Former US President Joe Biden has led tributes to the Mayo team after their All-Ireland win yesterday.
The Mayo football team is regarded as one of the best in the country but has repeatedly fallen short of winning the top prize of the Sam Maguire Cup in the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship.
The repeated final losses have seen the hopeful mantra of “Mayo for Sam” gain prominence, referring to the Sam Maguire Cup.
Mayo had not won the cup in 75 years despite reaching the final 11 times since 1989.
They had lost by one point in three finals since last winning the championship in 1951.
The losses have been put down to a myth that the 1951 winning team had not shown respect to a funeral they passed on their homecoming route.
Yesterday, the Green and Red put 75 years of hurt behind them as they beat Kerry 1-20 to 1-17 at Croke Park.
Mayo captain Jack Coyne lifts the Sam Maguire Cup
Mr Biden, who visited Ballina, Co Mayo three years ago and has family there, shared his congratulations on the social media platform X.
“I said it three years ago when I was in Ballina: Mayo for Sam! And I meant it,” he said.
“I said it because I know what it means not just the county of Mayo but to my own family’s story. Today, the dream becomes reality.
“Congratulations to my friends in Mayo. You earned this victory. Enjoy every minute. Sam is coming home.”
Mayo’s footballers have ended a 75-year losing streak after winning the coveted All-Ireland Football Championship, dispelling a curse that fans believed haunted the county’s chances for decades.
“A proud son of County Mayo tonight.”
Fans were stunned as they emerged from Croke Park, with some putting the win down to the expired curse – and the county’s young superstar players.
Many said they were not sure how to celebrate winning as they hugged people outside the stadium and called family members.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney also posted: “After 75 years, the curse is broken and the Sam Maguire Cup is coming home.”
He said he was “proud” to have roots in Co Mayo.
Oasis singer Liam Gallagher also paid his congratulations to the All-Ireland winners on X.
Noel Gallagher posted: “FINALLY!! UP MAYO!!”
Charlestown in Co Mayo continues to claim Liam and Noel Gallagher as two of their own. The brothers spent many years travelling back and forth from Manchester to the home of their late grandmother Margaret.
Preparations are underway to welcome home the new All Ireland Football Champions Mayo to Castlebar later today.
The victorious team are expected to leave Dublin around 2pm this afternoon and travel home by train.
They are due to arrive in MacHale Park in Castlebar around 6pm, where tens of thousands of fans are expected to turn out for the homecoming celebrations.