Three Mayo footballers have finally received All-Ireland medals over 55 years after they helped their county to the All-Ireland title, among them a former GAA president, who also refereed two All-Ireland finals.
The three are former Mayo footballers who were on the 1951 All-Ireland-winning panel but were not presented with their medals at the time.
They are regarded as being special in their county as they were members of the last Mayo senior football All-Ireland-winning team.
Willie Casey, Paddy Jordan and the former GAA president Dr Mick Loftus were all members of the Mayo squad that completed the two-in-a-row with a 2-8 to 0-9 victory over Meath.
They never got their medals because they didn't come on as substitutes during the final, but the Mayo County Board has made amends by presenting the trio with their medals at a recent ceremony.
Mayo County Board chairman James Waldron, who presented the medals at a function in the McWilliam Park Hotel, Claremorris, which was attended by county board officials and a number of Mayo players, said he was delighted the record had finally been put straight, adding: "I don't know why there were not enough medals."
He said: "The pity is that it took so long but thanks to the efforts of Mickey Loftus the men who were entitled to their medals have now got them.
"We are delighted to be able to present the medals now to Paddy, Willie and Dr Mickey. The 1951 team is held in high esteem throughout Mayo and beyond and these three men played their part."
Loftus said he was delighted to have received his medal.
"We were in the photograph on the day of the final, but we never came on, so Paddy, Willie and I were not entitled to medals," said Loftus. "Back then, it was only 18 players who got a medal."
Loftus continues to live a remarkably active life at the age of 77. He recently won four medals in the over-75 category at an international athletics championships in Ohio.
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