Medieval heritage of a Tipperary town to be celebrated at the weekend

Fethard Heritage Day Festival will take place this coming Sunday, August 20, at the medieval town wall at Watergate – a celebration of a medieval heritage and a beautiful town.
This year there will also be a revival of the Fancy Dress Parade tradition which first began in 1926, when over one thousand people travelled to the carnival by train from Clonmel to Fethard, and a similar amount from the Thurles direction.

BANNA CHLUAIN MEALA
This year’s parade will start at Fethard Ballroom at 2pm on Sunday, and the organisers ask those who are entering the parade to assemble at the ballroom from 1.30pm where direction will be given.
The parade will be led by the colourful, award-winning Banna Chluain Meala and their majorettes. There will also be a guest appearance from Tipp FM’s regular contributor, Johnny Looby, who will lead the Fethard Roses (chosen by himself at the final held on Saturday, August 12 at Lonergan’s Bar) in the parade.
The Fancy Dress Parade will travel along Main Street to the square, and then down by Watergate to the medieval town wall where judging will take place.

Fancy dress prizes include €200 for overall best: €100 for Overall 2nd Best.
Fethard Historical Society have also sponsored a €100 prize for best historical theme and childrens 1st and 2nd prizes of €30 and €20 in the same category.
There will also be 1st and 2nd prizes for adult and children in the artistic and original categories.

BEST DRESSED LADY
Carmel Evans, In The Wardrobe, will judge the Best Dressed Lady at the Heritage Day Festival on Sunday, August 20, and is planning lots of exciting prizes for the winner and runner-up.
Carmel will also be on the lookout for a fabulous curvy lady size 18 and upwards to present her new autumn/winter curves collection from In The Wardrobe, Clonmel.

CRAFT AND TRADE
There was a tremendous demand for stalls this year resulting in over 40 craft and trade stalls coming along to offer a huge variety of products to please all types.
These will include: Grantstown Crafts – a small local crafting business making stained glass items, beeswax candles, photography and also upcycling oak whisky barrels into new useful items such as candle holders, bottle openers, whisky flights and much more; Agnes O’Dea - Millie Woo Jewellery & Crafts; Clare Healy – A Dreamy Teepee for sleepover parties and Weddings kids corners; Siobhan Luby - Mo Chroí Illustrations; Sandra Gift store – Ladies shawls/scarves, pendants & kids jewellery, fun necklaces & rings; Michelle Lock - Creative Balloons Fethard; Julie Turner - Crafty Nannie T – Sublimation printing and embroidery and laser engraving.
Further information is available on www.fethardfestival.com or contact Phil at Tel: 087 9762894.

DOG SHOW
This area overlooking the Clashawley river will be the centre of activities for the afternoon from 2pm to 5pm. There will be lots of family entertainment lined up, including traditional craft displays, duck race, art workshops, face painting, food stalls, and plenty of amusements for children to enjoy.

Pat Culligan and Catherine Newport will host their very popular annual dog show after the parade and this event attracts entries from all over the county.
Local group,The Sheehans, will provide live music throughout the afternoon playing all your favourite tunes.

PET FARM
New attractions this year include the Nore Valley Pet Farm who have a variety of animals to see and enjoy from chickens and ostriches to donkeys and deer that they keep at their park, at Bennettsbridge, Kilkenny.
If you are looking for a bird (the feathered type) then make sure you check out Animaniacs at the festival on Sunday, August 20.
Peter and Lynda will have some fabulous birds and also supply everything from cage to feeder if you do need to bring one home.

CHAINSAW CARVINGS
A new attraction this year is the amazing Chainsaw Carvings by Chris Dee. The precision and artistry of his chainsaw carvings have left crowds spellbound all over Ireland and should be a major attraction at this year’s Heritage Day Festival.
Chris will demonstrate a chainsaw carving and will also have some of his work available to purchase on the day.

BLACKSMITH
Another new attraction this year is blacksmith Mark Dillon, a member of Forged In Ireland, who are a group of Irish craftsmen of all levels, interested in sharing information on blacksmithing, bladesmithing, knife making, metal art, tin smithing, metallurgy and anything related.
Mark will demonstrate the art of smithing, and share his skills in Fethard on Sunday, August 20, and will have some of his work available to buy on the day.

GUIDED WALKS
Fethard is now recognised as the most important medieval small town in Ireland and over the week Fethard Historical Society have organised some guided walks of Fethard’s medieval trail.
The first will commence from the Millennium Footbridge at Watergate, at 7pm on Wednesday evening, August 16, and the second guided walk will take place at 11.30am on Saturday, August 19.

AUGUSTINIAN BOOKLET
On Friday night, August 18, the Augustinian Abbey will launch their booklet Fethard Augustinian Abbey 1823-2023, compiled by Fr Iggy O’Donovan OSA, that covers the period from the restoration of the ruined abbey in 1823, up to the present day, 200 years later.
The launch will take place at the Abbey commencing at 8pm, and booklets will be available on the night.
This event is hosted by Fethard Historical Society.

Fethard & Killusty Community Council would like to acknowledge the support of Tipperary County Council, The Heritage Council, Fethard Historical Society, and the many individuals, local businesses and organisations who helped and supported this year’s Heritage Day Festival.