TheTailteann Games,Tailtin Fair,Áenach Tailteann,Aonach Tailteann,Assembly of Talti,Fair of Taltiu orFestival of Taltii werefuneral games associated with the semi-legendary history ofPre-Christian Ireland.
There is a complex of ancientearthworks dating to theIron Age in the area ofTeltown where the festival was historically known to be celebrated off and on frommedieval times into themodern era.[1][2][3]
The games were founded, according to theBook of Invasions, byLugh Lámhfhada, theOllamh Érenn (master craftsman or doctor of the sciences), as a mourning ceremony for the death of his foster-motherTailtiu. Lugh buried Tailtiu underneath a mound in an area that took her name and was later calledTailteann inCounty Meath.[4]
The event was held during the last fortnight of July and culminated with the celebration ofLughnasadh, orLammas Eve (1 August).[5] Modern folklore claims that the Tailteann Games started around 1600 BC, with some sources claiming as far back as 1829 BC.[6][7][8][9][10][11][12] Promotional literature for theGaelic Athletic Association revival of the games in 1924 claimed a later date of their foundation in 632 BC. The games were known to have been held between the 6th and 9th centuries AD.[13] The games were held until 1169–1171 AD when they died out after theNorman invasion.[14][15]
The ancient Aonach had three functions: honoring the dead, proclaiminglaws, and funeral games and festivities to entertain. The first function took between one and three days depending on the importance of the deceased. Guests would sing mourning chants called theGuba, after whichdruids would improviseCepógs, songs in memory of the dead. The dead would then be burnt on afuneral pyre. The second function would then be carried out during a universaltruce by the Ollamh Érenn, giving out laws to the people viabards and druids and culminating in the igniting of another massive fire. The custom of rejoicing after a funeral was then enshrined in theCuiteach Fuait, games of mental and physical ability.[1]
Games included thelong jump,high jump, running,hurling,spear throwing,boxing, contests inswordfighting,archery,wrestling,swimming, andchariot andhorse racing. They also included competitions instrategy,singing,dancing andstory-telling, along with crafts competitions forgoldsmiths,jewellers,weavers andarmourers. Along with ensuring ameritocracy, the games would also feature a massarranged marriage, where couples met for the first time and were given up to a year and a day todivorce on the hills of separation.[1]
In latermedieval times, the games were revived and called the Tailten Fair, consisting of contests of strength and skill, horse races, religious celebrations, and a traditional time for couples to contract "handfasting" trial marriages. "Taillten marriages" were legal up until the 13th century. This trial marriage practice is documented in the fourth and fifth volumes of theBrehon law texts, which are compilations of the opinions and judgements of the Brehon class of Druids (in this case, Irish). The texts as a whole deal with copious detail for the Insular Celts.[16]
From the late nineteenth century, theGaelic Athletic Association (GAA) and others in theGaelic revival contemplatedreviving the Tailteann Games. The GAA's 1888 championshipsof football andof hurling were unfinished owing to theAmerican Invasion Tour, an unsuccessful attempt to raise funds for a revival.[17]
TheSecond Dáil approved a scheme in 1922,[18] and after a delay caused by theIrish Civil War the first was held in 1924. Open to foreigners of Irish heritage, the first games of 1924 and 1928 attracted some competitors fresh from the Olympics in Paris and Amsterdam. The Games' main backer, ministerJ. J. Walsh, lost office whenFianna Fáil took power after the1932 election, and public funding was cut. The 1932 games were on a smaller scale against a background of theGreat Depression and theAnglo-Irish Trade War, and no further games were held.[19]
Jack Fitzsimons suggested reviving the Tailteann Games in a 1985Seanad Éireann debate ontourism in Ireland.[20]
TheRás Tailteann ("Tailteann race") cycling race was founded in 1953 by theNational Cycling Association (NCA), in opposition to theTour of Ireland organised by the rivalCumann Rothaíochta na hÉireann (CRÉ).Cycling Ireland, the merged successor to both the NCA and CRÉ, still organises the Rás Tailteann annually, but it is usually known as "the [sponsor] Rás", or simply "the Rás".[21]
The Irish Secondary Schools Athletic Association organised annual national championships from 1963 under the name "Junior Tailteann Games".[22]Athletics Ireland continues to use the name "Tailteann Games" for its annual schools inter-provincial championships.[22][23] also independently the tailteann games are an inter-gaeltacht event that includes other activities.[24]
TheGaelic Athletic Association's (GAA)Tailteann Cup, established in 2022, takes its name from the ancient games.[25]Páirc Tailteann, a GAA stadium inNavan, County Meath, also takes its name from the games.
Teltown is not far from Kells. The Tailteann games were world-renowned. They could be revived. There is great potential in this area.
This is the fourth year of An Post's sponsorship of the celebrated Rás Tailteann, which is more commonly known as The Rás.
