GAA President will launch Sam Maguire festival

DUNMANWAY’S most famous son will take centre stage in his hometown this Sunday – and the new GAA President John Horan will be there to lead the party.

The town is holding a packed schedule of events over the coming months to celebrate the 90th anniversary of the Sam Maguire Cup, named in 1928 after the local man, born in Mallabracka just outside the town, who had died the previous year.

This Sunday, to coincide with Dunmanway’s St Patrick’s Day parade, the festival – a community-based event – to mark the 90th anniversary of the name of the cup, and also to promote Dunmanway as the home place of Sam Maguire, will be launched by the new GAA President John Horan.

Cork County Board Chairperson Tracey Kennedy and Vice-Chairperson Kevin O’Donovan will be attending as guests of the festival.

On Sunday morning, John Horan will visit the Sam Maguire homestead before visiting St Mary’s Church to watch a demonstration of the Sam Maguire Community Bells. 

Anna Hurley, involved in the organising committee, added: ‘This will be followed by a Church of Ireland service, involving pupils from Sam Maguire’s former school, The Model School. 

‘Afterwards, there will be a visit to the adjoining cemetery to pay respects to Sam Maguire’s grave and refreshments in the church afterwards. Then it will be across the road to the Dunmanway Heritage Centre at 12.30pm to view all the memorabilia. This will be closed to the general public, but open from 2pm-5pm.’

The GAA President will then be in the square in Dunmanway for the parade on Sunday afternoon.

The town has put together an action-packed schedule of events over the coming months to celebrate Sam Maguire and Dunmanway including Sam Maguire Trail School Tours, a Sam Maguire library display, the annual Sam Maguire Festival and Threshing, and a lot, lot more.