List of AbbreviationsPrefaceChapter 1: Introduction: Gaelic games in societyThe study of Gaelic games and Irish societyNorbert Elias and figurational sociologyData sources, analysis and synthesisInvolved detachmentChapter overviewChapter 2: Gaelic games and player violenceIntroductionRule convergence and game standardisationThresholds of violenceFigurations of IrelandChapter 3: Spectators, emotions and the individualisation of violenceSpectator violence and Gaelic gamesCivilising processes, emotions and forward panicsCollective impulses and violent actionsDeferred satisfaction and social protectionIndividualisation of violenceConclusionChapter 4: The sociogenesis and development of the GAA: Centralising and decentralising tensionsThe sociogenesis of the GAACentralising and decentralising tensions and county committeesWe-identifications and intra-organisational tensionsA decentralising spurt: the formation of provincial councilsAdvances in processes of integration and mutual identificationThe advance in the power sources of the central unitsCentralising spurtsConclusionChapter 5: The amateur-professional tension balanceThe amateur ideal and the GAABureaucratisation processes, advancing seriousness of involvement and the erosion of amateur structuresAdvances in professionalisation: From the 1960s onwardExplaining th eerosion of amateur structuresThe persistence of amateur structuresConclusionChapter 6: The amplifying of professionalism and amateurism, and the emergence of 'Player Power'Competitive tensions and amplification processesSeriousness of involvement and the amplification of professionalism and amateurismThe figuration of players and administrators and the amplification of professionalismThe amplification of amateurism and 'Player power'ConclusionChapter 7: Integrating Irish youth, national identification, and diminishing displays of superiorityTowards social controlsMovements in the balance of social controls and self-controlsDiminishing displays of superiorityConclusionChapter 8: Cultural hybridisation as an essentialising strategy: The development of a new sport -- International Rules FootballIntroductionCultural hybridisationOrigin mythsSportisation of International Rules FootballHybridity as national we-feelingTensions and cultural perspectivesHabitus formation and athletic we-feelingsConclusionChapter 9: Conclusion: Some thoughts on contemporary developments
IntroductionGender, Gaelic games and a developmental approachInter-organisational sporting competitionOrganising dynamicsConclusing remarks
About the Author:

John Connolly is Senior Lecturer at Dublin City University, Ireland.

Paddy Dolan is Senior Lecturer in Sociology and Social Policy at Technological University Dublin, Ireland.