“It was 1951 and Mayo were playing in the Gaelic Football All-Ireland Final…”
When the Chicago Cubs ended a 108-year drought to win the World Series last month, the famine that the Mayo footballers have endured in their quest to win an All-Ireland title was cast into the spotlight once more.
The curse that was apparently imposed on the Mayo team in the aftermath of their last victory in 1951 hardly needs to be elaborated upon at this stage, especially when you consider that it’s been aired on the BBC and by a tour guide in a German town in recent months.
Colin Murray, formerly of MOTD2 and Talksport, has visited the issue in the past and did so once again in a spot on Countdown’s Dictionary Corner this week.
Paul McArdle recorded Murray’s retelling of the curse and posted it on his Facebook page and while Mayo fans might be sick to death of hearing it at this stage, it’s interesting to see the reaction of Countdown presenter Nick Hewer, who described it as “quite chilling”.
When will Mayo finally win an All-Ireland? Now there's a proper conundrum for you.
