Clonakenny GAA - Club Facilities

Club Facilities

In 1981 it was decided to undertake the purchase off a new playing field both as an investment in the youth of the parish and as a resource for the whole community. For several years Clonakenny teams had trained in "Fr. Kennedy’s" as it was known – it was in fact a parochial field located two fields down from the parochial house in Lismacken. Support for that decision was received from Tom Kirby and Paddy Maher who were Co. Board appointed Development Officers and their advice proved invaluable to the Club Officers. The Club did its own property in Gurteen – a field which had been secured from the Land Commission at the turn of the century. This field would have required too much investment to develop but it proved a valuable asset for the Club and provided the incentive for the officers to recommend the major undertaking of purchasing and developing a pitch.

The search began for a suitable field, eventually a 6-acre (24,000 m2) field was purchased in 1981 from Nicholas Cody in the townland of Corriga. The opening of the new pitch was performed by the then President of the GAA, Mr. Paddy Buggy, on Sept. 16th 1984. Fr. Joe O’Brien P.P. blessed the new pitch prior to a juvenile game between Clonakenny and Killavilla. A junior game followed between the local team and our neighbours and great rivals all through the 80’s – Killea for a trophy presented by Oliver Crampton. Clonakenny won a most entertaining game to complete a wonderful occasion for the Club.

In February 1990 it was decided to add Dressing rooms. The Club now have excellent facilities for all players and indeed other organisations such as Foroige and Community Games have availed of the facilities for their respective members.