Hook’s hunt for haka record

AFTER his recent verbal spat with Irish rugby captain Brian O’Driscoll, television pundit George Hook will lead another battle cry in Limerick next month.

Motor mouth George will try and create a record for the All Black haka with the assistance of 3,200 children drawn from Limerick schools.

Children are already being coached in the haka the traditional Mauri war dance which was introduced into New Zealand rugby by the son of a Galway born emigrant.

The Hook haka performance will be one of the big events of Limerick mental health week.

The super haka performance will take place at the University of Limerick on October 8.

The haka was last publicly performed by three New Zealand members of the Munster rugby team during the big welcome home party in Limerick city centre last May. Events are being held across the city and county to encourage people to have good mental health which means feeling positive about themselves and others along with being able to meet or cope with the demands of every day life.

The Limerick mental health week programme will be launched today by Mayor of Limerick, Cllr John Gilligan, Munster rugby star Jerry Flannery, and a number of local schoolchildren who are learning the haka.