The Bells of the Church fo Saint Mary Dunmanway – known as the Sam Maguire Community Bells – were installed by M.B.H Engineering Services, The Pike, Drinagh, Dunmanway, Co Cork. and were blessed by Rt. Rev. Dr. Paul Colton, Bishop of Cork Cloyne and Ross on 17th June 2017.
They are the newest and lightest ring of bells in the Republic of Ireland. The bells are setup for full circle ringing for experienced bellringers and can also be chimed by children and adults without any previous experience when they come to visit the tower.
Pic Michael Mac Sweeney/Provision 
Pic Domnick Walsh
The bells were installed as part of a project to remember Sam Maguire, famous in the Gaelic Athletic Association for the All-Ireland Senior Football Trophy which was named after him and first awarded in 1928. Sam Maguire was born in Dunmanway Parish in 1877 and buried in St. Mary’s churchyard in 1927.
The Sam Maguire Community Bells are part of a community reconciliation project which aims to bring people from different traditions and backgrounds together as they learn the skill of bell ringing. A visitor experience has been developed at St. Mary’s Church in Dunmanway where you can learn about the story of Sam Maguire and have an opportunity to ring a few tunes on the Sam Maguire Community bells for yourself.
For further information visit our website HERE
| Bell | Note | Weight | Inscription | Diameter |
| Treble | D | 1-0-18 (59kg) | Samuel Maguire 1877-1927 (MH & Co 2017) | 16.5 in (420mm) |
| 2 | C# | 1-1-05 (66kg) | Samuel Maguire 1877-1927 (MH & Co 2017) | 17.5 in (445mm) |
| 3 | B | 1-1-17 (71kg) | J Warner & Sons London 1887 | 18.5 in (470mm) |
| 4 | A | 1-1-26 (75kg) | J Warner & Sons London 1887 | 19.5 in (495mm) |
| 5 | G | 1-2-17 (84kg) | J Warner & Sons London 1887 | 21 in (553mm) |
| 6 | F# | 1-3-10 (93kg) | J Warner & Sons London 1887 | 21.5 in (546mm) |
| 7 | E | 2-0-18 (110kg) | J Warner & Sons London 1887 | 23 in (584mm) |
| Tenor | D (1180Hz) | 2-2-04 (129kg) | Cast by John Warner & Son London 1887 | 24 in (610mm) |
The six largest bells were previously a chime at Christ Church, Llanelli, Wales. When that church was closed in 2011, the bells were rescued from becoming scrap metal by the Keltek Trust. They were then purchased by Dr. Mike Pomeroy of St. Mary’s Cathedral Tower in Limerick, who donated the bells to St. Mary’s Church, Dunmanway.
These six bells were tuned in Whitechapel Bell Foundry, shortly before it closed in May 2017.
Matthew Higby & Company Ltd in Somerset, England, cast the two new trebles completing the octave of 8 bells.
If you would like to organise an introduction to the skill of bell ringing, we would be delighted to show you the ropes. You can contact us on bells@fanlobbus.ie