How Páidí Ó Sé Pioneered An All-Ireland Tradition That Has Become Part Of GAA Folklore

It's a time honoured tradition that Sam Maguire makes the pilgrimage to the Boar's Head pub on Capel Street on the morning after the All-Ireland final.

Down through the years, the All-Ireland-winning team have always visited the pub to mark the triumph, stopping for photos with the owners and adoring fans at a great Dublin institution.

The tradition has spread further than Gaelic football circles, with Shane Lowry famously popping in with the Claret Jug after his superb Open triumph in 2019.

Yet again, the tradition was honoured this year, with Kerry captain Gavin White joined by teammates Tadhg Morley, Diarmuid O'Connor, Killian Spillane, and Paul Murphy in popping in early on Monday morning, with a new friend named Sam in tow.

It's a wonderful tradition that can trace its roots back to a GAA titan and fellow publican Páidí Ó Sé, the Boar's Head owner Hugh Hourican tells us.

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The day after the Boar's Head was taken over by the visit of Kerry's All-Ireland winners, the pub is quieter but certainly not quiet, as I stop by for a quick chat with the pub's owner Hugh Hourican.

Hugh runs the famous Dublin pub with his wife Ann, and says that its most famous tradition is thanks to his old friend, the late Páidí Ó Sé.

"It's my most favourite weekend of the year," Hourican says.

Páidí Ó Sé started it back in 1997 and it has continued on.

In 2012, he didn't make it up for that All-Ireland. He was always here for every All-Ireland.

He rang me and said, 'Are they there?' I says, 'Yes,' and he asked who was there.

I says, 'Michael Murphy, Christy Toye, Marc McHugh.'

He says, 'You were nothing until I put you on the map!'

Ó Sé would suddenly pass away at the end of that year, leaving the world of GAA in shock and mourning.

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13 years on, his absence hangs large over Kerry GAA, and Hourican is sure that Ó Sé would have been first in the door for Monday's shindig in the Boar's Head.

"There's so many memories over the years, it's hard to pick out one," Hourican says.

I suppose, Páidí was always a great character. He started this whole thing.

He's 13 years dead now. I was only speaking about him yesterday. He would have loved to be here.

He loved the fun here. It didn't matter who won, Páidí was always here.

The All-Ireland wouldn't start without Páidí coming through the door. Everybody knew that he was coming.

Páidí Ó Sé's on the Dingle peninsula is itself an iconic pub for those venturing through Kerry, visited down through the years by the likes of Dolly Parton and Tom Cruise.

The Boar's Head is regularly frequented by sporting stars beyond the realms of GAA, something Hourican does not take for granted.

"I come from a sporting background - I wasn't any good myself, now!" Hourican jokes.

"I would have been number 22 or 23 with the club at home. But it's great.

"These sportspeople, whether it's golf or rugby, it's great. I remember when Aidan O'Mahony won the first Dancing with the Stars, he brought the award here! It's a great tradition."

Indeed it is, and it has only added to the prestige of one of Dublin's most famous pubs.

The walls are now lined with photos of All-Ireland winning teams in the pub with Sam Maguire, while the Shane Lowry-signed flag from the 18th green at Royal Portrush is hanging behind the bar, next to a similar flag from Pádraig Harrington.

Few establishments have as much sporting memorabilia, and Hourican admits he cannot pick a favourite item.

However, he might just have a favourite memory.

The clubs now come down to me. The championship finals are in October or the end of September. On the Tuesday, we get the club champions. There's lads in and I've never heard of the clubs before!

They're a great bunch of lads, they get on to you because people can get in touch with you now through Instagram and Facebook to message you. I'm only delighted to get them up, and they're delighted to come up and get their picture taken out the front.

My own club, Arva, two years ago we won the Junior All-Ireland. That was one of my proudest days.

Long may this great tradition continue.

And, maybe, one day Hugh Hourican can welcome his native Cavan to the Boar's Head with Sam Maguire in hand.