The Tailteann Games were an ancient sporting event held in Ireland in honour of the goddess Tailtiu. They ran from 1829 BC to 1169-1171 AD when they died out after the Norman invasion.[1] [2]
The site of the games was in County Meath, perhaps in the townland of Telltown.[3] The games were held over a 30 day period each year.
A sporting festival bearing the same name was held by the Gaelic Athletic Association in Croke Park in 1924, 1928, and 1932 and was open to all people of Irish birth or ancestry, with participants coming England, Scotland, Wales, Canada, the USA, South Africa and Australia as well as Ireland.[4] Chess Competitions were held in conjunction with the Irish Chess Union as part of the Tailteann Games.
The Sailing event of 1924 was sailed in Kingstown (now Dún Laoghaire) on Saturday evening on the second week of August, using the dinghies designed for use on the river Shannon, the Shannon-One-Design. Seven boats took place. Result: 1st. S47 Major Edgar H. Waller, 2nd. S32 N. + Lionel Lyster, 3rd. S.35 Major A.G. Waller, 4th. S36 Mr. R. White, 5th.S34 Mr. Walter Levinge, 6th. S45 Mr. Tom Feely, 7th. S43 Major Jocelyn H.De W. Waller.
The Motor Boat event of 1924 took place in Dublin Bay.
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 16th. 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.
This revival meeting of the Irish race was announced by Éamon de Valera in Dáil Éireann in 1921 however due to the Anglo-Irish War and Civil War it was not held until 1924.[5] The meeting was launched to celebrate the independence of Ireland. The Hogan Stand was built and opened for the 1924 games.[4]
The Games coincided in timing with the Olympics, so many athletes participating in the Paris and Amsterdam Olympics came to Dublin to compete, including Harold Osborne, the American High Jumper, who won the High Jump titles at Paris 1924 and Tailteann Games 1924.
A modern athletics meet of the same name is held every year under the auspices of Athletics Ireland, and is organised as an inter-provincial competition.[6]