Tailteann Games (Irish Free State)

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Fireworks at the first Games, 15 August 1924

The Tailteann Games or Aonach Tailteann was an Irish sporting and cultural festival held in the

Ancient Olympics. Croke Park, the Dublin headquarters of the Gaelic Athletic Association, was the venue for the opening ceremony and many of the sports events, which were open to people of Irish birth or ancestry. The Tailteann Games were held shortly after the Summer Olympics, such that athletes participating in Paris 1924 and Amsterdam 1928 came to compete. Participants coming from England, Scotland, Wales, Canada, the USA, South Africa and Australia as well as Ireland.[1] Chess competitions were held in conjunction with the Irish Chess Union as part of the Tailteann Games. There were also artistic competitions and industrial displays. The games became regarded as a Cumann na nGaedheal project, and when that party lost power to Fianna Fáil after the 1932 election there was no financial backing for further games.[2]

Games

  1. 1924 Tailteann Games
  2. 1928 Tailteann Games
  3. 1932 Tailteann Games
  4. 1937 Tailteann Games was cancelled.

Origins

This revival "meeting of the Irish race" was announced by

Anglo-Irish War and Civil War it was not held until 1924.[4] The meeting was launched to celebrate the independence of Ireland. The Hogan Stand was built and opened for the 1924 games.[1]

A report to revive the games was debated in the Dáil in June 1922. Modern sports such as

JJ Walsh, Minister for Posts and Telegraphs, as chair and Catherine Gifford Wilson, BA
as secretary to the organisation.

Symbols

Commemorative medals were struck for all three games, in gold, silver, silver gilt, and bronze. They depict Tailtiu, the patron deity of the ancient Tailteann Games, with inscription "An Bhainrioghan Tailte" ("Queen Tailte").[6]

1924

The games opened with the "Tailteann choir" singing the "Tailteann ode", with words by

Irish flag was carried by Tom Kiely, winner of the 1904 Olympic all-around (decathlon) title.[8]

To increase the quality of the competition, some Olympic stars without Irish heritage were invited to compete as guests.[9]

The dissident Irish republican movement which had lost the Civil War urged a boycott of the games "falsely described as Aonach Tailteann", because it rejected the legitimacy of the Free State government which sponsored the games.[10] Rugby union was excluded from the program because the Irish Rugby Football Union was seen as "undemocratic and almost un-Irish".[11]

Billiards

Billiards events were held in the Catholic Club in O'Connell Street.

Clay Bird Shooting

Chess

Run in conjunction with the Irish Chess Union, there were three competitions, the overall competition was won by the reigning Irish Champion Philip Baker, the Major Competition was won by Lord Dunsany, with Aaron Sayers as runner-up.[12] Dublin Chess Club provided its premises in Regent House, Trinity College Dublin as well as equipment for use for the Competitions.[13]

Dancing

Golf (men and women)

The women's golf event was held at Portmarnock.[14] The Men's golf event may have been held at Dollymount.

Hurling

In hurling, teams from England, Wales, the United States, Scotland, and Ireland played.[15]

A

shinty–hurling match was played between Scotland team organised by the Camanachd Association and an Ireland team organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association
(GAA).

The Camogie Association planned national and international camogie competitions, but withdrew after a dispute with the organisers, reflecting the anti-Free State bias of the association's leadership. An exhibition match was played without the association's sanction,[16] while an association "Ireland" team played in London.

Handball

The handball events were played in Ballymun and Clondalkin.[17]

Motor Cycling

Races took place in the Phoenix Park, Dublin.[18]

Music

Musical events came in several types and were held in a number of venues. There were performances and competitions. Some performances including operas took place in The Theatre Royal. Some competitions such as band contests were held in Ballsbridge and some were in the Metropolitan Hall in Lower Abbey Street.[18]

Rowing

The rowing events were held at the centre of rowing in Ireland, namely, Islandbridge on the River Liffey.[18]

Swimming

Swimming events were held in the pond at Dublin Zoo.[9] American Johnny Weissmuller and Australian Andrew "Boy" Charleton took part.[9]

Athletics

Were held in Croke Park, Dublin. The American Harold Osborn, the 1924 Olympic high jump champion, won the same event in the Tailteann Games at Croke Park.

Sailing

The Sailing events of 1924 were sailed in Kingstown (now Dún Laoghaire) on Saturday in the second week of August.

Tailteann Games 1924 sailing events[19]
Race Class Result
1 Yachts over 10 tons 'Mavourneen', Mr. F. St. J. Worrall.[20]
2 25 ft & 21 ft 'Geraldine', Mr. W. McDowell.

'Darthula' Mr. W. Graham,

'Innisfallen' Messrs. Nesbitt & Weir.

3 Yachts up to 10 tons 'Klysma', Mr. C. O'Loughlin.

'Bonita' Messrs. Hartnell & McGoogan,

'Mercia III' Mr.W.J. Smalldridge.

4 17 ft 'Echo', Mr. R. Hall 1st., 
Bobolink 2nd.,

Silver Moon 3rd.

