From Croke Park to Belmullet: The remarkable homecoming that defined Mayo's All-Ireland victory

Colin Sheridan on Mayo's emotional All-Ireland homecoming, tracing Sam Maguire's journey across the county and the communities it united

READY TO BURST: Supporters cheer the Mayo team bus on the way to the homecoming celebrations at MacHale Park in Castlebar. Picture: Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile

On Monday morning, those Mayo people lucky enough not to be leaving through airports or ferry terminals drove west, towards home. 

Every service station along the M4 was overrun with green and red. Mayo flags fluttered from car windows.