GAA Museum to host series of seminars

THE GAA Museum will host an exciting and controversial series of seminars exploring the theme of ‘Sport and Politics’ and the effects they have had on one another since the 1870s, at their 2017 Summer School, which runs from Thursday, June 29 to Saturday, July 1.

Attendees lucky enough to secure a ticket will be engaged and challenged as some of the most divisive topics in sport will be discussed by leaders across a plethora of disciplines, such as sociology, politics, sport, and history.

National and international experts will contest long held beliefs and bring to light topics not previously considered: how the GAA suffered in the 1890s due to its support for Charles Stewart Parnell; the issues and divisions in Irish soccer that led to the establishment of two separate governing bodies in 1921; the struggle for an Irish identity through the Olympic movement pre-1922; how the Irish republican movement has viewed sport since 1923; and the cultural trauma felt by the people of Liverpool in the aftermath of the 1989 Hillsborough tragedy.     

The keynote talk from internationally renowned Doctor Harry Edwards, the former Professor Emeritus of Sociology at the University of California, Berkeley, is much anticipated. Dr Edwards will speak on the history of sport and racial segregation in America from the 1960s.

Attendees of the Summer School will have the chance to meet Dr Edwards one-to-one as he signs copies of the 50th anniversary edition of his pioneering book on sport and struggle, ‘The Revolt of the Black Athlete’.

Commenting on this year’s series of seminars, Mark Reynolds, the GAA Museum Archivist, said: “The event is open to the public to attend and is a must for anyone with a keen interest in sport, politics or history.

“We are honoured to welcome renowned international guest speakers, including Dr Harry Edwards, Professor John Hughson and Professor Alan Bairner, who will ensure this is an engaging and stimulating experience for all.”

Tickets cost €45 per day or €120 for a three-day pass. Lunch and tea/coffee are included in the price. Advance booking is required as the event is expected to sell out quickly. Visit www.crokepark.ie/summerschool