Chicago native Mark Sulski made an extraordinary last-minute journey to Croke Park with one mission in mind: to stand with Mayo supporters, honour the memory of his late grandfather John O’Malley Sr, and help the county finally lift the legendary “Mayo Curse.”
Sulski, whose late grandfather John O’Malley was born and raised in Lahardane, County Mayo, before emigrating to Chicago, travelled to Ireland to honour his grandfather’s memory and celebrate the Mayo heritage that has been passed down through generations.
With nothing more than a bag on his back, no ticket to the match, and a belief that history was about to be made, Sulski made the journey to Dublin determined to be part of one of the most anticipated moments in Irish sporting history.
For 75 years, Mayo supporters have carried one of Gaelic football’s most famous legends, the “Mayo Curse.” According to folklore, after Mayo’s 1951 All-Ireland victory celebrations, the team passed through Foxford where they were alleged to have shown insufficient respect when passing a funeral. The story claims that a priest placed a curse on the team, declaring that Mayo would not win another All-Ireland title while any member of that victorious 1951 side remained alive.
While the story has never been proven and many associated with the team dismissed it as folklore, the legend became a defining part of Mayo GAA history and a symbol of the county’s long wait for glory.
Earlier in 2026, the final surviving member of the 1951 All-Ireland-winning Mayo team sadly passed away, renewing belief among supporters across Ireland and around the world that the long wait could finally be over.
Determined to play his own small part in helping Mayo lift the curse, Sulski travelled from Chicago without a ticket for the All-Ireland Final at Croke Park. Once in Dublin, he found himself surrounded by some of the most passionate and loyal supporters in sport, the Mayo faithful, whose belief and dedication have carried the county through decades of heartbreak.
Refusing to give up on his dream of being inside Croke Park, Sulski’s persistence paid off when, at the last minute, a family member secured him a ticket to the game.
Standing among thousands of Mayo supporters, Sulski witnessed a moment that will never be forgotten: Mayo finally ending their 75-year wait for All-Ireland glory and bringing an emotional conclusion to one of Irish sport’s greatest stories.
“Being there was something I’ll never forget,” said Sulski. “I came to honour my late grandfather John O’Malley, my whole family, our roots in Lahardane, and to stand with the Mayo people who have waited so long for this day. I just wanted to be there, to add my voice, and to help Mayo lift the curse.”
The victory became a celebration not only for County Mayo but for the Irish diaspora around the world, with supporters everywhere sharing in a historic moment that connected generations of Mayo people at home and abroad.
For Mark Sulski, what began as a spontaneous journey from Chicago became a once-in-a-lifetime last-minute flight that allowed him to stand among the Mayo faithful as history was finally made.
From Chicago to Croke Park: Man Returns to Mayo Roots
