O Come, All Ye Faithful: But world record eludes carollers in Croke Park

World-class performances at Croke Park are nothing new. But last night it was the people off the field – rather than people on it – who hit the headlines.

More than 11,000 singers assembled at the stadium to sing Christmas carols in an attempt to smash the Guinness Book of Records figure for the biggest number of carollers in one place at one time.

The event was organised by the millionaire businessman Richard Mulcahy to raise funds for two charities: Cliona’s Foundation, which helps families with terminally and chronically ill children, and The Sanctuary, Sister Stanislaus Kennedy’s meditation centre near Dublin’s Manor Street.

"I quickly realised how difficult it was to raise money for charity in the current climate – so I said, 'We have to think outside the box'," Mulcahy told The Irish Times. "I began to check up on the world record for the biggest number of people singing carols in one place, and I thought, 'Well, we could do that.' "

Dramatic development
The GAA offered him the use of the stadium, but at the last minute, however, the goalposts were moved in dramatic fashion when Mulcahy discovered that the projected target was not 15,111 carollers – a record held since 2010 by the Korean city of Seoul – but a whopping 15,694, notched up in Colombia on Monday.

As thousands of people streamed into the stadium, many sporting Santy hats, festive flashing earrings and other seasonal gear, his optimism zoomed around the ground faster than a Mexican wave.

The mood became progressively merrier as Miriam O’Callaghan, acting as compere, introduced a series of musical guests including Lisa Hannigan, RTÉ Cor na nÓg, Chloe Agnew, The Celtic Tenors and Celine Byrne – all of whom had donated their time for free.

The band struck up the first, familiar notes of O Come, All Ye Faithful, followed by Away in a Manger, Hark the Herald and four other favourites — and we sang our hearts out.

The final tally put the number at 11,000 people in the stadium, with total ticket sales of 14,500. Mulcahy was still undeterred. “We’ll just do it again next year,” he said. “You can do anything if you put your mind to it.”