Sam Maguire is heading Down Under on a fundraising mission for Donegal GAA
SAM has left the hills – but don’t worry another county hasn’t stolen him.
For Sam Maguire is heading off Down Under on a fundraising mission for Donegal GAA.
The chairman of Club Tír Chonaill Ciaran Kelly has decided to bring the Sam Maguire Gaelic football’s most coveted trophy to Australia this month, with events planned in Sydney and Melbourne.
He said: “It is the first time for me to go to Australia but this is not a holiday. The primary goal is fundraising and we want as many people to see Sam as possible,
“If Donegal win Sam again it will be back in Australia.”
Club Tír Chonaill is the fundraising arm of Donegal GAA and they are aiming to raise $25,000 on the week-long Australian tour.
The trophy will land in Sydney on June 15 and will be shown to fans the following day at the Cock n Bull pub in Bondi Junction from midday.
The trophy will then be brought to Melbourne for a dinner hosted by the Donegal Association on Friday, June 21 and a showing at Gaelic Park on June 23.
It also has a busy social diary over the weekend as it will join the players at Gaelic Park. Mr Kelly is open to suggestion for events and is be willing to bring the trophy to businesses or homes.
Club Tír Chonaill believe that the trophy has never been in Australia before despite numerous trips abroad to the US and England.
It is only able to travel to Australia for a short visit as it is booked for events at home the following week.
“It has been in London two weeks ago at a fundraising event. I took it to an opening of a new shop.
“There’s lots of things going on with Sam Maguire. It’s always on the go. It has its own character. Everyone talks about Sam like it’s their brother or sister,” he said.
The trophy may have to travel in the hold on its way to Australia and they are currently negotiating with the airlines.
“It may, we just don’t know. It depends on the airline. By all accounts it’s well insured,” he said.
The Sam Maguire has to be returned to the GAA on July 1.
The primary function of Club Tír Chonaill is to raise money for the Donegal GAA Training Centre and they hope to raise €180,000 ($241,386) in total this year.
They envisage that it will be a training base for all Donegal teams and that it will also develop underage talent for all codes.