The tragic death of Dick Fitzgerald on September 26th, 1930, was a serious and sad blow to the GAA, but the departure of the great one triggered off a movement which led to the building of the magnificent arena that now honours his name.

Soon after his demise, the Dr.Crokes club, of which he was a former chairman and captain, resolved to perpetuate his memory and decide at a general meeting on November 14th, 1930, to build a memorial park in Killarney. Tremendous enthusiasm was generated and Dr.Crokes set up two committees, one to acquire a suitable site and the other to raise funds at home and abroad. Leading club members like Dr. Eamonn O'Sullivan, Eugene O’ Sullivan and John Clifford, formed the purchase committee while the second committee comprised of people like Con O' Healy, solicitor: Neilus McCarty, Tim O'Mara, Maurice F. O'Leary, Charlie Fleming and Paddy Murphy.

While on tour with the Kerry team in the U.S.A., Dee O'Connor, (Kilcummin) and Paul Russell helped establish sub-committees and soon, dollars were being collected in places like New York, Chicago, Philadelphia and San Francisco.

After lengthy negotiations, a field was purchased for £750 from Dan Courtney in March 1932. Dr. Eamonn went abroad to have a first-hand look at soccer stadia so as to find the best possible design and deputations seeking financial assistance were sent to Munster and Central Councils. The Munster council decided to give £400, while the Central Council came up with £300. It should be pointed out that both bodies regarded their contributions as "investments"- not merely subscriptions to the project and this factor had a vital bearing on who would actually control the stadium.

The East Kerry Board was concerned at the time that Dr. Crokes would have total control and Board chairman, Ned Moynihan, expressed this concern in a motion to the county board in March 1933. At the time, there were very few pitches in East Kerry.
Eugene O'Sullivan, however, stressed that the stadium was initiated by Dr. Crokes and, even though the clubs of Kerry had not contributed anything, the field would be available to every properly constituted club.

Accessibility to the stadium is a matter of concern to GAA clubs throughout East Kerry to this day and it was a particularly contentious issue in the 1930's and 40's.
At the 1946 East Kerry convention, for instance, Rathmore proposed that control of the stadium be handed over to the East Kerry Board. A decision was not taken, however, and it was agreed to refer the matter to the County Board "to define the position."

But the County Board was reluctant to become involved in East Kerry GAA politics, and at a meeting early in 1946, John Joe Sheehy of Tralee probably reflected feelings when he suggested that the problem should be resolved by the people of Killarney themselves.

Construction plans were drawn up in 1932 with the expert help of Principal of Killarney Technical School, Michael Reidy, who designed all the concrete work, and town surveyor, John Galvin, who gave the necessary levels. A large hillock ran from the elevated mental hospital wall to the center of the present playing area. The removal of this hillock - soil was transferred to other parts of the pitch left anembankment later to be terraced, which now constitutes the splendid uncovered match-viewing area.

A fine cinder-based cycling track was provided on the periphery of the playing pitch. Patients from the mental hospital made a huge contribution, and this led to criticism. But, Dr. Eamonn O' Sullivan, chief psychiatrist at the hospital, argued strongly that such work was of therapeutic value to patients and said it was the first significant stage of the occupational therapy department later to be developed at the hospital.

In any case, the hospital committee gave approval for the use of patients in the venture as did the Minister for Local Government. It should also be stated that members and supporters of Dr. Crokes put in a big voluntary effort.

At the time, the estimated cost of the development was put at £24,000, but only about £3,000 was spent as most of the labour was provided free of charge. Fitzgerald Stadium was officially opened in ideal weather on Whit Sunday, May 31st, 1936, by Most Rev. Dr. J. M. Harty, Archbishop of Cashel and Patron of the GAA and a blessing was performed by the Bishop of Kerry, Dr. O'Brien. Eugene O'Sullivan, Chairman Killarney UDC and President of the Dick Fitzgerald Memorial Committee presided. In a glowing address, Dr. Harty said the stadium was in harmony with surrounding scenes of splendour and added: "This park is the finest playground in Ireland and can compare favourably with any stadium in the whole world.

It is magnificent in its magnitude and perfect in the arrangement of its accommodation."
A crowd estimated at well over 20,000 enjoyed a hurling challenge between Cork & Tipperary and a football game between Kerry & Mayo.

Through the years, Fitzgerald stadium has been the venue for many notable events including the 1937 All-Ireland Hurling Final; the Eucharistic congress; the Munster hurling final in 1950 and 1971; a football challenge between the touring Australian side and Kerry in 1968; and the Munster hurling and football finals (1986) to mention just a few.

Development work continued and in the 1940's the terrace was extended; sideline seating was provided for the first time; the Munster football finals were staged there and additional property was purchased on the town side.
The 1950's saw the building of an embankment on the town side; the acquisition of property at the western end; the erection of sideline entrances and the redesigning of the Terrace.

