Farmer Shane Fitzgerald from Kilmaine, Co Mayo, has been a very busy man since Mayo’s big win on Sunday.

Videos went viral on social media of Shane’s emotional reaction to Mayo’s All-Ireland triumph, as he erupted into tears, blessed himself and kissed the ground in relief at the final whistle after a 75-year wait.

“We’ll never see the likes of it again,” Shane told the Irish Farmers Journal.

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“There is so much joy in Mayo people at the moment after years and years of bad days – you couldn’t knock the cheer out of anybody.”

“I got a phone call an hour before the game that 10 sheep got into the neighbours' field and they never did it before. All I could say is that they were looking to see the game.”

Sheep farming

Shane has been farming all of his life, but he took over the farm a couple of years ago after his dad passed away.

Shane has built the flock up to about 200 breeding ewes, consisting of a mix of Suffolk and Texel, his two favourite breeds.

Last week, Shane said he noticed the ground was nearly at crisis point with no rain for weeks. However, rain has thankfully returned to the west in recent days.

“With all the prayers Mayo have been doing over the last few days, I think we got a blessing of rain as well,” he said.

On the farm this week, Shane is planning to wean off the lambs and give them a dose.

With the weather becoming damp in recent days, he will also look at the best options to treat the flock for blowfly strike in the coming weeks, whether that’s dipping or a pour-on.

Shane highlighted that he is blessed to be able to trade between two great marts in Ballinrobe and Tuam and he said that he got a good laugh when he saw that Galway auctioneer Pat Burke revealed he was wearing a Mayo jersey in Tuam Mart on Monday after the win.

He is also a member of the south Mayo lamb producer group.

Florist

Not only is Shane a farmer, but he is also a florist. He described himself as a man of the land, as he also enjoys growing vegetables and working with plants and flowers, having worked with horticulture for most of his life.

A new venture that he is exploring is beekeeping, which he began a couple of years ago because of his strong connection to the land and the environment.

“I'd be encouraging any farmer in the country if they have an interest in having beehives that there's many advantages, from biodiversity to just even harvesting a bit of honey that you can use yourself in the house,” he explained.

Following Mayo’s success story in Croke Park on Sunday, Shane is now looking for his own love story.

“I’m a true sheep farmer, but it can be a lonely old planet, so I’m looking for a woman, if there’s anyone out there who wants to come to Mayo,” he joked.

After the viral videos online, Shane said he got a text from someone saying “the next thing you’ll be on is Love Island, you may get on to Fitzy for a few tips”.

Sam is home

After years and years of heartbreak, Shane said that the people of Mayo are joyful to see the Sam Maguire Cup come back home.

Shane is now balancing farming while also enjoying the well-deserved celebrations around the county, from Castlebar to Westport to Ballyhaunis.

“We won’t leave a square foot unturned that won’t see the Sam Maguire get to it.”