Fethardteamsmade itdespitefireonbus

October 1980

Sunday was, by all accounts, a memorable one for Fethard GAA club and its players - both on the field and off it.

The Fethard Junior ‘B’ hurling team and their under-14 football side were engaged in games at Bellefield in Enniscorthy. And, as the two fixtures were consecutive ones, the club decided to run a special bus.

Unfortunately, the bus went on fire at Adamstown, after completing just over half the journey, when the brakes stuck. Luckily for everyone, there was a small fire extinguisher on the bus, and damage caused was minimal.

A fleet of cars following the bus got the under-14 players to Bellefield in time for their 12.45 p.m. throw-in, while a member of the junior team, who is a mechanic, did a temporary repair job on the deficient brake, and Wexford Co. Councillor Hugh Byrne then drove the ailing vehicle towards Enniscorthy at a steady 20 m.p.h.

The bus driver, meantime, had phoned for a replacement and it quickly arrived and the journey to – and from – Bellefield was completed without further incident.

Of the games themselves, the under-14 footballers were beaten by Davidstown in their county final, but the hurlers won and qualified for the junior final. The victory, which means that Fethard will contest their first ever county hurling final, was suitably celebrated into the early hours of Monday.