Gaelic Revival
Encyclopedia
The Gaelic revival was the late-nineteenth-century national revival
of interest in the Irish language
and Irish Gaelic culture
(including folklore, sports, music, arts, etc). Irish had diminished as a spoken tongue, remaining the main daily language only in isolated rural areas, with English as the dominant language of the majority of Ireland.
movement of the 1840s, in common with other European nationalist
movements of the time, sought a new kind of national identity in the stories and myths of ancient Gaelic Ireland
. This was seen in the poetry published in The Nation
newspaper. The works of writers such as Thomas Davis and Thomas Moore
used Gaelic themes, in the words of Kevin B. Nowlan, "to glorify the notion that although we may now be in the mire, we were once great, we were taller than Roman spears."
games were played by written rules establishment by the Football Association and the Rugby Football Union
, led to the soccer and rugby codes becoming popular in Britain and spreading to Ireland. The soccer code emphasised a kicking game, rugby emphasised a carrying game. The style of football that had been played in Ireland prior to this was a combination of carrying and kicking, and some people involved in the Gaelic Revival were concerned at the encroachment of the English codes that were displacing the traditional native style of football, with cricket contributing to the decline of hurling
. Most prominent of these was Michael Cusack
of County Clare who, along with Maurice Davin, John Wyse Power, John McKay, J. K. Bracken
, Joseph O'Ryan, Thomas St. George McCarthy
and several others formed the Gaelic Athletic Association
. The association codified the native style of football in the form of what is now modern Gaelic football
, and the rules of hurling were also codified. The Gaelic Athletic Association
went on to preserve the native pastimes to the point where they were saved from extinction and to this day remain the most popular sports in Ireland.
Romantic nationalism
Romantic nationalism is the form of nationalism in which the state derives its political legitimacy as an organic consequence of the unity of those it governs...
of interest in the Irish language
Irish language
Irish , also known as Irish Gaelic, is a Goidelic language of the Indo-European language family, originating in Ireland and historically spoken by the Irish people. Irish is now spoken as a first language by a minority of Irish people, as well as being a second language of a larger proportion of...
and Irish Gaelic culture
Gaelic Ireland
Gaelic Ireland is the name given to the period when a Gaelic political order existed in Ireland. The order continued to exist after the arrival of the Anglo-Normans until about 1607 AD...
(including folklore, sports, music, arts, etc). Irish had diminished as a spoken tongue, remaining the main daily language only in isolated rural areas, with English as the dominant language of the majority of Ireland.
Beginnings
The Young IrelandYoung Ireland
Young Ireland was a political, cultural and social movement of the mid-19th century. It led changes in Irish nationalism, including an abortive rebellion known as the Young Irelander Rebellion of 1848. Many of the latter's leaders were tried for sedition and sentenced to penal transportation to...
movement of the 1840s, in common with other European nationalist
Nationalism
Nationalism is a political ideology that involves a strong identification of a group of individuals with a political entity defined in national terms, i.e. a nation. In the 'modernist' image of the nation, it is nationalism that creates national identity. There are various definitions for what...
movements of the time, sought a new kind of national identity in the stories and myths of ancient Gaelic Ireland
Gaelic Ireland
Gaelic Ireland is the name given to the period when a Gaelic political order existed in Ireland. The order continued to exist after the arrival of the Anglo-Normans until about 1607 AD...
. This was seen in the poetry published in The Nation
The Nation (Irish newspaper)
The Nation was an Irish nationalist weekly newspaper, published in the 19th century. The Nation was printed first at 12 Trinity Street, Dublin, on 15 October 1842, until 6 January 1844...
newspaper. The works of writers such as Thomas Davis and Thomas Moore
Thomas Moore
Thomas Moore was an Irish poet, singer, songwriter, and entertainer, now best remembered for the lyrics of The Minstrel Boy and The Last Rose of Summer. He was responsible, with John Murray, for burning Lord Byron's memoirs after his death...
used Gaelic themes, in the words of Kevin B. Nowlan, "to glorify the notion that although we may now be in the mire, we were once great, we were taller than Roman spears."
Sport
Prior to industrialisation, sport was disorganised by modern standards with rules for ball games frequently being agreed between opposing teams on a per-game basis. The emergence of organised sport in England in the nineteenth century, where footballFootball
Football may refer to one of a number of team sports which all involve, to varying degrees, kicking a ball with the foot to score a goal. The most popular of these sports worldwide is association football, more commonly known as just "football" or "soccer"...
games were played by written rules establishment by the Football Association and the Rugby Football Union
Rugby Football Union
The Rugby Football Union was founded in 1871 as the governing body for the sport of rugby union, and performed as the international governing body prior to the formation of the International Rugby Board in 1886...
, led to the soccer and rugby codes becoming popular in Britain and spreading to Ireland. The soccer code emphasised a kicking game, rugby emphasised a carrying game. The style of football that had been played in Ireland prior to this was a combination of carrying and kicking, and some people involved in the Gaelic Revival were concerned at the encroachment of the English codes that were displacing the traditional native style of football, with cricket contributing to the decline of hurling
Hurling
Hurling is an outdoor team game of ancient Gaelic origin, administered by the Gaelic Athletic Association, and played with sticks called hurleys and a ball called a sliotar. Hurling is the national game of Ireland. The game has prehistoric origins, has been played for at least 3,000 years, and...
. Most prominent of these was Michael Cusack
Michael Cusack
Michael Cusack was an Irish teacher and founder of the Gaelic Athletic Association.-His Life:...
of County Clare who, along with Maurice Davin, John Wyse Power, John McKay, J. K. Bracken
Joseph Kevin Bracken
Joseph Kevin Bracken , from Templemore, Co. Tipperary, Ireland, was a builder who spent his early years in America. He is most famous for being one of the seven founder members in 1884 of the Gaelic Athletic Association. He was also a member of the Irish Republican Brotherhood. The local Gaelic...
, Joseph O'Ryan, Thomas St. George McCarthy
Thomas St. George McCarthy
Thomas St. George MacCarthy was an Ireland rugby union international and founder member of the Gaelic Athletic Association, being present at Hayes Hotel, Thurles, County Tipperary, Ireland at the Association's inaugural meeting on 1 November 1884....
and several others formed the Gaelic Athletic Association
Gaelic Athletic Association
The Gaelic Athletic Association is an amateur Irish and international cultural and sporting organisation focused primarily on promoting Gaelic games, which include the traditional Irish sports of hurling, camogie, Gaelic football, handball and rounders...
. The association codified the native style of football in the form of what is now modern Gaelic football
Gaelic football
Gaelic football , commonly referred to as "football" or "Gaelic", or "Gah" is a form of football played mainly in Ireland...
, and the rules of hurling were also codified. The Gaelic Athletic Association
Gaelic Athletic Association
The Gaelic Athletic Association is an amateur Irish and international cultural and sporting organisation focused primarily on promoting Gaelic games, which include the traditional Irish sports of hurling, camogie, Gaelic football, handball and rounders...
went on to preserve the native pastimes to the point where they were saved from extinction and to this day remain the most popular sports in Ireland.