Keith Duggan: Mayo carried their wounds with honour for decades. Now it’s time to heal

Mayo has finally ended its 75-year wait for an All-Ireland senior football championship title, defeating Kerry in a historic final that has captured national and international attention.

The victory reverberated far beyond the field, traversing the digital globe and landing on platforms from Australian television to CNN. Political anchor Christiane Amanpour marked the occasion, ending her show with footage of the final seconds and noting the end of one of sports history's longest droughts and an "Irish curse." The audio from Midwest Radio's broadcast, a mix of poetry and primal scream from commentator Stephen Grealis and analyst Martin Carney, also gained global traction, introducing Gaelic football to millions of new viewers.

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And finally, the win reverberating around the world this week – ending one of the longest droughts in sports history, and breaking an Irish curse.

Figures from the Mayo diaspora, including former U.S. President Joe Biden and Noel Gallagher of Oasis, sent congratulatory messages. Gallagher, whose mother hails from Charlestown, Mayo, tweeted, "Congratulations MAYO lick it up to ras very proud LG x."

Within Ireland, the response was equally remarkable. The 139-year history of the senior football championship is marked by intense and sometimes bitter county allegiances. However, Mayo's triumph transformed into a moment of national unity. Old rivalries were temporarily suspended as the nation celebrated Mayo's finest hour, turning a sporting victory into a day of shared national pride.

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Congratulations MAYO lick it up to ras very proud LG x.