News
Fethard Ballroom refurbishment
Fethard and Killusty Ballroom CLG. was supported for the refurbishment of Fethard Ballroom.
This project has been co-funded under the European Union Development 2014 - 2020 Leader Programme, which is implemented by South Tipperary Development CLG on behalf of the managing body Tipperary Local Community Development Committee {LCDC}.
FETHARD BALLROOM SUPPORTS UKRAINE
Fethard Ballroom, in solidarity with the people of Ukraine, has decided to donate all profits from their forthcoming Ronan Collins 'Tribute to Irish Showbands' show on Saturday, March 19, to support Alla Dediuk, owner of Alla’s Patisserie, on The Square, Fethard, in her fundraising campaign to aid the people of Ukraine in their fight for freedom against the invading military forces from Russia. Alla and her family come from Ukraine and have received tremendous support locally for her campaign. Fethard Ballroom asks you to support Alla and Ukraine by coming along to see Ronan Collins and his band's 'Tribute to Irish Showbands' on Saturday, March 19, in Fethard Ballroom. Photographed outside Fethard Ballroom are L to R: Sean O'Donovan (Fethard Ballroom), Alla Dediuk (Alla’s Patisserie), and Eileen Coady (Fethard Ballroom).
Fethard Ballroom is open again.
A night of celebration will take place in Fethard to mark the reopening of the legendary ballroom venue in the town.
Significant renovation work, including the provision of a new roof, combined with the Covid pandemic, meant the ballroom lay idle for the last two years.
Social dancing has resumed but the first big night to be held at the ballroom takes place on Saturday, March 19.
Ronan Collins will bring his Showband Hits and Stories to the Fethard Ballroom to kick off a new era in entertainment at the popular hall.
“It will be a celebration to mark the reopening of the ballroom. We are all delighted that the big nights are back in Fethard,” said Sean O’Donovan, one of the team of locals behind a fundraising campaign to fund the new roof and the renovation project.
Sean said that the building was now in top shape and he thanked everybody involved in creating an opportunity for the major entertainment nights to return.
“The new roof and securing funding to back it up was a huge task and we are thrilled that the venue is now set up for the future,” said Sean.
The show is a huge event for Fethard Ballroom as it is the first major gig to be held at the venue for some years.
Covid and the significant renovation work carried out to the building brought an enforced period of inactivity for the venue.
Now it is all systems go and for the showbands extravaganza.
Ronan Collins will be making a return to Fethard after a long number of years.
He appeared at the Fethard Ballroom years ago as a guest with Gina & The Champions and also when he was a drummer with the Dickie Rock band in the mid seventies.
The show, as the name suggests, is a night of nostalgia with songs and memories of the great showband stars like Butch Moore, Joe Dolan, Dickie Rock, Brendan O’Brien, Sean Dunphy and many more.
Ronan’s interest in showbands goes back to about 1967 when he saw Dickie Rock and The Miami in the Adelphi Cinema in Dublin and his fascination with the bands began when he started playing drums with various bands in Dublin which led to Ronan getting a job with Dickie Rock’s band in 1976.
After over three years on the road however Ronan left the touring and travelling and started a new career as a radio presenter with the new RTE 2 radio, the beginning of nearly forty three years of broadcasting.
But the love of playing and performing never left Ronan’s heart and in 2008 he returned to the stage with the Ronan Collins Showband Show which was followed by the acclaimed Ronan Collins Reeling in the Showband Years show.
Now in 2022 Ronan is back on the road with Showband Hits and Stories with the Sugarcubes band featuring Karen Black of the Nevada and Musical Director Eugene McCarthy leading a five piece band
You can sit and relax and listen or you can get up and dance the night away as Ronan has asked that there be some floor space available for dancing.
And unlike the old days in the ballrooms there will be a bar with refreshments available, and a bar extension, and of course tea, coffee and minerals.
So make it a date - Saturday, March 19 for the long St Patrick’s Day weekend.
The show is on at 8pm and tickets are available at Fethard Post Office.(052 6131217).
Significant renovation work, including the provision of a new roof, combined with the Covid pandemic, meant the ballroom lay idle for the last two years.
Social dancing has resumed but the first big night to be held at the ballroom takes place on Saturday, March 19.
Ronan Collins will bring his Showband Hits and Stories to the Fethard Ballroom to kick off a new era in entertainment at the popular hall.
“It will be a celebration to mark the reopening of the ballroom. We are all delighted that the big nights are back in Fethard,” said Sean O’Donovan, one of the team of locals behind a fundraising campaign to fund the new roof and the renovation project.
Sean said that the building was now in top shape and he thanked everybody involved in creating an opportunity for the major entertainment nights to return.
“The new roof and securing funding to back it up was a huge task and we are thrilled that the venue is now set up for the future,” said Sean.
The show is a huge event for Fethard Ballroom as it is the first major gig to be held at the venue for some years.
Covid and the significant renovation work carried out to the building brought an enforced period of inactivity for the venue.
Now it is all systems go and for the showbands extravaganza.
Ronan Collins will be making a return to Fethard after a long number of years.
He appeared at the Fethard Ballroom years ago as a guest with Gina & The Champions and also when he was a drummer with the Dickie Rock band in the mid seventies.
The show, as the name suggests, is a night of nostalgia with songs and memories of the great showband stars like Butch Moore, Joe Dolan, Dickie Rock, Brendan O’Brien, Sean Dunphy and many more.
