Estudiantes both as coach and player, and also played in Central Athletic Club, a small institution in the port of Buenos Aires. In 1904, he was hired by Club Atlético Gimnasia y Esgrima of Buenos Aires to train its players. When five of McCarthy’s students, all teenagers of Italian heritage, wished to set up their own club, they approached him to ask if he would become the coach, and he agreed. This was the foundation of one of the most famous football institutions globally, and Boca Juniors was born. They played their first game in April 1905, which they won 4-0. By 1913, Boca were promoted to Primera División after some previous failed attempts. During successive years, Boca consolidated as one of the most popular teams of Argentina, with a huge number of fans not only in the country but worldwide. To this day, the club is one of the most successful teams in Argentine football, having won 47 domestic titles. But they will still to this day be remembered as the club who took a chance on a small urchin from the “villa miseria” in Buenos Aires, and gave Maradona to the world. Regarded by many as the greatest player to play the game, he had a wonderful career in Spain and Italy, and lead his country to the pinnacle of the world in Mexico, before returning to the acclaim of the Argentinian public.

Paddy McCarthy’s time in Buenos Aires ran alongside football’s journey into the centre of

Argentinian culture. He was a man to be photographed with and was pictured with visiting dignitaries including the President of Argentina, the Duke of Kent and Prince of Wales, and US President Theodore Roosevelt. It is understood that McCarthy received a presentation of a Yale college jacket from Roosevelt, which he is seen wearing in his most famous known picture. McCarthy was also a referee for eighteen years, having stepped in as the referee in 1913 when Boca Juniors met River Plate in a derby known to us now as Superclásico.

The great myth that abounded however, regarding Boca wearing the famous “Blue and Gold”, as an homage to the county of its founder, turns out to be untrue. Tipperary GAA didn’t adopt the blue and gold until the early 1920’s, so it would have been rather a feat of fortune telling to decide to wear those colours in 1905. Instead, it’s now almost universally accepted, that the kit colours were decided upon, almost on a whim. Some of those involved with the club in 1907,

were down at the port in the capital city, and decided to adopt the colours of the country of the next ship that docked. It turned out to be a Swedish vessel.

McCarthy continued holding a high profile in Argentinian society throughout his life, and was frequently the subject of writing in a number of magazines and newspapers, most notably the famous El Grafico. One profile of McCarthy in the magazine claimed that “although he is Irish, he has the soul of a local”. He not only taught the techniques and rules of the game of football to hundreds of Argentines, but he also helped to popularize the game amongst children from poorer backgrounds, through his job in the sports committee, Dirección de Deportes of the Buenos Aires municipality. He retired from service in 1943, and passed away twenty years later, on 10 August 1963, at the British Hospital of Buenos Aires and is buried in Chacarita cemetery. He certainly went, a long way

from Tipperary

Cashel man Paddy McCarthy who founded Boca Juniors in Buenos Aires, one of the most famous football clubs of them all. Inset: Diego Maradona, the Argentine icon who was Boca’s most famous son of all.

Cashel Town Extra

Cashel Lions Club dance and sing along with Senior Citizens at annual party

One of the most eagerly anticipated events on the Cashel Lions Club calendar is its annual Senior Citizens party, and it surpassed expectations once again this year with a huge crowd enjoying the excellently run event. The party goers gathered from early afternoon in Halla na Féile and were the guests at a beautifully presented meal by the members of the Lions Club.

During the meal, they also got to congratulate Maeve Carroll, who was this years Lions Club Young Ambassador of the Year, and who came second place in the national event the day before. There were plenty of stories and anecdotes as well as the odd joke to two to keep the guests

happy between courses.

But once the food was cleared away the real party started. Normally known for being well turned out in his Garda Superintendents uniform, Eddie Golden donned the civilian threads and lead the singing and dancing with his band, well into the afternoon. Eddie has been a mainstay at the event for years, and looks forward to playing almost as much as the senior citizens do.

The floor quickly filled and those who didn’t take to it, happily helped Eddie and the band by singing along. By evening end, everyone involved had had a wonderful time, and were looking forward to further and future events organised by the very busy Lions Club.

By Liam Browne

Eleanor Shanley and Mike Hanrahan for Brú Ború

Folk music favourites book for

Cashel

venue for Saturday, 8th February

The multi-talented Eleanor Shanley and Mike Hanrahan present an intimate evening of music and stories drawing from their impressive respective back catalogues, interspersed with many new song collaborations in Brú Ború Theatre on Saturday, 8th February.

Both artists have been to the forefront of Irish music for over three decades. Eleanor Shanley is one of the most loved singers in folk music history who is renowned for her unique interpretation and lyrical emotion.

Eleanor’s unique talent is so highly regarded, that she was last year inducted into the Folk Music Hall of Fame at the Tonder Festival Denmark. With a successful career Eleanor has toured the world to high acclaim with De Dannan and the late Ronnie Drew with whom she had a hugely popular duet ‘A Couple More Years’.

With hits too numerous to mention such as Dragonfly, Kilkelly, Forever Young, Road to Glory and Hard Times, the multi-talented Eleanor has an array of favourites to delight. She has recorded with many talented artists during her exciting career including The Dubliners, Sharon Shannon, Dónal Lunny and U2.

A favourite on Irish television

screens and airways, Eleanor has presented and performed on numerous shows on RTE 1 including a recent Nationwide appearance and on TG4 on the very popular Opry le Daniel.

Mike Hanrahan, renowned as a songwriter, guitarist and singer with the hugely popular Stockton’s Wing, whose many hits include the classic Walk Away, Beautiful Affair and We Had it All.

In his own right Mike is a highly regarded talent in the folk industry. His short music film ‘The Ballad of the Crimson Warrior’ was very well received and he recently penned his highly entertaining memoir entitled ‘Beautiful Affair’.

This highly talented artist produced the acclaimed album ‘El Amor De Mi Vida’ for Eleanor and Ronnie Drew from which the hugely popular duet ‘A Couple More Years’ was taken.

Mike’s very successful RTE Show Songs of Ireland where he is joined by his friend comedian Pat Short is receiving great reviews.

Eleanor and Mike, these two very creative artists come together to form a magical combination which results in a night of wonderful song, music and stories.

Tickets are €25 from Box Office 062 61122 and www.bruboru.ie - Show starts at 8pm.

Eleanor Shanley and Mike Hanrahan will perform at the Brú Ború, Cashel on Saturday night, 8th February. Tickets on sale now.

Mary Ryan and Stephen (Hank) Ryan at the Cashel Lions Club Annual Senior Citizens Party last week in Halla na Féile, Cashel.

Margaret King, Mary Myers and Breda Ryan at the Cashel Lions Club Annual Senior Citizens Party last week.

Tessie O’Meara and Maisie O’Grady at the Cashel Lions Club Annual Senior Citizens Party last week.

Children stole the show in Treasure Island from Tipperary Panto Society

MARTIN QUINN went along to see the Tipperary Pantomime Society’s production of Treasure Island which took place in the Excel Centre in Tipperary last week and thoroughly enjoyed another great production.

TREASURE ISLAND is an adventure and historical novel by the Scottish author Robert Louis Stevenson. It was published in 1883, and tells a story of “buccaneers and buried gold” set in the 1700’s. It is considered a coming-of-age story and is noted for its atmosphere, characters, and action. It was first published as a book on 14th November 1883 by Cassell & Co.

It has since become one of the most-often dramatised and adapted novels. Since its publication Treasure Island has significantly influenced depictions of pirates in popular culture, including elements such as deserted tropical islands, treasure maps marked with an “X”, and one-legged seamen with parrots perched on their shoulders. Well all of those previously mentioned were part of the Tipperary Pantomime Society’s production of Treasure Island which took place in the Excel Centre in Tipperary Town from Wednesday January 22nd to Saturday January 25th.

From an original script by the late Paddy Ryan, this year’s production certainly enjoyed all the hallmarks of the famous story of Jim Hawkins, pirate Black Dog and shipmate Billy Bones. I attended on the Friday night and it immediately brought me back to my days in the Panto and my participation in a previous production, and the inspiration given then by the late Paddy and Danny Ryan. So I eagerly awaited what this production would bring and what fun the “Dame” would bring to the stage. As I waited I could see the Orchestra getting ready. From my time with the late Danny Ryan in control, on this occasion it was the very experienced Pat Marnane as Musical Director and on Keyboards, his wife Fran on Bass Guitar, Mike Fitzpatrick on Guitar and Ray Yrure on Percussion. I very much looked forward to the music in the show and I certainly was not disappointed, as right from the opening my feet were tapping as the chorus belted out some great numbers which was accompanied by some excellent choreography.

I have to compliment the chorus as their vocals were pitch perfect and their dancing was on point and in sync. I am sure that everyone in the production will forgive me in saying that the children stole the show. They were absolutely fantastic! Their singing and choreography was second to none with beautiful costumes adding to the production. ‘YMCA’, ‘Bare Necessities’, and Taylor Swift’s ‘Shake It Off’, had the audience singing and clapping along, and they brought the house down with their applause at the end of each number. Turning to the production itself, which was in the capable hands of Producer Pat Ryan, Musical Director Pat Marnane and Choreographer Catherine Ryan. They can certainly feel very well pleased with this production. Act One of the production was based in The Admiral Benbow Inn, A Graveyard on the Cliffs and the Bristol Docks, while Act Two was based on board the Hispaniola, on Mermaid Glade, in Ben Gunn’s Cave and on Treasure Island. The sets were very much in keeping with the story of Treasure Island and compliments to all those involved in settings and scenery, staging, lighting and effects and costuming.

For any show to be a success there must be a good mix of music to compliment the storyline and certainly this production was not found lacking in that regard. Numbers such as ‘Absolutely Everybody’, ‘Amarillo’, ‘Irish Rover’, ‘I only want to be with You’, ‘King of the Swingers’, ‘Waterloo’ and ‘Burning Love’, were just some of the great songs that we were treated to. There were duets like ‘Don’t Go Braking My Heart’ from Jim

Hawkins (Stephen Stokes) and Polly Silver (Katie Russell) and ‘Stumblin In’ from Ben Gunn (Hayley Bourke) and Princess Saphira (Alannah Rose Walsh) and solo ‘I A Believer’ from Jim Hawkins (Stephen Stokes). The script was delivered very well by the cast with very solid performances from the two main principals Jim Hawkins (Stephen Stokes) and Polly Silver (Katie Russell). Their singing was particularly impressive. Also really impressive were the comedic duo roles of Israel Hans (Lauren Browne) and Nobby Nees (Bart Wawszczyk) and Buttercup (Lorraine Kenneally) and Daisy (Sabrina Cummins). They provided some great gags throughout the performance. Someone with great stage presence was Long John Silver (Sam Ryan), along with a great costume and a parrot on his shoulder! His performance of ‘Heartache Tonight’ was one of the highlights of the show. Credit to Captain Billy Bones (Kevin Ryan) for his role and to Squire Trelawney (Abbie O’Dwyer), Dr. Livesey (Emily Ryan), Captain Smollet (Caoimhe Sexton), Blind Pew (Kara Price), Ben Gunn (Hayley Bourke) and Princess Saphira (Allanah Rose Walsh) who all did very well in their respective roles. A word of praise also for Billawanga Wu (Ellie Peters) who really looked and played the part very well and Quizmaster (Kayla Gilsenan) who also played her part so well even with the interference of the Dame!

Leaving the best wine until last, well what can you say about Dame Henrietta Hawkins (Pat Ryan). Surely one of the best comedic performers that you will see anywhere in the county. Once again we were treated to some hilarious antics and some great singing such as ‘Hey Baby’ and ‘Hard Day’s Night’, that had the audience joining in and clapping along.

To conclude I just want to say thank you to Tipperary Pantomime Society for having me along to their show and to congratulate them on another great production.

The finale of Treasure Island from Tipperary Pantomime Society.

The chorus of Treasure Island in the Panto.

Some of the cast in this year’s production of Treasure Island from Tipperary Pantomime Society.

The chorus of Treasure Island in the Panto.

Pat Ryan (Dame Henrietta Hawkins) Sam Ryan (Long John Silver)

If you have a story, news of an event or you know something that we would be interested in. Email info@tippecho.ie or call 052 61 48800

Town Tipp through A

Shock and sadness at passing of visionary Judge

The death has occurred, suddenly, of Judge Marie Quirke of the District Court. Judge Quirke, who sat in the Dublin District Court, passed away on Tuesday January 21st. Judge Quirke lived in Ratoath, Co. Meath and was a native of Ayle, Oola, Co. Tipperary. She was daughter of the late Kitty and Martin Quirke of Ayle. She is survived by her husband Alan Fairnairn, children Dearbhla and Tiernan, brothers Dick and Tony, sisters-in-law Su, Jane, Mary Ita, Jennifer and Amanda, nieces, nephews, and a wide circle of friends. Judge Quirke was formerly a Law Society council member and before being appointed to the bench in 2012, she had been a solicitor, practising mainly in family law. Before becoming a judge, Judge Quirke also served as a member of the Law Society Regulation Committee, and was also managing solicitor at the Finglas Law Centre. She later served as president of the Asso-

ciation of District Court Judges, where she focused on advancing judicial training and education. Judge Quirke was appointed to the bench in 2012 and worked initially in the areas of family, childcare and criminal law before being given responsibility for licensing across the Dublin metropolitan area. She also heard Small Claims Court cases, which fall under the auspices of the District Court. Widespread tributes have been paid to Judge Quirke on her untimely passing. District Court President Paul Kelly, described her as “a wonderful colleague, who embodied all the best qualities of a judge – extensive legal knowledge, experience and expertise; patience, fairness, compassion and a deep understanding of the human condition. She was also very dedicated to the advancement of judicial education and training, and was an active member of the Judicial Studies Commit-

tee of the Judicial Council, in which capacity she frequently delivered training to newly appointed judges at all levels” said Justice Kelly. Meanwhile Constance Cassidy SC described her as a “visionary” who respected everyone equally, from practitioners to lay litigants. “No one came before her who did not get a chance to say their piece. She made very good decisions, most of which were unappealable. Every single person, from the lay litigant to the most expensive barrister, had equal access to the courts. She was simply an extraordinary judge and we are all so terribly sad” said Ms. Cassidy. Law Society President Eamon Harrington, also paid tribute to Judge Quirke saying that she was a tireless advocate for access to justice during her time as managing solicitor at the Finglas Law Centre. “Having been appointed as a judge in 2012, she never lost her enthusiasm for the law and justice

Tipperary Town Music Festival 2025Spectacular line up announced

The news that music lovers were waiting for has arrived, with the announcement that the Tipperary Town Music festival returns to the town from Thursday May 8th to Sunday May 11th. The organisers have a fantastic line up of Irish talent performing this year, and it will all take place in a brand new venue. Patrons will be familiar from past years with the marquee on the grounds of the LIDL Supermarket.

The marquee will still be operational for 2025, but the location will move across the road to a new venue provided by Eamonn Ryan, proprietor of The Porter House. Access to the marquee will be via a lane beside “The Local” public house. There will be plenty of signposting but it will be very easy to find as it is directly across from LIDL.

The programme for the 4 night festival of music commences on Thursday May 8th with the headline act of Michael English with support from Jack Keogh and DJ Richie. Kildare County Singer, Michael English, is sure to be a huge attraction. English is one of Ireland’s most renowned Country Music Entertainers. Since forming his own band in January 2014, he has been going down a storm on the Irish & UK dancing/concert scene. An accomplished musician and songwriter, the Kildare man is now a big name on the circuit with his energetic performances, which leave the crowds wanting more.

The Friday night will see another first for the festival with the visit of the hugely popular The Whistlin’ Donkeys. Hailing from County Tyrone, The Whistlin’ Donkeys have been performing together since 2011, and have gained a strong following in Ireland and around the world. The band are known for their unique blend of traditional Irish music and Celtic rock influences, creating their own distinctive sound that will keep your feet stomping and hands clapping

all night long. Saturday night sees the return of The Tumbling Paddies.

The Tumbling Paddies have steadily grown to become one of Ireland’s most sought after entertainers. They have been a complete sell out at the festival in previous years, and this year is expected to be no exception.

The final night of the festival sees the great Mike Denver and Band, with support from Dermot Lyons and DJ Richie. The Galway Boy is no stranger to Tipperary and always puts on an excellent show. The brilliant music of Mike Denver is a great way to end what is certain to be a great weekend of music. Tickets for the various nights are available from www.tipperarytown.ie or from John at 087-8253139.

throughout her many years on the bench. She was held in high regard by judicial, solicitor and barrister colleagues alike. As a Dublin District Court judge, she was known for her fairness, compassion, respect, and people-centred approach. She was very considerate of everyone who entered her court. Judge Quirke will be remembered fondly for being genuine and having a great sense of humour” said Mr. Harrington. He went on to say that her commitment to service was evident at every stage of her career and that she was always keen to share her legal expertise, knowledge and guidance with others and did so as a popular tutor at the Law Society’s Law School for many years, and more recently through her involvement with the Irish legal community’s Afghan Justice Appeal.

A minute’s silence was observed in Cork District Court for Judge Quirke, with Judge

Judge Marie Quirke, who passed away suddenly on 21st January.

Mary Dorgan paying tribute to her late colleague and friend and asking for a minute’s silence to be observed. Joining in the condolences that were offered to the family of Judge Quirke at Cork Dis-

trict Court on Wednesday last were Frank Buttimer solicitor, on behalf of the Southern Law Association; Sergeant Gearóid Davis for An Garda Síochána; court registrar Peter Devine on behalf of courts staff; and barrister Jeff Hitchmough on behalf of barristers. Judge Dorgan said that shock and devastation were the words that came to mind at her totally unexpected death.

“She was quite an extraordinary judge having all the hallmarks that judges should have — consideration, good humour, kindness, fairness, patience and compassion. No doubt she could have served in the highest courts in the land” said Judge Dorgan.

We join with those from the Law Courts in extending our deepest sympathy to the husband, children, brothers, sistersin-law, nieces and nephews on the untimely passing of Judge Quirke. May she rest in peace.

Preparations well underway for town’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade

Preparations are underway for the 2025 St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Tipperary Town. A very positive meeting of the Parade Committee took place in Denis Leahy’s on Wednesday, 22nd January. The St Patrick’s Day Parade in Tipperary Town will be held on St Patrick’s Day, Monday, 17th March.

The next Meeting will be held in Roche’s Pub on Wednesday, 5th February

at 7.30pm. All are very welcome to join the Committee or to volunteer to help out on the day.

There is a lot of work to do in the coming weeks to organise the day, and more details on the Parade will follow soon.

If anyone would like to enter this year’s Parade please send a message by email to; stpatricksdaytipptown@gmail.com

with Martin Quinn

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Young Tipp students at BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition

We all recall with great pride the winners of the 59th BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition (BTYSTE) in 2023. Shane O’Connor and Liam Carew, who were aged 18 and in sixth year in the Abbey School, Tipperary, won the contest with their project ‘Assessing the impact of second-level education on key aspects of adolescents’ life and development’.

The two boys who are now in college, were delighted to be invited to judge the 2025 Primary Science Fair, which is run in conjunction with the BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition. The Primary Science Fair has been an exciting part of the BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition for over 15 years and allows those students in primary school with an interest in science and technology to be an integral part of one of the world’s leading and longest-running school science exhibitions.

All schools received participation certs to distribute to their students along with a plaque to say that they have been part of The Primary Science Fair at the BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition 2025.

Well done to Shane and Liam on their participation and best wishes to them in their college studies.

Liam Carew and Shane O’Connor were guests at the 2025 BT Young Scientist Gala Dinner. They are pictured here with the 2025 winners and MC for the Dinner, Dara Ó Briain.

Shane O’Connor pictured at the 2025 BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition.

Shane O’Connor, Jamie Heaslip (former Irish Rugby Player) and Liam Carew, are pictured at the 2025 BT Young Scientist Exhibition.

LEFT:

The St. Ailbe’s Senior Ladies Football team that qualified for the Munster semi finals, by virtue of a hardfought victory over Comeragh College last week.

RIGHT:

Keeva Bailey Moloney, team captain of St. Ailbe’s, receiving the Munster South East Cup from former All Ireland senior football final referee, Paddy Russell (Emly).

Recently Deceased

Prayed for at all Masses in Thurles parish at the weekend was the following who have passed away: Hannah (Han) Costello née Duggan, Bouladuff, formerly Ard Mhuire.

Feast of St Brigid

Usual daily Masses at 11 am in Bóthar na Naomh Church and 7 pm Vigil Mass in the Cathedral on Saturday next, 1st February. St Brigid’s crosses made by John Paul 11 Awards students in support of Milford Hospice will be on sale in the Parish Office next week for St. Brigid’s Day. €3 each.

Feast of Candelmas – Sunday, 2nd February: Candles will be blessed during each Mass. As we now use a variety of candles in both churches you may wish to give a donation towards the purchase of candles.

St Blaise – Monday, 3rd February – Blessing of Throats will take place after 7 pm Mass on Sunday, 2nd February, Bóthar na Naomh Church; After 11 am Mass on Monday, 3rd February in the Cathedral, and after 7 pm Mass Monday, 3rd February.

(Please note this is an additional Mass). Pallottine Chapel after 10 am Mass until 12.30 pm and again from 3 to 6 pm.

Date for your Diary

Friday 2nd May – Ormond Octaves in Concert at the Cathedral of the Assumption, Thurles. More details to follow at a later stage. All proceeds to the Cathedral Reroofing Project.

Drama Group to perform Rathmines Road

Thurles Drama Group will present Rathmines Road by Deirdre Kinahan in The Source Arts Centre from Sunday February 16th until Friday February 21st inclusive. Please note the opening night is Sunday and not Monday as usual. Rathmines road will then go on the Drama Festival Circuit around the country attempting to reach the All-Ireland Finals in Athlone in May. Due to the sensitive themes and language in the play, Rathmines Road is not suitable for children under 14 years of age.

