Local club and organisation officials, councillors and TD’s met at the site of the yet to be built sports complex in Derreen this week to turn the sod and mark the start of an exciting new amenity for the town.

The project was given the green light by a special assembly of the Killarney Municipal District during the Summer. The development is on council-owned land situated between the Killarney Celtic soccer club and the Legion GAA club in Derreen. Site clearance will begin over the coming days with steel works to commence in the next four to six weeks.

The single-story community hall will house two basketball courts, a versatile multipurpose room, a meeting space, a gym, a Judo room, changing facilities, restrooms, storage areas, and a coffee room. The development also encompasses an outdoor playground, parking spaces, a raised pedestrian crossing, lighting, and sidewalks.

The Kerry Stars Special Olympics Club, St. Paul’s Basketball Club, and Killarney Judo Club will all benefit from access to this building. These three groups have come together to form Derreen Sports Centre CLG, which will oversee and operate the sports facility.

To finance this venture, the council has secured just under €1 million through the Community Recognition Fund, and additional funding sources, including road grants and sports capital funding, will be pursued to complete the project.

The development is utilising only one-third of the council-owned land at Derreen, and discussions are underway regarding potential plans for the remainder of the site.