Tailteann Schools Interprovincial Athletics Championships 1963–2020 Updated 6 February 2021 For corrections & additions please email
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[email protected] The Tailteann Schools Inter-Provincial Athletics Championships are the modern successor of the games which are part of the pre-Christian history of Ireland, predating the ancient Olympic Games, and now provide a keenly fought annual contest for schools’ Intermediate boys and girls (Under 17 on 1st September in the year of competition – a junior athlete may be selected for an event by a province) from Connacht, Leinster, Munster and Ulster. These championships, referred to colloquially as the Tailteann Games, have themselves undergone an evolution to their current format since 1963. According to Lebor Gabála Érenn (The Book of Invasions), the Tailteann Games (Aonach Tailteann) were founded by Lugh Lámhfhada as a mourning ceremony for his mother Queen Tailte. Folklore dates the Games from 1600 BC, although other published sources claim they started as far back as 1829 BC. The ancient Aonach served three purposes – honouring the dead, proclaiming laws and providing sport and cultural festivities. They had a multi-sport format which included athletic events recognised today – running, high jump, long jump. The Games were held up until ca. 1170 AD, when they ceased due to the Norman invasion of Ireland. They were revived in medieval times as the Tailten Fair. In the modern era the first attempt to rekindle the Tailteann Games was mooted by the GAA shortly after its foundation in 188 4 with Michael Davitt championing the idea. The ill-fated American Invasion Tour of 1888 was intended to raise £5,000 for their revival but was a financial disaster – a loan of £450 was required to bring the touring party home.