Eight days before the Sam Maguire Cup is presented to either Stephen Cluxton or Cillian O'Connor, an historic occasion takes place at St Mary's Church of Ireland Church in Dunmanway on Saturday September 9.

The Mayor of Cork County, two Bishops of Cork, and Aogán Ó Fearghail, President of the GAA, will attend the opening of the Sam Maguire Community Bells Project.

At a ceremony in June the eight bells, named and dedicated by Bishop Paul Colton to the memory of Sam Maguire, a member of the parish 100 years ago.

Bishop Paul Colton and Bishop John Buckley will oversee a service of thanksgiving before GAA President Aogán Ó Fearghail will give an oration at the grave of Sam Maguire, who died 90 years ago.

Last year, following centenary celebrations of the 1916 Rising, the Reverend Cliff Jeffers and the people of Dunmanway looked at ways to commemorate Sam Maguire.

The eight themes for the bells selected were sport, wars and revolution, agriculture, people of Dunmanway, migration, religious traditions, education and arts, and industry and commerce.

"Sam Maguire was laid to rest in St. Mary's churchyard (Church of Ireland) 90 years ago, and after the centenary celebrations last year we realised that we had done little to remember him, " the Reverend Cliff Jeffers explains. 

"We chose to install the Sam Maguire Community Bells as a way of remembering Sam Maguire, of telling his story, and the story of Dunmanway town through eight different themes. 

"As the people of Dunmanway learn to ring these bells together we hope that it will strengthen our sense of community and working together for the good of the home town of Sam Maguire."