Old Contests Revived

NZ Truth, Issue 976, 9 August 1924, Page 9

Old Contests Revived

THE TAILTFANM GAMES THIS MONTH.

The Irishman's love of a fight, being either proverbial or having become so through being one of the world's standard jokes, it Is not surprising to find that the sons of Old Erin are having their little difficulties m connection with the revival of the Tailteann Games which are scheduled to take place this month. . The revival of the national sports, conceived by the present ruling authorities- at Dublin, is being rather busily opposed by the supporters of those Irishmen who aro m prison and want to be out. In the United States the Republican representatives have been warning prospective competitors that the Tnilteann Games may easily be transformed into something more to life and limb than athletics, a. circumstance that has caused several SAmerican athletes of Irish extraction to reconsider their decision to compete m the games. It is to be regretted that- the Irish cannot declare a truce for the period of the Tailteann Games. Except for the Olympfc Games — and there is no exact guide to the age of either — the Tailteann Games are the oldest known athletic contests. The Irish games are said to have, been instituted by Lugh-of-the-long-arm, king of the Emerald iFles centuries ago. Originally the contests were Celtic, m character. Chieftains from the Celtic clans of Ireland, Scotland, Wales and northern France assembled during i August of every third year on the plain of Meath. beyond Tara. They brought with them ; their charioteers, spear throwers, athletes, swimmers, wrestlers, hurlers, .harpists, singers and story tellers. The fair m those times lasted for nine days.. Athletic contests by day and social diversion by night. The revival of the event this year was plannoß to > celebrate Ireland's In - dependence m an T athletic sense as well as m other respects. Just aa the feud" between the north and south was more qvlckly forgotten on the Soccer and cricket fields, so did the Irish authorities hope to solidify Irish sentiment by the Tallteann Games.