The Tailteann Games were an ancient sporting event held in Ireland in honour of Queen Tailtiu. They ran from 1829BC to 1169-1171AD when they died out after the Norman invasion.

The site of the games was in County Meath, perhaps in the the townland of Telltown. The games were held over a 30 day period each year.

Revival Attempts

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. Chess Competitions were held in conjunction with the Irish Chess Union as part of the Tailteann Games.

This revival meeting of the Irish race was announced by Eamon de Valera in Dáil Éireann in 1921 however due to the Anglo-Irish War and Civil War it was not held until 1924. The meeting was launched to celebrate the independence of Ireland. The Hogan Stand was built and opened for the 1924 games.

Modern Athletics meetings of the same name

A modern athletics meet of the same name is held every year under the auspices of the Athletics Association of Ireland, and is organised as an inter-provincial competition.

References

1. Irish Independent
2. History of British athletics by Melvyn Watman, Hale,London, 1968.
3. Tailteann Games place in history going for a song By Seán Diffley, Irish Independent, Saturday July 14 2007
4. History of Croke Park - Hogan Stand
5. The Tailteann Games - An Olympic Event for the "Celtic Race" By Bernd Biege, About.com
6. Athletics Association of Ireland