New State, Ancient Nation: The Tailteann Games

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

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

National Museum of Ireland - Decorative Arts & History, Benburb Street, Dublin, Ireland