5 Seapoint [Sailing Club] Class No. 2 & Clontarf [Yacht & Boat Club] class and similar classes 'Falcon', Messrs. Hutchinson and Paine.
6 Shannon-One-Design 1 S47 Edgar H. Waller ; 2 S32 N. Lionel Lyster ; 3 S35 A.G. Waller ; 4 S36 R. White ; 5 S34 Walter Levinge ; 6 S45 Tom Feely ; 7 S43 Jocelyn H. de W. Waller
7 Water Wags 'Coquette', Mr. George H. Jones,1st,

Mollie, A.E. Snow 2nd,

Tomboy, Messrs Barrett & Donnelly 3rd.

Motor Boating

The Motor Boat event of 1924 took place in Dublin Bay in conjunction with the sailing regatta. Match on declared speed, allowances conceded at start. First boat at 4.15 pm. Shantax. winner.

Cultural programme

Irish and foreign dignitaries at the RIA

T. M. Healy, the Governor-General of the Irish Free State, had an "oddly assorted" group of guests invited by Yeats, including Augustus John, Sir Edwin Lutyens, writers Compton Mackenzie, G. K. Chesterton, Lennox Robinson, and Carlos Magalhães de Azeredo; cricketers Ranjitsinhji and C. B. Fry; and diplomats Willem Hubert Nolens and Erik Palmstierna. Chesterton accepted the medal on his behalf of the absent MacKenna, who later refused it.[21]

An art and craft exhibition at the

Letitia Hamilton, Power O'Malley, and Patrick Tuohy.[23]

At the Theatre Royal two recent operas by Irish composers were performed: Geoffrey Molyneux Palmer's Sruth na Maoile (1922) and Harold White's Seán the Post (1924), along with Shamus O'Brien (1896) by Charles V. Stanford.[7] The last was not successful: "there seemed to be a greater number of people in the orchestra than in the audience".[24]

In the genre painting competition, Charles Lamb won a silver medal for Dancing at a Northern Crossroads, depicting a traditional crossroads dance.[25]

1928

The programme for the 1928 games included athletics,

billiards, boxing, camogie, chess, cycling, Gaelic football, golf, gymnastics, Gaelic handball, hurling, motorcycling, rowing, and swimming.[26]

At the awards ceremony in the Iveagh Gardens, the pageant The Coming of Fionn by Seamus MacCall was staged.[27]

Chess

The 1928 Games was won by John O'Hanlon a multiple Irish Champion.

Rowing

Was held on the Lee in Cork.[28]

Swimming

Took place in Blackrock baths[29]

Motor Boating

The Motor Boat event of 1928 took place at Ballyglass, Co. Westmeath, home of the Lough Ree Yacht Club, and Motor Yacht Club of Ireland, on 16 August. Races took place in various classes:

  • Race 1. Free for all sweepstakes. 1st. 'Fiend' J.W. Shillan. 2nd. 'Irish Express' Major H. Waller. 3rd. 'Miss Chief' J. C. Healy.
  • Race 2. Handicap for boats with outboard engines not exceeding 350cc. Boat min. weight 120 lbs. 1st. 'Miss Chief' J.C. Healy. 2nd. 'Busy Bee' Lt. Col. Mansfield. 3rd. 'Imp' D. Tidmarsh.
  • Race 3. Handicap for boats with inboard engines exceeding 20'-0". 1st. 'Shrike' Lt. Col. Mansfield. 2nd.'La Vague' Dr. V. S. Delany. 3rd. 'Janet' J. C. Healy.
  • Race 4. Handicap for boats with outboard engines of unlimited cc. Boat min. weight 140 lbs. 1st. 'Baby Costume' L. Hogan. 2nd.'Fiend' J. W. Shillan. 3rd. 'Busy Bee' Lt. Col. Mansfield.
  • Race 5. Free for all scratch race. Outboard engines. 1st. 'Fiend' J. W. Shillan. 2nd. 'Miss Chief' J. C. Healy. 3rd. 'Busy Bee' Lt. Col. Mansfield.
  • Race 6. Handicap race for boats with inboard engines, length not exceeding 20 ft. 1st. 'Udra' Dr. V.S. Delany. 2nd. 'Mermaid' Mr. J. Ryan.

Sailing

Race 1. Yachts over 10 tons and under 40 tons. race of 24 miles. 'Mavourneen' F.S.J. Worrell

1932

With the

Anglo-Irish Trade War
, the Games cut from two weeks to one; they made a £12 profit.

The change of Irish Government left the Tailteann games without government support, and as a result there were very few competitions.

Cycling

The cycling event was won by J.P. Woodcock.[30]

Chess

The third games was won again by John O'Hanlon who was also Irish Champion in 1932.

Gymnastics

These events were held in the Mansion House in Dublin.[29]

Handball, National and International

Events were held in the Phoenix Park, Dublin.,[29]

Sailing

Held in Dublin Bay on 14 August 1928. Event 1. yachts over 10 tons and under 40 tons.

