Mullingar's world record attempts

The people of Mullingar will attempt to break four world records on Sunday November 18, and in the process they hope to raise plenty of funds for various charities including Westmeath Hospice, Mullingar Youth Cafe, Suicide Prevention, The Lions Club Christmas food appeal, and Mullingar Simon Community.In the first joint transatlantic record attempt between Ireland and America, Mullingar will join forces with Brockton, Massachusetts in an attempt to gather the most people wearing Santa hats simultaneously in two different continents.In the second attempt, Mullingar hopes to beat the world record for largest Christmas card. This will be undertaken by members of Mullingar Arts Centre, while the third is to get the most signatures on a greeting card. The fourth attempt is the most Christmas trees chopped down in two minutes! That huge task will be undertaken by tree surgeon John Lynch.All of the record attempts will take place in the town centre as part of a promotion to kick-start the Christmas shopping season and will include live music and street entertainment all afternoon, with the full line up of live acts to be revealed in the coming weeks.John Humphries of Mullingar Chamber of Commerce says the town will be the place to be on November 18."It's a way of launching the Christmas shopping season in the town, but it's also to raise some vital funds for charities that carry out a tremendous amount of good work, particularly around this time of year," said John."Christmas can be a difficult time for some, and these events are an attempt to raise people's spirits," he continued.In 2009, Mullingar held the world record for the most people wearing Santa hats in one location, beating the original record holders in Brockton. However, in the last two years, Brockton won back the title. This year however, the hand (hat?) of friendship has been extended, and the two towns hope to set a new world record together."It came to light that both communities have plenty in common," says John. "Brockton is known as The City of Champions and is the birthplace of boxers Rocky Marciano and Marvelous Marvin Hagler, as Mullingar is also home to champion boxers Olympic silver medallist John Joe Nevin, and the late Maxie McCullagh."Brockton is also home to the world's first department store Santa, one Mr James Edgar, while Belvedere in Mullingar lays claim to the world's first Green Santa!"We hope that this event will help promote Mullingar in Massachusetts and indeed worldwide, and offer the opportunity to show off the town as a fun-filled, family-friendly place right in the middle of Ireland, and as Mullingar's launch for The Gathering in 2013," John concluded.To find out more about the events, email events@mullingarchamber.ie; and see thegatheringireland.com; or santahatchallenge.com.