The Mayo football team have left Dublin as they travel back to Castlebar ahead of huge celebrations following their historic All Ireland victory.
At Croke Park yesterday, Mayo made history, after winning their first All Ireland Senior Football title in 75 years, 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. Prior to yesterday's victory, Mayo's most recent final appearance came in 2021, which saw them lose to Tyrone.
That day saw forward Ryan O'Donoghue miss a penalty as the Green and Red slipped to a five point defeat that day.
However, O'Donoghue and co put that and the previous years of hurt to bed with this win, with the forward also going on to win the Sunday Game Player of the Match in their win over Kerry 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.
The team is to return to Castlebar at 6pm for an expected homecoming at Hastings Insurance McHale Park.
Plans for this homecoming had started 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 joy in the aftermath of Mayo's victory, means they will need to prepare 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).
Meanwhile, teenage sensation, Kobe McDonald, who also played a key role in Mayo's All Ireland win, reflected on what they had just achieved 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".
On the upcoming celebrations, he added: "It's going to be special now to bring Sam home". (All quotes according to RTÉ Radio).
Following their historic win, several household names across the wider world paid tribute to Mayo, 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 out and more here.
