Letter: The story of a 46-year-old Mayo jersey

Sir,

I would like to share a story in the aftermath of Mayo's wonderful All-Ireland SFC triumph, an event that has given me great happiness.

The attached photograph is of a Mayo jersey that is 46-years-old.

It was given to me by Ger McGreal, my friend from childhood growing up on the Turlough Road in Castlebar.

I had just arrived at Seton Hall University in New Jersey in September 1980 and, on learning of my arrival there, Ger flew up from Texas for a visit.

I was terribly homesick and when Ger emptied his rucksack an Irish rugby jersey and the Mayo jersey were on top of the pile.

Sensitive as I was to being away from home, that green and red hit me with an awful thought: what if Mayo win an All-Ireland and I’m away from home?

Indeed, I wore the shirt to the televised finals in 1989, 1996 (including the replay) and 1997 televised in a midtown Manhattan venue now called the Tara Mor.

After the 1997 loss to Kerry, a fellow from Belmullet offered me a fistful of dollars for the jersey.

At that point I still retained the belief that Mayo would win very soon so I held on to it. It still took an additional 27 years before we achieved that.

What struck me on each of those occasions in America was that on leaving the Manhattan venue, the heartbreak of losing was further underlined by the sickening realisation that it was still only 12 noon in the day, due to the time difference.

The nine further attempts took place during the 2000’s but by then I was back in Ireland.

Possessing that jersey and surrounded by family made those losses tolerable.

Another memory from Ger McGreal’s visit was that we spent the first night of his visit singing Irish songs.

I wore the jersey through that night and for the next two days enduring 90-degree weather.

From that time, the green and red jersey continues to be one of my prized possessions.

Yours,

John Heneghan

Castlebar, now living in Limerick.