Description |
How many of us ever take the time to think about the history of Ireland s sporting sites? This book urges us to do just that. From national stadia to local pitches, from exclusive golf courses to derelict sites of former sporting glory, it explores the spaces where ordinary people have congregated and community identities have been formed; why sporting sites are located in particular places and how they have changed over time; what kinds of men and women have gathered together in these venues to compete, spectate or place a bet. Tracing the history of sport in modern Ireland, the authors explain the impact of railways, the military, landed wealth, local tradesmen and national politics on the development of the built sporting landscape. The story of Ireland s sporting heritage is told through the history of sites ranging from the familiar to the less well known; from the fishing estate in Ballynahinch, County Galway, developed by the record-breaking cricketer Ranji, or the racecourse at Down Royal where a winning horse in 1690 went on to serve the Williamites in the Battle of the Boyne. From Grand Prix to lawn tennis, Places we Play delves into all aspects of Ireland s sporting sites.
22 x 22 cms, hardback, 232 pages.
2011
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