ABSTRACT

The Irish, many would argue, are a sport-obsessed race. There are few other countries where sport plays such an integral part in the cultural life of a nation or is as closely linked to questions of identity.1 In fact, the study of the role played by sport in Ireland has offered a valuable insight into the changing trends in Irish culture and identity throughout the 20th century. However, there is a distinction to be drawn between events of the past, on the one hand, and a description and analysis of these same events, on the other. In the latter case, historians may choose to bring their own views, opinions and agendas to the fore. Moreover, the fact that historical works reflect not only the outlook of the author but also those of the values and norms of society at that time has led to the rise in the study of historiography or the process by which historical knowledge is obtained and examined.2 Historians explore myths about the nation’s heritage and in many cases redefine the past so as to have repercussions for the development of identity in the present. The study of historiography is more analytical in its approach in comparison with the

writing of traditional history. The discipline arose in the early 20th century when, in an attempt to keep the study of history and society more relevant and topical, historians began to examine the past within the context of contemporary society. These ‘progressive’ historians argued that the study of history should be relevant to the present and explain how society has developed. This led to alternative ways of looking at history. For example, the ‘New Left’ historians of the 1960s brought a Marxist interpretation to the field stressing social factors more readily than had previously been the case. This process of evolution has continued through to the postmodernist historians of the current era, who combine the study of conventional history with fresh perspectives and new skills reflecting particular cultural and ideological interests. In all cases this study of history as collective memory allows people to develop a sense of their own social and national identity.3