Why we are Notorious for all things weird and wonderful
The 2018 Guinness Book of Records is stuffed full of the wacky, bizarre and mindboggling performances and attributes of some of our citizens.
We have the strongest, most determined and weirdest champions anywhere on the planet.
And that’s not to mention the world’s most expensive sheepdog, Cap, owned by Padraig Doherty.
The border collie was bought aged 16 months at an auction in Skipton, North Yorkshire, on May 13 last year for €16,500.
The world’s longest barefoot journey was achieved by Eamonn Keaveney, who walked 2,080.14km around Ireland between May 1 and August 12 in 2016. Tom Mangan walked for two days in August 2008 but stayed on the same spot as he set a new record for the greatest distance covered on a treadmill in 48 Tom Mangan Graham O’loughlin and pals at marathon
hours.
He managed an incredible 405.22 km at St Mel’s College, Longford.
The fastest marathon in a three-person costume was achieved by Ireland’s Graham O’loughlin – with the help of two UK friends, Evan and Ian Williams – in a time of 3 hours, 13 minutes and 9 seconds during the London Marathon on April 23 this year.
Conor Mcgregor is possibly our best-known record holder as the first UFC fighter to hold two titles simultaneously, which he achieved in Madison Square Garden, New York, on November 12 last year.
And 99-year-old John Gannon is the longestserving band member in the world after registering with the St James’s Brass and Reed Band on March 22 1936. His continuous active service now spans over GUINNESS boss Sir Hugh Beaver hit on the idea of a compendium of facts in 1951 after a row about the speed of birds on a shoot. He enlisted fact-checking twins Ross and Norris Mcwhirter and in 1955 the Guinness Book of Records went into production – and on to the bestsellers list. The book is a record 99-year-old John Gannon
Guinness facts in black & white