Deirdre Kinahan’s play is a powerful exploration of sexual assault and rape and the implications this has not just for the victim but the immediate friends and family of those connected to such brutality. Sandra, played by Geraldine Delaney, lives in London, returns to sell her family home in Wicklow after her mother’s death. Sandra’s husband Ray (Derek Doherty) comes with her and an old friend Dairne, formerly David (Sarah Feehan) calls to say hello. Everything is going reasonably well when Linda, an estate agent (Paula Drohan) and her husband Eddie, a school principal (Ken Murphy) arrive to discuss the sale of the house. On seeing Eddie, Sandra recognises him as the man who raped her 25 years previously at a party in a flat in Rathmines Road – hence the title of the play!

In the play Sandra, doesn’t confront Eddie in reality, she explores a number of scenarios that she plays out in her head and the audience travel this journey with her. As a theatrical device, it is

Eye onThurles

By the Cathedral Townie

Locals object to proposed wind farm at Brittas

A proposed wind farm to be located just outside Thurles at Brittas, (between Thurles and Templemore) is causing more disquiet in the community.

News of the proposal broke this week and there has been much commentary on social media ever since. A Danish company, ORSTED, have submitted plans to An Bord Pleanala for the erection of 10 giant wind turbines in the Brittas-Clobana- Rossestown area. This will encompass both sides of the locally named Dark Road as well as both sides of the River Suir, including what appears to be, according to locals, at least two turbines in

an excellent way to forensically examine the nuances of rape and how a woman comes to terms, if ever, with such a horrendous trauma.

Rathmines Road concentrates instead on the dilemma of coming forward. It is clear from the start that we, the audience, believe Sandra. But the story is strangely told. One reason for this, we come to understand, is that Sandra, like the playwright, is running through different scenarios. “I wanted to try to feel what it is like to disappear,” Kinahan writes in an author’s note, “into an abyss where every social, cultural and judicial reflex conspires to silence, to shame and to deny… you.”

Kinahan challenges the myths and stereotypes that are used to explain and justify these attacks.

‘Boys will be boys’ and ‘good girls shouldn’t put themselves in these vulnerable situations’. Through the play, Sandra forces Eddie and his wife to confront his guilt – in her head at least, and challenge these baseless fictions.

While the theme is difficult and intense, Kinahan manages to create some very funny lines and fiercely humorous moments and like watching a Martin McDonagh play, you find yourself laughing at something that is ordinarily not really funny at all.

Kinahan also explores the silence and lies that often surround these tragic experiences. Denial by the victim and the perpetrator is common and silence she says is often the ‘go to’ response of survivors, their abusers and ourselves.

A must-see play presented in Thurles for the first time and one that will generate discussion and conversations aplenty afterwards.

the existing flood-plain.

These turbines being proposed will be amongst the highest ever erected in Ireland if they get the go ahead-some 185 metres high. One local described this as being the approximate equivalent of over six times the height of the Bridge Castle in Liberty Square.

HEDGEROWS, TREES THREATENED

Other elements proposed as part of the development include: the removal of up to four kilometres of hedgerow as well as the removal of trees – some of those trees will be in the historically significant Knox’s Wood which is a famous land-

Fancy making a Brigid’s Cross at Cabragh Wetlands

Join us for the Festival of St Brigid on Monday next, 3rd February from 7 pm with making of Brigid’s Crosses (reeds provided) and Celebration of St. Brigid. All are welcome.

mark in the greater Thurles area. There is also the possibility of sections of the River Suir being altered to cater for the proposal.

The turbines will be within 3-4 kilometres of Thurles town centre.

“These turbines will probably be visible from Liberty Square and locals are deeply concerned and have formed a group to oppose this intrusion on their lives and the local ecology. Any objections, called submissions, must be received by February 14,” said one local who added that a group will be established to object to the proposal.

Ursuline girls qualify for Croke Park exhibition

Congratulations to Thurles Ursuline Secondary School students Margaret, Aobha, Isabella, Sarah and their teacher Mr. O’Heney who are one of over 46 groups that has been selected to go forward to the Certified Irish Angus Schools Competition Exhibition in Croke Park on Friday, 7th March 2025.

The girls will exhibit their project about reducing methane emissions from ruminants with on-farm practices and by dietary supplementation. They will be presenting to a number of judges and experts from the agri-food industry. Best of luck girls.

Annual Credit Union Quiz

“ The Premier Credit union are happy to announce we are holding our annual Credit Union School quiz with many schools in our common bond taking part. The quiz will be held on the 7th of February 2025 in the Presentation’s Sports Complex, Mitchel Street, Thurles, Co Tipperary, E41 A3F6. We are excited to see all the students take part and wish them the best of luck in the competition. For any queries, please contact the premier credit union on 0504 91700 or quiz@premiercu.ie”

Sarsfields elect David O’Dwyer new chairman

Thurles Sarsfields GAA club has elected a new chairman following their AGM recently which was very well attended.

Departing the chair after a lengthy and very successful run, former player John Cahill said that he was honoured to have had the distinction of sitting at the helm of the esteemed club and he welcomed new blood coming into the position to help drive on one of Tipperary’s oldest GAA clubs.

That new blood comes in the form of Vice-Chairman David O’Dwyer, also a former player, who takes over from John in heading up the executive committee. David has been very much to the forefront in establishing the club development plan and one of the big items on the agenda in terms of offfield activities, will be the development of the second playing pitch at Toor, Killinan and the provision of changing room and spectator facilities.

The grounds, located on the Nenagh road out of Thurles, already has one very good pitch in play and the provision of the second field will help to alleviate the workload on the Outside Field and the first pitch at Toor, with so many club teams pulling out of them. The club fields hurling and football teams at adult level, as well as camogie and ladies football teams at adult and juvenile level as well. So, there is much demand for grass space during peak times of the season.

There are extensive plans for the Toor site and working towards turning those plans into reality will be high on the

Michael Maher, Phil Leahy and Thomas Callanan.

OFFICERS ELECTED:

President: Martin Maher

Vice President: Liam O’Donnchu, Ger Corbett, Jackie Cooke, Tom Barry, Dick Maher, Michael Maher, Phil Leahy, Tomas Callanan, John Cahill.

Chairman: David O’Dwyer

Vice Chairman: Elaine Scanlon

Secretary: John Maher

Assistant Secretary: Peter Donnelly

Treasurer: Eleanor Forrest

PRO: Sean Smith

Registrar: Paul Maher.

Committee: Louise Lanigan, Peter Lanigan, John Moroney, Trevor Cooke, Louise Phillips.

David, a National School principal in Gortnahoe National School, has also been involved in Dúrlas Óg juvenile GAA club as well as coaching a number of teams in both clubs. He is the holder of a number of county final medals at juvenile and adult level and was regarded as a topclass corner forward during his playing days.

Having stepped down as Chairman after seven years, John Cahill was elected Vice President of the club, an honorary position shared with Liam O’Donnchu, Ger Corbett, Jackie Cooke, Tom Barry, Dick Maher,

Presentation Thurles Think Languages team is All-Ireland runner-up

Congratulations to the Presentation

Another huge week for Thurles CBS - first ‘Bat Out of Hell’ and now the Harty Cup final

AS SCHOOL WEEKS GO, they don’t come much bigger than this one for Thurles CBS Secondary School.

Following the success of their outstanding musical Like a Bat Out of Hell, the focus has turned very sharply to the Dr Harty Cup, Munster Senior A Colleges Final which takes place next Saturday against St Flannan’s of Ennis.

The Thurles lads have been readying themselves for the battle having seen off the stiff challenge of De la Salle, Waterford in the semi-final. And, they are reporting a clean bill of health as they bid to win a first Harty Cup crown since 2025.

There is tremendous excitement in the school this week but at the same time, the management and staff are trying to keep fever pitch to manageable levels. The key for the team will be to perform to their abilities and they are focusing on bringing the best performance they can muster to the final.

They have already drawn with St Flannan’s in the Harty Cup first round, so there is no major advantage to either side following that round robin encounter.

However, the Thurles lads have found far better form as the championship progressed and they knew that they will have to produce their best showing on Saturday if they are to claim the famed silverware which was first presented in 1918.

Meanwhile, the afterglow of that wonderful show remains in the school this week. Close to 2,000 people attended over the course of the restricted run – a matinee showing for local schools was forced off on Friday due to the restrictions as a result of the storm. This was the second major challenge which faced the troupe as a week of rehearsals was lost after the Christmas break thanks to the huge dumping of snow which hit Tipperary and forced week long school closure.

Despite these challenges, they still managed to pull off a brilliant show with Musical Director, Deirdre Ryan Preston, and Directors Mary Lloyd and Danielle Slattery excelling alongside Choreographers Miriam Ball, Gemma O’Dwyer and Nicole Bracken.

The show was a whole school effort and the inclusion of girls from the Presentation and Ursuline Secondary Schools really enhanced the production and made the task of mastering the challenging score featuring Meatloaf’s biggest hits much easier.

Congratulations to allon stage – sixty in total –and to all who were involved in the production including the fantastic band which really loved belting out all those Meatloaf tunes. There were more than 100 involved in total – a great achievement. It was great to see the Premier Hall rockin’ and rollin’ for the run.

Secondary Schools Think Languages team who were Runners up in the All-Ireland final last week. The team members are, Katie Shanahan, Hannah Molloy, Abbey Challen, Aoife Doyle , Grainne Dowling. (Missing from photo Tara Moquet). Well done girls.

agenda of the new chairman and his team led by Secretary, John Maher and Treasurer Eleanor Forrest.

John Cahill has stepped down as chairman of Thurles Sarsfields

David O’Dwyer who has taken over the role of chairman of Thurles Sarsfields GAA Club.

A scene fromthe very successful Bat Out Of Hell musical staged by Thurles CBS last week, with the help of girls from the Presentation and Ursuline school,which despite the best efforts of the bat out of hell storm over 2,000 managed to get to see the show over the three days.

Cahir Meet and Train

The fitness group started back on Tuesday, January 28 and will meet at 7.15pm at Duneske every Tuesday and Thursday going forward. They are calling all members and non members to come along and join in and keep up your level of fitness walking, jogging or running. The group looks forward to meeting you with the aim of getting fit for the summer. They will have a walking group and would be delighted to see as many as possible meeting up for a chat and a walk or jog and maybe some are even ready to tackle a Couch to 5km. All are welcome!

The group is very active in the local community and are planning the Poulmucka Road Races at present and have also fixed September 20, 2025 as the date for The 2 Johnnies Ladies Mini Marathon which they play run as well as plan.

Cahir Tidy Towns

It’s not long to go until our fundraising Table Quiz that is set for Saturday February 15, 2025 in the Shamrock Lounge. The Quiz starts at 8pm and is always an enjoyable and entertaining night and definitely not an event to miss. Our table quiz with quizmaster Johnny B will be held on Saturday 15th February at 8pm and is sure to be a great social event to start the year off. Tables with a max of 4 people are €20 and there will be a raffle on the night.

Our thanks go to Johnny B who is Quizmaster on the night and Johnny Smacks who is an independent Judge on the night too. Put the date in your diaries!

The group accessed the damage after the recent storm and while it didn’t affect us too much, unfortunately some trees were lost along the Swiss Walk. We continued with our planting last week with the addition of some semi mature trees in the Inch Field because of the ABP ‘Cans for Trees’ project. Thanks to everyone who contributed cans once again in 2024 and are continuing to support the cause.

We will continue to collect cans on the first Saturday of the month in the car park between 10 and 11am. While the recycling machines have reduced our collection by 70% it is to be welcomed and helps reduce litter and promote recycling.

Our next collection is on this Saturday February 1, in the usual place of the Castle car park with the support once again of ABP and the ‘Cans for Trees’ project.

‘Cahir to Sing’ open call

In conjunction with Sing Irelands National Singing Week Cahir to Sing Choir are hosting an open rehearsal during National Singing Week. The open rehearsal will take place on Wednesday February 12, 2025 at 7.30pm in Cahir Youth Centre on Church Street beside St. Pauls Church in Cahir. We will have coffee and a chat and start singing at 8pm. This is an open call to everyone who enjoys singing and everyone is welcome. With fun, easy warm ups, familiar songs and all voice levels welcomed, we just enjoy the sense of community through our connection to music. There are no auditions, so no pressure, just a warm friendly environment where we celebrate the power of singing. We look forward to meeting you! Entry free of charge and no booking is necessary.

Community Lotto

The Community Lotto Draw took place on last Wednesday, January 22, 2025 in the Social Welfare Office at 12 noon. Draw was witnessed by Martina O’Connell and the Jackpot of €3,100 was not won. The numbers drawn were 4, 19, 27 & 28. The 4 lucky Dip winners winning €25 each were Richie Rowe, Reiska Road, Cahir Nicola Downey, Market yard, Cahir Jerry Saunders, Cahir Day Care Centre Kathleen Moloney, Mount Carmel, Ardfinnan. Congratulations to all.

The next Draw will take place on today, Wednesday January 29 in the Social Welfare Office at 12 noon. The Jackpot will then be €3,200 and results will be published next week. Tickets are always available in the Enterprise Centre and in local shops too. We wish everyone the best of luck in the draw. This Lotto supports Cahir Development Association Community Projects.

Cahir Town in around the

By Maria Taylor

Senior Citizens Party postponed due to extreme stormy weather Party goes ahead this Friday

Last Thursday or safety reasons, the Cahir Garda Senior Citizens Party organising committee made the decision to postpone the event due to the extreme weather that was forecasted from Storm Éowyn. The party will instead now be taking place on this Friday January 31, 2025 at 5pm in Cahir House Hotel. It will be good to see the return of the Garda Districts Annual Senior Citizens Party that everyone looks forward o so much. The Cahir Garda District has extended an invitation to all Senior Citizens to attend the Party will take place in Cahir House Hotel on this Friday January 31.

There will be Music, Dancing, Refreshments and Spot Prizes too. Any Neighbours, Family or Friends who bring an older person are

also invited to stay and enjoy the evening if they wish to do so.

If you require transport to this event please ring Cahir Garda Station on 052-7445630 and leave the name/address /eircode and phone number as soon as possible and they will arrange transport for you between 4pm and 5pm on the day.

This is always an entertaining and fun night and a popular one on the Senior Citizens social calendar, so all Senior Citizens should take this opportunity and come along and be entertained on the night! The members of the Cahir Garda District look forward to meeting you all there.

Cahir Social & Historical Society

The next Society next lecture will be held on Thursday, February 6, 2025, and will once again take place in the comfortable surrounds of Cahir House Hotel. The lecture will start at 8pm This time Mr. John Foley, a film-maker from Dungarvan is welcomed to Cahir and will present two short historical films that he has made which should be of local historical interest. “Díoltas” focuses on the kidnapping of RIC District Inspector Gilbert Potter during the War of Independence while the “Dying Days” describes the last few weeks of the Irish Civil War, with particular emphasis on the death of Liam Lynch, Chief of Staff of the Anti-Treaty IRA, in April 1923. John will take questions afterwards on what is sure to be an interesting evening.

Admission is €5 for members, €7 for guests and admission is free for students. All are welcome to come along and join us for our latest lecture.

Busy start to the new year at Coláiste Dún

Great fun was had over the last few weeks by Transition Year students in Cloáiste Dún Iascaigh. Firstly, as part of Coláiste Dún Iascaigh Cahir Culture Week, comedian Bernard Casey visited the school to do a Comedy Workshop with the TY class where there were many laughs had. Then it was on to the Waterford Greenway where TY enjoyed a lovely hike

with fantastic views and lots of fresh air.

In sport Coláiste Dún Iascaigh Cahir Senior Soccer Team had a good win over Patrician Secondary School Fethard in the Dick Lowney Tipperary Senior Cup and Brian Hurley, Leigh Murphy, Josh Davey, Filip Miklaszewski, Shane Ryan, Luke Morrissey and Daniels Lakis were all on the score sheet

for CDI. Well done to the lads who progress to the quarter final stages next. Well done also to Coláiste Dún Iascaigh Cahir U17 hurlers who had a good win last week against Cashel. Coláiste Dún Iascaigh is most grateful to all sponsors and thanks Shane Ferris and company Cobots.ie who recently sponsored a new set of JAKO Ireland jerseys for the

Coláiste Dún Iascaigh Cahir Junior Girls Soccer Team.

Coláiste Dún Iascaigh Cahir students were delighted to host a group of Argentinean students from Buenos Aires recently too. The students are in Ireland on a language exchange. It was a wonderful exchange experience with students from the Coláiste Spanish classes learning about Argentina, its culture

Iascaigh

and cuisine, while also learning traditional Argentinian dance.

The visitors also heard some Trad music, learned some Irish dancing and watched a hurling match as our U17 Boys team took on Cashel at the Coláiste. Last week the Garda Band played in the school as part of Coláiste Dún Iascaigh Cahir Culture Week. We were privileged to have the band with us

and they were super, thank you so much for taking the time to play for us. Coláiste Dún Iascaigh Cahir was delighted to also welcome Bunscoil na Cathrach teacher and local historian PJ O’Meara of Cahir Social & Historical Society to the school. PJ gave a fascinating talk to our students on the Civil War in the Cahir area as part of culture week.

Cahir Park AFC

Juniors - Last weekend’s fixtures were hit by weather again as on Sunday, January 26, Cahir Park Firsts Teams fixture at home to Clonmel Celtic (B) in the Tipperary Cup was called off and the B team’s away trip to Premier Division side, Clonmel Celtic in the Tipp Cup was also called off due to unplayable pitch.

Youths Fixture - Our Youth A’s & B’s faced each other last Saturday January 25 in Tipperary Youth Cup with Cahir Park (A) v Cahir Park (B). It was a highly competitive and entertaining game that was played in awful weather conditions with a big crowd of supporters attending.

The final score was 4-7 with Youth Bs coming out winners on the day.

Youth A team scorers, own goal, Callum Butler, Oisin Power and Mark Flanagan. Youth B team scorers were Liam Cleary, Lorcan Butler x 2 goals, Brian Hurley, Sean Morrissey x 2 goals and David Halpin and a fantastic penalty save by Evan Cotter too. Man of the match was Sean Morrissey.

Well done to all players and Management who put in a fantastic effort on the day with no animosity!

And well done especially to Youth Bs and Management who were the winners on the day.

Cahir Park U12 Girls - This great bunch of young girls were out in the National Trophy Competition when they played Slievenamon Celtic last week.

The game had fallen foul to the weather conditions on a few occasions so we were delighted to finally get on the pitch. It was a very cold night with the fog threatening to create havoc again as the game got under way.

The girls showed great character and a super battle played out between the two teams. The half time break saw the teams scoreless. Slievenamon Celtic finally broke through the defence and got the first goal of the evening.

The Cahir Park Girls fought on but it was not to be their evening with Slievenamon Celtic adding to their tally to take the win on the night. A word of thanks goes

to John Lyons for officiating in a very enjoyable game. We wish Slievenamon Celtic the best of luck in the next round. To each one of our girls, a huge thank you for all your hard work over the season. We are very proud of you. And enjoy the short break. Also a special mention goes to parents for all the support over the season at training and games, it is greatly appreciated.

Academy Coaches wanted - Cahir Park AFC Academy is looking for coaches for our entry level schoolgirls and schoolboys on Saturday morning from 9- 10am, starting in February, 2025. No experience is needed and children attending are aged U6 to U9 years. FAI Coach courses provided. Academies are not possible without Coaches.

So, does your child already attend Cahir Park Academy? Do you wait for them to finish in Cahir Park on the day? Then you could make a huge difference to these young, enthusiastic players by signing up as a coach for that one hour. All we would need is 4 parents to do the same, so only one hour every 4 weeks would be requested by each parent! Please contact Jonas on 087 4154086 if you can help. Thank you.

Cahir Park 50/50 Draw- The Cahir Park 50/50 Draw took place last Wednesday, January 22 live at 8pm in Cahir Park AFC. Congratulations to Stephen Quinn last week’s 50/50 winner. The winning ticket was bought online. Thank you to all our ticket sellers, all our sponsors and everyone who buys tickets; we truly appreciate your support of our Club. We remind everyone that there is a cash winner every week.

Tickets can be purchased from Committee, online, through local businesses or through our Cahir Park AFC App under the fundraising header.

Referee Beginners Course - FAI South Tipperary will run a Tipperary Referee Beginners Course on February 15, 2025 in Cahir Park AFC. Times are 10am to 4pm. Contact FAI on https://faiconnect.ie/mycomet/ private/seminars/30729086

Cahir GAA

DRAW THE JOKER

Last Sunday January 26 in the Galtee Inn there was no winner of the €4,800 Jackpot and other winners were €100 John Sheehy, €50 Chi Chi Caplice, €50 Kevin Dalton, €30 Catherine Leamy and €20 Bernie Long.

This Sunday February 2, 2025 the Joker Draw will take place in The Punters Rest. Jackpot will be €5,000.

Thank you to all for your support.

CLOTHING COLLECTION

Cahir Juvenile GAA Club is holding a Clothing Recycling Fundraiser on Saturday February 22, 2025. The collection will take place between 10am and 1pm at Cahir GAA Club.

We need all your clean, unwanted clothing so please donate any men’s, ladies or children’s clothes, paired shoes, handbags, curtains or bed linen, put clothes in black bags and drop off bags to Cahir GAA Club rooms on Saturday February 22, 2025 between 10am and 1pm. Thank you.

Sponsors of jerseys for the Coláiste Dún Iascaigh Cahir Junior Girls Soccer Team - Shane Ferris with Cobots.ie sponsored Coláiste Dún Iascaigh’s Junior Girls Soccer team jerseys

Cahir Park Youth A team

Cahir Park Youth B team

Recollections from 2008 with Joe Kenny

Happy with their Junior Cert Results at Clonmel High School on September 10, 2008, were Back L to R: Ciarán Quirke, Edmond Power, Leo Curtain, Shane O’Gorman, Shane Murphy, Patrick Power. Front L to R: Matthew Mikito’w and Bobby Hogan.

Clonmel Presentation Convent students delighted with their Junior Cert Results on September 10, 2008. L to R: Bridget Long, Gemma O’Mahoney, Amy O’Mahoney, Jamie Landers, Chelsey Burke, Rachel Conway and Zoë Madigan.

Gael Scoil, Thurles, team who played Clonoulty in the Under-11 D Hurling Final at the Cumann na mBunscol County Finals held at Semple Stadium on June 18, 2027.

