During that century, almost every meeting, lecture, concert, play and celebration has been held there and during 1939-1945 war it was used by the F.C.A. Training Centre.

The school was used by the F.C.A. for lectures, demonstrations and inspections. The school yard and the roads around were used for drilling and marching, while the local area was used as Rifle Ranges.

At the first F.C.A. in Barefield were joined to Ennis No 2 company, but as numbers increased a Company was formed in the parish with 60 to 70 men. Rifles, amunition, grenades and other equitment were brought from Ennis, and later each member was issued with sixty rounds of amunition. Not one rifle or one bullet went astray which was a great credit to the men.

During the war supplies of all kinds were in short supply. Essentials like food, clothes, footwear, petrol, tryes etc. were rationed and could not be got without Ration Books. As a result people walked everywhere. Imagine sixty or seventy men spending two to three hours in the school after walking for miles through muddy fields and roads and still the teachers did not complain.

Summer Camps at Lahinch and Youghal were a great attraction for F.C.A. members. Every year during the Summer, one week was spent in camp for those who could avail of it, with full Army pay. Training was not hard with lots of free time, it was a welcome holiday. These campswere also used for competitions which was another great attraction and an incentive to train. It also fostered friendships with members from other parishes, which lasted a lifetime.

As the war was drawing too an end the threat of invasion diminished, the novelty of the Army wore away and the membership began to fall. Then the roll of the F.C.A. changed to one of a competition.

In spite of war and hardships it brought with it, the time spent in the F.C.A. was a happy one. Members enjoyed the comradeship and the craic that went with it. The time spent in the Summer Camps, the Shooting Competitions and the friends that were made from other areas all combined to leave very happy memories. It is nice in later years to meet those friends and recall humorous events from the past.