Lately Mr Byrne’s class have been learning all about the Sam Maguire cup. The cup is given to the winners of the All Ireland Senior Football competition. Dublin are playing Mayo in the replay after they drew 0-15 each recently, and the winner keeps Sam Maguire for a year!
Sam Maguire was born in 1879 in Dunmanway, Co. Cork. At 20 years of age, he took a position with the postal service in London. There, he was involved in GAA affairs, he played for the Hibernians club and was a member of the Irish Republican Brotherhood. Sam even played with London in the All-lreland football finals of 1900, 1901 and 1902! In 1925, he came back to west Cork to live. He then developed TB and died in 1927 aged 49.
After his death, his friends collected money and had a cup made in his memory. It is based on the famous Ardagh Chalice, which can be viewed in the National Museum. Here are some Sam Maguires we made in art out of clay!
