Tailteann leave their mark
THE variety of events hosted during the Tailteann Games was astonishing, with competitors welcomed in athletics, billiards, boxing, camogie, chess, cycling, decathlon, diving, Gaelic football, golf, gymnastics, handball, hurling, jumping, rowing, rounders, swimming, tennis, weight-lifting, wrestling and yachting, as well as racing events for motorcycles, cars and boats.
For those not athletically inclined, there was competition in Irish dancing, poetry, prose, drama and storytelling along with music and singing events.
A bulging list, yet there were some notable exceptions. With the idea behind the games being the promotion of Irish culture and pastimes, those sports which fell under ‘the ban’ — namely soccer, cricket, hockey and rugby — were not included.
Under the guidance of the Irish Free State, the games took place in 1924, 1928 and 1932 and were a modern revival of the ancient Tailteann Games that were regularly held in preChristian Ireland in dedication to Queen Tailte — the wife of Irish King Eochaid mac Eric who, legend has it, learned every science and art in Europe and the East.
In 1921, Éamon de Valera announced the revival of the games in Dáil Éireann, although the Anglo-Irish War and Civil War meant that the plans didn’t come to fruition until 1924, with Croke Park’s new Hogan Stand opened for the games’ launch.
Such was the optimism that the possibility of overtaking the Olympics in terms of status was openly discussed.
Competitors travelled from far and wide and one of the more interesting events saw Olympic gold medalist Johnny Weissmuller compete in the pond at Dublin Zoo. Six years later, he starred in the first Hollywood adaptation of Tarzan.
The games were again held in 1928 and ’32 before tensions in the government saw them postponed in 1936, ending another fascinating chapter in the GAA’s history.