Christmas Eve is almost upon us, with the big day itself coming down the tracks straight after with what feels like almost indecent haste. Are we ever really ready for Christmas? Does it matter if we’re not? It’ll soon be over for another year.
At Christmas every year, there’s always time to look back on the year that’s sliding inexorably towards completion. From a Mayo GAA one it was another year of highs and lows, with the National League title win at Croke Park the obvious high, while our failure – yet again – to get to the Connacht final was a clear blow, one that sent us hurtling down an insanely busy schedule of games. With injuries mounting from one match to the next, it was no surprise that it ultimately proved too much for us.
But that’s the year that’s fading into the past. A new one is waiting to be born in a few days and the story is has to tell us over the coming months is one that’s as yet untold.
But let’s leave thoughts about what’s up ahead aside for now. In this lull between one year and the other, it’s good to relax and concentrate on issues of more importance at this special time.
Thanks everyone for spending time here over the last twelve months. It’s been a tough year in many respects on the blog – without doubt, the toughest from my point of view – but it’s the support of and contribution by the decent majority that helps to ensure that the show goes on.
And, in that vein, this Christmas I’d like to pay particular thanks to those who stepped in and helped shoulder the burden over the last number of months. Special thanks to Cian Mortimer, who handled from end to end the match report for the Roscommon game, Tom McLoughlin, who became a regular guest contributor over the summer and did the match reports for the Meath and Donegal games, and Darragh Berry, who chipped in regularly with guest pieces during the year. Thanks too to Michael Maye, whose IT skills behind the scenes continues to ensure that this place stays in one piece from that perspective.
Happy Christmas all, here’s hoping it’s a good one.
Happy Christmas WJ. Thanks again for letting me tag along this year. My Christmas list is for multiple trips across the Atlantic in 2020!! In the meantime, enjoy your much deserved downtime and holidays.
Happy Christmas to you and yours WJ and to everyone on the blog. Hope all enjoy what’s left of 2019 and hopefully we will have plenty of good football to look forward to in 2020. Good tidings to all.
Happy Christmas Willie Joe and all the people behind the scene, to all my fellow Mayo fans on here too. Mayo Abu 2020!
Happy Christmas Everybody! Thanks Willie Joe, and all other contributers to this Blog….Sure Green and Red are the colors of Christmas!…. And only the County Mayo can truly claim that unique accolade….
Nollaig Shona go Léir;
Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year to one and all.
Hi All,
Just a quick message to wish you all a very happy Cristmas and an enjoyable 2020 of football.
Kind Regards
Martin the Dub
WJ . Christmas is a time for family. Mayo has supporters are probably the best in the country. We love our team and are proud of where we’re from . We help each other get over losses and to celebrate our victories together.
We are the Mayo gaa family.
Happy Christmas to you all.
Happy Christmas, Willie Joe to you and yours. Thanks for all your efforts on the blog this and every year. It mightn’t seem worth it at times but for many of us on here it’s an important piece of our lives, keeping us up to date on all things related to Mayo GAA. Maigh Eo Abú!
Happy Christmas WJ and all. You provide a great service for all of us who wish to Xpress our opinions or keep supporters updated on the mayo football scene.
I am looking forward to the new season on the football field. Many potential new stars starting to surface and backroom team strengthened by inclusion of C. Mac Donald
Nollaig Shona diabh
Hope Christmas to one and all across the Mayo diaspora.
Looking forward to the 2020 season and all the ups/downs it is likely to bring with it.
Wishing a Happy Christmas to one and all and especially to the man himself, WJ. This time next year we could be looking back on a great year for Mayo and wondering why it took so long.
Happy Exmas to all supporters they are the best and to our team the best of luck in 2020 see you all in Castlebar
Happy Christmas WJ to you and to all readers of this excellent blog.
The journey continues on. Thank you for all the hard work and for providing Mayo fans with such a professional medium to enjoy all that is Mayo GAA.
Merry Christmas to all and best wishes for 2020.
