Timeline of Community Centre Developments : 1979-2013
| 1975 | Land purchased by the community for community centre and field |
| 1977 | Construction of the new community centre 80 foot X 40 begins |
| 1979 | New Community Centre Opens |
| 1986 | GAA Pitch reseeded and fitted out with new posts and fences |
| 1991 | Drive way in community centre tar and chipped |
| 1992 | Nets behind Goals Installed |
| 1999 | Initial discussion about developing community centre site |
| 2000 | Agreement reached with Clyda Rovers GAA and community to develop new facilities jointly |
| 2001 | 7.61 Acres come up for sales around community centre land purchased for £150,000 money was raised for this by a door to door collection within the parish. |
| 2002 | A detailed feasibility study was then carried by MC0COS Consultants for a 10 year development plan |
| 2002 | County council close the public road down the middle of the site to allow development take place |
| 2003 | Various Committee’s set up to organise fundraising draw |
| 2004 | Members travelled the county to sell tickets at €20 for a prize fund of €20,000. Over 10,000 tickets were sold which raised €180,000 |
| 2004 | Kelly’s Bros. Ballydesmond develop the new pitch. This work began in July and was completed in 2005 |
| 2006 | New Pitch Opened & Construction of New Dressing Rooms begin. |
| 2007 | Dressing Rooms opened Second Pitch slightly moved and reseeded new roof put on main hall of community centre |
| 2008 | Clyda install new sprinkler and floodlighting systems in the pitches |
| 2009 | New Extension in the Community Centre started old dressing rooms , toilets and main door knocked down |
| 2010 | Community Centre newly renovated with new multipurpose room and toilets. New Hurling Wall Built |
| 2010 | Site cleared off to finish and new 1Km walkway put around complex with Full Lighting |
| 2011 | Driveway surfaced with tarmac, walkway surfaced with tarmac and all complex fitted with lighting |
| 2013 | New Wall built around community centre |
The Brief Summary New Development 2000-2011
In 2001 land adjacent (7.61 acres) to MourneAbbey Community Centre became available for general sale. Clyda Rovers GAA approached MourneAbbey Community Council to buy this land in conjunction with them as they were anxious to remain in the current facilities which is a Community Based pitch. The land was purchased for a cost of £150,000-00. The money was raised for this by a door to door collection within the parish.
A detailed feasibility study was then carried by MC0COS Consultants for a 10 year development plan. The focal point of this plan was a full size sand based playing pitch. To achieve this required getting the County council to close a public road down the middle of the site. This road divided the land previously purchased. This was achieved in 2002 due the backing of the whole community. After planning was granted it was decided to approach a land owner to purchase an extra ½ acre adjacent to the site to ensure that the pitch was full size. This was concluded in summer 2004 at a cost of €60,000.
The cost of this new pitch was estimated at €250,000. A local fund raising draw began in 2004 where members travelled the county to sell tickets at €20 for a prize fund of €20,000. Over 10,000 tickets were sold which raised €180,000 profit. We also received €100,000 from the lottery and €75,000 from the council in grant aid. A contract was signed with Kelly’s Bros. Ballydesmond to develop the new pitch. This work began in July 2004 but was suspended due to bad weather. It recommenced and was completed in the summer of 2005. The pitch has now been fenced off and is now been played on. This pitch is a state of the art facility and is a credit to all involved. Clyda Rovers have the main call to this pitch and who can use it. It also is involved in maintaining this Pitch The next phase of the project is four new dressing rooms to service this pitch.
A bed push in co-operation with the Irish Guide Dogs for the blind was undertaken in 2006, all Clubs in the Parish provided Volunteers for this and this raised over €45,000 The New Dressing Rooms became operational in 2007. The Next Phase of the Development was the realignment and reseeding of the Second Pitch. This was Started in Late 2006 and this Pitch became operational in 2008. Clyda Rovers GAA Continued the Investment into Both Pitches and the first part of that was to install an electronic score board which was kindly sponsored by Dan O Sullivan Construction. This was installed in 2007.The Next Phase was the Installation of an irrigation system vital for the Long term future of the sand based pitch. At a cost of €30,000 this involved the building of a new tank, drilling for a new pump and water supply and the purchase of the sprinkler system from Sports Irrigation Ireland. This will be operational in 2009.The Installation of Floodlights onto the Sand Based Pitch was suggested in 2007. Planning was secured in Late 2008. Clyda Rovers GAA had 90% of the funding secured to install 400LUX floodlighting. After a tendering Process McSherry Electrical got the job of construction and installation of these light. A Hurling wall was constructed by Clyda Rovers in 2010 and floodlighting installed in 2011. The Redevelopment of the community centre began in 2007 when a new roof was put on the main hall. In 2008 & 2009 the hall was closed as the reception area and old dressing room area’s were demolished and rebuilt. A New Multipurpose room as well as new meeting rooms and toilets were constructed, In 2010 the rest of the site was finished off with a new training pitch being laid and a new parameter walkway constructed. This walkway was surfaced with tarmac in 2011. Lights were put up around this walkway also in 2010. The Main Gate was constructed in 2006 and the main drive way surfaced with tarmac in 2010.