The focus of today’s Love Your County piece is Mayo, three-time All-Ireland winners but now better known as the perennial hard-luck story in the GAA.
Sporting Pick: All-Ireland title, 1951
It may seem odd given their horrendous record in All-Ireland Finals in the last 25 years, but between 1936 and 1951, Mayo appeared in four All-Ireland Finals and won three of them and in 1951 they achieved a feat that is beyond a lot of current teams when winning back to back titles.
Mayo were five-point victors over Meath on the day thanks to goals from Tom Langan and Joe Gilvarry, who starred in a side captained by the late Sean Flanagan, who also captained the 1950 team and was named on the Gaelic Football Team of the Millennium.
Some believe that the Mayo team of 1951 were hit by a curse that will not lift until the entire panel from that victory have passed on, which is one way of explaining the heartbreaking experiences of many a team in green and red since.
Climb Croagh Patrick
It might not be the highest peak in the country, but Croagh Patrick, located five miles beyond Westport, is probably the most iconic. It provides spectacular views of Clew Bay and the landscape for miles around from its peak, where, if you’re up to it, you can also take in mass after a gruelling enough climb to the summit.
Visit the National Museum of Ireland – Country Life
Only a few miles from Castlebar, the National Museum of Ireland in Turlough provides a fascinating glimpse into country life in Ireland between 1850 and 1950, with particular emphasis on domestic life, agriculture, transport, religion and all the other aspects of an existence that is a world away from the Ireland of today.
Located just off the Dublin road, the museum is easy to get to, is beautifully restored and includes a High Victorian Gothic style house, an artificial lake and a purpose-built exhibition gallery and is well worth a visit for those interested in how our ancestors went about their day to day lives.