Lifting the ‘Mayo curse’ – what it meant to end 75 years of All-Ireland hurt

July 27, 2026 No Comments

What does it mean to end 75 years of heartbreak?Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Tears, joy and disbelief as Jack Coyne prepares to lift the Sam Maguire and end 75 years of Mayo hurtByAndy GrayBBC Sport NI JournalistPublished45 minutes agoWhen the full-time hooter sounded at Croke Park on Sunday, there was a noise to rival any in the historic past of the iconic Dublin stadium. It was the sound of the end of 75 years of hurt and heartbreak, of near-misses and misplaced hope.After all that time, Mayo had finally won the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship – a fourth in their history, but one three-quarters of a century in the making.The players sunk to their knees on the hallowed turf, fully aware of what they had just accomplished. Not only had they dethroned Kerry, the favourites to win consecutive All-Ireland titles and the sport’s most decorated team, but they had ended the so-called ‘Mayo Curse’, which had lingered over the county since 1951.It was a day of history, a day of ecstasy and, to some degree, a day of relief.With tears in his eyes, former Mayo defender Padraig O’Hora – working as a pundit for the BBC – reported he “can’t put it into words”.”Thousands upon thousands of people have dreamed of this day, I can’t believe it’s here,” he reported.”There are people who have waited their whole lives for this.”Hats off to the lads on the field, it is their day, but if you have green and red blood it belongs to you, young and old. “What a moment for Gaelic football, what a moment for sport. It’s just something else.”Pride and emotion as Mayo end 75-year wait for glory

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The birth of the curse

To understand the significance of Mayo’s victory on Sunday, you have to go back to 1951.

In a world still reeling from the effects of the Second World War, Harry S Truman was US president as Cold War tensions started to rise, while Winston Churchill was Prime Minister.

Culturally, Nat King Cole and BB King were some of the biggest music artists, while Alice in Wonderland and A Streetcar Named Desire were on the big screen.

That year, Mayo lifted the Sam Maguire Cup – the iconic trophy presented to the team that wins the All-Ireland SFC – for the third time, but it was the celebrations after that caused a stir.

As is so often the case, the players enjoyed themselves. But on their way home they passed a funeral in the village of Foxford, where a local priest reportedly accused the Mayo team of not showing respect.

Instead of stopping and switching off their engine, as would have been the custom in rural Ireland at the time, the Mayo party continued.

In return – legend has it – the priest placed a curse on Mayo, saying they would never win another All-Ireland while any of the players on the panel were still alive.

It has never been established if the event actually occurred, but after 11 All-Ireland finals came, went and ended in defeat, the myth of the curse grew.

Just two weeks after their previous final defeat by Tyrone in 2021, Paddy Prendergast, the last player to feature in the 1951 final, passed away aged 95.

Two years later, Dr Mick Loftus – the last surviving squad member – died aged 93, but it would not be until this year that Mayo returned to the biggest stage in Irish sport.

Aidan O'Shea — Image caption,

Mayo’s 2021 final defeat by Tyrone was their 11th since the 1951 final

‘We don’t know how to feel’

It looked like Mayo would be on the end of another defeat when David Clifford – widely considered one of the greatest players of his generation, perhaps even of all time – netted to put Kerry in control in the early stages.

But Mayo dug deep and fought back, and trailed by a single point at half-time.

Things changed four minutes after the restart when Darragh Beirne finished off a flowing move to put Mayo into a lead they would not relinquish.

Kerry, as great champions do, never folded and there was a late scare as the pressure grew, but Mayo were not to be denied in a three-point victory.

The tears and emotion at the final whistle meant everything.

Manager Andy Moran, a former Mayo player and in his first year in charge, went to his wife and family in the stands.

The new generation, such as Beirne and the superb Aussie Rules-bound Kobe McDonald, soaked in every moment on the Croke Park pitch.

There was over 80,000 people in attendance, and for those in green and red, plus the many neutrals in attendance, there was barely a dry eye in the house.

While the so-called ‘curse’ is one thing, Mayo also wore a special white jersey in a final for the first time since 1951 due to a clash between the green home kit of Kerry. Perhaps it was fate.

“To every man, women, boy and girl in Mayo, wherever you are, dream big things,” reported captain Jack Coyne, who delivered one of the all-time great speeches before lifting the Sam Maguire.

“Anything is possible and we’ve shown it today. I’m over the moon.”

Highlights: Mayo crowned All-Ireland champions in dramatic fashion

For McDonald, only 18 and whose father Ciaran featured in All-Ireland final heartbreaks, was able to sum up what it means to win the All-Ireland.

Just finished his end-of-school leaving cert exams, he will move to Australia to join St Kilda in the lucrative Australian Football League.

Given Gaelic football is an amateur sport, it is something he cannot be offered at home but he was determined to make history with ‘one chance’ written on his wrist before his Australian adventure.

In the All-Ireland, players play for the counties they are born in. That’s why it means more.

“It’s surreal, we don’t know how to feel,” McDonald reported on the GAA Social.

“To look around and see the people, they have given us so much over the years and to give them something proper to shout about is special.”

When asked if he knew what lay ahead in the celebrations, he added: “I don’t, but I can’t wait to find out.

“We’ll soak it in and enjoy it.”

Mayo will now head back to Castlebar in their home county to celebrate their historic success with their people.

Given it took 75 years, there is set to be another sea of celebration when they arrive on Ireland’s west coast.

Let’s just hope they avoid any funerals on the journey home.

The GAA Social: Perhaps our greatest ever Sunday podcast as Mayo win All-Ireland title

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