In 1924, a major sporting and cultural extravaganza which would announce to the world the birth of an Irish State was held in Dublin. The Tailteann Games aimed to bring the best athletes, artists and musicians to Dublin for a two-week sporting and cultural festival. Based upon the ancient funeral Games staged in County Meath in 1896 BC to celebrate the life of Queen Tailté, the Tailteann Games were a mass celebration of culture and sport with a wide range of competitions and many famous competitors.
Featuring academics, journalists and writers, this half-day seminar examines the context of the Tailteann Games, their impact and the strong cultural identity that it forged for the new Irish State. With excitement for the 2024 Summer Olympic Games building, this seminar also reflects on Team Ireland’s Olympic history, its future and on the many intentional crossovers between the Tailteann Games and the Olympic Games.
This seminar is open to the public. Attendance is €5 and booking is essential via Eventbrite.
Co-ordinated by the Education Department in the National Museum of Ireland with Siobhan Doyle, and coinciding with the GAA: People, Objects and Stories exhibition.
#TailteannGames100
Programme
9.00am Registration
9.25am Welcome
09.30am – 11.00am. Panel 1: Sport, Symbolism and the New Irish Free State
Siobhan Doyle (Chair) - National Museum of Ireland
Paul Rouse – University College Dublin
Louise Ryan – London Metropolitan University
Kevin McCarthy - International Society of Olympic Historians
11.00am – 11.30am. Coffee Break
11.30am - 13.00pm. Panel 2: The Tailteann Games: Culture, Identity and Legacy
Mark Duncan (Chair) - Century Ireland
Conor Heffernan – Ulster University
Mike Cronin – Boston College
Cliona Foley – Freelance Journalist
13.15pm - 14.00. Curator’s Tour of GAA: People, Objects and Stories
