Joy Unconfined As Wicklow Town's Shrine To Mayo Bears Fruit At Long Last!

May-O, May-O Maaaaayyyyyyyyyooooooo ....... ''Sam Maguire is coming home to Mayo'', and for one Rathdrum based homeowner, it's manna from heaven!

Nearly 300 kilometres from Castlebar's MacHale Park, a green and red shrine to Mayo in the centre of a Wicklow town stands out like a beacon. 

Mayo man, Ballina-native Tony Battle, is the owner of a Mayo-inspired home in the valley among the hills which surrounds Rathdrum.

On Sunday he, and every Mayo man, woman and child saw their dreams come to pass when the men of Mayo (bedecked in a changed lilywhite, like the heroes of 1951) achieved their long-held dreams to win the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship after 75-years of hurt. 

Tony is well-known in the Garden County and has been Grand Marshall of Rathdrum's St Patrick’s Day parade in previous years.

The building, which used to be home to 'The Central Shop', pays homage to his native county festooned with the Obamaism 'Yes We Can' - as Mayo attempted to break its near-eight-decade All-Ireland duck for years

Contrary to the appearance, however, the bright red and green Central Shop in Rathdrum is not a shop.

It is a private house. Tony Battle, selflessly turned its exterior into a public display of pride.

It is a temple to his pride in being from the reasonably distant rival county of Mayo, and in particular, his support for Andy Moran's team.

Asked by Declan Meehan on The Morning Show on East Coast FM Tony kept his answers circumspect about how he decided to paint the house.

"Oh, well, it's a long story, yeah. It's a long story, yeah."

He is though, revelling in Mayo's extraordinary success....

"We came, we saw, we conquered and all that. And we're enjoying it, yeah."

He admits its a huge sporting achievement which will linger for a long, long time.

"We are, yeah, enjoying a good win, yeah."

"We're celebrating as well."