Sport is part of the fabric of Irish history and society, tied to people and place, as well as to ever-changing conceptions and understandings of what it means to be Irish. Atlas of Irish Sport: History, Politics, Identity explores the story of Irish sport in all its richness, diversity and complexity. It reveals how the modern sporting landscape in Ireland has formed across the centuries by charting its evolution through periods of medieval upheaval, conquest, colonisation, famine, empire, rebellion, independence, partition and civil war. Focusing on the communities, regions and individuals central to that narrative, it delves deep into the wider geographical, cultural, social, economic and political contexts in which the games emerged and the different and ofttimes contested trajectories that they have followed. Featuring original contributions from over eighty scholars, researchers, sports journalists, broadcasters, cultural heritage professionals, artists and writers; across forty-seven chapters, case studies, new maps, archival documents, photographs, paintings and more, the Atlas showcases the remarkable breadth and scope of Ireland’s sporting culture both at home and on the international stage. This latest landmark volume in the award-winning Atlas series is essential reading for anyone interested in the history, culture and geography of Irish sport.
