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Sam Maguire passport project gets the GAA's stamp of approval

May 22nd, 2019 7:10 AM

By Southern Star Team

At the launch of the Sam Maguire passport in Páirc Uí Chaoimh in Cork on Wednesday were, back row, from left: Rev Cliff Jeffers, Dunmanway Community Tourism Initiative (DCTI); John O'Doherty, head of AIB Cork; Brendan Hayes, PRO of DCTI ; Con Downing, editor, Southern Star, and Áine O'Brien, librar

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Dunmanway is promoting its most famous son Sam Maguire now with a unique new passport. 

DUNMANWAY is promoting its most famous son Sam Maguire now with a unique new passport. 

The passport challenges the holder to follow in Sam’s steps by visiting the different locations in Dunmanway he frequented, including his home and school. 

They will collect stamps along the way as a reward for a number of challenges and when full, the holder will get to attend one of four celebrations planned over the summer. This will involve getting their own personal All-Ireland winning experience with the trophy replica presented to them by a number of different former GAA presidents, including Sean Kelly MEP. 

The passport was officially launched on Wednesday of this week at Páirc Uí Chaoimh by chairperson of Cork GAA Tracy Kennedy.

Dunmanway’s Community Tourism Initiative (DCTI) consisting of Rev Cliff Jeffers, film maker Brendan Hayes, Margaret Hennessey, Aine O’ Brien of  Dunmanway library and UCC marketing intern Mairead O’Donovan,  together with students from CIT, collaborated to develop three different types of passports – for under 12s, under 18s, and seniors. 

Rev Jeffers said: ‘In life Sam was Protestant by creed and nationalist by conviction and this project encourages  unity and reconciliation among the people and the community from all traditions in his hometown.’

Speaking at the launch, Brendan Hayes said the Sam Maguire Passport Trail can be undertaken at any time, with external story boards at each location providing the information for the answers to be discovered with spare visa stamps at St Mary’s Church and Dunmanway Swimming Pool.

Vouchers  for passports will be issued to every under age GAA club in Cork county in the coming weeks and a number of different outlets in Dunmanway.

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