This book brings together the work of a numbers of scholars who have an interest in the historical, social and political significance of sport in Ireland. It contributes not only to wider debates about Irish history, society and politics and but also to the steadily growing body of work devoted to understanding the role of sport in the shaping of modern societies. In terms of history, the book takes the reader from the late nineteenth century and the origins of modern sport, through the formation of the Irish Free State to the divisions that have so adversely affected Northern Ireland since the late 1960s. The book also allows readers to consider the relationship between sport, national identities and gender in a contemporary Irish context together with the role that sport can play in terms of conflict and conflict resolution.
© 2004
Table of Contents
Sport and the Irish - an introduction, Alan Bairner Part 1, Histories - 1 Sport and Ireland in 1881 Paul Rouse 2 The early years of Gaelic football and cricket in County Westrneath, Tom Hunt 3 Rugby’s imperial connections, domestic politics and colonial tours in Ireland before 1914, Neal Garnham 4 The Irish Free State and Aonach Tailteann, Mike Cronin 5 The Aonach Tailteann, the Irish press and gendered symbols of national identity in the 1920s and 1930s, Louise Ryan 6 Gaelic games and the Irish immigrant experience in Boston, Paul Darby Part 2, Identities - 7 Rugby union and national identity politics, Jason Tuck 8 Sport, identity and Irish nationalism in Northern Ireland, David Hassan 9 Northern Catholic fans of the Republic of Ireland soccer team, Gareth Fulton 10 Sport, Irishness and Ulster Unionism, Alan Bairner 11 Football supporters, rivalry and Protestant fragmentation in Northern Ireland, Jonathan Magee Part 3, Issues - 12 The Irish and the globalisation of sport, Thomas Carter 13 Some reflections on women’s sports in Ireland, Katie Liston 14 Sport, leisure and territory in Belfast, Peter Shirlow 15 Sport and community relations in Northern Ireland and Israel, John Sugden Notes, References, Index.