Tipp farmer shakes his way to a world record

A Co Tipperary farmer shook his way to a world record at the National Ploughing Championships at Ballinabrackey, Co Meath, yesterday.

And it was not the only record to be set yesterday. The event was attended by more than 75,000 people the biggest ever one day attendance. Brendan Morrissey, a Macra na Feirme member from Cashel Road, Fethard, pressed the flesh at an average rate of 1,771 shakes an hour to claim a place in the Guinness Book of Records.

"I'm delighted with the response of the public. It's marvellous," he said, as he clocked up a massive 14,169 handshakes over eight hours to create the record outside the Macra stand.