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.

The seminar will take place from 9am to 2pm on Friday, 10th May, 2024

Open to the public - Attendance is €5 and booking is essential via bit.ly/NewStateAncientNation

Co-ordinated by the Education & Outreach Department in the National Museum of Ireland with Siobhán Doyle, and coinciding with the GAA: People, Objects and Stories exhibition. #TailteannGames100

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Programme
Registration - 9.00am

Welcome - 9.20am

Panel 1: Sport, Symbolism and the New Irish Free State - 9.30am – 11am 
Siobhán Doyle (Chair) - National Museum of Ireland
Paul Rouse – University College Dublin
Louise Ryan – London Metropolitan University
Kevin McCarthy - International Society of Olympic Historians

Coffee Break - 11.00am – 11.30am

Panel 2: The Tailteann Games: Culture, Identity and Legacy - 11.30am - 1.00pm
Mark Duncan (Chair) - Century Ireland
Conor Heffernan – Ulster University
Mike Cronin – Boston College
Cliona Foley – Freelance Journalist

Curator’s Tour of GAA: People, Objects and Stories - 1.15pm - 2pm
Siobhán Doyle - National Museum of Ireland

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For more information on this seminar, contact bookings@museum.ie or call 01 648 6453