The Early Days

Football has been played here from the late 1880s, generally in the meadowlands along the River Moy at (Sraith Garbh) Shrahgarrow, close to the present field. Some matches were played in Aughaward in a field owned by Ryans known locally as Sraith Buach.Cathal Hennelly recalls seeing matches played here.

Local teams affiliated to the East Mayo Board under a variety of names, Foxford, Toomore, Ballyvary, Bohola and latterly, Moy Davitts, an amgalamation of Bohola, Foxford and Straide. When travel was difficult due to petrol shortages during the War years the Foxford fields were a regular venue for county championship games.

Development

The necessity of acquiring a permanent playing pitch was recognised by Pat Conway, long-time Treasurer of Mayo County Board. The arrival of Fr. Paddy Feeley to the parish and the involvement of a local committee, which included Tom Durkan and Dom Geoghegan, gave a new impetus to the efforts to find a suitable playing area. The original pitch was purchased in 1947 at a cos of £400. A meeting took place in Foxford where ten people guaranteed £40 each toward the purchase.

By careful purchasing and the swapping of stripes of land, an area of some 6 acres was eventually bought in the 1950s, and some development work commenced. Latterly, and in line with the necessity of providing better player and spectator facilities, Moy Davitts Club bought additional land, another "stripe" along the existing field. This purchase allowed for the building of dressingrooms and a spectator stand. A fund-raising drive by club members and supporters has defrayed the building costs involved, some £70,000 to date, though much of the labour was done voluntarily. Proper perimeter and pitch fencing has been provided, the access road improved, water and electricity laid on and a good quality car park laid. The end result is a playing pitch and club facilities of which any club can be proud of.

Tom Joyce