Ronan’s interest in showbands goes back to about 1967 when he saw Dickie Rock and The Miami in the Adelphi Cinema in Dublin and his fascination with the bands began when he started playing drums with various bands in Dublin which led to Ronan getting a job with Dickie Rock’s band in 1976.
After over three years on the road however Ronan left the touring and travelling and started a new career as a radio presenter with the new RTE 2 radio, the beginning of nearly forty three years of broadcasting.
But the love of playing and performing never left Ronan’s heart and in 2008 he returned to the stage with the Ronan Collins Showband Show which was followed by the acclaimed Ronan Collins Reeling in the Showband Years show.
Now in 2022 Ronan is back on the road with Showband Hits and Stories with the Sugarcubes band featuring Karen Black of the Nevada and Musical Director Eugene McCarthy leading a five piece band
You can sit and relax and listen or you can get up and dance the night away as Ronan has asked that there be some floor space available for dancing.
And unlike the old days in the ballrooms there will be a bar with refreshments available, and a bar extension, and of course tea, coffee and minerals.
So make it a date - Saturday, March 19 for the long St Patrick’s Day weekend.
The show is on at 8pm and tickets are available at Fethard Post Office.(052 6131217).
RQD Dance.
Thanks to Sean and Eileen for inviting RQD to Fethard Ballroom for "Five to Jive" Well done to all the dancers.
Myself and @_zoetierney_ had a great time. Looking forward to the next 4 weeks!!
Come and join in folks, what better to do on a Monday than dance on a lovely ballroom floor in your local hall 💃🕺
Thanks to Sean and Eileen for inviting RQD to Fethard Ballroom for "Five to Jive" Well done to all the dancers.
Myself and @_zoetierney_ had a great time. Looking forward to the next 4 weeks!!
Come and join in folks, what better to do on a Monday than dance on a lovely ballroom floor in your local hall 💃🕺
With our investment of more than €200,000 in Fethard Ballroom to replace the roof on the building. We wish to thank Sara O'Dwyer at South Tipperary Development Company for all her assistance in processing our Leader Grant application. In addition we thank our local sponsors and voluntary members past and present who made it possible to raise funds to complete this essential work. This work
will safeguard Fethard Ballroom for use by future for generations to come.
will safeguard Fethard Ballroom for use by future for generations to come.
Peter Grant P.R.O. Company Secretary, Fethard Ballroom.
Sean O'Donovan, Vice Chairman/Chairman of Building Committee, Fethard Ballroom. Kenneth Hennessy B.Arch B.Sc. FRIAI, Project Manager. Noel Ryan, Building Contractor.
Sean O'Donovan, Vice Chairman/Chairman of Building Committee, Fethard Ballroom. Kenneth Hennessy B.Arch B.Sc. FRIAI, Project Manager. Noel Ryan, Building Contractor.
Ballroon in Lockdown
We are grateful to Tipperary County Council for their assistance to us under the District Community Grants Scheme 2020.
It is a great comfort to us in these times to know that we have the support of our local council. The monies they have awarded will go towards our basic running costs, which in turn will enable us to plan for the resumption of our charitable activities at the earliest possible time.
We're looking forward to future collaboration with Tipp. CoCo and the continuation of what to us is a key working relationship.
Development Plans
Recent death of Ballroom Director
We wish to record the sad news of the passing of Gay Horan.
Gay was a man of quiet disposition who served as Chairman of Fethard and Killusty Ballroom CLG. for many years and presided over the transition to the current committee four years ago. Gay was a hands on person who solved the practical issues using his own practical skills and giving generously of his time. May He rest in peace.
Gay was a man of quiet disposition who served as Chairman of Fethard and Killusty Ballroom CLG. for many years and presided over the transition to the current committee four years ago. Gay was a hands on person who solved the practical issues using his own practical skills and giving generously of his time. May He rest in peace.
David O"Donnell R.I.P. founder member
Our final farewell to David O"Donnell R.I.P. founder member of Fethard & Killusty Ballroom Co. Ltd.
We record the death of David O'Donnell a great friend of Fethard Ballroom.
Back in 1972 we invited David to help out with the purchase of Fethard Ballroom which was derelict at that time. David was a regular at the card games on the Friday nights at the Tirry Centre. We had no idea the energy and enthusiasm he would bring to the project. Within a few days we were en route to meet with the owner Danny Doyle in New Ross where we spent a few hours getting a deal over the line.
David and Shelia worked day and night of what was a great labour of love over the next few years, until the Hall finances were in good stead. David loved dancing and was always on the look our for a patron that was in need of a dance partner while Shelia held fort in the kitchen. David retired from dancing due to ill health is recent years but took pride in his music system which he had set up with all his favourite bands on disc in his home. May He rest in peace.
Back in 1972 we invited David to help out with the purchase of Fethard Ballroom which was derelict at that time. David was a regular at the card games on the Friday nights at the Tirry Centre. We had no idea the energy and enthusiasm he would bring to the project. Within a few days we were en route to meet with the owner Danny Doyle in New Ross where we spent a few hours getting a deal over the line.
David and Shelia worked day and night of what was a great labour of love over the next few years, until the Hall finances were in good stead. David loved dancing and was always on the look our for a patron that was in need of a dance partner while Shelia held fort in the kitchen. David retired from dancing due to ill health is recent years but took pride in his music system which he had set up with all his favourite bands on disc in his home. May He rest in peace.