Record breakers: Wexford Fleadh Cheoil breaks Guinness World Record with 2,516 tin whistle players
Ellen O'Donoghue
The Fleadh Cheoil festival in Wexford have broken the Guinness World Record for the most tin whistles played simultaneously, with 2,516 players coming from all over Ireland and abroad to play The Dawning of the Day and The boys of Wexford.
The record was made at 5pm on Thursday at Chadwicks Wexford Park.
It was oversaw and approved by Craig Glenday, the Editor in Chief of Guinness World Records.
The previous record was set at 1,015 players.
Catherine Roche, teacher for the ensemble of musicians, said that visitors from America, China, and Australia had registered to take part in the record.
The Wexford Fleadh Cheoil executive committee’s chairperson, Eddie Taaffe, said they are delighted to partner with the Castlebridge Inspire Group to break the world record.
“This event truly embodies what Fleadh Cheoil and Wexford are all about: people coming together, celebrating culture and making great things happen,” he said.
The small town of Castlebridge in Co Wexford was the birthplace of Guinness World Records in 1951.
Sir Hugh Beaver, then managing director of Guinness Breweries, was on a shooting party by the River Slaney when a row started over which was the fastest game bird in Europe.
It led to further debate over dinner that night at Castlebridge House and Beaver realised the opportunity to create a book that would settle similar arguments taking place nightly in pubs across Ireland and the UK.
The editor-in-chief of Guinness World Records, Craig Glenday was also present to officially adjudicate the attempt.
