Mayo fans savour their county's finest hour in Castlebar

The air in Castlebar was electric as thousands gathered to welcome home the Mayo football team, champions once more after a 75-year wait. The scenes of jubilation at Hastings Insurance MacHale Park mirrored the relief felt at Croke Park the previous day, as Sam Maguire finally returned west. Many fans noted that the team's underdog status, with few giving them a chance against a strong Kerry side led by David Clifford, seemed to fuel their historic win.

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When I was younger, I was sure it was going to happen. I was at all those matches in Croker back in the 80s and 90s. Then you start to wonder when you lose so many. But I tell you what, yesterday was incredible, it really was incredible. And it was really special to be there with my son. It doesn't get better than that.

Martin and Crean Walsh, who were among the fortunate few to witness the final at Croke Park, shared their long-held hopes. Martin, who attended matches in the 80s and 90s, spoke of the emotional rollercoaster of supporting Mayo through numerous near misses. "When I was younger, I was sure it was going to happen," he recalled. "Then you start to wonder when you lose so many." He described yesterday's victory as "incredible" and "really special" to share with his son, Crean, who experienced the triumph at a much younger age.

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I thought it was unbelievable.

Sharon Rafter, from Ballina, proudly displayed a custom flag for player Kobe McDonald, who is set to begin a professional AFL career in Australia. She explained the flag was made for the semi-final and reflected the admiration young fans have for McDonald. "All the kids, all the young lads, they love Kobe," she said. "They all aspire to be like him, and it's great to see. It's sad to see him go ... but he'll be back!" Sharon watched the final at home, unable to secure tickets, but was determined to be at the homecoming.

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There were so many years in the 2010s when we could have won it. But of all the years, when nobody thought we could win it, it was 2026.

Winning captain Jack Coyne's call for Mayo people to "stick their chests out and be proud" resonated deeply with fans like Lisa and Lorcan Sammon. "It's so hard to put into words. We woke up this morning and we were saying, 'Are we dreaming?'," Lisa expressed. She described the moment the final whistle blew not as pure celebration, but as an overwhelming sense of relief. "It wasn't even like a celebration. It was just that it was done. It was this just pure sense of relief and really, it was huge," she said. Lorcan added that the feeling of pride was universal across the county, with many in tears. "Everyone feels so proud of the team. Everyone is just feeling the pride of being from Mayo," he stated.

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My son got this flag made up for the semi-final ... All the kids, all the young lads, they love Kobe. They all aspire to be like him, and it's great to see. It's sad to see him go ... but he'll be back!