Photographed at the Loreto Convent, Debs Ball, held on September 4, 2008, at Clonmel Park Hotel, are L to R: Amy Askins, Rebecca Kenny, Fiona Reed, Emma Lyons, Anita Murphy, Aprar Blawad and Niamh Herlihy.

Cashel Town First Division team who beat Moyglass United in their league game played in Moyglass on September 7, 2008. Back L to R: Derek Hayes, Joe Breen, Paul Hoare, Jonathan Kennedy, Bart Kaczorek, Mark Hickey, Sean Kennedy, Ned Butler. Front L to R: Paddy Hoard, Henry Flynn with mascot Keelan O’Brien, Andrew Flynn, Mickey Coleman, William Fitzell, Tony Hewitt and Ian Hahessy.

Members of Rosegreen Community who are concerned about the lack of traffic calming measures in Rosegreen village photographed on September 8, 2008. L to R: Seamus Kennedy (Rosegreen & Cashel Parish Council), Marie Bergin (Parent), Pat Cummins (Chairman Rosegreen Development Association and Secretary Rosegreen GAA), Mairín Heslin (Secretary Rosegreen National School Parents Association), Melissa Costello (Chairperson Rosegreen National School Parents Association), Eamon Freir (Treasurer Rosegreen National School Parents Association), John Lawlor (Principal Rosegreen National School and Secretary Board of Management), and Finbar O’Neill (Board of Management Rosegreen National School).

Recollections from 2008 with Joe Kenny

Superquinn staff members photographed in Clonmel on September 13, 2008, helping at their ‘Family Fun Day’ in aid of Barrettstown - an organisation that provides residential camps and programmes for children and their families affected by cancer and other serious illnesses. L to R: Joan Hanton, Michael Murphy, Rhea Hanton, Susan Marrett, Mary Boland, Anita Hickey, Therese Judge, Jerry Toomey and Donal Gleeson.

Clonmel Chamber members photographed at the inaugural Clonmel Chamber Golf Classic held at Clonmel Golf Club on September 12, 2008. L to R: Donal Dennehy, Jackie Ryan (Network Manager), Declan Byrne (President), Karen Moore and Kieran Quigley.

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, on September 11, 2008. 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.

News from the Community

FETHARD NEWS

by Joe Kenny

Fethard Players cast of ‘Juno and the Paycock’ photographed after their performance in the Abymill Theatre last week. Back L to R: standing Marian Fenton, Mary Fitzpatrick, Lar Fanning, Pat Brophy, Alan Bourke, Liam O’Connor, P.J. Henehan, Mark Fitzgerald, Pat Dunne, Craig O’Brien. Seated L to R: Mary Boland Prendergast, Una Kiernan Byrne, Ann Walsh, Mia Treacy, Lisa Anglim, Owen Healy, and Tom Gilpin.

‘Juno’ - A roaring success

Fethard Players cast enjoyed packed houses and standing ovations for their performance of Seán Casey’s ‘Juno and the Paycock’ for six nights at the Abymill Theatre.

The large, experienced cast captured the essence of the O’Casey drama, set in a Dublin tenement at Ireland’s Civil War.

The performance was literally flawless from all the cast, which was echoed by the

Happy Birthday Deirdre

Congratulations to Deirdre Dorney, Fethard, who celebrated her 50th Birthday with family and friends at a special function held at Lonergan’s Bar, The Square, Fethard, on Monday, 20th January, 2025

appreciative response from the audiences present.

The play was produced by Marian Gilpin who deserves great credit for another great and successful production.

Late Ella Kenny

The death has occurred on Monday, January 20, 2025, of Ella Kenny (née Purcell), Drumdeel, Fethard. Wife of the late Jim Kenny, predeceased by her parents Tom and Nellie Purcell, Jossestown, Fethard, and her brothers Frank and Charlie, Ella will be sadly missed by her much loved daughters Nuala, Ailish and Claire and sons Liam and Noel, her only sister Rena Kelly and brothers Toby, Tom and Ger. Devoted Nan of Chloe, Jessica, Jack, Eoin, Ellie, Jenny, Lucy, Louis, Daisy, Ruby and Alice. Great Grandmother to Lauren, Rosie and Theo, sons-in-law Michael, Sean and Donncha, daughtersin-law Mary and Rebecca, sistersin-law, nieces, nephews, relatives, neighbours and friends. Ella passed away peacefully at Melview Nursing Home (Sonas), Clonmel,

Well done to Leslie Lawlor on winning our Split the port in the 12th, Leslie been presented with her winnings by two of our up and coming Stars, Sophia and Emma.

Bingo in the Ballroom a great success

Thank you to everyone that turned out in support of Fethard Ladies Football Club’s first public bingo game in over nine years, played in Fethard Ballroom on Thursday, January 20, 2025. We were delighted to have a very large crowd pack out the ballroom for the club’s first ‘Bingo’ game – and also with plenty of winners on the night.

We would like to thank everyone for their support. Bingo continues on this coming Thursday night, January 30, in Fethard Ballroom, doors open at 6.30pm and Bingo commences at 8pm. All are welcome to play.

Social Dancing

Social Dancing at Fethard Ballroom Social Dancing continues at Fethard Ballroom on Sunday night, February 2, 2025, to the music of the very popular ‘Teddy and Cathal Barry’. All are welcome to come along and enjoy us for a terrific night’s social dancing from 8.30pm to 11.30pm. Admission is €10, which includes tea and cakes and raffle.

Late Ella Kenny, Drumdeel, Fethard

surrounded by her loving family. Funeral Mass was in Holy Trinity Parish Church, Fethard, followed by burial in Calvary Cemetery. May she rest in Peace.

‘Special Consensus’ at the Abymill on Saturday

Clonmel World Music proudly presents ‘Special Consensus’ (Chicago) bluegrass band in the Abymill Theatre on Saturday, February 1, 2025. Special Consensus are in their 50th year of touring. They are all multi award winning and grammy nominated musicians, and the band have toured all over the world. We are delighted to bring such a world class band to Fethard’s Abymill Theatre.

International tours have brought the band to Australia, Canada, Europe, South America, Ireland and the United Kingdom. The band has also appeared on National Public Radio, The

Nashville Network, the Grand Ole Opry at the historic Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee, and in concert with symphony orchestras nationwide. Tickets and further

Heritage Day

Heritage Day Festival Date for your 2025 Diary Fethard & Killusty Community Council have announced the date for this year’s summer Heritage Day Festival, which will take place on Sunday, August 24, 2025. Make sure to mark the date in your diary and tell your friends to do the same.

Tipperariana Book Fair on February 9

Fethard Historical Society hold their annual Tipperariana Book Fair on the second Sunday in February each year. This year’s event takes place on Sunday, February 9, 2025, at Fethard Ballroom, from 12 noon to 4.30pm.

The Book Fair was first held in 1996 and has now grown to be one of the largest, if not the largest, book fairs in Ireland. Dealers come from places as far away as Armagh City to West Cork, and from many places in between. It’s a great place to find a book that you may have been seeking for years - and if it is not available on the day you can be sure the dealers will find it for you. If you have valuable books at home you can also bring them along and get them valued without obligation. Further Info Tel: 086 3777348.

Parish Church Lotto Draw Results

There was no jackpot winner in the Parish Lotto on Thursday, January 23, 2025. The numbers drawn were 7, 17, 19, and 20. The winner of the weekly draw for €30 was Deirdre Kenny. Next week’s Jackpot for Thursday, January 30, 2025, will be €5,000.

GAA Sports Development Lotto

Fethard GAA Sports Christmas Lotto draw results for Tuesday, January 21, 2024, are as follows: the numbers drawn were: 3, 4, 8 and 20. We had no Jackpot winner and three Match 3 winners who received €50 each: Jennifer Fogarty, Nicky Nicky, and Celina Sheehan. One lucky dip winner received €100: Kevin Moore. The next draw takes place on Tuesday, January 28, 2025, when the jackpot is €30,000.

News from the Community

Cappawhite

SYMPATHY

Sincere sympathy is extended to Dick and Tony Quirke, Ayle on the death of their sister Marie Quirke, Fairbairn, The Old Mill, Ratoath, Co. Meath.

Beloved wife and best friend of Alan, beloved mother of Dearbhla and Tiernan.

Sympathy also to sisters-inlaw Sue, Jane, Mary Ita, Jennifer and Amanda, nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.

JOE DOLAN CONCERT

On Saturday night, 26th April, 2025, there will be a concert with the Dolan family, ‘Remembering Joe. The concert will take place in the Community Centre, Cappawhite. Tickets

from Denise 087 7939527, Patricia 087 9829111 or any community council member.

BINGO

Bingo continues every Friday night in the Community Centre. Great prizes. All are welcome.

ACTIVE RETIREMENT

The Active Retirement Group would like to wish everyone a very happy and healthy 2025. We will be back again with our monthly Cuartaíocht. A great opportunity to meet up with friends, for a catch up while enjoying a cup of tea and something nice.

This year the membership is €15, which is sent to Head Office for membership of A.R.A.

Golden/Kilfeacle

FUNDRAISER FOR KEITH

There is now less than a week to go to the start of our Fundraiser for Keith. He is still undergoing intensive treatment in Cork University Hospital and there is still a long road ahead for him and his family. Absolutely 100% of all funds raised will go to Keith and his family at this challenging time.

Please make every effort to contribute any metal, piping, brass, stainless steel, old car/ van/trucks, electric motors, farm scrap, old machinery, bikes etc., knowing that it is all for a good cause.

All the acceptable and non acceptable items are listed on the posters/flyers.

Any further information needed can be had by contacting Brian Leamy 087 7975044 OVER 60s GET-TOGETHER Our over 60s get together

will take place this Friday 31st January at 10.30am in the GAA Complex, Golden All over 60s in the parish and surrounding communities are very welcome to attend GOLDEN/KILFEACLE GAA

CLUB LOTTO

The GAA club lotto jackpot now stands at a staggering €20,900

Tickets at just €2 are available locally and online at www.locallotto.ie

Log in to your account and support the fundraising efforts of your local club or society. www.locallotto.ie

Your support for the local GAA club lotto every week is massively appreciated BINGO

The GAA club’s bingo continues every Thursday night at 8 o’clock in Golden Kilfeacle GAA Complex. Check it out if you ha-

Mullinahone

LOCAL LOTTO JACKPOT

WINNER

Congratulations to Daniel Luttrell who is the latest local lotto jackpot winner of €5,500!

The lotto draw took place Monday, 20th January . The numbers drawn were 3, 14, 18, 19.

Next week’s lotto jackpot will start at €2,000. Tickets can be purchased in all local businesses and from committee members.

SPLIT THE POT

Last week’s split the pot drawn took place on Wednesday 22nd January with €145 going to Michael Walsh ( White Gates). For your chance to split the pot, en-

and includes us in Public Liability Insurance for all the activities we run. Membership to be given to any of the committee in the next few weeks. New members are always welcome.

CAPPATHIE GAA CLUB

Congratulations to the junior ‘B’ hurlers who had a brilliant win over Buttevant in a Munster Junior B semi-final in Killeedy, County Limerick on Saturday last. The final score in favour of our boys was 1-15 to 2-9.

They must wait to see who the play in the final in two weeks time, either Tulla (Clare) or Kildimo/Pallaskenry (Limerick).

Best of luck in the final.

ven’t already done so! PILATES

What a start there was to Pilates classes last week in our RejuvenateGolden Gym, now upstairs in the GAA Complex

Run by Lauren and Malbay Mindfulness, four fully booked classes took place and the classes were thoroughly enjoyed by all the ladies

There is however a waiting list with Lauren for another class, so if you are interested please contact here on 089 9486792

5K WALK FOR SCHOOL PLAYGROUND

Golden National School will hold a 5k walk /run on Saturday week, 8th February in aid of a new playground surface

Registration from 9.30 am in the school

Donations welcome

Further information can be obtained from Golden NS.

We extend the sympathy of our community to Dinny Collins and his daughters Denise and Marie on the death of Anne Collins, Ballycrinode and formerly Killenaive which occurred last weekend.

Our sympathy is also extended to Anne’s brothers Mick, Dick and Lar Hayes Killenaive.

May Anne rest in peace.

We extend the sympathy of our community to Donie, Caroline, Aisling, Coleen and Odhran Kennedy, Kilnafinch, Latteragh on the death of Donie’s mother Hannah.

Hannah was laid to rest on Saturday last.

Our sympathy is also extended to Hannah’s brothers and to her sister.

May her gentle soul rest in peace.

TEMPLEDERRY PARISH OFFICE.

The Parish Office will be open as usual on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 11 am to 1 pm.

Those wishing to may book Masses, Weddings etc., etc. Phone 0504/52988. 087/6564933 during the opening hours, 11 am to 1 pm, or they can email templederryparishoffice@gmail.com with their request.

TEMPLEDERRY/KILLEEN APOSTOLIC WORKERS

Templederry/Killeen Apostolic Workers will hold a coffee morning in the Kenyon Centre, Templederry on Friday morning, 7th February from 10 am to 1 pm

Donations of buns and cakes would be much appreciated.

TEMPLEDERRY NATIONAL SCHOOL

Pre enrolment for Templederry National School for the school year 2025/2026 is now open. This can be completed through the school website https://templederryns.ie/enrolment.

LATTERAGH COMMUNITY HALL

Latteragh Community Hall

is holding its Annual Flag Day in Nenagh on this Friday, 31st January.

If anyone is available to help with the collection please contact John on 087/2210967 or Therese on 087/2719291. Any support would be much appreciated by the organisers.

TEMPLEDERRY GAA LOTTO

Last week’s draw was held in Michael Hogan’s, Templederry and there was no winner of the Jackpot.

This week’s draw will be held in Kennedy’s, Killeen and the jackpot will be €3,600 ALL IRELAND FINAL OF SCOR

We say well done to the instrumental music group who represented our Templederry Kenyons GAA Club at the All-Ireland Final of Scór in Monaghan last weekend.

Even if they did not take the honours they certainly represented our club and the parish with pride. Well done to all concerned.

velopes can be purchased in all local businesses for just €2.

COUNTY REPRESENTATIVES 2025

Congratulations to Mikey O’Shea who has selected for the Tipperary Senior Football panel 2025. The footballers started their campaign with a draw in Carlow on Saturday night last. Congratulations also to Ned O’Meara and Liam Hogan who both made the Tipperary Minor football panel for 2025. Best wishes to Mikey, Ned and Liam for the season ahead.

DEVELOPMENT BINGO

CJ Kickhams GAA Club will

hold their monthly development bingo on Thursday 6th February at 8pm in CJ Kickhams gaa hall. Total prize money on the night is €2,300.

DOWN YOUR WAY

Eamon O’ Dwyer of Tipp FM will record his popular show ‘Down your way’ in Mullinahone Community Centre on Thursday 30th January at 7.30pm. Representatives from all organisations in the parish are invited to attend, to showcase what Mullinahone as a community has to offer. Anyone who would like to attend is most welcome.

Congratulations to Kilsheelan Kilcash club players Tadhg McGuire, Ben Roche, Mikey McGuire, Colin Roche, Conor Freaney and Michael Bates who helped Clonmel High School to a two-point victory over Abbey CBS, Tipperary in Fethard on Wednesday last in the semi-final of Corn Mhic Choilm.

KILSHEELAN UNITED FC

Tipperary Youths Cup Round

1: Two Mile Borris v FC Kilsheelan United.

The result in this one didn’t go our way but there will be days like that.

The Tipperary Cup Round

1 fixtures were cancelled due adverse weather conditions for both Kilsheelan United and Kilsheelan United ‘B’

Congratulations to Ben Lyons our second winner of 2025 in the 50/50 draw. Ben nettedhimself €347.

Our next weekend draw will be Friday, 7th February.

Thanks for your continued support.

KILCASH COMMUNITY CENTRE PRESENTS A NEW SHORT FILM - ‘BRIDGET Fionn MacChumaill Players

Present ‘Bridget,’ a new short film written by Anne Williamson and Brian Clancy.

The film will be show in Kilcash Community Centre (E91HY60) on Friday, 7th February at 7.30 pm. Tickets €10 + booking fee.

Bridget Cleary was burned to death in 1895 by her husband who claimed she was a changeling. Many stories have

been written and filmed about the case that rocked the world over 100 years ago causing uproar in the small rural village of Cloneen in south Tipperary. The story became known as the last witch burning in Western Europe.

This short film was made in the hope that the secrecy and shame of the event can now, once and for all, be banished and Bridget’s name and grave can be finally marked with respect as unfortunately she was buried without mourners.

The film lasts for about 40 minutes and members of the cast and the director will be available for questions and a short talk afterwards. Teas and coffees will be served afterwards.

Dont’t miss it!

Ena Ryan (B)

Declan Geoghegan

Marcella Collins

Templederry

Margaret Kennedy

Sinead Moore

SYMPATHY

KILSHEELAN/KILCASH GAA CLUB

The Ladies of Co Tipperary Golf & Country Club presented a cheque for €1,023.50 to Circle of Friends, €523.50 of which was collected from the Ladies’ Christmas Hamper, and €500 was donated by Jeff and Winnieanna Leo. Included in the Photo from left to right are Lady Captain Marie Graves. Caroline O’Brien and Kay Hogan (Circle of Friends), Mary O’Donnell, President Jenny Lawrence. Szilvia Suranyi and Mary Ryan (Circle of Friends).Many thanks to all who supported this important charity.

Prayer, they say, can move mountains - and at Mount Melleray it did!

‘The monks are heartbrokenMount Melleray is their home’

A final visit to

Mount monks depart after

The hope is that the Cistercians

ON SATURDAY last, 25th January, the Cistercian Order celebrated their final Mass at Mount Melleray, thus bringing to an end their almost 200-year existence in the Knockmealdown mountains of west Waterford. The monks have now departed to join their fellow Cistercians at Mount St Joseph Abbey in Roscrea.

Together with other Trappists from Mellifont Abbey in Co. Louth, they have formed a new 26-strong community - including three novices - to be known as the Abbey of Our Lady of Silence. They will continue their monastic life at the north Tipperary abbey until a further decision is made regarding their future permanent home.

Since the sad news of Mount Melleray’s impending closure filtered through last November there has been a constant daily stream of traffic to and from the iconic yet isolated location, chosen by the monks in the early 1830s after a brief initial stay at Rathmore, Co. Kerry.

The monks originally came to Ireland from Melleray in Brittany after a change of government in France forced their expulsion. The first abbot of the newly-formed Mount Melleray was local man, Fr Vincent Ryan, previously Prior of a Cistercian abbey in pre Penal Times in England.

From 1832 the community at Mount Melleray grew from 64 to 105 by 1848. However, the hardships of that donated tract of barren land, just north of Cappoquin, resulted in a rather

high death rate of men in the first twenty years of their tenure in Ireland.

PRAYER CAN MOVE

MOUNTAINS - AND IT DID

Prayer, as they say, can move mountains, and it certainly seemed like that was the case for the impoverished new residents trying to eke out an existence on the side of a desolate mountain.

Bonds that stayed right to the end with the local communities of west Waterford and south Tipperary were developed very soon after their arrival. In the summer of 1832 the parishioners of Modeligo gave a day’s labour, clearing the ground and erecting fences. They were quickly followed by further groups from Cappoquin, Lismore, Tallow, Newcastle, Knockanore, Aglish, Clashmore

and Ballynoe. An amazing 10,000 volunteer workers in all did their utmost to assist the monks as they settled in. True to their beliefs, the Melleray monks have always tried to live by the work of their own hands, and on arrival began to prepare the ground for cultivation with their own hard manual labour. Subsequently they would develop a thriving farm which they ran successfully for over 120 years until the 1980s.

When the construction of their first building commenced in 1833, three members of the community, who were qualified masons, were employed. Labour, where at all possible, was carried out by the monks, and indeed, all the nails used in that maiden construction were made by a brother who was qualified in the trade of nail

Mount Melleray as almost 200 years

Cistercians will one day return ‘home’

making. It was the way of their chosen life to live thus and they continued in that frugal vein right up to their departure.

Ever progressive, a very simple school was also established in the early years for the education of local children, before a one-storey building was established in 1845. This grew into a secondary level boarding school that continued until 1974. The boarding houses were then taken on lease by the Catholic Boy Scouts of Ireland in 1979 and many thousands of young boys and girls have benefitted from that development to this day.

SPECIAL SPIRITUAL HAVEN

Since the Cistercians’ arrival at Mount Melleray, the location has been a special spiritual haven for the people of the Diocese of Waterford & Lismore, and far far beyond. Forever grateful

and indebted to the generosity of the public for their existence, the Melleray priests and monks always reciprocated by living the Word of God, being called to prayer seven times a day, and working hard at all times.

As busy as they were in the service of God, they made themselves available when humanly possible to assist others. Their outreach to those troubled with suffering and carrying heavy burdens of all kinds, physical, mental, emotional and spiritual, never relented right to the very end. From the four corners of Ireland and beyond, pilgrims came in search of rest and redemption, and they were always made welcome.

It was nostalgically rewarding on Thursday last for me to pay one final visit then and to reflect on the sadness of the impending development. How-

ever, with falling vocations and the number of monks down to single figures, there was no alternative left for the Melleray Cistercians but to take this course of action, heartbreaking as it is for them. It is a phenomenon coming more to bear on Irish life each passing year with vocations to religious life on the wane - in the late 1980s there were still 74 Cistercians at Melleray, such is the scale of the accelerating decline of an ageing congregation.

According to a source at the abbey, the hope is that the Cistercians will come back again as all the monks want to return. More immediately, among locals accustomed to their daily fix of bells, there is hope that the Angelus will continue to peel twice a day from the abbey.

“They are heartbroken. They don’t want to go but the hope is - and it is a strong hope - that they will come back. This is the monks’ home and they love it.”

WHAT NOW FOR MOUNT MELLERAY

For now at least, fears have been allayed that the impressive church and other numerous buildings won’t fall into decay and become derelict. The property will continue to be owned by the Cistercian Order and cannot be acquired for anything without their consent. Some staff will continue as employees to look after the grounds, and refurbishments continue to be carried out on some buildings, in the eternal hope of a return of the monks in some capacity some day in the future.

News from the Community

Ballingarry

BALLINGARRY

COMMUNITY CAFÉ:

Because of the inclement weather due to Storm Éowyn, we were forced to close on Friday of last week in the interests of public and safety. But we were back to business as usual on Saturday.