Four dressing rooms were built in the 1960's and major resodding and reseeding jobs were carried out on the pitch. In 1965, Michael O'Connor took over as secretary of the Stadium Committee and made an enormous contribution to the improvement of facilities during a term of office which lasted until 1980.

A new stand-cum-pavilion, dedicated to the memory of the late Dr. Eamon O'Sullivan and costing £100,000, was officially opened in June 1977 by Mr. Sean O'Siochain, then Director General of the GAA. The grounds were further refurbished in 1980’s and a £300,000 development, including a new sand carpet playing surface and the extension westwards of the existing stand, ensured that the stadium would retain its status as one of the best in the country.

A half -century of wear and tear meant that the pitch was in dire need of renewal and Mr. Joe Prunty, a former Fermanagh footballer, was given a £70,000 contract to lay a sand surface playing area. The technique involved the installation of a complex drainage system on a graded site, followed by the addition of a 100mm layer of fine sand.

The pitch was designed for use in all kinks of weather and Mr. Prunty had constructed many similiar playing areas in soccer, rugby and GAA grounds.
Both the pitch and the extended stand were opened in the summer of 1986.

A five-man Board of Trustees, with representatives of the Central Council, Munster / Council Kerry County Board, Dr. Crokes and the Stadium Committee are responsible for the stadium. The locally drawn Stadium Committee is charged with maintenance and administration.

1996/97:

1997: State of the art Press Box built

1998: Eastern end of Michael O’Connor terrace was redeveloped.

1999: Steam System installed in dressing rooms

2001: Ball catchment nets installed behind both goals.
Plaque erected in Michael O’Connor Terrace to honour the contribution of patients of St. Finan’s 1930-1936 in the development of the Stadium.

2003: New seating and presentation area installed in the Dr. Eamonn Stand.

Future Planned Development
- Redevelop both ends of the ground to the standard of the Michael O’Connor Terrace incorporating new dressing rooms and covered areas.

- Install Further toilet facilities in the Terrace and modify access/egress from St. Finans Avenue.

- Modernise turnstiles incorporating crowd entrance/ capacity monitoring system.

Dr. Eamonn O’Sullivan
Born in Firies in 1879, the son of J.P O’Sullivan, a well known athlete and a member of the first Kerry football team to play in an All Ireland final in 1892. Dr Eamonn too had a life long interest in football and athletics.

He won an All Ireland javelin title in 1922 and was captain of the U.C.D Sigerson Cup team in 1923 and 1924. During his life he organised many sports meetings under the auspices of the N.A.C.A but he is best remembered as the trainer of eight All Ireland winning Kerry teams between 1924 and 1962 and as the driving force behind the building of Fitzgerald Stadium.

In 1927 he helped to establish the interprovincial football and hurling championships for colleges. He was president of the Dr. Crokes club, Killarney, President of the Kerry Co. Board GAA and president of the Kerry Board N.A.C.A. His book, "The Art and Science of Gaelic Football", was published in 1958. He died in October 1966.

Dick Fitzgerald
One of the greatest football forwards the game has known. He was born in Killarney in 1884. While attending Presentation Brothers College, Cork, he played with the Nils club. He later joined the Dr. Crokes Club, Killarney and helped them win County Championships in 1901, 1913 and 1914. He won five all Ireland medals with Kerry in 1903, 1904, 1909, 1913, and 1914. The first treatise on Gaelic Games, his book “How to Play Gaelic Football", was published in 1914. He was interned in Frongach after the 1916 rising and took part in the War of Independence. He was chairman of East Kerry Board of the G.A.A, and a member of the County Board, Munster Council and Central Council. He was also a member of the Killarney U.D.C. He died in September 1930 on the eve of the All Ireland Final between Kerry and Monaghan.

Michael O’Connor
We, the rank-and-file, associate Michael O’Connor, above all others with the major developments in Fitzgerald stadium over the past twenty years as Michael O’Connor, hon. Secretary of the stadium Committee, 1965-1980. Principal teacher at Annablaha N.S., Killarney, he played hurling and football for Colaiste Iosagain, Baile Mhuirne, St. Patrick’s T.C Drumcondra, Dr. Crokes, Killarney and represented Kerry in Minor, Junior and Senior Football. He was secretary of the Dr. Crokes club from 1954 to 1965, and as a player won nine East Kerry league medals with the club during those years. He was appointed a delegate to the Munster council in 1973, became Vice Chairman in 1984 and chairman this year. He was both secretary and chairman of the Munster Council’s development committee and was the Munster council’s representative on the Central Bord na Bpairceanna Committee from 1982 to 1985. He was chairman of the Kerry Bord na Bpairceanna 73 to 84.

Chairman: Padraig O’Suilleabhain