Johnny Sexton, 2,500 skinny-dippers, and a comic book superfan: Meet Ireland's newest Guinness World Record holders

Irish participants in the largest-ever skinny dip, which was achieved in 2018 on a Co Wicklow beach when 2,505 women stripped off to raise money for cancer research. Picture: Guinness World Records

What do a comic book superfan, an endurance ice swimmer, and over 2,500 female skinny-dippers have in common?

These Irish world-beaters defeated tens of thousands of global applicants to make it into the latest edition of the  Guinness Book of Records.

The Guinness World Records 2024 volume features 17 impressive Irish achievements among its published compilation of 2,638 world-beating feats — a number that was whittled down from more than 30,000 applications.

Comic book superfan Gareth Peter Pahliney, from Cloghan, Co Offaly, has the world's largest collection of Deadpool memorabilia. Picture: Guinness World Records

Comic book superfan Gareth Peter Pahliney, from Cloghan, Co Offaly, is one of Ireland's newest entrants to the coveted book, having broken the world record in February this year for the largest collection of Deadpool memorabilia, a total of 2,250 items.

He's not the only Irish collector listed, as Naomi Finnegan made the cut for recording the fastest time (16hr 23min 12 sec) to collect all variants of the original 151 Pokemon in an online community event last year.

A number of more physically gruelling achievements were featured, including a record set by endurance ice swimmer Ger Kennedy in 2019.

Dubliner Kennedy became the first man to complete the punishing Ice Sevens, a challenge to swim an ice mile on each of the world's seven continents.

One of the more colourful world records includes the largest-ever skinny dip, achieved in 2018 on a secluded Co Wicklow beach when 2,505 women stripped off to raise money for cancer research.

And rugby fans will be pleased to see Ireland legend Johnny Sexton make the cut.

Sexton, who bowed out of professional rugby following Ireland's quarter-final defeat to the All Blacks last weekend, is noted for holding a record-breaking 92 conversions in the Six Nations between 2010 and 2022.

Boxing legend Katie Taylor, late motorbike ace Joey Dunlop, and Gaelic Football heavyweights Kerry are some of the other eye-catching, Irish sporting inclusions.

Jamie Griffin, the Irish skateboard ace who broke two world records in July last year. Picture: Guinness World Records

And some Irish world-beaters, including skateboard king Jamie Griffin, stand out for having more than one record listed.

The 22-year-old, from Letterkenny, Co Donegal, made history twice in July last year, completing 28 skateboard heel-flips in one minute, before following it up with 23 varial heel-flips in the same amount of time.

Craig Glenday, editor-in-chief of the Guinness Book of Records described the world-beating achievements that feature in the latest edition as "the cream of this year's crop".

The list

1. Alfie Conroy: Fastest hat-trick with the goalie on Fifa '22 (Under 16s) in 1 min 1.83 sec (19/02/23) 

2. Jamie Griffin: 28 skateboard heel-flips in one minute (05/07/22) 

3. Jamie Griffin: 23 varial skateboard heel-flips in one minute (05/07/22) 

4. Gareth Peter Pahliney: Largest collection of Deadpool memorabilia (2,250 items, 19/02/23) 

5. Mark Walton: Fastest crossing of the North Channel on a prone paddleboard (4 hours, 55 minutes, 15 secs on 01/07/22) 

6. Ger Kennedy: Endurance ice swimmer becomes the first man to complete the Ice Sevens on 04/10/19.

7. Naomi Finnegan: Organised the largest Pokemon collecting online community event, attended by 136 people on 03/06/22.

8. Naomi Finnegan: Recorded the fastest time to collect all variants of the original 151 Pokemon by an online community, with a time of 16 hrs, 23 mins, 12 secs on the same date.

Jonathan Sexton after the 2023 Rugby World Cup Pool B match between South Africa and Ireland at Stade de France in Paris, France. Picture: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

10. Joey Dunlop: The late motorcycle ace won a record 26 Isle of Man TT races.

11. Katie Taylor: Headlined the first-ever women's boxing match at Madison Square Garden on 30/04/22.

12. Kerry: The most successful Gaelic Football team of all time, with 38 All-Ireland final wins between 1903 and 2022.

13. Skinny dip fundraiser: The largest skinny dip was achieved by 2,505 women on a secluded beach in Co Wicklow on 09/06/18. The charity event, organised by Deirdre Featherstone, raised huge sums for cancer research.

14. Niall Bates: Part of the fastest team to row across the Atlantic, from Europe to South America, on 23/04/17. The team rowed 3,080 nautical miles, a distance that took 48 days, 4 hours, and 53 minutes.

15. Kevin O'Farrell and Robert Collins: Part of the four-man team who were the first to row the Atlantic Ocean East to West Trade Winds II route between 03/05/22 and 30/05/22.

16. James Morrissey: On the six-man team that was the first to row from Europe to South America between 01/04/19 and 21/05/19 — a total crossing time of 50 days, four hours, and five minutes.

17. Danny O'Brien: Part of the first-ever team to row the Atlantic on the Trade Winds II route between 19/01/18 and 16/02/18 — in a time of 27 days, 16 hours, and 50 minutes.