SAM MAGUIRE COMMUNITY BELLS
UPDDATE - AUGUST, 2018
The Sam Maguire Cup is coming back to Dunmanway. Join us in St. Mary's Church on Friday the 7th of September, 7:30pm (at the start of the Sam Maguire Weekend) and learn about the story of the making of this famous 90 year old trophy.
Tickets (Adults €10, Children €5) available from from Boyz to Men, For Goodness Sake and Tar Isteach, and on the door at the night (if not already sold out). Ticket price includes printed professional photo with the Sam Maguire cup and refreshments. come an hour earlier to get your photo taken. Tickets also available by email to tours@fanlobbus.ie
UPDATE - MAY, 2018
We are preparing to be open for the summer for tourists, primary school tours and a few coach tours. We are planning to have the Church and tower open for visitors every day from 12 noon to 4.00 p.m. in July and August. (volunteers to help welcome). During May,a chiming console will be installed, which is the final part of the bells to be completed. when this is done, it will be possible to play tunes (hymns, etc.) This style of ringing can also be done by visitors without any previous experience or training. On the 15th April, we hosted a Bell ringing competition called the RR Cherry Cup, where six teams took part. With our new team of ringers, we came 5th!! Hospitality was generously sponsored by Tar Isteach and food provided by Jimmy the Chef and a team of parishioners from St. Mary's. Many thanks to all who made our visiting ringers and local guests feel so welcome. Now that we have our Safeguarding Trust training in place, we will be starting to teach younger people how to ring the bells. On Wednesday evenings - starting on 9th May at 6.30 to 7.30. This will be for anyone who is in 5th class and above, including teenagers. For more information, please contact Rev. Cliff. six Transition Year students from MICC are continuing to learn how to ring the bells as part of their Bronze Gaisce Award. It is amazing how quickly they are learning and will soon be able to ring as a team together.
12th November, 2017 - successful first peal!
14.9.17 - Latest news from the Church of Ireland Website - giving a wonderful flavour of the project:-
Click the Link to see a leaflet, which we have published to give you background and detailed information re. how the Sam Maguire Community Bells Project came about.
Link to Sam Maguire Community Bells Facebook Page:-
Great interview given by Rev. Cliff re. the Bells - on County Sound - 28th June, 2017 (Starting at 1:08.27 and ending at 1:14.05).
Great article in the Southern Star by Jackie Keogh all about the Bells and Sam Maguire:-
The cost of the project is approx. €55,000. We are open to donations being made from individuals or companies in the town. Please contact Rev. Cliff Jeffers for further details.
On Saturday, 17th June at 5.30 p.m. there was an Ecumenical Blessing of the Bells in St. Mary's Church, Dunmanway before they were brought up into the tower of the Church.
Sunday, 3rd September, 2017 - There was an Open Day from 2.00 p.m to 8.00 p.m., when the Church and tower was open for people to come and see how the bells are rung.
Saturday, 9th September, 2017 - Official opening and official first ring of the bells - with Bishop Paul Colton; Bishop John Buckley, County Lord Mayor - Declan Hurley, President and CEO of the GAA, as well as local guests.
Link to Bishop Paul Colton's address at the Service of Thanksgiving on 9th September, 2017 - below:-
Rev. Cliff and Dignitaries at the Service of Thanksgiving.
The next phase is to research, develop and present the story of Sam Maguire and the town of Dunmanway in a format that would be suitable for tourists and school groups. We will also be adding a chiming mechanism so that the Sam Maguire Community Bells can easily be rung by visitors.
