The main aim of any sports club, no matter what the code, is to have their own facilities, grounds, dressing rooms, recreation area etc,. Various attempts were made by St. Senan's during the 60's and early 70's to acquire a field, all to no avail. St. Senan's GAA Club, under the then chairmanship of Robert Barry set up a Sportsfield Committee in the early 80's. After various attempts at purchasing a field the lands at Mountcoal were purchased in 1984 from Tom Kirby. When all the legal documents were completed the development of the field was set in motion. Plans were drawn up, tenders invited, and work got under way. Allman Plant Hire were the main contractors and with the help of the local community, tractors and trailers and drivers were provided to help shift the thousands and thousands of tons of earth in order to level the field. It was drained and seeded.

While all this work was in progress, various fund raising efforts were in operation in order to defray the cost of development. Committee members and voluntary workers gave of their time freely in helping at various stages. This help was, and still is, greatly appreciated and their efforts epitomized the great spirit within the catchment area of St. Senan's.

The first game was played in the field on Easter Sunday, 1987. FAS provided the club with three social employment schemes. Tom Hannon of Pallas was in the first scheme and he did a lot of useful work in cutting hedges, etc. John Fitzmaurice was in the second scheme, and in 1988 a four- man scheme got under way. Edward Molyneaux, Michael Brassil, Francis 0' Callaghan and Jeremiah Carey started work on the fencing of the field. (Tim Loughnane replaced Francis O'Callaghan).

In early 1988 the club applied for and was granted a sum from the National Lottery towards the building of a dressing room. This grant was got with the assistance of Tom McEllistrim T.D. aheich the club greatly appreciated. Plans for a dressing room and hall were then put into play, and in October 1988, Michael Fitzgerald, Building Contractor commenced work on the construction of the building. It was completed in May 1989 and has been in constant use since then.

On December 10th 1989 the Senior Citizens Christmas Party was held there and this proved to be highly successsful.

The hall is now used for meetings, card games on Monday nights, youth club activities and various community groups including the very successful St. Senans Drama group.

This is only the beginning of the story of the development history of the sportsfield - the story will have many more chapter. St. Senan's club would like to express our appreciation and thanks to everybody - our neighbours, our fellow parishioners, our neighbouring parishes and neighbouring clubs, to the County Board of the GAA, to the North Kerry Board, to the National Lottery, to our sponsors of various events, to our advertisers and to everybody who has contributed financially, and to the Ladies' Committee who look after the teas etc., thank you all most sincerely. We. hope that through the years you have seen the benefit to the community of all your efforts.

Go raibh míle maith agaibh.