Guinness World Record Smash

They bang the drums: World record for largest bodhran session smashed in Dublin city!

More than 1,500 participants played the bodhran at St Stephen’s Green over the Christmas break. The previous record of 980 players was blown away by a surge in numbers registering. Many paid €10 for ten-inch bodhran’s to boost the funds of homeless services charity Focus Ireland. The bodhrán bash was conducted by Music Generation South Dublin tutor Robbie Walsh, Robbie is the manager of 'The Bodhrán Buzz', a music instruction company who cater for schools, festivals and corporate events.

The New Year’s Festival in Dublin, commissioned by Failte Ireland and Dublin City Council, has transformed city celebrations in recent years.

“Up to five years ago, the city centre was relatively quiet but tonight an anticipated 15,000 overseas visitors are in Dublin specifically for the New Year’s Festival,” said Orla Carroll of Failte Ireland.

“Tonight the city is so lively and animated,” she said.

“It’s great to see so many families and children having a great cultural experience, It’s free, family friendly, and spectacular,” said the city council’s arts officer Ray Yeates.

The festival included a sold out street festival, the Luminosity outdoor lights show, a countdown concert at the 3Arena, a music trail show and a spoken word festival. Handels’s Messiah was also performed in a free outdoors event today in Parnell Square as part of the New Years Festival.