1,700 bravely line out to set haka record

THE last time former rugby star Gerry “Ginger” McLoughlin faced the haka, there were 15 All Black warriors taunting him at Thomond Park on October 31, 1978.

And we all know what Gerry and the gallant men of Munster did that day.

The haka posed an even more daunting task for the former Irish and Munster prop yesterday at the University of Limerick Arena.

Gerry, with the help of rugby commentator, George Hook, led 1,700 boys and girls to create a new Irish haka record.

The students rucked in from 35 schools in Limerick city and county, Clare and north Tipperary for the record attempt.

“I brought four classes from St Mary’s boys school where I teach. We’ve been learning the haka movements with the help of video,” said Gerry. “I prefer the version we have in the Limerick Leprechauns charity side called the humpty dumpty.”

The haka record event kick started Limerick Mental Health Week.

Nearly 60 students from Hazelwood College in Dromocollogher came to do their bit for the record.

Jennifer Ahern, aged 13, said: “We did a bit of haka practice when we got here and George Hook was great.”

Eamonn Shanahan admitted this haka was his first introduction to rugby: “I don’t play rugby but have seen the haka on television and it was great fun here today.”

Margaret Rainsford, who comes from Murroe and is a community resident with the Daughters of Charity at Lisnagry, came along with care assistant Anne O’Leary to help set the new record. “We had a great time, ” she said.

Michael O’Mahony, chairman of the Limerick Mental Health Association, said: “This event has been organised as part of our week to create a wave of goodness and support for each other. The concept is that all these young people will have had a positive experience as part of Mental Health Week. We are trying to break the stigma around mental health. Mental health is everybody’s health.”

After breaking the Irish record yesterday, the organisers now plan to topple the world record with 3,240 participants.