Is County Mayo’s Gaelic football team cursed? You might have heard of the “Curse of Bambino” for the Boston Red Sox in US baseball. This is the story of Ireland’s equivalent. 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 did that cause the mysterious bad luck that’s plagued the team ever since? Episode 1 of 3. Let us know what you think of #AmazingSportStories

The Curse of County Mayo- a Documentary from the BBC World Service on the GAA Social. Something a bit different this week

The GAA Social brings to life stories from Gaelic Games. It features pundit discussions and wide-ranging interviews with the sport’s players, managers and officials.

Sports

A brilliant sporting weekend reflected, plenty of football but Hurling still king

Galway win, red cards, Kerry & Mayo are back. Tyrone U20 & Armagh Ladies

This is a magnificent podcast. Thomas & Oisin have wanted a referee for some time, and the GAA Social landed one of the best. Maurice Deegan uncut and answers all the questions around referees and reveals his new role at Croke Park. The Laois man has joined  BBC coverage of Gaelic Games over the past 15 months and the feedback has been awesome. This is really, really good. The GAA Social with referee Maurice Deegan, a man Oisin has never really liked. Enjoy

Maurice Deegan. Being a referee and what's next. This is great

Louth smack a performance, nobody out side their camp predicted- but ultimately Dublin still win. An 18th title for Stephen Cluxton. We reflect on the most dramatic of days at Clones as Donegal come back, to win the Ulster championship. A truly remarkable occasion. What next for Armagh? Well, it's Tyrone!

Donegal win! Louth stun Dublin-but fall short

Steven McDonnell is one of the greatest Gaelic footballers of his generation. A former player-of-the year, three-time All-star, All-Ireland winner and seven-time Ulster champion. Success was a familiar path, and it’s perhaps no surprise that he made David Clifford’s dream 7’s team. Some man. In this podcast, Oisin teams up with his old buddy to talk the good ole days, the constant challenge of Donegal and what we can expect in the 2024 Ulster final. The former Ireland player also calls on the GAA to reinstate the International rules series and has a plan how it can flourish.
Behind the talented footballer is also a man who cared for his mum as she died from Alzheimer’s. It’s a cruel disease “We lost our mum before she died.”
The illness paused his managerial ambitions but not his love of the sport and why he thinks most forwards are failing.
Steven tries a Kieran Donaghy accent, reveals his ‘extensive’ weights programme and provides a brilliant insight on the famous Conor Gormley block in the 2003 All-Ireland final against Tyrone.
The podcast also reflects on last week’s Colin Bell Podcast, someone McDonnell knows well and the day the Armagh legend tricked Stephen Cluxton into a red card.
Stevie from Killeavy- the footballing icon, the finest of men. Our guest this week, on the GAA Social Podcast.

Steven McDonnell- A legend

It's a provincial title for Kerry and Galway on two very different occasions. Clare can take great encouragement from their final defeat in Munster- but the same can't be said about Mayo. Oisin believes they might not even make it out of their group. Galway found something from within and the scenes at the final whistle suggest this was something big for the Tribesmen.

The Curse of County Mayo- a Documentary from the BBC World Service on the GAA Social. Something a bit different this week

Download our free app to listen on your phone