Happy Xmas to all and just maybe, maybe we will see new All Ireland winners in 2020, Mayo to go for broke and tip Kerry in the final.
Santa ? be good to us.
Thanks WJ for this wonderful creation of yours. The fact that it has grown to such an extent, and that the average level of contribution is so good, is a testament to your excellent and continuous management of the site. It is a huge part of the “Mayo Experience” for all of us who visit and leave our thoughts … especially those of us who live outside the county.
Happy Christmas and a Bright and prosperous New Year to you WJ and all your family .And to all the friends I have met throughout 2019 through this fantastic outlet otherwise known as the Mayo GAA Blog …Roll on 2020
Seasons greetings all, hope people enjoy the break, and are rested for what we hope will be a long season for the green and red.
Special thanks to WJ, this is a great resource for us Mayo supporters and indeed the wider gaa public who join in, it is good to have that wider perspective.
Am I allowed to say I’m feeling so much optimism towards us capturing Sam this year….I feel it every year around this time but damn it we are Mayo and we have the best supporters ever created. Bring on the warm Summer days and all that goes with it. I love my county!!!! Happy Christmas guys and 2020 to be a brilliant year
Happy Christmas to you and your family WJ.
Hope you have a well deserved rest.
And for this blog, Thank you, I luv it.
It unites us all Mayo people at home and abroad with the ups and downs of following our dedicated footballers throughout the year.
To all the wonderful Mayo supporters and ex players who have left us this year most recent ‘inbetweener’ on the blog we remember you with a silent prayer tonight, and may you all rest in peace. We have more wonderful angels and great spirits with us for 2020.
A happy warm and safe Christmas to you WJ and all the contributors on here. Isn’t it great that we all believe that we have a chance to reach the holy grail in 2020.
A very happy Christmas to you Willie Joe and your family and to all contributors on this blog. Please God 2020 will be a good year for Mayo football
Happy Christmas WJ and to all who read this blog Best wishes to all Mayo teams in 2020 The year that’s just gone was not bad League Champions and AI semi finalists Don’t think we could have expected much more though a Connacht Title would have been nice Anyway the old year is gone and the new one imminent All we ask for is the usual 100 per cent effort and we will see where that takes us
Is anyone having issues renewing their season ticket on new season ticket website.
Nollaig shona daoibh agus athbliain faoi mhaise. Mile buiochas to WJ for such a wonderful blog. Let hope CLG sort out the problem with the Foundation and lets concentrate on the main business i.e., an peil! Go neiri le gach duine agus foireann Mhuigheo i gconai! Bigi linn
Happy Christmas to all Mayo supporters and team members. What a wonderful year we had following the Mayo team through good days and bad.. Mile buiochas WJ for all your hard work and dedication on our behalf through out the year. Many thanks for the wonderful Podcasts we had in 2019. The quality and enlightenment of these Podcasts reached a new high this year. The contributions of Billy Joe is my favorite but the balance ye achieve is excellent so well done. So what of 2020, we will just have to wait and see.
Happy Christmas everybody!
Maybe 2020 is the year??
Happy Christmas and all the best for Mayo in 2020, except when our paths cross !!
Cant wait for Jan the 12th
Merry Christmas everybody and all the best for the new year!
WJ, thanks for providing us with another year of this great Mayo gaa blog. Nothing comes near it for coverage of county and club football, plus the hurlers and ladies are also getting a mention. Your patience was sorely tested by those ‘contributors’ who barged on here during the height of the county board/foundation debate, and only someone with the skills you possess could have navigated a way through it. Thankfully we have you at the helm, the blog is still up and running and we’re happily able to discuss all things Mayo gaa and look forward to what I think is going to be a very interesting year.
WJ thanks for setting up this place and keeping it entertaining and civilised.
Thanks to all who put so much effort into the teams
We love to support.
Happy New Year
Merry Christmas Willie Joe and all. Love ‘staying in touch’ with you all and the ups and downs of Mayo GAA. Here’s hoping 2020 will be a good one.