All-Ireland Final countdown: Family support for Mayo's kings of the Castle

Family and friends of Mayo stars Ryan O’Donoghue and Seamus Howard were bursting with pride as they gathered in their local bar in Glencastle and showcased the incredible community support for their homegrown heroes.

The Castle Inn was packed to the rafters with the community keen to show what the lads mean to them.

Ryan and Seamus’ grandmothers Claire O’Donoghue and Mary Howard were among the huge crowd willing them on to All-Ireland glory.

“We are so proud,” said Claire.

“If they never won anything we would be proud of them,” said Mary.

They said their grandsons’ passion and talent for football was always evident.

“Since he was small Seamus would be kicking the football with both feet,” said Mary.

“Ryan always had the love for football. His mum would be bringing him to training and matches everywhere,” said Claire.

The proud as punch grannies said Ryan and Seamus are “absolute gentlemen”.

Claire said she is usually too nervous to watch Ryan in action, but she watched the semi-final win and will be glued to the All-Ireland Final on Sunday.

“I’ll definitely be watching!” added Mary.

Ryan’s grandfather David was an outstanding footballer in his youth. He and Ryan share a special bond, and David will be cheering his grandson on from the family home on Sunday When asked for their match prediction, Claire and Mary chimed “Mayo for Sam!” in unison.

Siblings, aunts, uncles, and cousins of Seamus and Ryan were in the bar which was a sea of Green and Red.

Ryan’s aunts said they are thrilled for him.

“We are very proud aunties,” beamed his aunt Frances who boasted a t-shirt with a photo of Ryan starring for Mayo.

“There is great excitement and everyone is loving the buzz,” said Ryan’s aunts.

“We are all just so proud of Ryan and his achievements. Everyone is just so delighted for him,” they stated.

His aunts said while Ryan sparkles on the pitch he prefers to shun the limelight and let his football do the talking.

Ryan has become an even bigger leader for Mayo this year, helping to guide some of the other exciting young talents around him.

“That’s just in his nature. He is so good to all his cousins,” said the girls.

The Mayo forward has been in inspirational form this season.

“That’s down to sheer determination and hard work. He wants to bring Sam to Mayo,” said Frances.

His aunts said the family are so grateful for the incredible support Ryan receives from the community.

“The locals are so good. Andrea and Paul here in the pub are amazing. Around our village all the neighbours have flags, signs and bunting out,” said Frances.

Seamus’ siblings Leo, John and sister Aisling are elated for their brother.

“We couldn’t be happier for him,” said Leo.

They see the sacrifices their brother and the rest of the squad make.

“It’s just flat out. Even when Seamus was injured for a while there, he was still in the gym six days a week,” said Leo.

Aisling said at home they tend to keep his mind off the pressures of inter-county football.

“We don’t really talk about football too much,” said Aisling.

“Aisling and John are mad into boxing as well so there is always other things to talk about,” said Leo.

“He’s steady enough at home, he doesn’t say a lot about the football,” said John.

“As a footballer you can notice the change in focus but as a person, he is just the same as ever,” John added.

“He’s just very settled and down to earth. He goes to college, he goes to training, he gets his stuff done,” said his elder brother Leo.

The towering midfielder also works part-time in The Castle Inn, following in the footsteps of Leo, with younger brother John also working in the bar. However, Leo reckons his brother is more adept at pulling balls from the sky than pulling pints!

“He has worked in here just like I have and John has worked here as well. The community are brilliant and Seamus will walk in and talk to anyone.

“He’s definitely better at pulling balls from the sky, he can’t take the pint pulling title off me!” laughed Leo.

The Howard brothers are all involved with the Belmullet senior set-up.

“We’re like the three amigos and Aisling is in with the Belmullet senior ladies already,” said Leo.

Paul and Andrea Barrett run the Castle Inn bar. The couple said the village is buzzing with excitement and thrilled for Ryan and Seamus. Ryan is a neigbour and Seamus has tended bar in their popular pub.

“They are just great, down-to-earth lads who are incredible ambassadors for the community,” said Paul.

“Everyone is behind them win or lose,” said Andrea.

“We are a community pub and it’s fantastic for the community to have these lads amongst us. It’s going to be amazing if they get over the line,” added Paul.

They are preparing for “pandemonium” in the pub on Sunday and hopefully beyond.

“It will be mental,” laughed Andrea.

“Hopefully there won’t be a quiet pint here for a long time!,” joked Paul.

Football has dominated the conversation locally and Tommy Joe Murphy, a neighbour of Ryan’s and John Joe Carolan, father of former Mayo star Stephen Carolan, were among the crowd urging Mayo to victory.

“It’s only a matter of going there and turning up,” laughed John Joe.

“I think we have the upper hand on them. If we play like we did the last day we can win it by four or five points,” said Tommy Joe.

“We have four of the best forwards in the country. The forward-line is something else. Between Ryan, Kobe, Darragh Beirne, and Tommy Conroy, we have the four fastest forwards in the county,” John Joe added.

Having two of their own involved in the Mayo squad would make victory even sweeter. “It’s great to see two Belmullet men there. Ryan O’Donoghue from Lakefield and Seamus Howard from just down the road,” said Tommy Joe. “There is a great natural pride in them,” said John Joe.

Tommy Joe and John Joe will be in Croke Park cheering the lads on.

“Weather permitting!” quipped Tommy Joe.