North Cork village bids to smash the ash record

The clash of the ash reverberated out from a North Cork village and onto the world stage as 916 people aged from four to 88 years took part in an extraordinary game of hurling.

Unless there are some Hawk-Eye problems with the video recording demanded by the Guinness Book of Records, the village of Meelin (population 600) is expected within the next fortnight to officially be announced as hosting the biggest hurling match in history.

Seán Óg Ó hAilpín was among those who togged out for yesterday’s event and he was mobbed by autograph hunters, including a family who’d travelled from Scariff and Killaloe and entered the lion’s den with their Clare jerseys on.