No cooling the rise of ice bucket challenge
Dáithí Ó Sé did it live at the Rose of Tralee, then nominated former hosts Ray D’Arcy, Marty Whelan, and Ryan Tubridy, who all obliged.
Presenter Kathryn Thomas did it yesterday. Golfers Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods did it together. David Beckham did it topless. Lady Gaga performed it in her signature quirky style. Bill Gates did it in slow motion. And actor Vin Diesel put the challenge to Vladimir Putin.
Former US president George W Bush accepted the challenge, then nominated former president Bill Clinton to do it next.
Then horror writer Stephen King said yes and then nominated fellow writer John Grisham.
If you’re not aware of the Ice Bucket Challenge by now — you’ve probably got your head in the sand.
The internet craze, which involves pouring a bucket of ice water over your head, posting the video online, and then nominating someone else in the name of charity, started about two weeks ago and has raised millions for motor neurone disease and cancer charities worldwide. The Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association has already benefited to the tune of €20,000.
An RTÉ spokesperson said it was not possible to televise Sharon taking the challenge live in the studio because of safety concerns.
Sharon said she was not a big fan of celebrity challenges but decided to make an exception for the IMNDA. “Having witnessed their brilliant work and unfaltering support for family and care givers personally I will happily take my ice shower in exchange for at least €1,000,” she said.
Sharon reached her €1,000 target in just over an hour and by lunchtime it had exceeded €2,000.
Nicky Byrne and Jenny Greene from the Nicky Byrne Show had nominated Sharon and they donated €100 each on her fundraising page.
She was also nominated by Owen Kelly, who was featured on RTÉ’s Nine O’Clock News on Tuesday.
Owen’s nephew, Padge Kelly, 27, from Lucan, Co Dublin, suffers from motor neuron disease, and he made sure all his family were involved after they showered him in icy water. There are more than 300 people living with motor neuron disease in Ireland.
Golfers Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods did it together, taking it in turns to pour the iced water over each others’ heads.
McIlroy challenged fellow sports star Wayne Rooney to do it, and Rooney’s wife Coleen posted a picture of a bucket of ice on Twitter yesterday morning.
The Irishman also challenged George W. Bush to take part, while Woods challenged tennis player Rafael Nadal.
In a video posted on Mr Bush’s Facebook page, he said: “To you all who challenged me, I do not think it’s presidential for me to be splashed with ice water, so I’m simply going to write you a cheque.”
The video, taken in Kennebunkport, Maine, then shows a smiling Laura Bush dousing him.
She says: “That cheque is from me — I didn’t want to ruin my hairstyle.”
A giggling Simon Cowell appeared to be on a boat in a sunny destination when he did the deed, and nominated X Factor judges Cheryl Cole, Louis Walsh, and Mel B.
Cheryl accepted Cowell’s challenge and has posted a video of herself getting soaked on her Instagram account.
The pop star squealed as the water was poured over her and said: “I hope you’re happy.”
She challenged One Direction singer Liam Payne, journalist Piers Morgan, and fellow Girls Aloud star Nicola Roberts to get in on the action.
Other big names to have stepped up to the challenge include Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, footballer Cristiano Ronaldo, Oprah Winfrey, Britney Spears, and Justin Bieber, with the latter nominating US president Barack Obama.
IMNDA chef executive Aisling Farrell also took the challenge and her three nominations are rugby player Paul O’Connell and the Munster team, the cast of Mrs Brown’s Boys and Taoiseach Enda Kenny.
Aodháin Ó Riordáin has become the first Government minister to accept the challenge. The minister of state at the Department of Justice and Equality announced on Twitter that a colleague will throw a bucket of water over him at 11am today at his office in Marino, Dublin.
And his three chosen candidates to take on the chilly challenge are his best man, someone from his football team, and Labour Party colleague Ciara Conway TD. Cold calling
-The Ice Bucket Challenge is the latest charity craze to take the internet by storm, with people pouring iced water over their heads in a bid to raise money for charity.
-Anyone who completes the challenge posts the video online and then nominates someone else.
-The craze went viral on social media after a US baseball player and motor neurone disease patient, Pete Frates, floated the idea of the challenge in a video on a social networking site. He got the idea from a friend.
-Most of the money raised in Ireland goes to the Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association.