BALLINGARRY G.A.A. & CAMOGIE CLUB

GAA Lotto No’s: 09-22-25-27. No Winner. €40 each to: Liam Carroll, Mullinahone; Joe O’Sullivan, Ballybeg; Ann Ives, Upper Ballingarry; Gavin Fitzgerald, Curraheenduff; Thomas Shelly, Castlequarter. Next Draw: Tuesday 28th Jan. 2025 for €19,300. You can buy lotto tickets online at: ballingarrygaa.clubzap.com.

The local community was very proud last week when it was announced that a member of Ballingarry GAA club, Dylan Walsh, was picked to start as no. 15 at corner forward for the Tipperary senior hurling team for last Sunday’s first round match against Galway in Salthill. Dylan accepted the challenge

with open arms and contributed 1-3 in a game which was won by Tipp after a hard-fought battle.

We wish Dylan, manager Liam Cahill (another Ballingarry man), the backroom team and the whole Tipperary squad every success for 2025 in the League and Championship.

‘Onwards and upwards.’

WIN A HOUSE IN TIPPERARY IN ASSOCIATION WITH TIPPERARY GAA.

Ballingarry GAA Club is selling tickets for this draw. Tickets are €100 and if you buy a physical ticket through the club, €30 goes back to the club for development!

If you are interested in buying a ticket, please let Áine (086 089 2032) or Pat (086 326 3231) know. Main draw for the house takes place on St Patrick’s weekend 2025. All details can be found online at https://tipperary.gaa.ie/tipperary-gaa-launches-historic.../.

CHURCH OF THE ASSUMPTION, BALLINGARRY Mass Times: 9.30am Monday

to Friday; 7 pm Saturday evening and 10 am Sunday morning.

Catholic Radio programme

“Radio Maria” available on TV channel Saorview 210. Parish Radio: 107.5 FM. ANNIVERSARIES

Saturday, 25th January: Rita Jenkins, Earlshill; Tom Fitzgerald, Earlshill; Paddy Ivors, St. Mary’s Road, Ballingarry; Sr. Mary de Paul Maher, Gragaugh / Convent of Mercy, Brentwood; Maizie, Dick and Niall Dunne, The Commons; Anna Fitzgerald, Ballinastick M.M; Mary O’Shea, Grawn M.M.

Sunday, 26th January: Tim Collins, Harleypark; Jim O’Meara, Newpark., The Commons.

BALLINGARRY ALBION FC

Last Sunday’s match vs Mullinahone FC was postponed due to bad weather and waterlogged pitch. Next Fixture: Sunday February 2nd - St.Nicholas vs Ballingarry Albion away in St.Nicholas in the Paddy Purtill Cup, Round 1.

Eire Og Annacarty/Donohill GAA Club

EIRE OG ANNACARTY GAA

LOTTO RESULTS:

Lotto results for 21st January 2025. Jackpot: €11,400.

Numbers drawn were 4, 27, 30, 31.

There were no winners. 2nd chance: €500.

Numbers drawn were 7, 14, 16, 18.

There were no winners. 3rd chance: €250.

Numbers drawn were 01, 05, 11, 26.

There were no winners. Lucky Dip Winners:

Gemma & Rachel c/o Mgt Kennedy- €50. Breda Kingston, Shanaknock

DUNDRUM ATHLETICS CLUB

RAHAN WOODS 9K

The Rahan Woods 9km was held on Sunday, 26th September in Mallow, Co Cork on a wet cold day. It is an IMRA and had 300m of climbing. We had three athletes competing. First home for the club was 2nd Barry Hartnett 36:12 and was 1st Over 40. Next, was 16th Jim Hally 44:12 and was 1st Over 55 and 48th Michael Moore 50:24 and was 1st Over 60. Well done lads!

LEFT: Stephen Stokes (Jim Hawkins) with some of the cast of Treasure

(See Martin Quinn’s full-page review elsewhere in this edition).

Jimmy Maher

- €30. Marie Crosse, Donohill - €30. Edward Cleary c/o Heffernans- €30. Ena Gleeson, Tipperary Town - €30.

Sellers’ Prize: 1 x €30 Jaclyn Hennessy.

Dundrum AC’s Barry Hartnett who was 2nd overall and 1st O40 at the Rahan Woods 9km in Mallow, Co Cork.

Pat Ryan (Dame Henrietta Hawkins) and Abbie O’Dwyer (Squire Trelawney) in Treasure Island from Tipperary Pantomime Society.

The Chief Ellie Peters (Billawanga Wu) with some of the natives of Treasure Island.

Island.

News from the Community

Moycarkey, Littleton and TwoMile-Borris

Gerry Bowe

FR. SEAN CARROLL’S REQUIEM MASS.

The remains of Fr. Sean Carroll’s will be received into the Sacred Heart Church, Pembroke Road, Ruislip, London on this Wednesday evening, 29th Januaryat 4.30pm, with Requiem Mass with Bishop James Curry at 7 pm.

Funeral Mass on Thursday, 30th January at 12 noon with Cardinal Vincent Nichols presiding.

Fr. Joe Ryan Associate Pastor of Westminster Dioceses, a native of Coldfields, Two-MileBorris, Thurles will deliver the homily.

Service at 2.30pm at Breakspear Crematorium. Mass on Wednesday and Thursday will be livestreamed from the Sacred Heart Church on www.youtube,com/@ SacretHeartRuislipChurch.

MONTH’S MIND MASS.

The Month’s Mind Mass for Helen O’Brien, Pinewood,

Noard, Two-Mile-Borris will take place on this Sunday, 2nd February at 10.30am in St.James Church, Two-Mile-Borris. RECENT DEATHS. Hannah (Han) Costello (nee Duggan), Bouladuff, Thurles. Pat O’Brien, Cummermore, Kilcommon.

Margaret Peggy Fallon (nee Toomey), Grove Street, Roscrea. FEASTDAYS.

Saturday, 1st February - St. Brigid. Patron of poetry, healing and smithscraft.

Sunday, 2nd February - The Presentation of the Lord (Candlemas Day).

Candles will be Blessed on this day for all services in the Church and in the homes throughout the year. Candles or donations in lieu can be handed into the Church prior to this day.

Monday, 3rd February - St. Blaise, Protector of throats.

Tuesday, 4th February - St. John De Britto.

ARDFINNAN INDEPENDENT WALKWALK AND CYCLE BRIDGE - DEADLINE DAY IS THIS FRIDAY, 31st JANUARY

Tipperary County Council Public Consultation in Ardfinnan Community Centre on 19th December last was a huge success with 456 people in total giving valuable feedback that day.

Ardfinnan Community Council have to make every effort possible to get as many submissions in support of the Independent Walkway and Cycle Bridge logged before the deadline of this coming Friday, 31st. Forms are available in local shops and a return box is in the Post Office. If you need assistance or advice with Feedback Form filling ring Margaret on 0872026385.

A Hawthorn tree in full bloom in Littleton in the Summer of 2024. The residents of St Kevin’s Park in Littleton are grateful for all the work carried out locally by the very dedicated Community Employment Scheme throughout 2024. The large lawns were cut on a weekly basis, weeds were controlled and trees planted and pruned. It made the area look so much better for everyone to enjoy and be proud of. For all that volume of work, the residents are indeed thankful. They join in wishing all the Community Employment Scheme workers a fruitful year ahead and look forward for the Mayflowers beautiful blooming once again in 2025

Moyne/Templetuohy

CONDOLENCES

Sincere condolences to the family, relatives, friends, and neighbours of Paddy Maher, Boulabeha and Stasia Maher (née Cormack), Killea and formerly of Ballyerk. R.I.P.

TEMPLEREE GRAVEYARD

A special meeting of all interested in Templeree Graveyard will be held in Castleiney Hall this Wednesday night (29th) at 7.30 pm. It is hoped that a representative of each family buried in the graveyard will attend.

MOYNE SOCIAL DANCING

The next social dance will take place on Saturday, February 8th in Moyne Community Centre (E41 EE39). Music by Glen Flynn. Dancing from 9pm to 12 midnight. Refreshments served. All welcome.

MOYNE VARIETY GROUP

Will stage “It’s the Real McCoy” by Tommy Marren in Moyne Community Centre at 8pm from February 13th to 16th. Tickets €15 available at the door. All support appreciated.

TEMPLETUOHY COURSING

LOTTO

This week’s jackpot is €17,200. Lucky dip winners of €25 last week were Eamonn Kelly, Tem-

Sean Treacy Pipe Band celebrates 90 years

This year the Moycarkey Borris Sean Treacy Pipe Band celebrated 90 years of dedicated service, not only to the local community where it has its Community Hall at New Street, Littleton but also to the wider community where it has played at family, parish, county, national and international events.

The current members continue to build on the inspiration of their founding members and that of Sean Treacy, as they move forward in the hope of their Centenary celebrations.

As has been the custom for many years the Band played a mix of music and carols at the end of the Christmas Eve Masses.

This year as well as playing in St James’ Church, Two-Mile-Borris, St Peter in Chains, Moycarkey, Our Lady and St.Kevin’s, Littleton they also brought good cheer to St. Mary’s Church of Ireland in Littleton.

A native of the parish who was on holiday from Australia at the time was more than thrilled when unexpectedly he heard the “roaring of the pipes and the rhythm of the drums” as the band entered Moycarkey Church. He told one of the musicians that he would treasure for ever this ‘magical moment’ and carry it in his heart as he returned to Australia.

Many others recorded the joyful and uplifting music on their iPhones to share with family and friends at home and abroad .The children present were delighted with the Carol of the Drums also known as the Little Drummer Boy. It tells the story of the poor young boy called by the Wise Men to bring a gift to the baby Jesus. “Without a gift to bring, I played my best for him-pah rum pum pum on my drum”.

Over the last 90 years the Moycarkey Borris Sean Treacy Pipe Band has brought their gift of music and uplifted peoples spirits everywhere they played.

John Moloughney outlined the Sean Treacy Pipe Band’s history and made a special appeal for new members. New members young and old are invited to come along to their weekly Monday evenings training sessions in the Band Hall at 7:30 pm

All are welcome to drop in and enjoy the music.

As they move forward towards their Centenary celebrations we thank them for their musical ministry to millions of people worldwide and wish them every blessing in the future.

pletuohy, Simon O’Dwyer, Templetuohy, Jim Healy, Castleiney, Aaron Ryan, Castleiney.

MOYNE ATHLETIC CLUB

Due to the recent severe weather our AGM was once again postponed and will now take place this Friday night, January 31st at 8.15pm in the clubhouse. All are welcome. Reminder that all attending training and competition must be registered with the club. Details are on our website. New members are always welcome. Best of luck to all our U9 to U20 athletes who will be competing in the County Indoor Track & Field Championships in Nenagh on Sunday next, February 2nd and to our Junior, Senior & Master athletes competing in the Munster Indoor Track & Field Championships in Nenagh on Monday next, February 3rd. Winner of this week’s Split the Bucket for €157 was Aoife Campion. Thanks to all who continue to support this fundraiser for the club.

GAA, CAMOGIE, LGFA

The lotto jackpot will be €6,900 this week. The lucky dip winners last week were Jim Quinlan, Theo Lloyd, Maria

Kelly, Mary Ellis, Teresa Lawlor, and Breda Kent.

The adjourned AGM of the senior club will take place in Templetuohy Community Centre this Friday night 31st January at 8pm.

The LGFA are organising a Dinner Dance on February 15th in the Templemore Arms. Tickets are prices at €50 and are available from any committee member. Music by Outta Diesel and DJ Colm. Everyone is welcome to come and celebrate their success in 2024. As part of Ireland Lights Up the club field in Templetuohy will be lit each Tuesday and Friday night from 7pm to 8pm. Membership will be due for all clubs in the coming weeks. Please keep an eye on ClubZap where you can pay through the app.

MOYNE BRIDGE

Winners on January 14th: 1st Biddy Shanahan and Brendan Kennedy, 2nd John Joe Butler and Michael (G) Ryan, 3rd Ann Everard and Betty Maher. Deepest sympathy to esteemed member Margaret Brolan on the recent death of her brotherin-law, Tommy Brolan. May his soul enjoy eternal rest.

The AGM of Borrisoleigh Active Social Club takes place on Wednesday, 5th February at 7pm in the Community Centre Borrisoleigh. Nominations for any of the officers roles can be registered with Dolly Secretary 087 1932196 or before Wednesday, 29th January. Membership for the coming year is €20 which will need to be paid on or before Wednesday, 5th February.

SYMPATHIES. Deepest sympathies are extended to Anne O’Connor and family Scart, Clogheen on the death of Maureen O’Leary (nee O’Sullivan) Turners Cross, Cork, sister of Anne O’Connor. Rest in peace. Maureen was laid to rest following requiem mass in Christ King Church, Turners Cross, in St John’s Cemetery, Ballinrea.

Clogheen

PJ English

News from the Community

Gortnahoe/Glengooel Richard

EUCHARISTIC ADORATION

Glengoole Wednesday 10am to 2pm, Gortnahoe Thursday 10am to 1pm.

The rosary is recited before Mass in Glengoole every Saturday evening.

SACRAMENTAL DATES

The dates have been announced for the following sacraments in the parish.

Confirmation will take place on Friday, 28th February at 11am.

First Holy Communion will be held on Saturday, 17th May at 11am.

CEREMONY OF LIGHT FOR PARISH CONFIRMATION

The sacrament of Confirmation will be conferred on the children of 5th and 6th class of the 3 parish schools (Gortnahoe, Ballysloe and Glengoole) by Archbishop Kieran O’Reilly on Friday, February 28th in Gortnahoe Church at 11 am.

A Ceremony of Light, in preparation for the sacrament, will be held for the children on Wednesday, February 5th in Glengoole Church at 7pm.

All families are asked to take note of both events, including venues, dates and times.

MOYCARKEY BORRIS

PARISH CEREMONY

Moycarkey/Borris Parish re holding a ceremony in honour of St Bridget at Liathmore Church, Middlepiece, Two-Mile Borris this Sunday, 2nd February at 3 pm and all are welcome to attend.

Parking will be on the old main road close to the handball alley and anyone unable for the walk to the church will be facilitated.

PILGRIMAGES MEDJUGORJE

Departing from Shannon on 21st May and 27th August for one week. €50 euro early booking discount for bookings made before this Friday, 31st January. Contact John O’Brien, Group

Sologhead

ACE OF HEARTS DRAW

The €2,700 Jackpot on offer for Monday night, January 20, was not won while the following took the runners-up prizes, €50 Isaac and Lottie Barry c/o Joanie Ryan, (first name drawn), four €25 spot prize winners Kathleen Moroney and Jenna Gammel c/o Hilda Franklin, Michael Buckley Raheen and Olive Nash Ardlamon.

The sellers prize went to Barry Ryan (C) with the jackpot increasing to €2800 for last Monday night, January 27. Well done to all our winners and a big thank you to everyone

Leader, on 086 8586304 for further details.

400 CLUB DRAW

The results for January, 1st prize €200, Tom Fogarty, Glengoole North, 2nd prize, Michael Lanigan, Poynestown. Other prize winners were Sophie Norton, Longfordpass, Brendan & Maeve Cantwell, Graigue, James & Bridget Brennan, Glengoole, Noreen Dooley, St Anne’s Terrace, Tim & Toni Corbett, Mellison, Trish Dwyer, Longfordpass, Adrienne Brolan, Graigueheisha and Alice Lahart, Crossogues. Promoters prize winner was Carmel Troy.

GORTNAHOE BINGO

A special St Bridget’s Day bingo will be held this Saturday evening, 1st February at 4 pm with doors opening from 3 pm. Over €4,000 in prize money on offer including a special €500 game and a special game for €800. There will be hampers and lots of spot prizes on the day.

TUESDAY BRIDGE

Bridge is being played each Tuesday night in Gortnahoe Hall at 7.30pm. If you would like to join or find out more information please contact this number 089 434910

SPLIT THE POT

Congratulations to Ann Pollard, Mullinahone who won €187 in the Split the Pot draw last Sunday. Envelopes are available in Cahill’s Gortnahoe, Hogans Grange and at the usual outlets, you can also Revolut to 0876777220.

For the month of February Split the Pot will be in support of Grange Badminton Club. The draw takes place each Sunday at 12pm in Gortnahoe Hall.

MARY FITZPATRICK RIP

The death has occurred of Mary Fitzpatrick (née O’Meara), Newhall, Grange, Barna, peacefully at University Hospital Clonmel in the presence of her loving family.

Predeceased by her daughter Bridie, her parents Theresa and Christopher, brothers John, Michael, and Jim, sisters Ann and Dolores. Sadly missed and lovingly remembered by her husband Seán, sons Seán, Kevin, Chris, Tom and Larry, daughters Sandra, Teresa and Liz, grandchildren, great grandchildren, sons-in-law, daughters-in-law, brothers, sisters, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, extended family, neighbours and a wide circle of friends.

Mary reposed at her residence last Monday evening. Removal took place on Tuesday to the Church of the Sacred Heart, Gortnahoe arriving for Requiem Mass.

Interment took place afterwards in the Good Shepherd Cemetery. May she rest in peace.

MARY O’NEILL RIP

The death has occurred of Mary O’Neill, formerly Gurteen, Coalbrook. She passed away peacefully at St. Luke’s Hospital, Kilkenny surrounded by her loving family.

Mary is predeceased by her husband Richard, son Michael, daughter Kathleen and her great grandchild Niamh. Sadly missed by her loving daughter Anne, son Seamus, grandchildren Anthony, Ronald, Yvonne, Nichola, Leighanne and Lisa, Joseph, Hayley, Luke, Matthew,Trevor and David, great grandchildren Dante, Noah, Nathan, Taylor Rose, Aoibhinn, Róisín, Donnacha, Oísín, Aibhe, Fionn, Shane, Sarah, Abbie, Darcy and Jackson, extended family and friends.

Mary reposed at O’Connell’s Funeral Home, Killenaule last Monday evening. Removal took place on Tuesday to Ss Patrick & Oliver Church, Glengoole for Funeral Mass, followed by burial in adjoining Cemetery. May she rest in peace.

Burncourt

FEBRUARY IN BURNCOURT

February 1 – There will be plenty of activity in Burncourt village on Saturday, St. Brigid’s Morning as the walkers under the guidance of Rhododendron Walking Festival and Súil Eile will head off on the St. Brigid’s Walk.

February 2 - Annual Hospice Fundraiser Card Game.

The Annual Skeheenarinky Card Game as part of the locality’s Annual Hospice Fundraiser in aid of South Tipperary Hospice will take place in Butlers Bar, Burncourt on next Sunday February 2 at 3pm.

This in conjunction with the New Years Day Walk and the Auction Night provide vital funds yearly for South Tipperary Hospice, The Hospice Suite at St. Theresa’s Hospital and Vee Valley Day Care Centre Clogheen. Please support Seánie and his team in their tremendous work to add to money already raised which will benefit those in ill health and vulnerable in the local communities and beyond.

February 6 - Time to Read, Time to Chat.

The date for the first meeting of a Library Space (Name to be Decided) in Burncourt Community Hall is Thursday, 6th February from 10am to 12.

The idea is to provide a regular time and area where you

come and bring, borrow or not/ stay,listen to a story being read and more importantly bring suggestions as to how this space and time could be used- recipe swopping, writing, crafts board games.

This is the opportunity for you to have a say as to what opportunies this time and space can provide.Of course, there will be a cup of tea/coffee. If you would like to be involved with this venture contact 0876967661.

FEBRUARY 14 - VALENTINE CELEBRATION

No need to go beyond Burncourt to celebrate Valentine’s Day if you wish to do so. Glengarra Flower and Garden Club will host “Come Dine and Dance” in Burncourt Community Hall as a fundraiser towards the ongoing upkeep of the AED Unit in the village

Dining with a two-course meal in the Community Hall will be in the hands of Galty Valley Catering followed by Dancing to Pat Daly. Cost -€30, BYO. Booking is essential as places are limited- contact 0872887615.

DATES FOR MARCH

March 2 - The Big Breakfast March 15 -Burncourt Drama Production.

ONGOING IMPROVEMENTS AT BURNCOURT COMMUNITY HALL

Last week Solar Panels were

installed at Burncourt Community Hall.This should have a major impact on electricity costs and also advance our environmental efforts by lessening carbon emissions.

Next up is the installation of an outdoor Water Station. Both projects are being facilitated by grant aid from the Climate Action Programme being administered by Tipperary County Council.

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEKBRIGID

Mná na hÉireann have a Public Holiday in honour of Brigid the Wonder woman from Kildare as yet a more sober affair than that of the paddywhackery associated with her male counterpart Patrick.

Brigid - the patron saint of babies, blacksmiths, boatmen, cattle farmers, children of unmarried mothers, children of abused mothers and the mothers themselves, dairymaids, midwives, nuns, poets, scholars, Leinster and Ireland. Her Brat (Cloak) can cure sore throats, earaches and headaches. Her birthday is associated with Imbolg, bringing us from the dark season of Winter into Spring.

“She laid her cloak out on the ground/And watched it grow and grow/In wells and streams and fields of green/St. Brigid’s blessings flow”.

for their weekly support.

ST NICHOLAS FC The winner in their 50/50 fundraiser for Wednesday night, January 22, was Billy Leahy from Doon who collected €232 and the Christmas Draw entry for €1000 went to Sean Allis from Hollyford. Last Sunday’s Tipperary Cup game against St. Michaels B was cancelled because of the poor weather and has now been refixed for Sunday, February 9.

This Sunday, February 2, they are scheduled to play Ballingarry in a Paddy Purtill Cup first round tie with a kick off time of

2.15pm in Bohertrime.

STORM ÉOWYN

Thankfully there was no reported damage within the parish after Storm Éowyns passage through apart from some trees knocked on people’s property and a couple on roadways

SOLOGHEAD NOTES

To everyone with items for inclusion in the weekly notes for the ‘Tipp Echo’ which circulates throughout the county, or indeed for the continuation of the column going forward,. please have them with me at above email by 10pm on the Sunday night prior to publication,

BALLYLOOBY/ CASTLEGRACE GAA

Result: 21/01/25. No Jackpot winner. Next week’s prize €2,800. No match three. Lucky numbers this week: 2, 8, 10 & 27.