Sailing

The sailing events were hosted by the National Yacht Club, Dun Laoghaire in July 1932.[31]

Event Result
Cruisers under 10 tons[31]

Mercia III, W. J. Smalldridge (5h 22m 31s); Sho Shi, T.A. Cotter (5:31:15); Eileen, J.A. Magauran (5:39:35) (Winner); Alethea, J. Kelly.

21-footers[31]

Maureen (winner) Newsom & Stephens; Geraldine, W McDowell; Oola, F.E. Bitmingham; Innisfallen, J.T. Wigham.

17-footers[31]

Pauline, Dr. H.J. Wright; Zaida, Dr. H.H. Poole; Rita, Mr. A. O'Reilly; Mimosa, Mr. R.N. Guinness; Bobolink, Mr. A. McMullen; Leila, Mr. W. McBride; Hera, Mr. A.E. Nesbitt; Echo, Mr. R. Hall; Anita, Mr. J. Millar; Oona, Dr. D & Miss Douglas; Deilginis, Capt. O'B. Twohig; Rosemay, Messrs. Sterling & Thompson; Silver Moon (carried away her masthead before the preparatory gun).

Water wags[31]

Pansy, Dr. J. H. Stephens; Phyllis, G.A. Newsom; Coquette, George Jones; Tomboy, Mr. &. Mrs. Donolly; Mollie, Dr & Mrs Henry; Blue Bird, Dr. G. Pugin; Amyl, Mr. & Mrs. Shackleton; Nesta, A.W. Bayne; Marie Louise, E.G. Peake; Cupid, S. S. Harman; Alfa, G.D. Findlater; Kittiwake, E.A. Brittain (fouled mark); Mary Kate, A.R. O'Connor (retired).

1937

In 1937

Second World War deferred any progress and nothing further happened after the war.[32]

References

  1. ^ a b History of Croke Park – Hogan Stand Archived 21 February 2007 at the Wayback Machine
  2. ^ Cronin 2005, p.64
  3. ^ Dean 2014 p.91
  4. ^ The Tailteann Games – An Olympic Event for the "Celtic Race", by Bernd Biege, About.com
  5. ^ "Dil ireann – Volume 2 – 08 June, 1922 – IOMATHOIRI IASACHTA". oireachtas.ie. Archived from the original on 31 October 2012.
  6. JSTOR 30104073
    .
  7. ^
    JSTOR 30087165. ; Gogarty, Oliver St. John; O'Brien, Louis (1924). "Aonach tailteann 1924 prize ode"
    . Holdings. Dublin: Piggott. Retrieved 1 August 2017.
  8. ^ Zarnowski, Frank (August 2006). "Thomas F. Kiely: A biography" (PDF). Journal of Olympic History. 14 (2): 5–11: 11.
  9. ^ a b c Rouse, Paul (18 November 2016). "When Ireland's Tailteann Games eclipsed the Olympics". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 1 August 2017.
  10. ^ Ruttledge, P. J. (1924). "To the people of Ireland and to every member of the Irish race". Holdings. National Library of Ireland. Retrieved 1 August 2017.
  11. ^ Rouse 2015 p.269
  12. ^ When Irelands Tailteann Games eclipsed the Olympics by Paul Rouse, Irish Examiner, 18 November 2016.
  13. ^ 'A History of Dublin Chess Club' by A. A. Luce, 1967.
  14. ^ Irish Newspaper archive July 1924
  15. ISSN 0306-0837
    .
  16. S2CID 159942305
    .
  17. ^ Irish Newspaper archive 1924
  18. ^ a b c Irish Newspaper Archive, July 1924
  19. ^ Aonach Tailteann : programme of sailing. National Library of Ireland. Retrieved 1 August 2017. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
  20. ^ Irish Times 11 August 1924
  21. ^ Hone, Joseph (1963) [1943]. "Meditations in Time of Civil War; 7.". W. B. Yeats. Macmillan. pp. 362–365.
  22. ^ Cronin 2005, pp.64–65
  23. ^ a b Cronin 2005, p.65
  24. ^ Joseph O'Neill: "Music in Dublin", in: Music in Ireland. A Symposium, ed. by Aloys Fleischmann (Cork: Cork University Press, 1952), p. 255.
  25. ^ Bourke, Marie (Spring 2000). "A Growing Sense of National Identity". History Ireland. 8 (1).
  26. ^ Committee of Aonach Tailteann and Irish Tourist Information (1928). "Aonach Tailteann". Holdings. National Library of Ireland. Retrieved 1 August 2017.
  27. ^ Dean 2014 p.95
  28. ^ Sunday Independent, 5 August 1928
  29. ^ a b c Sunday Independent, 5 Aug. 1928
  30. ^ "Obituary: Mr. J.P. Woodcock". The Irish Press. 18 January 1965.
  31. ^ a b c d e The Irish Times. 11 July 1932. {{cite news}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  32. ^ Rouse 2015 p.255

Sources

External links
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