Biden, Carney and Oasis: how the world is celebrating Mayo’s All-Ireland victory
Former President Joe Biden visited the town of Ballina, County Mayo, in 2023
ByAdam Mandeville And Naomi Holland BBC News ME
What do a former American president, the Canadian prime minister and two of the world’s biggest rock stars have in common?
They are all celebrating after their Irish county of Mayo overcame a 75-year-old “curse” and finally ended its barren run at one of Ireland’s biggest sporting events.
Victory in the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) All-Ireland senior football final had eluded Mayo for more than seven decades until Sunday, when they defeated defending champion Kerry.
The celebrations extended far beyond the west of Ireland county, which has a population of just 137,000 but boasts some very famous exports.
Mayo for Sam
Biden has already highlighted the deep connection he has with Mayo
The “Mayo for Sam” chant is well known in GAA circles, but three years ago it garnered its most famous endorsement to date: that of the President of the United States.
This is what Joe Biden shouted as he visited his ancestral home in Ballina.
The Sam he was referring to is the Sam Maguire Cup – the prize for winning the All-Ireland football final.
Biden, who left office in January 2025 when Donald Trump became president, has never hidden his Irish roots.
With two Irish great-grandparents, he is one of the most Irish presidents in history.
And on Sunday, Biden took to social media to celebrate Mayo’s victory.
He congratulated the team on their victory, proclaimed that the people of Mayo had deserved the victory and reminded them to “savour every minute”.
And of course, he repeated the most important words: “Mayo for Sam!” »
When was the last time Mayo won the All-Ireland final?
Mayo fell at the final hurdle against Tyrone in 2021
For some, Mayo’s decades-long failure to win the All-Ireland football title was evidence of a curse dating back to the early 1950s.
It was in Ballina that, almost 100 years after Biden’s ancestors fled Ireland’s devastating potato famine, a supposed curse was placed on the Mayo Gaelic football team.
The story – or myth – has it that after their last victory in 1951, the Mayo team’s raucous celebrations on an open-back truck interrupted a funeral in the village of Foxford.
The presiding priest is said to have placed a curse that Mayo would not win an All-Ireland title as long as any member of that team was alive.
And although they reached the final eleven times in the following years, they failed to win it.
In April 2023, the last member of the Mayo 1951 panel, Dr Mick Loftus, died.
Has the Mayo curse been lifted?
Mayo fans celebrate first All-Ireland victory in 75 years
On a Sunday afternoon in July 2026, Biden’s words finally came true.
The long wait for the county’s fourth All-Ireland title was over and the Sam Maguire Trophy would head to Mayo.
It was an intense final that went all the way to the end in a noisy Croke Park in Dublin.
Mayo got off to a slow start, but they bounced back and a late score from Tommy Conroy sealed a famous victory in front of a sell-out crowd of 82,300.
The celebrations were loud, moving and global.
Champagne Supernova for Mayo
Oasis frontmen Liam and Noel Gallagher aren’t exactly known for agreeing on much, but they both took to social media platform X on Sunday night to celebrate Mayo’s win.
Their mother Peggy’s family is from Mayo and the Gallagher brothers spent many summers with their Irish parents.
“Finally!! Up Mayo!!,” Noel posted, while Liam shared his congratulations, adding that he was “very proud”.
Irish rugby legend Brian O’Driscoll and golfer Shane Lowry also posted on social media celebrating the victory.
O’Driscoll said: “What a brave victory for Mayo after Kerry left – considering their final story. The whole country outside the Kingdom is shouting them out! It won’t be a cow milking etc etc… Enjoy the celebrations.”
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said he was “proud to have roots in County Mayo”.
Former footballer Kevin Kilbane, who won 110 caps for the Republic of Ireland, also paid tribute to the team, saying: “This was more than just a victory for the people of Mayo!”
Despite being born and raised in England, Kilbane posted on X about “his deep love of Mayo GAA” which had been “passed down through generations”.
He said many had lived their entire lives without ever seeing an All-Ireland victory for their county, including his own father Patrick, who was born just days after the 1951 victory.
Kilbane added: “In a county decimated by emigration for centuries but which still loves its country. This one is for its people.”
Kobe McDonald and Jordan Flynn
Half-brothers Jordan Flynn (left) and Kobe McDonald (right) lift the Sam Maguire Cup after Mayo’s victory at Croke Park
The Gallagher brothers weren’t the only ones celebrating Sunday.
On the court were Kobe McDonald and Jordan Flynn.
At just 18 years old, McDonald made his senior football debut for Mayo in February this year.
He was following in the footsteps of not only his half-brother Flynn, but also his father Ciarán McDonald, who represented the county in three All-Ireland finals.
“It’s surreal, we don’t know how to feel,” McDonald said on GAA Social.
“To look around and see the people, they’ve given us so much over the years and to give them something to shout about, it’s special.”
Asked if he knew what to expect during the celebrations, he added: “I don’t know, but I can’t wait to find out.
“We’re going to soak it up and enjoy it.”
Mayo trailed by just one point, 1-8 to 0-10 at halftime
In May 2026, Arsenal won the Premier League title. It’s been 22 years.
In June 2026, the New York Knicks win the NBA championship. It’s been 53 years.
For Mayo fans, the wait had been even longer. And the celebrations are just beginning.
