Members of the public are being invited to attempt to break a Guinness World Record this festive season.
The challenge related to the Irish Christmas Tree Throwing Championship takes place in Active Tim Smyth Park, Ennis, from 1pm to 3pm on Sunday, January 3.
The championship, which is based on age-old lumberjack traditions across Germany and Austria, will see members of the public competing to achieve the longest distance for throwing a standard 1.5-metre tree.
2014 winner, Gary O’Growney from Dublin and 2013/2015 winner John O’Dea from Limerick share the Irish record At 10.2 metres. This is under two metres short of the world record held by Klaus Pubnaz, who hurled a tree a distance of 12 metres.
Last year’s U-12 section was won by Shane Kenny, while the ladies section was won by Audrey Kavanagh (4.1m).
The proceeds raised by the event will go towards the West Clare Mini-Marathon Cancer Centre.
Organised by Clare County Council in conjunction with Active Ennis Sports and Leisure Facilities, the event will also see the public’s used Christmas trees being sent forward for recycling.
A native of Ennis, Colin McGann has been editor of The Clare Champion since August 2020. Former editor of The Clare People, he is a journalism and communications graduate of Dublin Institute of Technology.