Sports

A 75-year All-Ireland wait, an infamous curse, and an American president

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Jul 27, 2026 - 06:05

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A 75-year All-Ireland wait, an infamous curse, and an American president

A man with white hair smiles. He is standing at a podium with an American eagle design on the front. He is wearing a suit. Behind him is a crowd, with a mixture of Irish and American flags. — Former President Joe Biden visited the town of Ballina, County Mayo, in 2023 [PA Media]

The words of an American president on Irish soil three years ago may have proved prophetic.

"Mayo for Sam," cheered Joe Biden as his visited his ancestral home in Ballina, County Mayo.

The Sam to which he was referring was the Sam Maguire Cup - the prize for winning the All-Ireland Football final.

Victory in the championship had eluded Mayo for years - 75 to be precise - until Sunday when Mayo clinched the coveted trophy with a 1-20 to 1-17 win over Kerry.

For some, Mayo's failure to win an All-Ireland Senior Football title for decades was proof of a curse dating all the way back to 1951.

However, the phrase "Mayo for Sam" garnered its most famous endorsement yet - the president of the United States.

Biden, who left office in January 2025 when Donald Trump became president, has never been shy about his Irish roots.

Throughout his career, the politician frequently quoted Irish poets.

With two great-grandparents coming from Ireland, he is one of the most Irish presidents in history.

A cardboard cut-out of Joe Biden. Above the cut-out there is an Irish flag and an American flag. There is also a sign which reads 'WELCOME HOME POTUS' — Biden has previously emphasised the deep-rooted connection he has to Mayo [Reuters]

And on Sunday, Biden took to social media to celebrate Mayo's victory.

He congratulated the team on their win, proclaimed the people of Mayo had earned the victory, and reminded them to "enjoy every minute".

And, of course, Biden repeated the all-important words: "Mayo for Sam!"

For the first time in 75 years, the Sam Mcguire Cup comes home to Mayo, Ireland.

I said it three years ago when I was in Ballina: Mayo for Sam!

And I meant it.

I said it because I know what it means not just the county of Mayo but to my own family’s story.

Today, the… pic.twitter.com/keRp8ddQ39
— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) July 26, 2026

The curse

A crowd of people. One of the people is holding a large banner which reads: 'The Mayo Curse is here to stay Sam's returning to Tyrone today'. — Mayo fell at the final hurdle agaisnt Tyrone in 2021 [Getty Images]

It was in Ballina where, almost 100 years after Biden's ancestors had fled the devastating Irish potato famine, a supposed curse was placed on the Mayo Gaelic football team.

As the story - or myth - goes, following their 1951 win and on their way home on to Castlebar on an open-back lorry, the Mayo team's boisterous celebrations interrupted a funeral taking place in Foxford, just outside Ballina.

The presiding priest is said to have laid a curse that Mayo would not win an All-Ireland title while any member of that team was alive.

A man with short grey hair looks down at his folder arms. He is wearing a navy and red fleece with a Mayo GAA crest. — Mayo manager James Horan during the 2021 All-Ireland final [Getty Images]

In the proceeding years, Mayo failed to win a single All-Ireland - despite reaching the final eleven times.

In April 2023, the last member of the Mayo 1951 panel, Dr Mick Loftus, passed away.

Liam Gallagher 'very proud' of Mayo

A crowd of people. In focus are two men with their arms around each others' shoulders. They are both wearing red and green sports tops. — Mayo fans celebrated their All-Ireland win [Getty Images]

On a Sunday afternoon in Dublin in July 2026, in front of a packed Croke Park, Biden's words and the mantra of many in the rolling fields and costal areas of Mayo came true.

Mayo finally ended the decades-long wait for the county's fourth All-Ireland Senior Football title.

It was an intense final that went down to the wire at a raucous Croke Park.

Mayo suffered a slow start and fell 1-6 to 0-3 behind early on.

Two people stand in the street, excitement on their faces. They both have blonde hair and are wearing green and red jerseys. Behind them there is a crowd of people walking, many of whom are also wearing green and red jerseys. — Mayo trailed by only a point at 1-8 to 0-10 at half-time [PA Media]

But Mayo bounced back and trailed by only a point at 1-8 to 0-10 at half-time.

The Westerners surged clear in the third quarter, with Tommy Conroy's late score sealing a famous win for Mayo in front of a sold-out 82,300 crowd.

"Mayo for Sam" dominated Irish media on Sunday evening and there were memes galore.

What a ballsy win for Mayo after that Kerry start - considering their final history. The whole country outside of The Kingdom shouting for them! Won’t be a cow milked etc etc… Enjoy the celebrations 💚❤️
— Brian O'Driscoll (@BrianODriscoll) July 26, 2026

Brian O'Driscoll and Shane Lowry posted on social media celebrating the win.

So happy for everyone from @MayoGAA… sport can be cruel at times and the people from Mayo went through their fair share of it. Enjoy the celebrations. #mayoforsam https://t.co/17z1MHscSl
— Shane Lowry (@ShaneLowryGolf) July 26, 2026

Liam Gallagher, whose mother's family hails from Mayo, also offered his congratulations.