Four lucky dips: PJ English, Irene O’Dwyer, Mary Burke & Joanne O’Gorman

The club extend their thanks for your continued support. Tickets available at usual outlets & clubforce.com-Ballylooby/ Castlegrace Gaa

BRAINSTORMING SESSION

Ballylooby/Castlegrace GAA

Club in conjunction with the Tipperary County Board are holding a brainstorming session, on Thursday, 13th February at 8pm in Duhill Hall. The objective of this meeting is to create a plan to develop our Club in the coming years. We would really value your attendance and your suggestions and ideas on the night.

All are welcome.

BLESSED CARLOS ACUTIS

Will be canonised as St Carlo in the Vatican on April 25th

A new statue to the beatified teenager will be blessed by

Bishop Phonsie in Ardfinnan Church on this Wednesday Jan 29th at 7pm. A first-class Relic will be present & everyone is welcome to attend

RHODODENDRON

WALKING FESTIVAL

St. Bridget’s Day Walk, Slate House, The Galtees, on Saturday 1st February. See www.vee.ie for more details

BALLYLOOBY COMMUNITY

COUNCIL

Rambling House on this Friday 31st January at 8 pm. Music, song, story-telling, dance, so come along and enjoy. Refreshments and raffle on the night. Everyone very welcome.

CAHIR GARDA & DISTRICT

SENIOR CITIZENS

RE-SCHEDULED

On Friday January 31st at 5pm in Cahir House Hotel. For those who might wish to receive transport contact Cahir Garda Station 052:7445630 for further info.

DUHILL HALL

Usual classes in Duhill with Marie on Monday’s 9:45 and 11:15am

AGE STRONG CLASSES

Age Strong with Joanne Pur-

cell on Tuesdays at 6:45pm

YOGA CLASSES

Yoga Class with Noelette Ryan on Thursdays at 7pm

IRISH SPEAKING CLASSES

Irish Speaking Class every Friday at 7:30pm

SYMPATHY

Sympathy is extended the family relatives of Mrs Mary (Babs) MacNamara, Ardfinnan and formerly of Newcastle who passed away on 6th January. The death occurred of Alice Kane nee Meehan late of Mornington Co Meath & Drumlemon. We extend our sympathy to her husband, family, grandchildren her brother Tommy Meehan and sisters Elizabeth and Nora. Alice was laid to rest in Co Meath.

A mass of remembrance for the late Alice in Ballylooby Church on Sunday next, 2nd February at 10:30am.

Sympathy also to the family andrelatives of Mrs Kitty Ryan late of Kilcommon, Cahir.

Kitty’s funeral mass took place in St Mary’s Church Cahir followed by interment in adjoining cemetery on Saturday last, 25th January. R.I.P.

Ballylooby/Duhill

Kathleen Moloney

Tommy Fitzgerald

Breeda Fitzgerald

Dunne

News from the Community

Ballymacarbry

Dabbers in full flow last Friday evening at the Community Centre for Ballymacarbry Bingo! NEWS - BALLYMACARBRY COMMUNITY CENTRE

‘THE WEIR’ IS ALMOST HERE!!

There are still a very limited number of tickets available for this hugely anticipated play coming to the centre on Friday January 31st. The talented Brideview Drama Tallow who recently won 2nd place in the All-Ireland One Act Open Finals will perform this critically acclaimed play by Conor McPherson on what is sure to be a fantastic night of drama! Tickets are be €15 and can be sourced from Ballymacarbry Central School by calling 052 –6136349. People can also text/ Watsapp our community centre mobile on 086 0328467. Please text your name, address and how many tickets you would like to purchase and we get the tickets to you!

All proceeds from this event will be going to four local causes; Brideview Drama Group, Ballymacarbry Tidy Towns., Ballymacarbry Central School and Panda Playground c/o Ballymacarbry Community Centre. This promises to be a night not

to be missed, so get your tickets soon to avoid missing out!

BALLYMAC BINGO – THIS FRIDAY NIGHT

Despite the horrendous weather last Friday morning, the weather warning abated and we proceeded with our January bingo. We had another great crowd in the centre and we would like to thank all that attended on the night. Thanks again to our caller Thomas Crotty for another professional job! We go again in a months’ time, so keep an eye on these notes and our social media for the February date.

NEW SPINNING BIKES AT BALLYMACARBRY COMMUNITY CENTRE

Our new spinning bikes have got off to a flying start at the centre. Classes continue every Tuesday and Thursday from 7-8pm. Spaces are filling up quickly, but there are still some spots available. To reserve your place or for more information, please contact the community centre at 086 0328467.

COMMUNITY AED

DONATIONS

Ballymacarbry Community Centre is delighted to have

recently donated our newly serviced AED, along with an AED cabinet to Fourmilewater Church as well as an AED cabinet to the Nire Church and the servicing of its AED. Having these life-saving devices in such prominent community locations is essential for ensuring quick access in times of emergency.

In our community, we are fortunate to have 7 AEDs located at:

1. Ballymacarbry Community Centre

2. Nire Church

3. Fourmilewater Church

4. FMW/Nire/BLGFC Dressing Rooms

5. Pinewood Healthcare

6. Ballymacarbry Central School

7. Fourmilewater Health Centre

Hopefully we never have to use them but it is reassuring to know these devices are available in case we do.

Thank you to all who supported these efforts to ensure the safety and wellbeing of our community - “Is fearr an tsláinte ná na táinte.”

Pictured at the Parish Links party in the NICC recently was James English adding to the festive cheer of the day with a lovely song.

New Inn/Knockgraffon

NEW INN WOMEN’S GROUP

The New Inn Women’s Group is set to commemorate its 30th anniversary with a special Mass on Monday, 3rd February, at 7:30pm at New Inn Church. The community is warmly invited to participate in this significant event, which will be followed by refreshments at Barron’s Pub. Eamon O’Dwyer from “Down Your Way” will also be in attendance to engage with the ladies and discuss their remarkable history.

25 CARD KNOCKGRAFFON

Winners on Wednesday January 22 with 11 games were Tim Joe McGrath / Jim Meskell and in joint second place with 10 games each were Donal O’Dwyer / Cyril O’Dwyer, Tom Tobin / Sean Spillane and Eddie Grant / James Ryan. Table prizes to Joe Murphy / PJ Boland and Bernie Farrell / Kevin O’Connor.

Cards start at 8.30pm sharp and all are welcome. Tea and refreshment afterwards.

Knockgraffon card committee extend their sincerest sympathies to the family of the late John Oliver Looby who died recently. John Oliver was a stalwart of the cards here in Knockgraffon. John loved his game of cards. May he rest in peace.

NLN (NATIONAL LEARNING NETWORK)

Enrolling Now! Supportive Training courses including Options Rehabilitative Training, General learning with ICDL Core & ICDL Advanced, Employer based Training, Ancaire Autism Outreach Service. Contact Kitty Galvin Hennessy on clonmel@nln.ie /052 6181555

ROCKWELL ROVERS GAA

Rockwell Rovers GAA Club would like to extend their sincere sympathies to Club President Jimmy Looby and all the Looby family on the passing of his brother John-Oliver.

John-Oliver played for the club in the 60’s, he was a juvenile coach in the 70’s & 80’s and also Juvenile Secretary in the 80’s.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.

ROCKWELL ROVERS LOTTO

26th January 2025 - Numbers drawn- 3,6, 28,32 - No Winner(s) - lucky dips x4: Gillian Hayes, Ciara Parker, Andy & Julie Hennessy, Paddy Harty in with a chance to win €500 in January Draw.

Sellers: Rockwell Rovers x3 and Michael Purcell in draw for sellers €100 prize.

This week’s jackpot is €7,800. TIPPERARIANA BOOK FAIR

Annual Book Fair for Book Lovers and Collectors on Sunday, February 12 in the Fethard Ballroom from 12 noon to 4.30pm. Adm: €3, Cafe on premises. No ATM facility.

Books of all types and shapes, from valuable antiquarian to modern day “pulp fiction” paperbacks.

For more info contact Michael Mallon Tel :086 3777348, email: bookfair@fethard.com, www.tipperariana.com SYMPATHY

Sincere sympathy is extended to Catherine Kelly, Newtown, Elizabeth Ryan, Knockgraffon and Brendan Ryan, Woodenstown and all the Ryan family on the passing of their mother, the late Catherine Ryan (nee Nugent), Ballymacadam West and Kilcommon, Cahir.

SYMPATHY

Sincere sympathy is extended to Sean Looby, New Inn and all the Looby family on the passing of his dad John Oliver, Market Street, Cahir (formerly of Knocknaveigh, New Inn). John passed away peacefully after a long illness bravely borne, surrounded by his loving family in the care of the wonderful staff of St. Clare’s Cashel. Predeceased by his beloved wife Mary, his sister Cathy, and nephews Christy and John.

He will be very sadly missed by his loving family, sons Sean and Seamus, daughters Siobhan, Sheena and Marie, grandchildren Samantha, Eimear, Andrew, Diarmuid and Tadhg, daughter in law Patricia, sons in law Richard and Adrian, brothers Tommy, Christy and Jimmy, sisters Joan, Ellen, Mary and Monica, brothers in law, sisters in law, nieces, nephews, extended family, his many friends and especially his good friend Mick Ryan.

May he rest in peace.

SYMPATHY

Sincere sympathy is extended to the Downey family, Outrath on the passing of their mother Alice Downey (nee Sweeney). Alice passed peacefully at Tipperary University Hospital in her 85th year. Predeceased by her beloved husband Richard, her sister Ada and her brothers Joe and Bobby. Adored mother of Allie, Noreen, Mary, Caroline, Tricia, Richie, John, Bobby, Billy, Anne, Jella, Tina, Jacqui, Olivia, Jennifer and Paul. She will be sadly missed by her beloved grandchildren, great-grandchildren, sons in law, daughters in law, sister-in-law Noreen, extended family, neighbours and friends. May she rest in peace.

Catherine (Kitty) (formerly of Knockgraffon), passed away peacefully at her home in her 97th year. Predeceased by her husband Michael, infant son Patrick, grandson David and by her brothers and sisters. Deeply regretted by her sons Con, Michael, Brendan, Tom and Liam, daughters Noreen, Catherine and Elizabeth, sister Nora (Boston), son-in-law, daughters-in-law, grandchildren, great grandchildren, extended family, neighbours and friends. May she rest in peace.

Sandra English

Eamon Wall

News from the Community

Oola

Donna Quinlan

OOLA COMMUNITY ALERT

If you wish to join Oola Community Alert Please contact 087 6634547.

Application forms can be collected and returned to Aidan Kennedy, Paddy Ryan, Denis Ryan or Donna Quinlan. you may also request a form via email from oolacommunityalert@gmail.com.

OOLA COMMUNITY

CENTRE

Bingo Bingo every Tuesday Night at 8 pm sharp.

Cards Progressive 45 Drive Thursday Nights at 8pm sharp all welcome.

Results from January 16th 1st place Pat Ryan, Paul Ryan. 2nd place, John & Dympna Ryan Table Prizes Paddy O’Dwyer & Johnny Ryan

OOLA YOUTH CLUB

Junior Club 5pm - 6.30

Senior Club 6.45 - 8.15

If you have a young person who would like to join Oola youth club or if you are a parent and would like to volunteer as a leader please contact Donna at oolayouthclub@yahoo.com.

CLUB NEWS

Junior Club Resumed Last Saturday January 25th. The kids had a mini pizza treat night and enjoyed arts and crafts and a game of soccer.

Well done to our senior Members Michael, Dylan andRobbie who attended Future Leader Training in Thurles on Saturday with Youth work Ireland Tipperary.they were also presented with their First Aid Certificates from the previous week.

After the training session they returned to help out with the junior club.After club they assisted with taking down the Santas Grotto that was built for our Christmas fundraiser in December.

OOLA COMMUNITY

COUNCIL

The Community Council is a voluntary committee, it works away in the background and provides a link between the council and the community. In the coming weeks and months there will be a number of meetings leading up to an AGM. If you would like to get involved or attend any of these meetings please get in contact by Email to oolacommunitycouncil@gmail. com

Drangan/Cloneen

Nicholas Moroney

CLONEEN SQUASH CLUB

Squash season is open and welcoming all players. Whether just playing for fun, wishing to improve fitness or interested in playing a competitive sport. All levels of fitness are catered for with fun ladders/leagues to get folks playing.

Box league in progress to get players out playing and having fun.

This ensures members get to play against players of similar abilities.

Find out more at facebook. com/CloneenSquashClub.

Membership details are available on www.cloneenhall.com

‘Join the Squash Club

SCHOOL ENROLMENT

“St Patrick’s Junior N.S Drangan are now accepting applications for September 2025. Enrolment packs are available from Drangan Playschool and the school office.

Please email office@dranganns.ie or phone 052-9152278.

GAA LOTTO RESULTS

GAA Lotto results Tuesday January 14 Numbers Drawn were 2, 7, 8, 20. No jackpot winner. Four match 3 winners were: Margaret Clancy, Catherine Ryan, Niamh Fitzgerald and

Bansha & Kilmoyler

Michael Barry

GALTEE ROVERS ST. PECAUNS GAA CLCU

Best wishes to Robbie McGrath who has been included on the Tipperary senior football panel and also to Reuben Grace who has been included on the Tipperary minor football panel.

Also well done to Robbie McGrath and Bill Quirke who were the only Tipperary players included on the UCC panel for their Fresher 1 football championship match against UL last week.

GALTEE ROVERS ST. PECAUN’S LOTTO

There was no jackpot winner in last week’s Bansha Kilmoyler Sports Lotto draw. This week’s jackpot is €20,600. Last week’s €20 lucky dip winners were: Joseph O’Dwyer, Natalie Ryan, Jack, Ella & Amy Mullins and Kevin Barry. Seller’s prize €20: Noel Browne.

Tickets, €2 each or 3 for €5, are available locally and online via Clubforce and Galtee Rovers social media pages.

James Fitzgerald who won €25 each. Congrats.

Second chance lotto for €1,000, numbers drawn were 3, 4, 11 & 30. No winners. Next draw will be on Tuesday February 11 for jackpot of €13,600. Don’t miss out, play online or in your local shops, pubs, garages or hairdressers and it could be you.

We thank all those who supported us in 2024 and look forward to your continued support in 2025.

WIN A HOUSE WITH TIPPERARY CO. BOARD

Tipperary Co. Board are offering you the opportunity to win a House worth €350,000 in Cashel in a draw to be held in mid-March. Tickets @ €100 each can be purchased from St. Patricks GAA club with the club earning €30 commission on the sale.

Anyone who purchases a ticket before 28th January will also be included in a draw for a weekend for four at the Maldron Hotel in Cork City which includes Bed and Breakfast for two nights, an evening meal for the four guests and four tickets for the Tipperary-Cork match that weekend on 26th-27th April.

Be sure to get your ticket from any officer of St. Patricks GAA club by this Friday January 31st to be included.

GAA ADULT & JUVENILE

MEMBERSHIP FEES

Adult & Juvenile GAA Membership is now due and must be paid before 31st March. Players must have paid membership before they train or play matches. Senior club membership can be paid online through the clubforce website or to Treasurer Marcus O’Halloran. Fees for the 2024 season are as follows: Adult Player - €60 Student Player - €40 Non-Player - €30.

Membership fee for Juveniles players will remain at last year’s price of €35 and should be paid to Juvenile Club Treasurer Julie O’Halloran before training or matches commence. Juvenile registration night on Friday next January 31 in the club rooms at Anner Park Cloneen from 8.00 to 9.00. Parents are asked to come along and pay the membership fees for your juvenile boys.

Registration for both adult and juvenile players, members, coaches and selectors should also be completed on GAA Foireann website.

All coaches and anyone involved in both adult and juvenile teams must pay membership and also be registered on Foireann.

POP UP CAFE DATE

The Dormitory Pop Up Café. Holycross Abbey on Saturday 22nd February from 10am to 5pm. In aid of the Dillon Quirke Foundation (dedicated to raising awareness and funding for heart screening programmes for young athletes).

Join us for a day of delicious treats and warm beverages while supporting a great cause. Organised by the Holycross Jubilee Team and Holycross GAA Club.

PUBLIC INFORMATION MEETING TONIGHT

Public Information Meeting.

Building of a Biogas Plant at Killough Quarry near Gaile National School.

Join us on this Wednesday 29th January at 7.30 pm in Munitír na Tíre Hall, Littleton E41KP27 to discuss. All very welcome.

CABRAGH WETLANDS

Join us for the Festival of St Bridget on Monday next, 3rd

February from 7pm. Make St Bridget’s Crosses, reeds provided. Followed by the celebration of St Bridget. All are welcome.

TEXT ALERTS

Residents of Holycross / Ballycahill Parish, please support the local Text Alert scheme. Registration now open. Forms available from Holycross Parish Office and Garda Station. Holycross Garda Station 0504-43222.

2025 Victory Dinner Dance on Saturday, February 1 at The Rivercourt Hotel, Kilkenny. Tickets €35. Doors open 6pm. Medal presentation. 3-course meal at 7pm. Entertainment by The Waxies & DJ. A great night guaranteed! EMERALDS URLINGFORD & GRAINE LOTTO

January 20 prize fund was €5,600. Jackpot: €3,600.

Numbers drawn: 6, 9, 15 and 16, bonus number 8.

Two match three winners: Mary O’Leary x 2.

Five lucky dips of €20 each: Mary O’Leary, Sean Doherty, Helen Cahill, Pauline Marshall, Paula Scott.

Promoters prize: Bingo. Next draw takes place on Monday, January 27 in the Clubrooms. Results next week.

SCOIL AN CHROÍ RÓ NAOFA ENROLMENTS

Urlingford NS are now accepting enrolments for the 2025/2026 school year.

Enrolment Packs are available from school office between 8.30am and 3pm Monday to Friday or by calling 056 8831512 or by emailing urlingfordns2020@ gmail.com or by postal enquiry to Scoil an Chroí Ró Naofa Urlingford NS, Urlingford, Co Kilkenny E41A567.

Enrolment Forms are also available from Micks Pre School and Angelas Pre School in Urlingford.

Deadline for receipt of completed Enrolment/Registration forms is Sunday, May 30. Confirmation of Acceptance letters will be issued before April 25. New pupils joining school will receive an opportunity to visit our school on a date to be arranged in June.

HAPPY

VALLEY TRACTOR & TRUCK RUN

The organising committee of the New Year’s Eve Happy Val-

ley Tractor and Truck Run wish to thank everyone involved who helped make this fundraising event such a great success. Sincere thanks to Norton Engineering for providing their yard as a base without which this event would not be possible, to everyone who donated money, items for the auction and raffle prizes. A big thank you also to all the sponsors, stewards, road marshals, ticket sellers, those who helped out in so many ways and to everyone who took part on the day. €23,300 has been raised so far and all proceeds are being donated to Cois Nore Cancer Support Centre, Kilkenny. The final figure will be published at a later date.

MILL FAMILY RESOURCE CENTRE

Receptionist Vacancy: Mill FRC require a receptionist with IT skills, also eligible for CE Scheme.

Junior Cert Math Grinds: Math Grinds every Wednesday from 5-6pm, €10 per session. Places limited so please contact the Centre is interested.

Youth Club: Mill Youth Club back Wednesday night 5 - 6pm.

Cois Nore: Outreach Advice Clinic, at the Mill every Friday Morning from 10am to 12pm

Counselling Services:: Our low cost Counselling Services, includes One-to-One, Adult and Teens.

General Counselling: Bereavement, stress, anxiety and depression.

Other Counselling Services available: Drug, substance and gambling addictions.

Play therapy is now also available. Age 4+.

Please contact Sue for more information or to make an appointment.

Senior Alert: If you need to apply for a Personal Alarm, please contact Sue or Josephine.

Appeal for Clothes Donations::

Any clothes donations would be greatly appreciated in aid of our counselling/play therapy services. Donations can be dropped off during our opening hours. Please call before dropping off. For further information, please contact us here at the Centre on 056-8838466

COIS NORE OUTREACH CANCER SUPPORT GROUP Has returned to the Mill Family Resource Centre since January 10. Please call into The Mill Family Resource Centre, Main St, Urlingford from 10 am to 12 noon. Call in for cancer support for you or the family and find out how to avail of the free services available at the Cois Nore Centre in Kilkenny City. All are welcome.

SET DANCING

In Graine Hall every Tuesday at 8.30pm. Music by Danny Webster. Sets called by Paddy Norton. New members welcome, young and old.

URLINGFORD ARMS SPLIT THE POT

January 26 winner of Split the Pot is Leanne Gleeson (Loughmore) who received €618. Congrats on behalf of Urlingford National School Parents’ Association. Tickets €2 on sale in participating businesses in town. Thanks to everyone for their continued support.

Next week’s draw is for Urlingford NS.

GRAINE CARDS

Progressive 25 card game in Graine Hall every Wednesday night at 8pm sharp. All are welcome.

URLINGFORD NEWS

Anyone wishing to submit news items, club events, announcements etc can do so by emailing urlingfordnotes@gmail.com. If you have any photos you wish to include, please forward them to the email address.

Valerie Carey

EMERALDS CAMOGIE CLUB

the week in SPORT

CAHIR PARK

MENS

Annerville Awards

Cahir Park Golf Club’s

All-Ireland winning Pierce Purcell Shield Team of 2024 was honoured on Saturday night at the annual Annerville Awards in the Talbot Hotel, Clonmel.

On a wonderful evening of celebrations, the 60th presentation by Bulmers Ltd of the awards to the 2024 Tipperary Sport Stars, the Cahir Park Golfers who had brought a first Men’s All-Ireland title to the Club, were delighted to be the recipients of the Golf category.

Derek Nolan, on behalf of Bulmers Ltd, presented the award to Tom Hickey who was joint Manager of the Pierce Purcell Shield Team with John Morrissey, who unfortunately was unable to attend the event.

Cahir Park team secured victory over County Cavan Golf Club in the Final played at Gort G.C. in September 2024 on a wet and windy day, with the match going to a playoff and sudden death and the winning putt for par and victory was converted by Willie Morrissey from an excellent second shot by John

Mitchell.

The Team and Panel had gone through tough rounds against strong teams to reach the All-Ireland Final for the second year in a row.

