Croker to Croagh Patrick

Yes, Mayo have won Sam; I think the majority of Mayo people are still in shock, walking around, pinching themselves trying to take it all in. There is so much raw, pure emotion all around us; an overwhelming sense of happiness, relief, wildness, celebrating and rightly so. We have an unauthorised pass to do a little bit less for the week! 

What has been finally achieved has taken generations of hard work, dedication, heartbreak and loss. Many, many young people have come through the ranks, also many, many people have passed away. An overwhelming amount of people travelled back home, yet again to see Mayo in Croker. We remember all who have left their homelands - some in search of a better life, some in search of work and some to see the world. These are just some of the emotions people have expressed in Mayo through tears, laughter, hugs and celebrations.

A mental few days have passed, from the build-up leading up to the All-Ireland, the hype and intensity like I’ve never seen before for tickets. The sorting; who's going where, who's traveling with who. Talks of exchanging Cusack for the Hill, what jersey will I now wear; white or the green and red!

There is a routine for every journey to Croke Park; the car is packed the night before with enough food and water because there's no time for stopping but then there always is! Applegreen is a sea of green and red, every turn you take you meet some else you know. The same chats, talk of last-minute changes to the team, everyone in good form. A power walk to Quinn's; it’s packed out the door. There is a strong Mayo buzz, people you haven't seen for years, fond friends you played with and against, now having lads playing for Mayo. An added sense of emotion when you know the background!

The intensity of the game, sitting with supporters, like newfound friends, because Mayo and football brings people together whether your 80 or 16, from Shrule or Belmullet, home from America or living in Galway, the breeding is in ya. The memories of all the losses deep rooted in the mind. 

Time is finally up, Mayo win Sam. After a serious rush of emotion, hugging, screaming through teary eyes, I look around to take it all in. Crowds of people in floods of tears, screams, jumping jacks, emotions like I’ve never seen before. I cry with happiness for my husband, our children, my family and friends, the players, managers and co, supporters and everyone who has never seen anything like this before. I cry so hard for my Dad, my uncle who have passed, my extended family who are feeling the same. The celebrations begin, but in back of the mind there are ongoing thoughts - the worry of safety and all returning home each night in one piece.

I’m told in advance to replan the long run, to not even think about going Sunday morning as the car will be passing through Shrule by 8.30am! I am off on Saturday so instead; what a fab 12 miles all around the hype of the parish. One of my number one supporters shouts out over the wall; “Paula you should have ran the Reek this morning”, I shout back “sure I might make it yet... tomorrow morning”. For the rest of the run, I planned, figured and contemplated how I’d fit it in, and then some sense registered about the long drive back and over to Murrisk, if the thick mist came down and if I needed longer to run. No, it'll be done after Mayo win Sam on Sunday!

I tell my daughter the story. In Croke Park on Sunday I’m reminded - “Mam don’t forget the Reek tomorrow morning”. I smile with a glint in my eye and respond, “I can’t wait”. Not a wink of sleep that night, between the Sunday game, reliving the excitement through a different lense, collecting the youth, then the older crew, I’m wired with it all.

Monday morning is fresh but humid and there’s mist in sight, but it doesn't matter, Mayo have won and I'm heading for the third highest point in county. That’s the thing about the mountains; it can be bone dry at the bottom and the change in temperature and conditions can be as rapid as Ryan O'Donoghue's pass in Croke Park.

Not a sinner about only the odd straggler still walking home from the night before, the village having all the signs of a serious party.

A few more have the same idea re the reek, already bodies up ahead. It’s a beautiful day, I've an eagerness about me to get running fast, get moving hard, I’ve an abundance of emotion and thoughts to deposit before the head begins to fill again. The mountain feels solid, strong, and powerful like a lot of Mayo people today. In times of past, we might have felt weaker, smaller and the underdog but that’s no harm because tough times makes us stronger. As I jog swiftly up through the climb today, facing different obstacles along my way, I don’t stumble but hop over and that's what Mayo did yesterday; they dummied, soloed and powered through the challenges. The typical west of Ireland mist comes down but my vision is clear, I know what I want to achieve and can see it. 

Visualisation is a common tool used in sport. I know some of our hero’s imagined themselves winning yesterday, what it would be like. Sometimes the mind controls the body. I reach the summit, what a beautiful sight, I can see for miles around. We live in a huge county, a beautiful county, a united county. Together people can achieve many great things. As I begin my decent, I smile; all around this county something wonderful has been achieved. This mountain has given me a chance to breathe, to take it all before another night of bringing, collecting and emotions kick in. Sometimes when great things happen, people need to stop still, be present in the current, or the moment will pass you by. 

The curse is gone, the faith is powerful and the journey is never that far from Mayo to Croke Park. I know the lads will climb this beast, because when you are up on a high from winning in sport, you want to stay up there. There’s no better place to feel the high than on the top of the reek with Sam.