Fonsie Mealy's RARE BOOKS & COLLECTIBLES December 7th & 8th, 2021

146 Imperfections Not Stated Fonsie Mealy’s Est. 1934 G.A.A.: SamMaguire Cup: An exact full-size replica in silver plate of the Sam Maguire Cup, presented to the Gaelic Athletic Association in 1928 as a perpetual trophy for the All-Ireland senior football championship. Height approx. 15 ins (38cms), diam. including handles approx. 25ins (64cms). An exact facsimile in all respects except the use of silver plate (the original is in solid silver). A most impressive artefact, in very good condition. SamMaguire [1877-1927] was born in Dunmanway, Co. Cork. On leaving school he passed the UK Civil Service examination and was posted to London, where he joined other Corkmen including P.S. O’Hegarty and Michael Collins. As a young man he was an outstanding footballer, and played in three All-Ireland finals, captaining the London (Hibernians) team in 1901 and 1903. Later he was chairman of the London County Board and a trustee of Croke Park. He was also prominent in the IRB and the Republican movement, and was one of those who brought Michael Collins into the IRB. During the War of Independence he was the IRA’s Chief Intelligence Officer in Britain. In 1923 he returned to Ireland to work in the Irish Post Office, but was dismissed in December 1924, apparently for continuing IRB activities. He suffered from TB in his later years, and died in February 1927. After his death, a group of his friends commissioned a trophy in his memory, to be presented annually to the winners of the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship. It was crafted by silversmith Matthew Staunton of Hopkins and Hopkins of Dublin, on the model of the Ardagh Chalice. It was recently listed as one of 100 artworks typifying modern Ireland. The original is now in the GAA Museum; the trophy now presented to the All-Ireland winners is a recent facsimile. In 1928 Kildare was the first county to win the Sam Maguire Cup. Sixteen counties have held the trophy since then; by 2019, Kerry has won it thirty times. Provenance: Commissioned by a Private Irish Collector in the 1980’s. * The original Sam Maguire Cup commemorates the memory of Sam Maguire, an influential figure in the London GAA and a former footballer. A group of his friends formed a committee in Dublin under the chairmanship of Dr Pat McCartan from Carrickmore, County Tyrone, to raise funds for a permanent commemoration of his name. They decided on a cup to be presented to the GAA. The Association were proud to accept the Cup. At the time it cost £300. The commission to make it was given to Hopkins and Hopkins, of O’Connell Bridge, Dublin. The silver cup was crafted, on behalf of Hopkins and Hopkins, by the silversmith Matthew J. Staunton of D’Olier Street, Dublin. Maitiú Standun, Staunton’s son, confirmed in a letter printed in the Alive! newspaper in October 2003 that his father had indeed made the original Sam Maguire Cup back in 1928. €8,000 - €12,000 1013. The Holy Grail for Gaelic Footballers