In the previous year, 2023, the Cahir Park Pierce Purcell Shield Team were runners-up in the All-Ireland Final played at Knightsbrook Golf Club.

Congratulations to the Pierce Purcell Shield Panel and Managers from everyone in Cahir Park Golf Club and thank you for bringing pride and joy to the Club.

Results

12 Hole stableford results 20th to the 26th of January 2025

Cat 1 Paul Tuohy (1) 22pts

Cat 2 John Hughes (12) 28pts

Cat 3 John Farrell (18) 27pts

Cat 4 Eoin O’Gorman (23) 29pts LADIES

Results

12 hole stableford Mon 14th19th Jan 2025

1st Mary Kenrick (18) 29pts

2nd Susie Burke (9) 27pts

3rd Pauline Mulcahy (29) 26pts (CB)

4th Marie Davitt (38) 26 pts.

CARRICK

Competition Results for Week

Ending: 26th January, 2025

Ladies 9H Stableford - 22nd

January, 2025

Division 1 Rosaleen Foley 17

pts

Division 2 Joan Reade 16 pts

Division 3 Helena Faulkner

3 pts

Fixtures for week ending 2nd February, 2025

Monday to Sunday – 9H Stableford White Tees Re-entry

Wednesday - Ladies 9H Stableford

Saturday and Sunday – 15H Stableford White Tees Re-entry

Kevin McGuire.

CO. TIPPERARY

MEN’S GOLF:

The results of week 11; of the weekly 9-hole competition, in 1st place Don Kennedy with 22 pts, in 2nd place Philip Ryan with 21 pts. Best Gross Jack Ryan with 16 pts gross.

Two’s winners Paddy Dunne, Philip Connolly, & Brian Slattery each received €20 into their shop account.

The Spring League will commence on the 1st week in February, hopefully the weather will improve for golf.

LADIES GOLF:

Due to the bad weather our

Saturday mixed scramble was postponed it has been rescheduled for Saturday February 22nd, from 1.30 pm to 3 pm. A team of 4; 2 men & 2 women and can be booked on the BRS.

The ladies committee will have a table quiz on Friday March 7th this is one of our major fundraisers and promises to be a great night.

Our Spring league has started since Saturday January 25th and the first 4 rounds can be played untill February 23rd. It is important to sign into the computer before going out and put your team number on your card. Best of luck everyone.

DATE FOR YOUR DIARY:

Captain’s drive-in is planned for Sunday February 9th. This is a big day for all our Captains; Danny O’Dwyer, Marie Graves, Thomas Crosse (junior Boys) & Alannah Rose Walsh (junior Girls) We look forward to the day and hope for a fine one. It will be followed by a Mixed Scramble.

SENIORS GOLF:

As a mark of respect to the passing of Johnny Hannigan RIP, the seniors golf was cancelled on Tuesday last. Johnny was a long standing and very popular member of this group. He will be greatly missed.

OPEN SINGLES FOR ST

BRIDGET’S WEEKEND:

The Golf Shop are running an Open Singles for Ladies & Gents over next weekend. The maximum handicap for Ladies is 36. The maximum handicap for the Men is 24.

Visitors €30 & Members €10. Phone 062 71116 .

MEN’S NOTES

Another week, another weather warning this time for high winds with storm Eowyn passing through and thankfully the golf club evaded any major damage.

There were 62 entries in the Alan Maher Spring League on Saturday and it’s great to see the most players have played a least once in the league to date.

A full team update will be issued after week 3, week 6, week 9 and the final results will be announced pending the finish of the final week.

Just to confirm for those members who have not asked to be on a team for the spring league, you can still enter the competition and win the weekly highest score prize.

I will also be placing a list on the notice board during the week for anyone who would be willing to volunteer their time to carry out some small tasks (fixing plug marks, removing weeds from greens etc) on the course to help with the upkeep so any help would be much appreciated.

FIXTURES

The Spring League will continue on Holes 1-3 & 10-18 for the coming week.

RESULTS:

Congratulations to Liam Flynn who has won the first week’s weekly prize with a wonderful score of 30 points.

CLUB LOTTO

Kindly sponsored by Europlan Group

Lotto draw took place on Sunday 25th January with a Jackpot of €3,800.

Numbers drawn: 1-11-24-26. No Jackpot winner. No matched-three winners.

Next Draw takes place on Saturday 1st February with a Jackpot of €3,900. Tickets at €2 each and three for €5. Also available to purchase online, QR codes, Facebook.

Vouchers available for all kinds of gifts and presents. Quick Pick Lotto available. 14 MONTH OFFER - NEW MEMBERS 2022/26

Offer available for new members joining from now up to 31st March 2026. If you are considering joining a club, why not give us a call. Full details please contact Aine at the office on 052-6124050 or download an application form from our website www.clonmelgolfclub.com.

LADIES NOTES

Fixtures: Spring League kindly sponsored by Laharts Skoda continues. Ladies, please remember to place entry fee in envelope provided in advance of playing Round 1. Good luck to everyone taking part.

WEEKLY CLUB COMPETITION:

Saturday 25th and Wednesday 29th January – 12 Hole Singles Stableford.

Booking will be through the BRS.

RESULTS

12 Hole Weekly Competition – Sat. 18 & Wed. 22 January:

Well done to Antoinette Dougan who won the first weekly club competition with a great score of 27pts.

Entries are now open for the Mary McKenna Diamond Trophy 2025. If you are interested in representing your club, please add your name to the list in the ladies locker room by Friday 21st February.

The Cahir Park Golf Club who were crowned All-Ireland Pierce Purcell winners were awarded with the Annerville Award 2024 for Golf at the Talbot Hotel, Clonmel on Saturday night last. Pictured back row, from left to right: John Ryan, John McGrath, Donal Mullane, Jim Davis, Barry Moloney, Declan Lonergan, John Cashman. Front row: John Molloy, Willie Morrissey, Seamus Moore, Tom Hickey, Thomas Walshe,

County Tipperary Golf and Country Club President Jenny Lawrence with her three grandchildren, L to R Cian Lawrence winner of the Junior Boys Presidents Prize, Jamie Alley 3rd in the Junior Girls Presidents Prize & Aoife Lawrence 2nd in the Junior Girls Presidents Prize.

Toolmaker Josepe shows his class and has his eyes on Unraced Stake

GREYHOUND RACING

FURTHER WEATHER conditions

forced cancelations at Clonmel Greyhound Stadium which was a direct directive from The IGB on a nation-wide notification resulting in the quarter finals of The Rural Kennels having to be run on Thursday night last. The Golden trainer Graham Holland had a very strong team heading into the said quarter finals with Blossoms Syd topping the list having been fastest in the opening round.

Killenaule’s Jennifer O’Donnell had The Other Wild running in the opening quarter final for owners The Born Wild Syndicate and wearing the stripped sheet took a flying start leading by a couple of lengths very early on. A 2.80 split saw her hitting the back straight comfortable clear of Ballintee Roxy and the Michael O’Donovan trained Skywalker Schar. A 16.06 sectional saw he rather comfortable throughout finishing with five lengths in hand in 28.60. The two challengers finishing in the same order also qualified for the semi-finals.

Graham Holland dominated the second quarter-final with Faypoint Ranger leading kennel mate Shari Ann O Donnell’s Newinn Vision around the opening bends. The pair held their order to the line in 28.44 while Getup Me Girl taking third. Faypoint Ranger owned by Patricia Flanagan from Gorey cer-

tainly has improved from the opening round.

Blossoms Syd owned by Justin and Patrick Muldoon showed his early pace but was cut off at the opening turn by kennel mate Snazzy Boss at the opening turn. The latter leading to the fin al bend looked home and dry until Blossoms Syd taking the inside route drove through to win by two lengths in 28.66. Thurles owned by Michelle Dwan, Borna Parachute finished extremely strong to deny the longtime leader for second on the run in.

One of the losing eye-catchers in the opening round Toolmaker Josepe showed his class in the final quarter-final. Slightly sluggish from traps very quickly got into stride and dominated from the second bend to win comfortable from another of the Holland runners Brideside Bill in 28.39 with Cloncunny Flash third. Trained by Robert Gleeson for William Hyslop Toolmaker Josepe has set the pace heading for the semi-finals on next Saturday night.

BORN TO PERFORM LIVES UP TO BILLING

Sunday night’s card was very compact with semi-finals of The Sporting Press 550, The John White Mem. Goys & Dolls, The Tommy and Mary Dunford Open Bitch Stake and The John White 790 Marathon up for decision. The Sporting Press 550 is synonymous with coursing week at Clonmel and attracts

quite a strong entry.

In the opening semi-final David Adaway’s Subtle Jack, a winner in the quarter finals, showed real clever tracking at the second bend to dominate throughout in 30.12 with Timmys Hunter and Mayflower Sienna also qualifying. Gavin Sullivan’s My Lil Shazza left it late to take the second semi-final denying De Bono Lad on the line in 30.26 with Clonmel man Sean Bourke taking third with Mustang Marydel.

Locally bred in Clerihan by John Mulcahy, Bushpark Mel having won her debut race in Enniscorthy in 28.28 caught the attention her in the opening semi-final of The Tommy & Bridget Dunford Open Bitch Stake and did not disappoint. Having been led from traps she showed tremendous pace down the far side to win in 28.62. Jennifer O’Donnell’s Born To Perform certain-

ly lived up to her name in the second semi-final with a most eye-catching run to win in a blistering 28.11.

In The John White Memorial Guys & Dolls Stake Jimmy Power trained Grant A Wish to make it back-to-back wins in the opening semi-final with a late surge for the line in 28.97 while the Adam Dunford trained Imokilly Roxanne who has won her last three starts added to that with a very strong run in the second semi-final in 28.90.

The John White 790 Marathon was a real crowd pleaser and in the opening semi-final Timmys Bucks having exploded from traps ran out of gas late on as one of Kilkenny famous hurler Willie O’Connor taking it with Jamestown Rose in 44.69. The second semi-final was won in style by local owner Stephen Bourke and Paul Horig with the impressive Fashion Model in a very

smart 44.09. Fethard trainer David Flanagan had Cresent Emily owned by Gabriel Horan also from Fethard also qualifying and will be one to look at in the final.

The above trainer also had Yates winning the penultimate race on Sunday night for The New Gang Syndicate in 28.78 while the Cashel two “amigos” John Ryan Gilly and David Hickey back once again on the winner’s podium when Priceless Hero made it three on the trot taking the opening race of the night in 28.81.

A busy Clonmel next weekend with The National Coursing Meeting at Powerstown Park and racing every night at Clonmel Greyhound Stadium. Plenty for every to enjoy and that buzz about the town has been a yearly attraction. Racing every night at the track with music and fun for all to enjoy.

John Ryan Gilly, David Hickey and Sean Gilespee with three-in-a-row winner Priceless Hero.

David Flanagan with Yates A2 winner at Clonmel

Jennifer O’Donnell with Born To Perform Open Bitch Stake semi-final winner

Tommy Caffrey with Slimline Doodles winner on Sunday night

the week in SPORT

Big surprises in Youth Cup

This was a highly anticipated clash with the Division 2 leaders taking on the A team in front of a big crowd. Cahir A’s created a couple of half chances in the first 10 minutes but didn’t trouble the keeper. It was the B team who took the lead on 10 minutes when David Halpin was put through with his shot striking the post and Liam Cleary was there to put away the rebound to make it 1-0. Two minutes later following a misunderstanding between keeper and defence the B team went 2-0 up with Lorcan Butler taking advantage. The A’s upped their game and on 18 minutes Oisin Powers shot was deflected past the keeper to reduce the lead. On 30 minutes Callum Butler converted a free kick on the edge of the box and the teams were all square at 2-2. It was the B team who showed more urgency and a speculative shot from Brian Hurley crept in on 33 minutes followed by a Sean Morrissey goal from a corner to make it 4-2 at half time.

The second half began with the B team extending their lead with Sean Morrissey again from a corner four minutes after the restart.

The A team started creating more but Evan Cotter in the B team goal was in fine form including a penalty save on 60 minutes.

As the A’s pushed forward they were liable to a break away and Lorcan Butler added a 6th on 60 minutes then Oisin Power pulled one back on 70 minutes. A goal apiece for each side from David Halpin and Mark Flanagan in the final minutes left the final score 7-4 and a deserved result for the lower league team.

4-3 (AET)

Mullinahone 3-3 (4-3) AET

The game started in a very cagey way with Celtic having most of the ball but finding very little chances against the solid Mullinahone defence. That all changed in the 15th minute when a well-delivered ball into the box found Jack Alyward, who made a great run to beat the Mullinahone offside line and he calmly finished it first time. Ten minutes later Celtic found the net once again through Cillian Fitzgerald, who converted a great header to finish off a great

bit of play from Celtic. Mullinahone started to get a hold of the game a bit more throughout the half, having more chances with some great work from the Mullinahone midfield whose resilience led to Mullinahone winning a free kick on the 35th minute on the edge of the box which Phillip Dunne put in the top corner with great class. The sides battled for the rest of the half, with the conditions on the day making it tough for all to play fluid football.

HALF TIME

Mullinahone 1

Clonmel Celtic 2

The game was end to end for the start of the second half, both teams having chances knowing how important the next goal of the game would be. It was Mullinahone who equalized to level the game, with Jack Ryan slotting a well-placed shot past the Celtic keeper who made some great saves throughout the game. Both teams pressed for a winner, with Celtic putting serious pressure on the Mullinahone goal with some excellent passing movements, but yet again probably against the run of play Mullinahone got a corner which led to a chance after Celtic failed to clear the initial ball in. Cormac Duggan converted which made the game 3-2 in the home side’s

favour, with 18 minutes left to play. Both teams showed great desire with Celtic relentless in their efforts to save the tie. Mullinahone had some stellar defending and great saves from Nathan Treacy to keep ahead. With a hail Mary free kick Celtic headed in a great equaliser by Luke Hannigan, in the literal last kick of the game.

AFTER 90 MINUTES

Mullinahone 3

Clonmel Celtic 3

Both teams were starting to feel tired legs, with the play becoming loose from both sides in extra time. Mullinahone were awarded a penalty with only two minutes left in the first period of extra time. Philly Dunne put the ball beyond the keepers’ reach, which gave Mullinahone the lead once again. Celtic, who never gave up on their cause in the last ten minutes, came very close with multiple efforts on goal, but it was Mullinahone who pinched the result in a great game of football and move onto the next round.

the lights at Cooke Park. Philip Drohan had the ball in the net on two minutes but it was ruled out for offside. They had the bulk of possession and after a series of probing and corners took the lead on 19 minutes when an Ed O’Dwyer shot was deflected past Ross Minogue.

Thomas Riordan had Cashel’s first shot in anger but hit it straight at Adrian Walsh on 23 minutes. It was 2-0 on 32 minutes when Philip Drohan’s left wing cross saw David Slattery rise to head home in the area. Saints continued in the ascendancy and went in at the break two goals to the good. Damien Mormand received a straight red card on 36 minutes to make Cashel’s task even bigger.

HALF TIME:

ST. MICHAELS 2 CASHEL TOWN B 0

RESULTS

Saturday January 25

Tipperary Youth Cup

Cashel Town 3-0 St Michael’s Galbally Utd OFF Shanbally

Cahir Park (A) 4-7 Cahir Park (B)

Mullinahone 3-3 (4-3 AET) Clonmel Celtic

Two Mile Borris 7-1 SC&K Utd FAI Youth Cup

Castleknock 4-1 Clonmel Town

Tipperary Cup

St Michael’s 5-0 Cashel Town B

Fixtures February 1 & February 2 2025 Saturday February 1

Youth League Division 1

Clonmel Celtic v Cahir Park 2.30pm – M Corrigan

Saints warmed up for next week’s visit of Black Forge in the Fai Junior Cup with a comfortable win over Cashel Town B under

Danny O’Brien marked his return when he was on hand at the far post to finish a Joey Mulcahy cross to make it 3-0. David Slattery made it 4-0 on 53 minutes from close range. Danny O’Brien made it 5-0 on 68 minutes from a close range rebound and Saints used their bench in the second half bringing in Cillian Coonan, Mikey Bowes and Jimmy Carr .

Division 2 Youth Cup 1st round

Mullinahone v Cullen Lattin 2.30pm – J Lyons

Cahir Park v St Michael’s 2.30pm – P Keane

Galbally Utd v Cashel Town 2.30pm – M Duffy

Shanbally v SC&K Utd 2.30pm – A Butler

S unday February 2

FAI Junior Cup

St Michael’s v Black Forge 2pm – P Keane, J Lyons, M Corrigan

Munster Junior Cup

Peake Villa v Tramore 2pm – M Jordan, M Duffy, J Maguire

Munster Junior Shield 5th round

Shannon Hibs v Clonmel Celtic 2pm

Premier League

Two Mile Borris v Bansha Celtic 11am – J Maguire

Cahir Park v Cashel Town 11am – J Lyons

Clonmel Town v Clonmel Celtic 2pm – M Freiberg

Paddy

Purtill Cup 1st round

Cashel Town V Vee Rovers 10.45am – M Duffy

St Michael’s v Old Bridge 11am – M Corrigan

Suirside v Tipperary Town 2pm N Coughlan

Two Mile Borris v Galbally Utd 2pm M Haide

Wilderness Rovers v Peake Villa 11am – M Freiberg

St Nicholas v Ballingarry 2.15pm – A Butler

Moyglass v Powerstown 11am – A Butler

SC&K Utd v Cullen Lattin 2pm – B O’Donoghue

Cahir Park (A)

Great resilience earned Clonmel bonus point even in defeat in Enniscorthy

All-Ireland League Division 2C

ENNISCORTHY 31

CLONMEL 25

Report by SCHIRA LANE

After a fantastic win last week to table toppers Midleton to put ourselves in a play-off spot, all was a lot tougher when Clonmel travelled to Alcast Park, Enniscorthy on Saturday last for Round 12 of the AIL.

Whilst Enniscorthy had a poor start to the season, they knuckled down and have only lost one game in their last seven of the League. The loss was only last Saturday to Dolphin when they lost 54-28 on the road and speaking to the many of the Enniscorthy sideline, their supporters were still feeling the sting of the heavy defeat. And whilst a bad defeat is often the best motivator, it must be acknowledged that Enniscorthy haven’t lost at home all season and it is always a tough travel to the Wexford side. It is also worth noting that 8 of Clonmel’s starting team faced them at the same stage in the League last year. Whilst the positions differed back then, Clonmel were heavily beaten last season and, down Huisamen and Stransky due to injury, all fortune was required for Clonmel to secure a victory on the road.

Whilst the game started clear and dry, there was a freezing light breeze and high tempo was required from the get-go. Clonmel held possession from the kick-off and attacked the Enniscorthy half. Some fine carries early on by Tom O’Dea and Andrew Daly put Clonmel in promising positions. But En-

niscorthy were finely tuned and wasted no time reversing possession. We had a marvellous first scrum of the game to win a scrum penalty. Joe O’Connor kicked and made touch mere inches from the corner. Clonmel lost the lineout but managed to stay in the Enniscorthy half. Clonmel failed to contest the Enniscorthy lineouts and the hosts reversed possession on numerous occasions early in the game.

Whilst we showed some defence, the Enniscorthy backs cut us open as they raced in for their opening try. They failed to convert and, in their effort, to speed things further, Clonmel were awarded a penalty which Joe O’Connor kicked for Clonmel. At 5-3 down, Clonmel struggled to get some control and on numerous occasions kicked away early possession. In one such devasting instance, we won the scrum, kicked away possession, only for their fullback to gather and jink in close to the posts for another try on 19 mins. It was a get out of jail for Clonmel that they failed to convert both their first half tries.

Thereafter Clonmel did very well in applying plenty of pressure, forcing the hosts to make mistakes. Enniscorthy consistently infringed in the first half – 12 infringements in total. Clonmel used the rewards intelligently with some fine kicks for touch by Joe O’Connor. But Clonmel’s lineout wasn’t solid, and they failed to get dominance in attack to cross the line. On some good occasions when they threatened the Enniscorthy try-line, the hosts defended like a brick wall and there was no getting past them.

Some super defence by Andrew Daly, Jason Monua, Tom O’Dea and Bobby Doherty resulted in another penalty for Clonmel to bring us in sight of the hosts. Clonmel finally contested in the lineout and Bobby Doherty soared up to steal the ball. O’Connor again kicked close to the corner. Clonmel passed it along the backs to Andrew Daly, who made great ground on the wing. Ben Everard crashed up the centre and Tim Nugent’s work-rate off the ball was huge. But the gap on the opposite wing was closing and despite a great lob pass by Henry Buttimer out to Freddie Davies, the gap had closed, and he was bundled into touch. It must be said that Buttimer picked up

an injury in the warm-up and it is a credit to the captain that he stayed on till midway through the second half.

Another penalty by Clonmel followed and O’Connor, who again had a strong outing with the boot, kicked four out of five attempts at goal in the first half. Clonmel applied plenty of pressure and it felt a pity we couldn’t make this pressure count. And whilst Clonmel led 10-12 at the break, you couldn’t but think that the visitors should have been ahead by more.

On the stroke of half-time, the heavens opened, and heavy freezing rain poured for the remainder of the game. Enniscorthy controlled the beginning of the second half. But in a mo-

ment of heads-up rugby by Luke Cadogan to steal the ball on the wing, Michael Connellan, who came in off his line, took the pass securely and raced in for Clonmel’s first try. It felt like a pivotal moment as Clonmel pulled away 10-17 after 42 minutes. But Enniscorthy attacked again and scored a converted try.

It was back and forth with the scores for the next 15. Despite some good defence by Clonmel, Enniscorthy persisted, finding gaps and scored two consecutive tries in quick succession to lead 24-17 with 49 minutes on the clock.

Whilst the conditions worsened, Clonmel found some form again and with some changes in the backs, there were some lovely running passes out wide. They passed out the line to fullback Jack Walsh who slotted in competently. A lovely pass by Walsh put Luke Hogan over in the corner. But the kick was difficult, and we still trailed 24-22 after 55 minutes.

All Enniscorthy tries were resultant from an attack built from deep and again as 60 minutes sounded, their backs hit the ground running and jinked through the Clonmel defence to score close to the post. The converted result gave them a lead of 31-22.

