Irish record breakers are brought to book

Brian O’Driscoll’s entry in the Guinness World Records 2014 may be impressive — but can it compete with the creator of the world’s largest yo-yo or the achievement of owning the longest human tongue?

The annual who’s who of the world’s weird and wonderful hits shelves today with its latest collection of human endeavours and escapades promising all sorts of fascinating facts and feats.

O’Driscoll is just one of several Irish people to make the cut this year, thanks to his 141 international appearances, which swiped the record from former Australia scrumhalf George Gregan who had managed a mere 139.

Rory McIlroy is also included in the 60th edition of the book, holding the record for the lowest total score at the US Open with a scorecard boasting 268 over 72 holes. In the process, he also broke the record for the lowest score to par in a US Open, shooting 16-under.

Other Irish to become record-holders by virtue of their success include Niall Horan of One Direction. The group was the first British band to debut at number one with three albums in the US.

Another new Irish entry to join the record-holders by chance is 73-year-old great-grandmother Vera Dwyer, from Ballinafad, Co Sligo, who is officially the longest surviving recipient of a single lung transplant. She underwent surgery some 26 years ago.

Other record-breakers go all out to achieve Guinness fame, however, and some who will be appearing in future editions include the 270 traditional Irish musicians who made up the world’s biggest céilí band as a fundraiser in Kilfenora Square last April.

Online radio DJs Dan Murphy and Jack Olohan are also awaiting certification of their 63-hour, non-stop chat show earlier this year, which broke the previous marathon talk-in by six hours.

Ireland has produced many entries over the years, including the first recorded death from a road traffic accident, Mary Ward in 1869; the longest serving altar boy, Tommy Kinsella, who served for 81 years until his death in 1999; the heaviest duck egg ever weighed, 227g; and the largest gathering of people dressed as nuns, in Listowel, Co Kerry, in June 2012.

First published in 1955, the Guinness World Records book has become a publishing phenomenon, with more than 132m copies sold in 20 languages, in more than 100 countries.

The latest edition reflects on the last 60 years of record-breaking, while also featuring the latest additions to the wacky hall of fame, such as Karsten Maas from Denmark, inventor of the world’s longest golf club (4.37m), Californian Nick Stoeberl, recognised for having the world’s longest tongue (10.1cm), and Londoner Yannick Read, who has created the smallest known caravan — measuring less than 2.4m in length.

Guinness World Records editor Craig Glenday said: “This is an important landmark edition for Guinness World Records, giving us the opportunity to look back at how records have changed over these six extraordinary decades.

“Of course, we’ve still had to process around 50,000 claims in this past year alone, giving us plenty of new and updated records to choose from, and making it a really difficult task to decide what makes the final cut.”