Tailteann Games: Ancient Irish Version Of The Olympic Games

Conny Waters - AncientPages.com - The ancient Irish had their own version of the Olympic Games called the Tailteann Games.

In an area along the banks of the Blackwater River in County Meath at a place now known as Telltown, there are several ancient earthworks dating to the Iron Age and this is the place were the Tailteann Games were born. At this site, a festival was held to celebrate the end of summer and the beginning of harvest.

According to the Leabhar Gabhála (Book of Invasions also called the "Book of Conquests") goddess Tailtiu died of exhaustion clearing the plains of Ireland to make the land available for farming. Although the Book of Invasions was originally presented as a realistic history, most scholars today regard it as mostly mythical.

The book was compiled by unknown Irish scholars in the 11th century and outlines the story of the people who colonized Ireland from biblical times onwards.

Tailtiu was the daughter of the King of Spain, and the wife of the last Fir Bolg High King of Ireland. She survived the Tuatha Dé Danaan invasion, but her husband did not. She later married the victorious leader of the invasion force, Eochaidh Garbh, and became the foster mother of the deity Lugh Lámhfhada (Lugh of the Long Hand) who proclaimed that the first of August would mark the festival of Lughnasa (“Lugh’s Fair”), in honor of his foster mother. It was to be celebrated at Teltown as a funeral feast and sporting competition called the Oenach Tailten.

So, the Tailteann Games were originally held as funeral games in honor of goddess Tailtiu.

Tailteann Games (also known as Tailtin Fair, Áenach Tailteann, Aonach Tailteann, Assembly of Talti, Fair of Talti or Festival of Talti) were very popular and the games were attended by the most famous of the assemblies of Irish people.

The games were staged yearly, drawing hordes of people, kings and common people, athletes and warriors, from many parts of the country. It was the place of the high king to call for the games, and their elegance and size was proportionate to the king’s power.

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Spectators could enjoy watching long jump, high jump, running, hurling, spear throwing, boxing, contests in sword fighting, archery, wrestling, swimming, and chariot and horse racing. The games also included competitions in strategy, singing, dancing and story-telling, along with crafts competitions for goldsmiths, jewellers, weavers and armourers.

Although the yearly staging of the Tailteann Games was interrupted several times by war or threat of war, the apparent continuity attests to their importance to the people of Ireland.

Written by Conny Waters - AncientPages.com Staff Writer

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