Local Mayo man remembers last Mayo win 75 years ago
Michael Smith of Swinford, Co. Mayo celebrating their historic All Ireland win at his local GAA club, Roanmore GAA
At just five years old, Mike Smith witnessed Mayo's last All Ireland win, prior to them achieving their remarkable win on Sunday, over Kerry, in this year's All-Ireland final.
Now at 80, Mike has seen the curse broken and is beyond delighted, despite not living in Mayo any longer.
Originally from Swinford, County Mayo and now a Cleaboy man, Mike watched Sunday's All Ireland final at home surrounded by his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, before heading to his local GAA club for post-match celebrations.
"It was as if he scored the final point himself," Mike's daughter Catherine told Waterford News & Star, with Mike walking into a room full of shouts and cheers for Roanmore's most loyal and long-serving supporter.
After having been presented with a Mayo jersey by Roanmore GAA Club last week, Mike proudly wore the jersey all night long at the clubhouse as he celebrated Mayo's historic win amongst friends, family and Mayo fans.
It was "very emotional" for him, Catherine said, with such a huge buildup to the win, with Mike having told her after the 2013 Mayo loss to Dublin: "I don't think I'll ever get to see them win again."
Mike spoke about the win on WLR's Déise Today with Damien Tiernan on Monday morning, July 27, saying: "It's hard to describe it because I never expected it."
On a Waterford win in the future Mike urged everyone in the Déise to keep their hopes up, saying: "I thought it wouldn't happen for us, but it did."
Mike's granddaughter Seana Roche told Damien Tiernan's Déise Today: "To see the excitement on his face was just something else."
