Fethard-on-Sea

Fethard-on-Sea (Fiodh Ard in Irish), or Fethard, is a village situated in south-west County Wexford, Ireland on the eastern side of the base of the Hook peninsula.

History

Now known as a fishing village and holiday resort, in past times Fethard was a place of some importance. It was the site of Norman landings in the 12th century, and the remains of Norman-era earthworks and fortifications may be seen at Baginbun Bay, south of Ingard Point.

A 12th-century castle was built by Raymond le Gros, which passed to the Bishop of Ferns and was used as an episcopal residence. There is little evidence of the castle today. Alexander Devereux (the 16th century bishop of Ferns and Abbot of Dunbrody) is buried in St Mogue's Church (Church of Ireland)

Fethard was granted a charter by James I, and became a municipal borough, sending 2 members to the Irish parliament, before its dissolution. In 1798 a harbour was built and was a landing site for French troops during the revolutionary wars.

In modern times the main industries have been fishing and tourism. The village has a population of 253. It lies in the electoral district of Fethard in the constituency of County Wexford. It is bordered by the districts of Bannow and Ballyhack.

A parish in the Catholic diocese of Ferns, Fethard is bordered by the parishes of Templetown and Poulfur.

Ne Temere decree incident

In May 1957, Fethard-on-Sea found itself embroiled in controversy related to the Ne Temere decree. A Roman Catholic priest, Father Stafford and his parishioners started a boycott of Protestant-owned local businesses; a Protestant music teacher lost 12 of her 13 pupils, and the Catholic teacher of the local Protestant school was forced to resign. The boycott was in response to the actions of a Protestant woman, Sheila Kelly Cloney. Mrs. Cloney had left both her Catholic husband, Sean Cloney, and the village, taking her two daughters, rather than sending them to the local National (Catholic) School as Father Stafford demanded. The boycott received national and international coverage through the summer (some TDs regarded this as a case of kidnapping), before ending that autumn. Sean Cloney himself was boycotted as he continued to frequent the Protestant shops Eventually the family was reconciled, with the daughters being home-schooled and not attending their parents' churches.

In 1998, the diocese's bishop publicly apologised for the boycott.

The Film

A movie, A Love Divided (1999) was made about the Cloney family, starring Irish actress Orla Brady as Sheila Cloney. The film itself also proved to be controversial, with allegations of fabrications and historical misrepresentation, and the omission of important facts relating to the case. Press criticism in Ireland focused on one of the movie's writers, Gerry Gregg, a Communist and former member of The Workers Party of Ireland, who was accused of antagonism towards both the Catholic Church and Irish Republicanism.