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All Ireland Wicklow The Central Shop

The Central Shop

Not actually a shop, but one fan's passionate show of support for a rival county's Gaelic football team.

Wicklow, Ireland

Added By
George White
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The Central Shop.   George White / Atlas Obscura User
The Central Shop.   George White / Atlas Obscura User
Main Street in Rathdrum, county Wicklow.   public domain
The flag of County Mayo (Maigh Eo in Irish) flies outside a house in Mayo on the 2017 All-Ireland football championship final.   O'Dea/cc by-sa 4.0
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About

In the small town of Rathdrum, County Wicklow, amid the mountainous rural countryside, lies an array of decent pubs and small shops, some with a unique, almost "Royston Vasey" grotesque charm. 

Contrary to the appearance, however, the bright red and green Central Shop in Rathdrum is not a shop. It may once have been, but it is currently a private house. Its owner, Tony Battle, has selflessly turned its exterior into a public spectacle. It is a temple to his pride in being not from Wicklow, but from the reasonably distant rival county of Mayo, and in particular, his support for the local Gaelic football team.

The Gaelic Athletics Association, or GAA, which governs amateur football and hurling, has a devoted local fandom not unlike cricket or hockey. GAA fandom can be incredibly hostile, so it is nice to see some eccentrics harmlessly expressing their passion for their team. 

Mayo in particular has quite a notorious pedigree. The team has not won an All-Ireland since 1951, blamed on an alleged curse started when the team passed a funeral in the town of Foxford without stopping or paying respects. The story goes that an angry local priest cast a curse in revenge that Mayo would never win the All-Ireland again until all members of the 1951 winning team were dead. There have been numerous close shaves, but never a win to disprove this. An out-of-county battlement like Tony Battle's "shop" serves almost as a defense against the curse.

Related Tags

Sports Soccer Houses Rivals Rivalries Cursed Places Homes

Know Before You Go

Don't go in. It is a private property. It is the exterior that is the attraction.

Community Contributors

Added By

George White

Edited By

stewhelan, Meg

  • stewhelan
  • Meg

Published

July 5, 2018

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  • http://wicklownews.net/2016/09/tony-leads-mayo-battle-cry/
The Central Shop
Main Street
Rathdrum
Wicklow
Ireland
52.934753, -6.231855
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Nearby Places

Kilmacurragh House

Wicklow, Ireland

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Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Wicklow

Wicklow

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Places 8

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Photo of Wicklow

Wicklow

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