Mayo is set for a historic homecoming after its men's Gaelic football team won the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship for the first time in 75 years, defeating Kerry in Sunday's final at Croke Park. The victory ended one of sport's most famous curses and sparked mass jubilation across the county.
Homecoming celebrations
Tens of thousands are expected to gather in Castlebar on Monday evening for a homecoming event at McHale Park, where the Sam Maguire cup will be displayed for the first time since 1951. The team visited children at Dublin's Temple Street Hospital earlier in the day before traveling to Mayo by train.
The curse that haunted Mayo
Mayo's long wait was attributed to a myth that the 1951 winning team disrespected a funeral procession on their homecoming route, leading to a curse that the county would not win again until all members of that team had died. The last surviving member reportedly passed away in 2021. The team had lost 11 finals since 1989, including three by a single point. Former US President Joe Biden, who visited Mayo in 2023, tweeted after the win: “Today, the dream becomes reality. Congratulations to my friends in Mayo. You earned this victory. Enjoy every minute. Sam is coming home.”
