Tailteann Games

This piece connects to Lughnasadh, the harvest festival that includes the mythological Tailteann Games.

The story goes that Tailtiu, foster mother to the god Lugh, died from exhaustion after clearing the land of Ireland for farming. Lugh grieved her so much that he founded funeral games in her honour, games that included iománaíocht or hurling as it’s known in English.

There's more about Tailtiu's grave, and how those myths turned real again, over on my blog.