The Mayo football team have left Dublin as they travel back to Castlebar ahead of what promises to be wild celebrations following their historic All Ireland victory over Kerry in Croke Park yesterday.
The Green and Red have won their first All Ireland Senior Football title in 75 years, after beating last year's winners, Kerry by three points, putting to rest years of hurt and heartbreak.
Since their last All Ireland triumph in 1951, Mayo have appeared in 13 finals, losing 11 and drawing two. Ahead of yesterday's final, Mayo's most recent final appearance came in 2021, which saw them lose to Tyrone.
On that day, forward Ryan O'Donoghue missed a penalty as they suffered a five point defeat that day.
However, O'Donoghue and co put that loss and the previous years of hurt to bed with this win, with the forward also going winning the Sunday Game Player of the Match yesterday, scoring 0-5 on the day.
The final hooter was met with unbridled delight as tears of joy streamed down the faces of Mayo supporters, players and coaches alike.
Reflecting on this incredible feat, teenage sensation, Kobe McDonald, who also played a key role in Mayo's All Ireland win, reacted to this magnificent feat. McDonald who kicked 0-3 in this win over Kerry, is set to depart for the AFL in Australia.
Kobe McDonald spoke to RTÉ Radio as he visited patients and families at Temple Street Hospital, Dublin.
"It's surreal, I thought I'd wake up this morning and it might sink in a bit more. To come here to just to share and enjoy it with these young kids and their families, it's a very special day", he said. "These little moments are just as important as any other. To give them this bit of joy is special".
Ahead of the upcoming celebrations, he added: "It's going to be special now to bring Sam home". (All quotes according to RTÉ Radio).
"It's been a whirlwind of a year. If I was offered this at the start of the year, I'd like both hands off to be honest, it's something I never could have imagined", he added. "Of course you think you're going to do it, but doing it is a whole other thing. To look down and see that I have this (Sam Maguire Cup) in my hands, it's unbelievable".
Earlier today, Mayo left Dublin as they make their return journey to Castlebar for a much anticipated homecoming at Hastings Insurance McHale Park. They are expected to arrived there at approximately 6pm.
This was a homecoming which was planned following Mayo's semi final victory over Louth three weeks ago.
Speaking to RTÉ Radio, the chair of the homecoming committee, Gerry Bourke, said that the plans have needed to be amended greatly, given the seismic reaction to the the county's history making win.
"When we were coming out of Dublin after the Louth game, I got a phone call from Seamus Tuohy... he's the current chairman of the county board. He said, 'Gerry, I want a favour, I want you to organise the homecoming'," said Burke. "So you start thinking, 'OK, are we going to win the All-Ireland?' We've had so many losses, possibly we're not going to win it, you know, but we'll organise it anyway. That was Saturday night.
"We met with the officers of the board on Monday at 12 o'clock. We invited James Rocke in. James is the event controller for Hastings Insurance McHale Park. James would have a huge amount of knowledge on big events. He drew up a kind of a temporary event management plan. Since then, it's been hell for leather to get everything underway".
Elsewhere, Mr Bourke said the sheer emotion in the aftermath of Mayo's victory, will mean they will need to plan for a bigger crowd than first imagined.
"The event management plan caters for 40,000, 30 to 40,000. That's having dealt with An Garda Síochána, Mayo County Council and the fire department. So we're planning for 40,000 but after what I saw in Croke Park yesterday, I think we'll have to revisit the plan," he admitted. "We know we know what all the sections in the stadium are going to hold, but we have to cater for them".
"I was talking to (Castlebar publican) Mick Byrne earlier on this morning. He said, 'God, in the town (this morning) at five o'clock, it was buzzing'. So if it was buzzing at five o'clock this morning, what will it be buzzing like at five o'clock this evening?!". (All quotes according to RTÉ Radio).
This victory was also met with huge tributes from household names across the world, including former US President, Joe Biden, who has roots in Ballina, Co Mayo, where he visited three years ago.
"I said it three years ago when I was in Ballina: Mayo for Sam! And I meant it," he wrote on X. "I said it because I know what it means not just for 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".
"A proud son of County Mayo tonight".
Check that post out in full and more here.
