The 22nd annual World Stone Throwing Championship will take place in Bofey Quinn’s in Corofin this coming Sunday, with contestants set to battle it out for the most prestigious prize in stone throwing.
After a strong local showing in last year’s competition with Corofin natives Saundra O’Brien and Dylan O’Loughlin claiming the main prizes, a major national and international challenge is expected for this year’s event.
The competition, which is part of the annual Festival of Finn, was originally thought up over a pint by Cormac McConnell and Johnny Campbell in 2000.
Participants are challenged to break glass bottles placed on spikes using nothing but stones. There is both a male and a female trophy and the competition in both categories is fierce.
The competition attracts stone throwers from all over the world with previous winners coming from as far away as London, Chicago, Scotland and Germany.
There is an entry fee of just €5 per contestant, which entitles you to five stones, and all money collected will go towards the fund for the parish Christmas lights. The competition will get underway this Sunday, April 30, at 4pm in Bofey Quinn’s.
The World Stone Throwing Championship is just one of a number of exciting events which will take place in Corofin as part of the Festival of Finn.
The festival will be officially launched this Friday, with a cheese and wine reception at the Corofin Hall from 7.45pm. This will be followed by the official launch of the Fáilte go Corofin Brochure and a special talk organised by Cumann Staire is Dúchais Chora Finne. This talk will focus on the life and times of Corofin native Justice Seamus Henchy.
Justice Henchy, who passed away in 2009, was a leading figure in the Irish legal system, presiding over the famous Arms Trial and also serving as a former Supreme Court Judge, where he had a focus on the development of equality and inclusiveness in contemporary Irish society.
One of the highlights of Saturday will be the Fun 5-a-side Indoor Football Blitz which will take place at the GAA sports hall from 3pm. Each team must have a six person panel and there will be male and female competitions.
Sunday’s events will open with a Festival Village Market from 10am in The Hall with a range of home baking, crafts, fruit and vegetables and jewellery on offer. In addition to the World Stone Throwing Competition, Sunday will also see the staging of the Car Treasure Hunt, which starts at 12 noon at The Hall in Corofin.
People will be travelling back to the future on Monday with the Corofin Fancy Dress Parade. The theme of this year’s parade is Corofin’s Time-Machine and people are invited to dress in old or even historic costumes. The parade starts from The Hall in Corofin at 12.30pm. For a full list of events visit www.festivaloffinn.com.
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.