History of Physical Culture in Ireland

Conor Heffernan is Assistant Professor of Physical Culture and Sport Studies at the University of Texas at Austin, USA.

• ​1. Introduction.- 2. Combating the ‘Evils of Civilisation’: Recreational Physical Culture in Pre-Independence Ireland.- 3. ‘With this atmosphere of unrest and sinister rumours…’: Military Physical Culture in Pre-Independence Ireland.- 4. ‘The production and maintenance of health in body and mind’: Educational Physical Culture in Pre-Independence Ireland.- 5. ‘Physical culture is good for body and soul.’: Recreational Physical Culture in Interwar Ireland.- 6. ‘Embracing the Whole Gambit of Physical Exercise.’:  Interwar Military Physical Culture.- 7. “In Ireland the subject of physical training had perhaps, been neglected”: Interwar Physical Culture in Schools.- 8. Conclusion: ‘Physical Culture is Nation’s Need.’.

“The History of Physical Culture in Ireland is not only a learned and readable book about a part of sport and exercixe that has ended up in the backwaters of the more spectacular and mediatized competitive sports, it is also an example of a well-conducted research effort. … All in all, a book well worth spending time with.” (Hans Bolling, idrottsforum.org, May 4, 2021)