Weekend bids on Irish records

RECORDS:THEY SAY records are made to be broken and groups in Co Offaly and London are hoping to do just that this weekend as they bid to smash and set two distinctly Irish world records.

Some 3,000 musicians and 30 camogie enthusiasts have their minds set on grabbing their own pieces of history as they take part in what they hope will be the world's largest traditional Irish music session and longest camogie match.

Revellers at Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann in Tullamore will tonight gather to try to break the session record set at last year's festival, which saw 2,746 musicians playing together for over an hour.

Fleadh Cheoil project officer Brian Power said he was confident of the 3,000-strong turnout and the good weather required to allow the record attempt take place in O'Connor Square between 8pm and 10pm tonight. "We're hoping for some sun, as these instruments don't take well to the rain and many of them are worth thousands of euro. Thankfully the forecast is good and we've had plenty of interest. . . "

Mr Power said fiddles, flutes accordions, concertinas and bodhráns would all contribute to the event, which would feature players as young as 10 and from as far afield as Japan. "When we talk about sessions it's generally eight or 10 people coming together, so this will be completely different."

Across the water in Ruislip, London, members of the Croydon Camogie Club are aiming to play for 30 hours straight from tomorrow in an attempt to set a new world record.

Over 30 players will take part in the event, including two teams of 12 players and six substitutes to allow for all-important breaks, at the Emerald GAA grounds from 10am tomorrow. The challenge, which is to finish at 4pm on Sunday, hopes to raise money for the Marie Keating Foundation in Ireland and Cancer Research in the UK.

Croydon Camogie Club secretary Éimear Hoare said they felt the marathon game was a perfect way to raise money and the game's profile in London.