Castlebar Geordie predicts Mayo victory this year

By Kevin McAleese

HAVING been born in Castlebar in 1949, I was too young to remember our 1951 All-Ireland triumph.

The victory was mentioned by older boys, my father and by colleagues when I worked in The Connaught Telegraph, but I didn’t remember any mention of a curse until this century.

In 1975 I moved to Newcastle. I become a supporter, watched great players like Malcolm McDonald and the Irish Centre’s good friend Mick Martin in high points, taking my eldest daughter, Claire, to the match where she’d sing along with ‘Sack the Board’ while still at primary school in the 1980s lows, before I went on to work the turnstiles and security and still going when I can get a ticket.

Despite Newcastle’s trophy drought since the 1955 FA Cup, I cannot remember talk of a curse here until recent years either.

In Mayo, as many readers will know, the story goes that during the 1951 victory parade, the team failed to respect a funeral procession in Foxford, leading a priest to declare that Mayo wouldn’t win another All-Ireland until all the 1951 players had passed away.

Newcastle United’s supposed curse, stemming from an eviction from the club’s training ground in 1955, had a symmetry I’ve been reflecting on for a few years now.

Maybe these curses were always known about. However, I am maybe too superstitious to rule curses out entirely.

Now that Newcastle have won and we are happy that the curse (or the losing streak) has lifted, I’m holding out hope that Mayo might also deliver an historic win before another 70 years is out. Fingers crossed for further trophies, unburdened by the weight of superstition. Most of all huge congratulations to our neighbours at St. James’ Park. We are all proud of you. HWTL.

St. Patrick’s Day celebrations at the Tyneside Irish Centre saw Ms. Sarah Mangan, Irish Consul General, visit the centre. She praised the committee for the promotion of holidays in Ireland, and especially Mayo, as he had heard so much about the county and where she had spent many holidays.

* Kevin McAleese is a native of Ballynew, Castlebar.