St. Deirbhile (DER-vill-uh)

In ancient Irish times, arranged marriages were the norm, especially among nobility. But unlike many other societies, a woman was allowed to decline the arrangement if it wasn’t to her liking. That’s exactly what a beautiful young Deirbhile MacDaithi did in the early 6th century. Unfortunately, the suitor – a … Read More ..

Denis Bingham on the Mullet

Few families have inflicted more anguish in Erris than the Binghams. Starting back in the late 1500s, Sir Richard Bingham was appointed governor of Connacht. In addition to seizing Irish and Norman lands for the British Crown, he also slaughtered over a thousand seamen from the Spanish Armada which had … Read More ..

The Ogham Stone at Cross Abbey

Starting back in the 4th century, an ancient alphabet named Ogham made its appearance around Ireland and Wales. It’s use was “monumental” in that it was used for property boundary markers and on grave stones. Usually, it was written wrapping around the corner of a large vertical stone. While hundreds … Read More ..

The Mayo Curse and All Ireland 2016

Last week, while in Ireland for a holiday, Dublin and Kerry faced off in the All Ireland semi-finals. It was odd to be in a pub rooting for Kerry. For some reason unknown to me, the people of Mayo would rather have played the historically best team (Kerry with 37 … Read More ..

mayoLast week, while in Ireland for a holiday, Dublin and Kerry faced off in the All Ireland semi-finals. It was odd to be in a pub rooting for Kerry. For some reason unknown to me, the people of Mayo would rather have played the historically best team (Kerry with 37 wins) instead of Dublin (with 25 wins). Of course, Dublin won because the people of Mayo never seem to get what they wish for. I got the impression that most of Ireland feels Dublin is like our own New York Yankees. Dubliners feel their shite doesn’t smell and everyone else is beneath them.

Still, I was so confident that Mayo would be victorious that I strolled into a Paddy Power and plopped down 10 quid for them to win.

That evening in the quiet hotel bar, I was chatting with a pleasant gent from Dublin and I teased that I couldn’t wait to collect my winning bet. Then he said, “They’ll never win because of The Curse.”

Curse? What friggin curse? How come no one ever mentioned this curse to me before?  I gotta be sitting in a pub in Ireland across from a Dubliner to hear about it? That’s like learning about sex “on the street.”  Someone should have told me!

In 1951, the last year Mayo won the All Ireland, the team bus was weaving its way home from Croke Park. When they got to Foxford, the rowdy lads passed a funeral without a single one of them blessing themselves. The priest, upon seeing this, cursed the team, saying, “Mayo football will never win another All Ireland as long as the heart beats in a member of this team.” (Stone cold, Father. Stone cold.)

As of this weekend, two of the team members from 1951 are still alive – Paradigm Carney and Paddy Prendergast. If you thought Bartman had it rough, imagine how these two gentlemen feel. This weekend, if I were them, I’d be afraid to leave my home for fear of a hit-and-run or a  poisoned pint!

Still, I’m a White Sox fan, not the Cubs, so curses have no place in my life. I’m hoping to be at Gaelic Park this Sunday morning with my Mayo flag and Paddy Power ticket. I plan to go home a winner!