Huge excitement as Aidan O'Shea and Jack Carney bring Sam Maguire to Inishturk

THE famed island of Inishturk off the Mayo coast has been the setting for many special moments over the past 6,000 years, but the arrival of Sam Maguire this morning rivals anything that ever went before.

The cup, accompanied by Mayo star Aidan O’Shea caught the ferry out from Roonagh this morning and there was huge excitement on the pier in Inishturk as the locals waited to welcome the famous trophy to the island which has been inhabited since 4000 BC.

As the ferry neared the island, it was given a guard-of-honour by local fishing boats with green and red flags flowing in the breeze. Then, as the ferry came in to dock, wild and wonderful cheers echoed across the waves.

The annual GAA Cúl Camp, which sees children of Inishturk natives return from many parts of the world to take part alongside children from the island, was taking place on the world-famous pitch not far from the pier and when O’Shea, Carney and Sam Maguire arrived the excitement knew no bounds.

Emotions were very close to the surface as the cup was hoisted into the sky while the sun beat down on the colourful scene.

Inishturk men and women are among the most fervent of all Mayo supporters and have followed the Green and Red through thick and thin. Over the years, before the regular ferry service was introduced, they would set off before dawn to row the nine miles to the mainland before hitting the road for any corner of Ireland to roar on Mayo.

Today, they were rewarded for their loyalty.