Sam Maguire no-show at Quinn rally

An attempt to have the Sam Maguire Cup present at the rally in support of the Quinn family in Cavan last weekend was turned down by the GAA.

Fermanagh native Rory Gallagher, assistant manager with All-Ireland senior football champions Donegal, was in attendance at the event inBallyconnell last Sunday, along with Tyrone manager Mickey Harte, who has raised the trophy on three occasions.

However, organisers’ hopes of having the prized piece of silverware on stage were dashed when it was explained the event was not endorsed by the GAA.

While no formal approach was made to the Donegal County Board, it is understood enquiries were made about the availability of the Sam Maguire Cup for the event.

“The Sam Maguire Cup is in high demand but no formal request was made for it at the rally,” said Donegal County Board secretary Aodh Máirtín Ó Fearraigh before adding: “Rory attended the rally but he did so in a personal capacity.”

Croke Park explained the reigning All-Ireland SFC champions are the custodians of the Sam Maguire Cup, but its availability is contingent on the occasion being appropriate to the GAA’s ethos.

“The Sam Maguire Cup is a GAA trophy and is not available for non-GAA events” said a GAA spokesperson.

Despite Peter Quinn being a former president of the organisation, the GAA have maintained they are a “non-party political organisation”, as defined in the official guide, and do not formally support the Quinn family.

In a statement following the first rally in August, the organisation stated: “Individual members may, of course, decide to take positions on a range of issues in accordance with their own personal views.

“As an association, however, it would entirely inappropriate for the GAA to become involved in matters outside its remit.”