But credit to Clonmel. They showed great resilience and attacked the Enniscorthy half phase after phase. It was heartin-mouth stuff, and, despite the appalling conditions, they made decent ground up the park. Finally, on the stroke of full time, they were rewarded with a penalty. And intelligently they took their points to secure a losing bonus point in what must have

felt like an agonising loss. But it was little consolation for the lads who have improved enormously since last year. And as the Referee commented after the game, it was hard to believe the level was 2C. But such is the competition of the division still, whilst we dropped back to 5th place, we are still only a point behind Dolphin in 4th and a spot in the play-offs. Well done to Clonmel for keeping the competition alive in a most difficult encounter.

It’s still all to play for as they break now for two weeks. This talented Clonmel side are all heart so expect them to return fuelled for battle when they face Ballyclare at home on Saturday, 8th February.

CLONMEL 1st XV: Tim Nugent, Jason Monua, Ben Everard, Tony Cantwell, Diarmuid Devaney, Tom O’Dea, Bobby Doherty, Andrew Daly, Alex Sheehan, Luke Cadogan, Freddie Davies, Joe O’Connor, Henry Buttimer, Luke Hogan, Michael Connellan Subs Jack Lane, Brandon Delicato, Diarmuid Devaney, Albert Fronek, Jack Walsh.

As the ref said after the game, it was hard to believe these two teams were Division 2C. It’s little consolation for the lads who have improved enormously and were within reach of a victory. And it must be said, they showed great resilience in the final minutes to hold onto possession and build phases up the park to win a penalty in front of the posts for a bonus point. But in the realms of sport, we lose more than we win, and it was a credit to the Clonmel lads that they showed great resilience to pick up a losing bonus point in the toughest of conditions.

LEFT: Clonmel winger Albert Fronek on the attack against Enniscorthy in the AIL Division 2C game played at Alcast Park, Enniscorthy on Saturday last.

RIGHT: Clonmel’s winger Freddie Davis jinking in for a try with Alex Sheehan in support.

Clonmel jumper Tom O’Dea goes the height of Vinegar Hill to secure the lineout for his side in last Saturday’s Division 2C AIL game played in Enniscorthy which the County Wexford side won by 31-25.

Nenagh edge out local AIL rivals Shannon to stay second in table

All-Ireland League Division 1B

NENAGH 24

SHANNON

18

Report by MIKE McMAHON

Nenagh try scorers: Dylan Murphy, Kevin O’Flaherty, Penalty Try

Conor McMahon – 1 penalty, 2 conversions. Penalty Try conversion

Shannon try scorers: Matt TePou, Penalty Try

John O’Sullivan – 2 penalties. Penalty Try conversion

Referee: Andrew Cole

Player of the match: Brian O’Rourke

Two teams at opposite ends of the table but with the same objective – to get their season

back on track after bruising defeats the previous week. Bottom placed Shannon made the short journey up the M7 to take on second placed Nenagh Ormond at New Ormond Park in this round 12 clash of AIL Division 1B.

This game was never going to be a classic. There was simply too much at stake for both teams but particularly for the Limerick men from “the parish” who are now seriously looking relegation in the face after being just edged out by their Tipperary neighbours in this tense and hard-fought contest

The half time score of three points apiece was entirely reflective of the game which was a classic dogfight where every point was earned the hard way. Shannon did everything in their power to upset their high-flying hosts and the game was on

a knife edge right to the final whistle.

Nenagh opened the scoring through a ninth minute penalty from centre Conor McMahon but there was no further score until out-half John O’Sullivan replied for the visitors. Half time came and went and it was clear that the first try of the game could prove decisive. That score came to Nenagh 6 minutes into the second half when hooker Dylan Murphy touched down from a driving lineout maul to give his side a 10-3 lead.

O’Sullivan brought the deficit back to four with a well taken penalty but it was Nenagh who struck the next blow as referee Andrew Cole awarded a penalty try to the home team after Shannon were adjudged to have brought down a maul with a try looking certain.

Shannon responded immedi-

ately with a penalty try in similar circumstances at the other end and Nenagh were reduced to 14 after wing-forward Joe Coffey was yellow carded in the same play.

CAPTAIN FANTASTIC LEADS BY EXAMPLE

As the game went into the final quarter, Nenagh captain Kevin O’Flaherty nudged his side further ahead from another driving maul and their lead stretched out to nine points with the scoreboard now standing at 24-13.

In keeping with a gritty performance throughout, Shannon responded almost immediately with a try from winger Matt Te Pou. When Nenagh were awarded a penalty with two minutes remaining, they had the choice to either try to kill the game off or go in search of a fourth try and a bonus point. They chose

the latter option but failed to secure the resultant lineout and so left open the possibility open for a Shannon score which could have stolen the points.

As it happened, Ormond held out for the victory but the sense of relief amongst the home supporters was palpable.

Nenagh remain in second place but their pursuit of Old Belvedere now seems a forlorn quest as the Dubliners went 8 points clear at the top with an impressive 71-14 victory over Queens University.

NEXT

UP - QUEENS IN BELFAST

The league now takes a minibreak until Saturday 8th February when Nenagh will travel to Belfast to face Queens whilst Shannon will host 4th placed Blackrock.

NENAGH ORMOND:

Nenagh: 1. Sean Frawley, 2.

SHANNON:

8. Lee Nicolas, 9. Ian Leonard, 10. John O’Sullivan, 11. Matt TePou, 12. Luke Doyle, 13. Harry Long, 14. Jack O’Donnell, 15. Cillian Corkery, 16. Jordan Prenderville, 17. Shane Carew, 18. Christian Storey, 19. Scott Gleeson, 20. Rory McDermott, 21. Sam Birrane.

The Nenagh Ormond Under 18.5 squad who overcame Waterpark at Lisatunny on Sunday last.

Well-earned win for Nenagh v Waterpark

Under 18.5s NENAGH U18.5S 32 WATERPARK 27

Nenagh u18.5’s hosted a strong Waterpark in Lisatunny on Sunday in challenging weather conditions. The lads came away with a well

earned 32-27 victory in what was a hard battle, boosting their confidence for some tough upcoming fixtures. Continued hard work from the whole squad and some lads returning from injuries are positive signs for this group. Hopefully we can continue to improve performances as we progress through the season.

The lads have another cup game next weekend v Garryowen, again at home in Lisatunny with an 11am kick-off. We would encourage everyone to come out and keep up the good support of our upcoming players next Sunday.

This latest result gives the boys a fighting chance to progress further in this competition and a win next weekend would go a long way to securing that.

U18.5’s Squad v WaterparkJamie Horan, Liam O’Brien Dunne, Ronan Maher, Ryan Gratton, Oisin Ryan, Emmet Jones, Cian Clarke, Ked-

Dylan Murphy, 3. Jack O’Keeffe, 4. Craig Hannon, 5. Kevin O’Flaherty (c) 6. Jake O’Kelly, 7. Joe Coffey, 8. John O’Flaherty, 9. Nicky Irwin, 10. Charlie O’Doherty, 11. Davy Gleeson, 12. Angus Blackmore, 13. Conor McMahon, 14. Brian O’Rourke, 15. Josh Rowland, 16. Shane Malone, 17. Matthew Burke, 18. Fionn O’Meara, 19. John Healy, 20. Ben Pope, 21. Derek Corcoran.

1. Conor Glynn, 2. Alex Long, 3. Cathal Hynes, 4. Jade Kriel, 5. Jack Brady, 6. Kelvin Brown, 7. Tadhg O’Brien,

agh Broderick (c), Cathan Gaffney, Cillian Healy, Ben Deegan, Brehon O’Donnell, Valters Janitens, Marcus O’Mahoney, Diarmuid Gleeson, Billy Hodgins, Oisin Moloney, Donncha O’Meara, Martin Heveli, Thomas Ryan, Jack Cleary, Daniel Kenneally, Adam Boland.

Cashel get back on the horse with victory over Galway Corinthians

to 1975.

Report by PETER SILKE

On Saturday Cashel hosted second placed Galway Corinthians at Spafield. It had been a very emotional ten days for Cashel. First we lost Mary Fleetwood Ryan who had been a very active member of the club for many years. We were then rocked by the sudden death of Johnny Hannigan as he prepared to attend Mary’s funeral. Johnny had been a member of the club since his youth and held many positions in the club over the years serving as president from 1973

The deaths of those two excellent members is a huge loss to the club and their families and they will be very sadly missed. They were passionate supporters of the club and I am sure as they looked down over the banisters of Heaven they would have been well pleased with the hard fought win ground out against Corinthians. The game kicked off in extremely wet, windy and cold conditions but it did not deter both teams from providing a most entertaining game. Cashel made the early running taking the game to the opposition with the forwards going through the phases. It took just eight minutes to make a breakthrough. After constant pressure Paudie Leamy broke through the cen-

tre and scored under the posts. It was an excellent try and very hard earned. Tim Townsend converted. Corinthians attacked from the kickoff and were awarded two penalties that gave them attacking options.

The Cashel defence endured 15 minutes of extreme pressure but were heroic. They repelled everything thrown at them. The pressure eventually told when a Corinthians Cross kick was caught by the right winger and he raced in for a try in the corner. From then to halftime it was a full blooded contest with both sides attacking with everything they had and both defences on top. On the stroke of half time Cashel were awarded a penalty on the opposition twenty two and Tim Townsend nudged Cashel ahead 10-5 as the half

time whistle blew. The rain thankfully cleared for the second half and the pace of the game did not drop. Both teams ran the ball at every opportunity. Cashel had the edge in the scrums where Cormack O’Donnell, David Upton and Adam Shirley were excellent in the front row. Diarmuid Rowe, Alex Harold Barry and Ed Kelly lorded the lineouts. Richard Moran and Joe Callery carried strongly.

As a group they were awesome in defence and kept their line intact through many phases. It must be remembered that Corinthians are backboned by a good number of Connacht academy players, a luxury not available to Cashel. Cashel’s dominance in the scrum was crucial as they won a number of

penalties in this area. On sixty five minutes Corinthians kicked a penalty to the five meter line but once again the Cashel defence hold out. There was an edge to the game as one would expect in such a tight game and tempers frayed a little with ten minutes to go. Two players saw yellow and the rest ploughed on. Cashel finished the game on the attack and held out with the final score Cashel 13 Corinthians 5. The backs also played their part. Half backs Josh Pickering and Tim Townsend steered the ship. Tom Tobin, Jamie Ryan and Richard Kingston tackled like demons. Paudie Leamy took his try in fine style when he sliced through the centre. At full back Ryan O’Sullivan had a stormer. He caught everything

thrown at him and counter attacked at every opportunity. This was an excellent win for Cashel and keeps them in touch with the leading pack. Their last five games have been against the top three teams and that would have been six if the Barnhall game had not been cancelled due to the snow. It was a fitting way to get back on the horse after the sad events of the previous ten days.

Cashel’s next game is at home against fourth placed Greystones on February 15th.

CASHEL (1-20) C O’Donnell, D Upton, A Shirley, D Rowe, E Kelly, A Harold Barry, R Moran, J Callery, J Pickering, T Townsend, T Tobin, J Ryan, R Kingston, P Leamy, R O’Sullivan, N Roche, S O’Connell, M Crosse, M Strydom, M Frati.

Disappointment as Kilfeacle bow out of cup

Munster

Junior Challenge Cup

THOMOND 13

KILFEACLE 11

Report by DENIS WADE

On Sunday last a huge contingent of the Kilfeacle and District supporters travelled for the Munster Junior Challenge Cup semi-final against Thomond at Liam Fitzgerald Park in Limerick. Kilfeacle’s loyal supporters greatly outnumbered their counterparts.

Underdogs Kilfeacle faced Thomond RFC who are unbeaten in all competitions this year and have claimed a winning bonus points in all the games.

In the heat that is the cauldron of the Munster Junior Challenge Cup Semi-Finals things happen so fast that decisions need to be made in an instant and emotions can colour your decision making. In this game the two teams were evenly matched in nearly every facet but Thomond had home advantage which gave them a slight edge.

The weather on the day was wet and a strong breeze blowing down the pitch and favouring Kilfeacle in the first half. Thomond started the game the better of the two teams and looked to stamp their authori-

ty on the game. However Luke Heuston gave Kilfeacle the lead with an early penalty in the 11th minute. This score spurred Thomond into action and in the 17th minute they entered Kilfeacle’s 22 for the first time and hit back with a penalty from Eoghan Sherlock for 3-3.

Kilfeacle once again took the game to Thomond and were having the better of the exchanges in open play. On the 20th minute mark Luke Heuston scored another long range penalty for 6-3.

Thomond regained the lead on 30 minutes with a try by Shane Kelly. Eoghan Sherlock kicked the conversion attempt to make it 10-6.

From the resultant restart Kilfeacle gained momentum that saw Kilfeacle start to pose a serious threat to the Thomond defence. In the 39th minute after five minutes of constant pressure Kilfeacle were awarded a penalty just inside Thomond’s half. Luke Heuston tried to shape the ball on the wind, his teams supporters celebrated, the linesmen deliberated and after some time signalled that it was wide. This missed three points were to prove crucial. When all the stoppages were added up there was still five minutes of rugby to be played in the half. Kilfeacle spent this

time encamped in the Thomond 22 pushing and probing for another score. Thomond’s defence was immense to out the remainder of the half with Thomond holding a slender 10-6 lead.

The second half mirrored the first half with Thomond starting the better and Kilfeacle finishing the stronger. In the opening minutes Thomond’s plan was to target Kilfeacle’s young number 10 who was having a tremendous game. The thinking behind this was obvious that if they could stop Luke Heuston’s kicking game then Kilfeacle would have no easy out against the breeze. Luke is following in the footsteps of his father and brothers by playing for Kilfeacle and Thomond discovered that like all of his family Heuston’s are made of stern stuff and he did not buckle under the pressure. Eoghan Sherlock increased the home side’s lead to 7 points with a penalty for Thomond 12 minutes into the second half. Thomond now led by 13 points to 6. Kilfeacle’s reaction to falling further behind was admirable and the further the game progressed the further Thomond were pushed back into their own half and eventually their own 22.

In the 20th minute of the second half, after multiple phases of play by Kilfeacle, Gavin Heus-

ton touched down in the corner. The strong breeze had increased into strong wind and from the touchline the conversion attempt by Luke Heuston was just a bridge too far. The conversion attempt and chance to level the game sailed the wrong side of the post. Kilfeacle had reduced the deficit to 2 points, 13-11. The game was slipping from Thomond so they emptied their impressive bench and came looking for a score. The next 15 minutes of the game saw neither side able to stamp their authority on the game. The closest to a score was a long range penalty attempt from Eoghan Sherlock for Thomond which was wide of the mark. Urged on by their very vocal support Kilfeacle went in search of a winning score.

For the last five minutes Thomond were unable to break out of their own half so they battened down the hatches and barricaded themselves in for a titanic arm wrestle as they knew Kilfeacle needed only threepoints to win. Kilfeacle pounded the Thomond defence with everything they had because behind it hid the ‘Holy Grail’ for all Munster Junior Division 1 clubs, a place in the final of the Munster Junior Challenge Cup! Thomond’s defence creaked and groaned, the hinges buckled, it gave a little and then

pushed back. All the time the sands of time in the hourglass trickled agonisingly away. Kilfeacle came close, oh so close! With only seconds remaining Kilfeacle found themselves in front of the Thomond posts about 10 metres out. The decision was made to go for the drop goal. So many variables so little time.

The task for both teams was clear, Kilfeacle needed quick ball from the base of the ruck to not allow the defence to set and ready themselves. Thomond needed to slow and pressure the ball back. Would Kilfeacle’s attack be the unstoppable force or would Thomond’s defence be the unmovable object. Thomond succeed in slowing the ball emerging from the base of the ruck. No sooner had Gavin Heuston placed his hands on the ball and 6 Thomond players rushed out towards his brother Luke. Luke caught the ball with nearly half of the Thomond team bearing down on him. He dispatched his kick on target but a mammoth leap saw a Thomond hand get a touch on the ball to deflect it off target. Thomond finally got their hands on the ball kicked a huge clearance which evaded everyone with the aid of the wind. Whilst trying to secure the ball Kilfeacle were deemed

to have knocked it on. The final whistle had sounded and Kilfeacle players to a man fell to the ground in disbelief. Thomond had secured the victory 1311.

On the day Thomond’s defence won the game for them and what a defensive effort it was. Kilfeacle and District RFC would like to congratulate Thomond RFC on their win and the manner in which the game was played. Kilfeacle and District’s whole squad to a man once again did the club proud and were just so unlucky on the day.

NEXT UP ST MARY’S Kilfeacle are back in action on February 2nd for the Munster Junior league against St. Marys in Morrissey Park at 2.30pm. Kilfeacle’s squad on the day consisted of 1 Brian Barron, 2 Brendan Barron, 3 Richard Whitney, 4 Thomas Fogarty, 5 Bob Purcell, 6 Gavin McCormack, 7 Brian Barlow, 8 Kevin Kinnane, 9 Gavin Heuston, 10 Luke Heuston, 11 Killian Noonan, 12 Muiri Lambe, 13 Jacques van Wyngaardt, 14 Kevin Doyle, 15 James Hogan, 16 Paddy Finnan, 17 Darragh Kennedy, 18 Beau Walker, 19 Cormac Ryan, 20 Timmy Clarke, 21 Shane Farrell and 22 Michael McCormack.

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Tipperary Athletics Annual Convention reports on positive year with increase in membership at all levels

COUNTY ATHLETICS

The County Convention took place in the Thurles Crokes Complex last Thursday night. Despite the grave weather warning, the Convention was well attended.

The Chairman, Owen Fanning, opened the meeting by welcoming everyone to the meeting. The Secretary, Anne Fagan, gave a good account of the 2024 Convention with the minutes of that meeting.

CHAIRMAN’S ADDRESS

In his address, Owen Fanning, thanked all the clubs for promoting the Sport over the past year and it was great to see an increase in membership spread across a lot of the Clubs. He said that this was clearly evident with an increase participation at both Juvenile and Senior events throughout the year.

He also gave a brief outline of the major achievements by County athletes and the future looks bright. He thanked all the officers and anyone who helped in any way to promote our Sport by way of assistance at the many Championships throughout the year, such help was vital for the sport to progress and was greatly appreciated by everyone, athletes, coaches and parents alike.

It was great to see such high numbers in our Primary and Post Primary Schools XC and Post Primary Track and Field competitions which were held in Thurles and Templemore.

Credit to Jim Ryan and Niall O’Sullivan for organising and masterminding such super events which helps fund our county expenses.

SPECIAL MENTION FOR SHARLENE MAWDSLEY

He gave special mention to the achievements of Sharlene Mawdsley of Newport AC who had a fantastic year. His wish is that her achievements will act as a spur for volunteers to apply themselves for roles in the County Board and their clubs. New blood and fresh ideas are needed to keep this sport alive and progressive. Many of our clubs rely on the same dedicated volunteers and this can be precarious for a club’s future.

SECRETARY’S REPORT

Anne Fagan, the County Secretary, in her report, thanked everyone for their invaluable contribution to athletics in 2024, which enabled the County Board to run all the championships so smoothly.

2024 was a very successful year for Tipperary, as you have seen from all the

thorough reports which have been so well compiled. The number of success stories for Juvenile, Junior, Masters and Senior athletes alike; in the Indoors, Outdoors, Cross Country and Road Races were amazing.

Congratulations to all the athletes and their coaches on their success’s and their commitment to training to get to where they are today. She complimented all our juvenile and senior athletes who do athletics not for winning titles or competing in competitions, but for getting out there to get fit, improving their own mental health and meeting new people along their journey. It is these people that keep athletics going within the county and country.

She thanked all the host clubs for the successful running of all our County Championships. Great credit is due to all these volunteers for the phenomenal amount of effort and organising that goes into running these events. She also thanked Thurles Crokes, in particular Kathleen and Madeline Dorney for making their premises available for County Board meetings and events and especially the refreshments afterwards which went down a treat with everyone.

TREASURER’S REPORT

Aoife Hayde, the County Treasurer, gave a very good report on the county finances, which are in a healthy position. She thanked everyone who helped in any way to promote the many Championships throughout the year, regardless of the weather conditions.

She thanked her two assistants Owen Fanning and Albert Doyle for managing the gate receipts at all our Championships which showed a marked improvement on the previous year.

The County Registrar, John Moore, in his report showed that there were seventeen Clubs registered in the County. There were 2882 members registered in 2024 up from the 2023 figure of 2357 athletes, showing a 22% increase in membership. He thanked all the Clubs for their great work. He pointed out that the success of our athletes at the Olympic Games in the summer and especially Newport’s Sharlene Mawdsley in our own County boosting the increased numbers with an overall increase of 19% in the autumn transfer window including a 29% increase in our juvenile numbers.

ELECTION OF OFFICERS

After all the various reports was approved and adopted, the Election of Officers took place.

President: John Flynn Moyne AC, Hon Life President: Breda Christie, Chairperson: Owen Fanning Fethard AC,

Vice Chairperson: Tiernan O Donnell DBB AC,

County Secretary: Anne Fagan Newport AC,

Joint Assistant Treasurers: Owen Fanning Fethard AC and Albert Doyle Clonmel AC,

County Registrar: John Moore Dundrum AC, Senior PRO: Niall O’Sullivan Clonmel AC,

Juvenile PRO: Dara Kennedy Newport AC,

Senior Competition Secretary: Michael Moore Dundrum AC,

Social Media managers Sharon Cantwell Moyne AC and Owen Fanning Fethard.

STEPPING DOWN - THANKS FOR ALL THE HARD WORK

The Chairperson thanked both Fiona Kelly Newport, the County Juvenile Track & Field Secretary and Adrian McGinley, Templemore, Juvenile Track & Field PRO for all their great work over the past number of years and who were stepping down this year. Their positions weren’t filled at the AGM and all Clubs will be contacted over the coming weeks to help fill these important positions.

There was a lively discussion on the many motions at the meeting and clubs will be informed of them in the coming weeks.

The Chairman, closed the meeting by again, thanking everyone for their attendance and he wished all our athletes and coaches the very best for the coming year.

