So finally a name put on this second tier championship


John Horan said "In addition to having its own all-star selection, it is our intention to have the semi-finals and the final of the Tailteann Cup shown live on RTÉ television from Croke Park"

So basically there will be only 3 games shown on TV of this wonderful new competition for which marketing and promotion is key?????

The sigerson cup has 3 televised games(great competition in itself) but inter county players train all year and thats the potential exposure they will get!!

Surely the GAA could make it a condition for Sky to televise a number of the tier 2 games as part of the substantial deal to show the "Super 8s"...... even better a free vie on Sky.......if thats all the coverage the Tailteann Cup will get the airporsts will be very busy in few months!!

macca999 (Fermanagh) - Posts: 1097 - 29/02/2020 15:56:14    2270867

Unfortunately that is the problem with pay for view, surely TG4 will show some games? They are the most consistent and reliable of GAA broadcasters, no point relying on the likes of Sky? I can't see it.

arock (Dublin) - Posts: 4895 - 29/02/2020 16:18:10    2270873

Is this the same way RTE was supposed to show the christy ring cup live? Until that too became an afterthought.

Bon (Kildare) - Posts: 1898 - 29/02/2020 16:49:28    2270882

neverright (Roscommon) - Posts: 1648 - 29/02/2020 17:05:12    2270885

BaldyBadger (Cork) - Posts: 311 - 29/02/2020 17:30:17    2270893

Maybe TG4 should set up a second channel dedicated to Gaelic games and maybe other sports. I'm serious!

Tacaí Liatroma (Leitrim) - Posts: 1029 - 29/02/2020 18:38:23    2270902

Soma (UK) - Posts: 2630 - 29/02/2020 18:45:50    2270904

eoghan6688 (Galway) - Posts: 154 - 29/02/2020 19:00:47    2270907

eoghan6688 (Galway) - Posts: 154 - 29/02/2020 19:38:20    2270913

arock (Dublin) - Posts: 4895 - 29/02/2020 19:48:46    2270916

What is it named after or what does it mean?

Tirchonaill1 (Donegal) - Posts: 2739 - 29/02/2020 21:28:16    2270955

s goldrick (Cavan) - Posts: 5518 - 29/02/2020 23:45:57    2271001

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 01/03/2020 07:19:03    2271017

This is not going to work.

Byanthon (Tyrone) - Posts: 1780 - 01/03/2020 09:00:39    2271026

"but inter county players train all year and thats the potential exposure they will get!!"

Yes because the likes of Wicklow, Waterford etc have been getting wall to wall coverage up to now

oneoff (UK) - Posts: 1380 - 01/03/2020 09:16:11    2271029

The Tailteann games were founded, according to the Book of Invasions, by Lugh Lámhfhada, (master craftsman or doctor of the sciences), as a mourning ceremony for the death of his foster-mother Tailtiu.

Lugh buried Tailtiu underneath a mound in an area that took her name and was later called Tailteann (Teltown) in County Meath.[4] A significant historical site in the area was destroyed by a local resident whilst extending her garden in 1997.

The event was held during the last fortnight of July and culminated with the celebration of Lughnasadh, or Lammas Eve (1 August).[5]

Modern folklore claims that the Tailteann Games started around 1600 BC, with some sources claiming as far back as 1829 BC.[6][7][8][9][10][11][12] The games were held until 1169-1171 AD when they died out after the Norman invasion.[14][15]....... GAA Congress of 1172 verified the change

The ancient Aonach (Fair) had three functions: honoring the dead, proclaiming laws, and funeral games and festivities to entertain.
The dead would then be burnt on a funeral pyre.

The second function would then be carried out during a universal truce by the Ollamh Érenn, (Central Council) giving out laws to the people via bards and druids and culminating in the igniting of another massive fire.
(All the above is Now called Congress)

Games included the long jump, high jump, running, hurling, spear throwing, boxing, contests in swordfighting, archery, wrestling, swimming, and chariot and horse racing. (All witnessed in Omagh on the night of the Leap year 2019, just after Congress ended)

They also included competitions in strategy, singing, dancing and story-telling, along with crafts competitions ( sometimes in GAA the word craft is substituted by the word Crafty) for goldsmiths, jewellers, weavers and armourers. (Now needed after Omagh on the night of the Leap Year)

Along with ensuring a meritocracy, the games would also feature a mass arranged marriage, where couples met for the first time and were given up to a year and a day to divorce on the hills of separation.[1] .... (Very much back in tradition these days)

From the late nineteenth century, the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) and others in the Gaelic revival contemplated reviving the Tailteann Games. (the change took a while ......bit like the lip service to the Club Players

The Second Dáil approved a scheme in 1922, and after a delay caused by the Irish Civil War the first was held in 1924

Open to foreigners of Irish heritage, the first games of 1924 and 1928 attracted some competitors fresh from the Olympics in Paris and Amsterdam. The Games' main backer, minister J. J. Walsh, lost office when Fianna Fáil took power after the 1932 election, and public funding was cut........

Almost a 100 years later lots of similarities

"It is our intention to have the semi finals & final of the Tailteann Cup shown live on RTE from Croke Park"
Everybody will be hanging on this statement, why the use of the word "intention".
So let's see will :
1/ Three games be show live as stated.
2/ Three games be played in Croke Park as stated.
3/ Will it be RTE showing the games.
Ironic that previous incarnations had similar promises made & not lived up to, let's see will this statement live up to its promise.

moc.dna (Galway) - Posts: 1212 - 01/03/2020 11:31:27    2271074

Nice name, at least it's not called after someone

DuhallowRed (Cork) - Posts: 267 - 01/03/2020 13:23:59    2271110

Based on the results in Division 2 and 3 some big names could be in this.

I do think the league to championship relationship should be scraped though. Winner should be promoted and bottom of the all Ireland relegated. 4 groups of 4 and quarters like just about every county in the country runs their championship.

skirge7 (UK) - Posts: 247 - 01/03/2020 15:19:55    2271140

I don't think the tv coverage is particularly bad or really a big deal breaker on this competition succeeding or not.

It'll succeed if there's bye in from players and managers from the competing teams. Who knows if it will or not, I hope it does prove to be a success or at least pave the way to a better competition further down the line.

Whammo86 (Antrim) - Posts: 4208 - 01/03/2020 15:46:42    2271149