The Mayo Curse – priests, witches and sporting hokum

After a five-year wait, Mayo are back in the All-Ireland football final, but whispers of the famous curse, which supposedly condemned the county to endless defeat, can still be heard. Legend has it that the celebrating team of 1951 disrespected a local funeral and became the subject of a damning and highly effective hex that has kept the Sam Maguire Cup from their grasp ever since. So, is the old tale fact or fiction? Or is it just a handy excuse to explain away decades of heartbreak? ­ On this episode of The Indo Daily, host Tessa Fleming is joined by Frank Roche, the Irish Independent's Gaelic games correspondent, to debate supernatural sabotage – and to ask if Mayo can finally overcome their demons this Sunday. ­ The Indo Daily is part of the Trust Project. You can see our ethics policies at independent.ie/ourjournalismSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.