Senior Track & Field Competition Secretary: Sharon Cantwell Moyne AC, Assistant Juvenile Track & Field Secretary: Jim Ryan Moycarkey Coolcroo AC, County Juvenile Cross County Secretary: Eibhlis Flynn Moyne AC, Child Officers: Paddy Doyle Moyne AC, Billy Purcell Moycarkey Coolcroo AC, Anne Fagan Newport AC and Emby Walsh Carrick-on-Suir AC.

Fethard AC win

the Josie Garrett Perpetual Cup

At the County Convention, the Josie Garrett Perpetual Cup was presented by Owen Fanning to his two clubmates John Hurley and Louis Rice. (See photo above).

This Cup was won by Fethard AC for the best overall Cross-Country club in the County based on all the Cross-Country Championships throughout the season. Starting with the County Novice last October to the County Masters and Under 23 which were held recently in Fethard.

This is a wonderful achievement by this Club who has grown in stature over the past couple of years and congrats to all involved. As we finish one successful season, Cross Country, another season, the Road Championships, gets underway in early March and I have no doubt that Fethard will be going all out to achieve the double.

Tipperary Athletics County Chairman Owen Fanning (left) after presenting Louis Rice and Fethard AC Chairman John Hurley with the Josie Garrett Cup. This cup is awarded each year to the Best Tipperary Cross Country Team.

Fethard AC make it another historic day at County Masters Cross Country

Fethard AC has made history once again, with an unforgettable performance at the County Masters Cross Country held last Sunday week last, 19th January at Rice’s Farm. The challenging 7km route and the electric atmosphere of the event brought out the best in our athletes, culminating in multiple medal wins and exceptional performances across all categories.

The day was filled with triumphs, starting with Emmet McNamara, who delivered a stunning race to finish 1st overall and claim gold in the Over 35 category. His tactical run, particularly during the final lap, left spectators in awe as he pulled ahead of competitors Dermot Gorman of Carrick-on-Suir AC and Barry Hartnett of Dundrum AC. James Maher, with his trademark consistency, finished 8th overall, earning second place in the Over 45 category and continuing to demonstrate his skill on the cross country circuit. Not to be outdone, Fintan Rice, the mastermind behind the venue, fin-

ished 12th overall and won gold in the Over 60 category. His dedication to the club, both as a competitor and host, is invaluable. James Denn, racing for the first time at this level, secured his first-ever cross country medal, finishing 28th overall.

The debutants also showed their promise, with John Henry Smyth, Keith Browne, and MJ Croke all delivering impressive performances. John Hurley, our club chairman, despite carrying an injury, pushed through to secure vital points for the team. Pat Morrissey, also making his debut at cross country, earned his first-ever team medal, a remarkable achievement after a tough week.

BRONZE FOR OVER 35 TEAM

The Over 35 men’s team, consisting of Emmet McNamara, James Maher, Fintan Rice, and James Denn, proudly secured a third-place finish, while the Over 50 team, featuring Fintan Rice, Neilie Hall, and Pat Morrissey, also claimed a well-deserved bronze.

In the Over 65 men’s category, Matthew Fleming, making his debut, ran an outstanding race to finish third overall and second in his category, a great start to his cross-country career. Meanwhile, veteran runner Billy Prout finished fourthoverall and took home the bronze medal in his category. Both athletes contributed to the day’s success, exemplifying dedication and perseverance.

FETHARD AC’S 17 INCREDIBLE

WOMEN HAD A GREAT DAY

The women’s event saw 17 incredible athletes from Fethard AC compete in the County Masters, with some standout performances. Edel Roche finished ninth overall and earned a podium spot, securing third place in the Over 45 category. She was instrumental in leading the Over 45 team to victory, joined by Aine Doocey and Deirdre Royce, who finished 28th and 29th, respectively.

Other top performances included Carol Molloy, finishing 20th overall and

taking 3rd in the Over 35 category, and Paula Hendriksen, who ran a steady and strong race to finish 11th overall.

Marie Carroll proved her strength in cross country, finishing 21st overall.

The Over 55 category saw Isobel Minogue finish in second and Siobhán Maher claim third place. Newcomers Eileen Smyth, Teresa Hurley, Lisa Williams, and Ann Tillyer all made a remarkable debut, showcasing immense potential for future events. Lorraine Kennedy, always a reliable competitor, finished 37th, providing crucial support to the team, while Lorraine Frances, competing in the Over 60 category, also made an impressive debut, securing 2nd place in her category.

UNDER 23 WOMEN DOMINATE

The Under 23 women’s team once again demonstrated their dominance in cross-country running, claiming gold for the second consecutive year. Alison Connolly crossed the line in first place, followed by Izzy Maher, who secured second. Éabha Ryan, making

Fethard AC Master Women’s and U23 Teams

her debut, completed the sweep with an impressive third-place finish. This strong performance by our Under 23 team continues our winning streak in the category, and we couldn’t be prouder of these athletes.

BEST TIPPERARY CROSS COUNTRY TEAM FOR 2024

The results from the County Masters Cross Country capped off an incredible year for Fethard AC, where our athletes showcased their dedication, strength, and team spirit in every race. This outstanding performance has earned us the title of Best Tipperary Cross Country Team 2024, as we were crowned winners of the Josie Garrett Cup for the first time. The remarkable achievements of every athlete this season have contributed to this success.

A huge thank you to all the athletes, coaches, supporters, and volunteers who make these victories possible. Special thanks to the Rice family for hosting the event and providing a fantastic venue.

COUNTY MASTER CHAMPIONS

The Under 23 women’s team once again demonstrated their dominance in cross-country running, claiming gold for the second consecutive year. The Over 45 team comprising Edel Roche, Aine Doocey and Deirdre Royce won team gold. Back row, left to right: Lorraine Kennedy, Siobhán Maher, Alison Connolly, Eabha Ryan, Isobel Minogue, Marie Carroll, Edel Roche, Deirdre Royce, Teresa Hurley, Ann Tillyer and Áine Doocey Front, left to right: Lisa Williams, Izzy Maher, Eileen Smyth, Carol Molloy, Paula Hendricksen and Lorraine Francis.

LEFT:

Emmet McNamara crossing the finishing line to win the Over 35 title.

BELOW:

Fintan Rice finished 12th overall and captured the Over 60s title.

Gold for Dundrum’s Dymphna, Catherine at Tipperary Masters XC Championships

The County Masters Cross Country Championships was held on Sunday week last, 19th November in Fethard. It was a nice day for running in generally good ground. The location is a picturesque course combining running through a stubble tillage field, along the bank of a river on clay path, through grass fields, through wooded groves, up and down clay banks and finally up a tree lined passageway with tree trunks to hurdle over a 2km lap.

It was a superb challenge on perfect dry underfoot conditions. An excellent cross country test. And well done to Fethard AC for hosting.

Dundrum AC had nine athletes competing. on the day.

In the womens race over 4km we had five athletes running. Dymphna Ryan won the overall race and the gold medal Over 40.

Next we had Catherine Fogarty finishing fifth and winning gold Over 45, 17th Karen Coughlan, 19th Emily Leahy and 25th Mairead Julian who won a bronze medal in the Over 50 category.

Dymphna, Catherine and Karen won silver medals in the Over 35 team event.

In the men’s race over 7km we had four athletes running.

First home for the club was Barry

in

he

Hartnett

third and

Dundrum AC at the County Masters Cross Country Championships in Fethard. From left to right: Isla Ryan, Michael Ryan, Catherine Fogarty, Jim Halley, Mairead Julian, Barry Hartnett, Karen Coughlan, Richard Bresnan and Dymphna Ryan. Missing from photo: Emily Leahy.

Dundrum Athletic Club’s women who won Silver in the O35 team event at the County Masters Cross Country Championships in Fethard. From left to right: Catherine Fogarty, Mairead Julian, Karen Coughlan and Dymphna Ryan. Missing from photo Emily Leahy.

Kealey Tideswell (Clonmel AC, Silver Over 40) and Dymphna Ryan (Dundrum AC, Gold Over 40) battle it out at the County Masters Cross Country Championships in Fethard on Sunday week last.

Dundrum AC’s men at the County Masters Cross Country Championships in Fethard. From left to right: Barry Hartnett, Michael Ryan, Jim Halley and Richard Bresnan.

also won a silver medal in the Over 40 category.

Next across the finishing line were 22nd Jim Halley, 23rd Richard Bresnen and 26th Michael Ryan. The Dundrum AC team finished sixth overall.

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Exciting League start for Tipperary as young guns snatch draw in Carlow

Allianz National Football League Division 4

CARLOW 2-13 TIPPERARY 1-16

The Philly Ryan era got off to an exciting start in Netwatch Dr Cullen Park on Saturday evening when his young Tipperary charges snatched a draw that for long periods had looked very unlikely. With five debutants in the starting line-up, Tipperary supporters travelled to Carlow more in hope than expectation. Coming away from the game, those same supporters now know that while the 2025 Tipperary Senior Football team may need a little bit of time to develop their game, they possess one invaluable quality - they can keep their heads in a crisis.

The opening round of the Allianz National Football League also saw the new rules of Gaelic Football unveiled for the first time in competitive action. Over the past few years, in various hostelries around the county, I was often co-opted into debates on the current state of Gaelic football. I used the word ‘debate’ — but indeed there is very little debate on this question: there is almost total consensus. Gaelic Football as a spectacle was in real trouble and changes needed to be made. Former Dublin manager, Jim Gavin was the man entrusted with making the changes and even if some people think that he has tried to bring in too many changes all at once, the one thing we can all agree on is, that doing nothing was not an option.

It is of course too early to make a definitive call on how these changes will work in the long term and while one pheasant never made an autumn, the general consensus amongst supporters after the first weekend of league action, is the game is heading in the right direction.

Tipperary started brightly with Mark Russell winning the throw-in and putting a point on the board after 15 seconds. Carlow responded almost immediately with a fisted point from Aaron Amond. Points from Sean O’Connor, Conor Fahey (free) and a tidy left footed effort from Steven O’Brien were all cancelled out by Carlow to leave the score level at 4 points each at the end of the first quarter.

After a frantic and impressive opening to the game, Tipperary’s play then went flat, and they were punished heavily. Kevin Murphy scored a twopoint free for Carlow which was quickly followed by a Ross Dunphy point from play. Then on 23 minutes, Carlow was awarded what looked like a very soft penalty. Full forward, Conor Crowley cut in from the right-hand side and saw his shot stopped on the line by Luke Boland. The danger looked to be averted but to everyone’s surprise, including the vocal home support, referee Eoin Morrissey spread his arms to indicate a penalty. Aaron Amond made no mistake from the spot. Over the next 5 minutes, Conor Crowley tagged on three more points (including two frees). Tipperary now trailed by 8 points (1:10 to 0.05) and looked in real trouble. But, as we’ve seen at club level over the past few years, you’d want to have the months mind mass said before you could declare a Philly Ryan team dead and to their credit, Tipperary picked themselves up to score the last two scores of the half with points from Sean O’Connor and Jack Harney.

During the interval the team underwent open surgery. Jimmy Feehan, Emmet Moloney and Darragh Brennan had all picked up knocks and were replaced with Tadhg Condon, Jack O’Neill and Mikey O’Shea. All three contributed greatly when introduced.

In the opening scene of Act 2, Mark Russell found Michael Freaney with a 40-yard kickpass and the debutant, who earlier had assisted with Tipperary’s last two points of the first half, calmly slotted the ball to the front of the net. From the kick-out, Carlow worked it up the field to corner forward Ross Dunphy who fired a rocket into the top corner. Then from the Tipperary kick-out, the ball was worked to Mark Russell, who made his own little piece of history by becoming the first Tipperary footballer to kick a twopoint score. It was a trademark score from Russell, and it would

rissey awarded Carlow a second penalty (that looked even softer than the first one), all Tipperary hearts sank. With regular penalty taker Aaron Amond now off the field, the responsibility fell to Kevin Murphy to try put the game to bed. However, his low powerful shot was brilliantly parried away by Shane Ryan. The young debutant keeper had kept his goal neat and tidy all day and made a number of fine saves, but the penalty save was the best and most vital of the lot.

time, Carlow would once again discover that crime doesn’t pay.

A foul on Sean O’Connor gave the Commercials sharpshooter the opportunity from 25 yards, Sean posted the ball over the bar to level the match.

But we weren’t finished yet. With the last kick of the game

not surprise me if I heard that he and William Tell are closely related. Shortly after, Sean O’Connor added a pair of frees and with 25 minutes still left on the clock, Tipp had reduced the Carlow led to just two points. This was end-to-end football with players and supporters barely getting time to draw their breath.

Three Carlow points over the next 5 minutes looked to have put a halt to the Tipperary gallop and when referee Eoin Mor-

Re-energised, Tipperary powered forward again and with 5 minutes remaining, substitute Cian Smith kicked his first point for Tipperary with a left football free following a foul on Stephen O’Brien. The gap was now down to 3 points. Two minutes later, O’Brien himself stood over a 50-yard free kick. Distance was never going to be an issue for the big Ballina man, so the only question was had he the accuracy from that far out? O’Brien, so often the yeast in the Tipperary loaf, answered the question with the minimum of fuss and the ball sailed over the black spot for another two-point score.

Carlow were now hanging on to a one-point lead and for them the clock seemed to be going slower and slower while the Tipperary hand of the clock seemed to be going faster and faster. Then as we entered abnormal

Carlow had a chance to grab all two points when they were awarded a free, albeit from a very difficult angle. Before the free was taken, the Carlow supporters were animated that Tipperary had failed to keep 3 players up front. Under the new rules this would have meant the ball would be moved into the 13m line but the referee, his linesmen (or line umpires as they are now known) and the assistant referee were satisfied that no rules were broken. When Paddy McDonnell’s effort fell short, Eoin Morrissey immediately signalled full stop, and this pulsating game ended in a draw.

Philly Ryan and his cabinet will be satisfied with a point that looked unlikely for long periods of this game. They will be immensely proud of how their team performed for the majority of the game while at the same time reflecting on that “flat spot” they hit in the second quarter that allowed Carlow to build up an 8-point advantage. However, there were far more positives than negatives in this

performance. Over the course of the game eight players made their debut and all eight performed heroically. If there are any daisies in Netwatch Dr Cullen Park, Cathal Deely and Ben Comerford will have spotted them. The covered every inch of the field a few times over. For Tipperary football supporters, the heart and flair the team played with was a throwback to the football Tipperary tried to play during the “glory days” over the past 15 years and one couldn’t help feeling that the future of Tipperary football is a lot brighter than some people would lead you to believe.

Tipperary Scorers: S O’Connor 0-4 (2fs) M Russell 0-4 (1-2p), S O’Brien. 0-3 (1-2pf), M. Freaney (1-00), C. Deeley, J Harney, C.Smith (f) C. Fahey (f), E Power 0-1 each Carlow Scorers: A Amond 1-2 (1-0 pen), R Dunphy 1-2, C Crowley 0-4 (1f), K Murphy 0-2 (Two point Free), Conor Doyle, M Bambrick, J Murphy 0-1 each TIPPERARY: Shane Ryan (Clonmel Commercials ); Manus McFadden (Grangemockler/Ballyneale), Jimmy Feehan (Killenaule), Emmett Moloney (Portlaoise ); Eoghan Power (Ballina), Luke Boland (Moyle Rovers), Jack Harney (Moyle Rovers); Cathal Deeley (Clonmel Commercials), Mark Russell (Aherlow ); Michael Freaney (Kilsheelan/Kilcash), Stephen O’Brien (Ballina, Capt,), Ben Comerford (Grangemockler/ Ballyneale); Conor Fahey (Upperchurch/Drombane), Sean O’Connor (Clonmel Commercials ), Darragh Brennan (Ballyporeen ).

Subs: Jack O’Neill (Ardfinnan) for Moloney (HT); Michael O’Shea (Mullinahone) for Brennan (HT); Tadgh Condon (Clonmel Commercials) for Feehan (HT); Cian Smith (Clonmel Commercials) for Fahey (55); Michael Barlow (Ardfinnan ) for Freaney (60).

CARLOW: Johnny Fury, Paddy Regan , Mark Furey , Colin Byrne ; Shane Clarke , Ciaran Moran , Mikey Bambrick ; Ian Atkinson , Liam Brennan ; Aaron Amond , Conor Doyle , Paddy McDonnell ; Conor Crowley, Ross Dunphy , Kevin Murphy . Subs: John Murphy for Mo-

ran; Niall Hickey for Amond; Daragh O’Brien for Dunphy. Referee: Eoin Morrissey (Waterford).

Tipperary football manager Philly Ryan can be well pleased with the battling spirit shown by his young side away to Carlow in the first game of this year’s Allianz National Football League

Tipperary’s Mikey O’Shea is surrounded by three Carlow players during Saturday’s Allianz National Football League opener between the sides at Netwatch Cullen Park, Carlow

THE VIEW by Noel Dundon

Hearty victory in Salthill sets hurlers up nicely, Harty history needed against St Flannan’s, boost for footballers with point in Carlow

A final tally of 3-25 and ten scores from all across the pitch. It doesn’t get much better than that when it comes to trips to the seaside town of Salthill.

Liam Cahill will be well pleased with the opening sortee in the Allianz National Hurling League. Winning in Salthill can be difficult, so to come away with the victory in so comprehensive a manner gives a great boost to the squad as they continue their journey through the league. Given that we have a home tie against Wexford next Sunday - a Wexford side which lost heavily to Cork last weekend - the chance of winning a second game on the bounce is a very real possibility.

That would ensure that Tipperary remain in the top level for the 2026 campaign and it also means that the shackles can be removed and Liam Cahill’s men can have a real go at perhaps making it to the final - the top two teams in the group will contest the final this year as there will be no semi-final games. But, back to the Galway tie - a nice touch having a minute of silence in memory of the late MICK FOGARTY. A proud Thurles Sarsfields man hailing from the townsland of Killahara, Mick who lived in Woodford for many years was heavily involved in Galway GAA, acting as selector with numerous county teams.

Mick Fogarty would have delighted in Tipperary’s performance on the day - a first competitive outing

in seven months.

His native county was well organised, full of energy through those young legs, and yet had an experienced spine which held everything together. In fact, had it not been for two soft goals, Galway would have been thoroughly thrashed, a reality which will surely have worried new boss Micheal O’Donoghue - such defeats on home turf do not go down too well anywhere, but especially with the Tribesmen.

Still, it is only the first round of the league, played in January. And, while Galway will not be conducting a major inquisition just yet, neither should we be getting carried away. It would appear that we have much to look forward to in the developing careers of a number of our league debutants. Sam O’Farrell, Dylan Walsh and Darragh McCarthy did very well, while Andrew Ormonde was also in sparkling form.

Willie Connors hurled a hell of a lot of ball at midfield and it was great to see Seamus Kennedy making an appearance late on - what superb shape he is in following that lengthy lay-off due to injury.

So, Wexford for the Bank Holiday weekend visit to Thurles then - another chance to check out the Premier talent ahead of the stern tests against the likes of Kilkenny, Cork, Limerick and Clare.

Wexford will come with venom in their ash plants following that humiliating defeat at the hands of Cork on opening day. They too are experimenting

and Keith Rossiter will perhaps use the game to blood more players - what better place to do it than in FBD Semple Stadium.

Harty heavyweights slug it out in final

Thurles CBS go in search of a ninth Dr Harty Cup title in Mallow on Saturday and they will have the whole of Tipperary cheering them on. It’s ten years since they claimed the famed silverware and if they are to do it, they will have to make history by beating St Flannan’s of Ennis for the first time in a final - reverses against them in 1954 and 2005 hurt the Thurles school greatly.

In fact, they have been runners-up on 11 occasions already and will not want to make it the perfect dozen.

It will take a season’s best performance to down the Clare boys, but Thurles have been improving with every game and next Saturday is the day they will want to produce their ace cards when they come to the table to roll the dice.

We wish them the very best in their endeavours.

Footballers off to a fine start

Philly Ryan’s senior footballers earned a well deserved point on their visit to Carlow - a real shot in

the arm for a new team which is working very hard to make an impact.

Coming from behind and coping with the new rules as well, Tipperary taking a point from Dr Cullen Park is nothing to be sniffed at - we have often found it very hard to get anything from that particular venue in recent times.

Longford next Saturday in FBD Semple Stadium is next up for the lads - a win would do very nicely indeed.

More from THE VIEW anon. Don‘t miss it. THE VIEW:

ROWATHON - celebrating 155 years of rowing on the Suir - and rowing to New York, well kind of...

With the National Coursing Meeting taking place in Powerstown Park, Clonmel this weekend, it’s a good time to remember that onetime wonder greyhound Master McGrath, was bred down in Colligan, near Dungarvan. He won the Waterloo Cup in England three times, the blue riband event for coursing greyhounds. His second win came in 1869, the same year that Clonmel Rowing Club was founded. Since then, many crews have worn the club colours, (blue and white vertical stripes) with distinction both at home and abroad.

Last weekend, Daire Lynch received the Annerville Award for Rowing from the Tipperary United Sports Panel at a function in the Talbot Hotel in Clonmel and another award from Rowing Ireland for being part of the crew to

win Ireland’s first heavyweight mens Olympic rowing medal.

To celebrate 155 years of rowing in Clonmel, the club has hit upon the idea of a rowathongetting all club members and dragon paddlers to clock up 5,000 metres/day on the rowing machine for the month of February.

With all the members getting on board, the total distance covered will be the equivalent of rowing across the Atlantic to New York. No slouches when it comes to fundraising, the committee intend to have a Go Fund Me which can be accessed through the CRC Facebook page. The plan is to use the funds to refurbish the equipment in the gym.

We hope to take part in St. Michaels HOR on Saturday, 8th February.

LEFT: Enjoying the Annerville Awards at the Talbot Hotel on Saturday night last were at back Niall Lynch (Daire’s father) and Tom Fennessey, with Jimmy Fennessy (front). Tom and Jimmy have been life-long stalwarts of the club and were delighted to be there to support clubmate Daire Lynch who was honoured with the rowing award.

RIGHT: Daire Lynch who received the Annerville Award for Rowing from the Tipperary United Sports Panel and another award from Rowing Ireland for being part of the crew to win Ireland’s first heavyweight mens Olympic rowing medal.

Tipperary football manager, Philly Ryan