It is an intriguing question for Mayo GAA fans and indeed, Gaelic football enthusiasts in general.

Do Mayo actually have four All-Ireland titles to their name? There are three wins that would be general knowledge: 1936, 1950 and 1951. But peculiar things happened in 1925.

An exciting question was discussed in the most recent episode of 'Over the Bar' - The Gaelic Games History Podcast.

The show is hosted by Michael Foley and Ciarán O'Hara.

How were Galway and Mayo both All-Ireland football champions in 2025?

 "This is a rollercoaster of an episode" says Ciarán O'Hara:  "In 1925, 100 years ago, was the year a Connacht team won the big prize for the first time."

But it was under most extraordinary circumstances. Checking the roll of honour of All-Ireland is deceptive. The records state, that Galway beat Cavan in the final. 

But there was never an All-Ireland final played that year.

It is probably the most remarkable football championship ever to take place. A rake of replays, appeals, objections, delays.

'A summe of farce', to quote the Over the Bar podcast.

"The Connacht championship quarter-final in 1925 between Sligo and Roscommon took six games to decide who would advance to the semi-final," O'Hara explains: "And then, the Galway versus Leitrim semi-final required three games. So you get a sense of where we're at. While all this happens, the previous year's champions Mayo are sitting by, waiting to play a game because they're due to meet the winners of Roscommon and Sligo in the semi-final."

That Mayo team was trained by Tomas Moloney, an army man. They had collective training in Balla, they stayed in the house of the captain, the podcast episode explains. 

"They had a long summer waiting to play a game. This is all going on, June, July, August, and the Connacht Council are getting anxious. The Connacht champions were due to play the Leinster champions on August 30."

This all led to huge implications. It was decided, with the help of Galway delegate Stephen Jordan, to let Mayo play the All-Ireland semi-final, as reigning Connacht champions.

Mayo went up to play Wexford and beat them to qualify for the 1925 final. 

"It looks like we might get an All-Ireland final in September. In a summer of farce, surely the other provinces have their house in order."

Unfortunately, the Kerry versus Cavan All-Ireland semi-final experienced considerable drama, to say the least. For full details, have a listen to the full podcast episode from 'Over the Bar'.

To not spoil the whole story: At some point, it looked like Mayo were just going to be declared All-Ireland champions, having only played one game. That successful match against Wexford.

The beginning of the Galway Mayo rivalry

But then Wexford GAA lodged an objection: "Michael Mulderrig, one of the more prominent players on that Mayo team, had played for Tipperary in a junior match against Kerry, a few months beforehand. The Wexford secretary, who was also captain on the team, had found two Wexford men, living in Munster, and were able to confirm the fact that Mulderrig had played for Tipperary."

But it wasn't that straightforward. There was another witness, stating Mulderrig was only among the spectators, and indeed, his name isn't mentioned in match reports. 

At this point it's late September and there was still a Connacht championship to be played. Suffice to say, Mayo and Galway ended up in the final, which was fixed for October 18.

Needless to say there was huge controversy. The referee on that day was Stephen Jordan, the Galway delegate. And a penalty for Galway late on tipped the scales into the Tribesmen's favour.

"This is the beginning of the rivalry between Galway and Mayo", says . 

But issues arise, as Mayo were named All-Ireland champions earlier, due to the fact, that both Kerry and Cavan were disqualified and Mayo had won the semi-final against Wexford.

It is all a bit complicated. But after the Connacht final, Galway based papers begin to refer to the Galway team as All-Ireland champion 'as a result of their defeat of Mayo'. It never gets dull in 1925.

The podcast explains, the story is first mentioned in national media on November 7 in the Irish Independent, under the headline 'a curious decision'. 

"The whole championship is in farce. There is one more Central Council meeting that year."

And the conclusion: Because of the farce it has become, the Central Council proposed a tournament to determine the All-Ireland champion. There was no final played for the 1925 championship.

"The whole affair has become a bone of contention between Mayo and Galway. It took the rivalry to another level. This lights the flame for a rivalry."

Listen to the full podcast episode here.

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