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Moyard House sits on approximately three and a half acres of land in West Belfast. It was originally built for Jane Montgomery Crawford by her uncle Hugh McCalmott, Baron Cairns. The date of the building is unknown due to the loss of the original deeds but various architectural features point to the late 1850s or early 1860s.

When she died, the property passed to Henry Rupell who leased the house to Finlay McCances for his estate manager, John Stringer and was finally sold out of the Rupell family in July 1873. When John Stringer died in 1898, the house passed to his son Edward. Edward then sold the house to Sidney Andrews, a prominent flour mill owner, early this century. Then in 1923 the house was sold to Hugh McAlinden.

Hugh was famous in Belfast as a bookmaker and shareholder of the famous Belfast Celtic, indeed one of his sons played for the team with distinction. The family lived in the house in some opulence but with failing family fortunes, the house was slowly running down. Finally the family sold the house to the Roddy McCorley Society in December 1983.

With the house in a state of dereliction it would have been easy to gut the house and rebuild the interior but the Society decided at an early stage to retain as much as possible of the original features. Ambitious long term plans were laid.

Believing in access to all, the community ramps and toilets for the physically disabled were the first piece of restructuring done to the building. Several rooms were still fairly useable and it was decided to put the tables in these and do the refurbishments over a long period of time. Some rooms were officially named after heroes of the '98 rebellion.

The entranceway to the house remains essentially the same as it has always done. Originally a doorkeeper would have sat in the small cloakroom just beyond the hallway. Beyond this is the larger reception hall, some of the best features of this room are the large open fireplace and the molded plaster ceiling, both original features.

To the left of this is the Corrib Room (the only room not named after a person, but after the clubrooms the Society had before moving to Moyard House), which was the family music room and used to house two grand pianos. The plaster frieze, although heavily painted, is still exceptional.

There used to be two greenhouses beyond the Corrib Room but it was advised that due to their dilapidated state they were beyond repair and with heavy hearts the society reluctantly agreed to have them removed. Across from the Corrib room is the McCracken room originally the dining room. Again the best of the original features are kept, notably the Victorian tiled fireplace and the early Edwardian chandelier, sadly in need of repair.

Gerry Adams speaks outside the club after a tree planting ceremony

Across from this room is the new bar that originally was the kitchen. Behind this, now used as a storeroom, were the slaughterhouse and storerooms. Beside the bar is the new extension that houses the snooker room and off to one side is the William Orr room, which was once part of the stables and the coal bunker. Because of this the room has affectionately been nicknamed 'The Bunker'. Upstairs the smallest room, the Robert Emmet Room, was a smoking room and again like all the public rooms retains many original features. Beyond this room is the main function room, the Tone Room, which was originally a mixture of several rooms, the billiard room, maid's bedroom and the dog kennels. (The McAlindens were noted greyhound breeders.) Most of the original features of this room have been lost due to the dilapidated state but the men's toilets are original, as shown by the fine Terazzo floor. The Society has tried to capture the feeling of the original room by excellent decoration, the wood carving on the bar is particularly notable.

On the landings outside the Emmet room are two original bathrooms, now converted to toilets. These have kept the best of the original features and fittings. Up a short flight of stairs, where the original bedrooms were, are another three rooms. The Peggy Berkley, which was an early bar in the club and now waiting refurbishment as is the room opposite, the Russell Room. Both these rooms, like the rest of the house contain original features. Between these two rooms are the committee rooms. They are not open to the public, but again keep the best of the victorian features. On the landing that separates these three rooms, the delicate ceiling plaster work is to be seen.

Michelle Gildernew helps plant a tree on the grounds of the Roddy McCorley club.

The floor above these were originally bedrooms for senior members of staff, but were converted by the McAlinden family into study rooms for the sons. When eventually refurbished, these rooms will house a small museum containing a history of the house as well as the Society. Many artefacts and documents were found in the house when the Society moved in and it is hoped that they will find a permanent home in the museum.

Today Moyard House still sits in immaculately landscaped grounds. A few minor improvements have been made by their manager, John Doris, and in keeping with the traditions of large houses he has planted a small vegetable garden. Inside, even after a decade of redecoration and refurbishment, many original features still remain. They provide a fitting backdrop for members to enjoy a pint and a bit of 'craic'.