BBC unveils podcast series on Mayo GAA curse
Caoimhín Rowland
The BBC World Service has launched a three-episode podcast series dedicated to the notorious Mayo GAA curse.
The curse, haunting the Gaelic football team since their last Sam Maguire victory in 1951, has become an integral part of the county's sporting identity.
Narrated with morbid fascination, the series begins with the jubilant return of the 1951 team through the streets of Foxford, carrying the coveted Sam Maguire.
The podcast aims to dissect the curse's origins, questioning whether a supposed act of disrespect at a funeral in 1951 set the stage for decades of ill-fated All Ireland glory quests.
Drawing parallels with renowned sports curses like the "Curse of Bambino" for the Boston Red Sox, Irish-American sports reporter Dave McKenna leads the investigation.
Listeners are invited to ponder whether a hex, rooted in a funeral incident from the past, has truly plagued Mayo GAA or if the curse is merely a tale spun through the annals of time.
The podcast promises a deep dive into the cultural significance of sports curses and their impact on teams, blending historical context with investigative journalism.
The first episode, available for listening, marks the beginning of an intriguing journey into the heart of Mayo GAA's enduring struggle for Sam Maguire glory.
Episode 1 - So the Story Goes
Is County Mayo’s Gaelic football team cursed? Irish-American sports reporter Dave McKenna investigates this curious case to find out if a decades-old hex is behind their recent failures. Did the team really disrespect a funeral in 1951? And could that possibly have caused the mysterious bad luck that’s plagued the team ever since?
Episode 2 - Dr Loftus
What really happened that day in 1951? Sports reporter Dave McKenna hears from the last remaining member of the 1951 Mayo All-Ireland squad.
Does he remember a priest cursing the team? And does he believe the curse is real? Dave’s investigation leads him to the town of Foxford, the site where legend dictates it all began. And some sad news changes the course of the investigation.
Episode 3 – The Bogeymen
As Mayo prepare for the All-Ireland Championship, a formidable obstacle stands in their way. Will the men from Mayo finally win the coveted tournament once again and vanquish talk of the curse once and for all? Meanwhile, the truth about what really happened that day in Foxford more than 70 years ago could finally be within reach.
Presenter: Dave McKenna. Produced by Elle Scott and Lincoln van der Westhuizen. A Message Heard Production for the BBC World Service.
You can listen to the first episode here.