GAA club raises the roof to break human house record

MEMBERS of a Northside GAA Club are celebrating after receiving official confirmation that they have broken a world record.

During the summer Trinity Gaels GAA Club in Donaghmede took on the challenge of building the world’s ‘Largest Human House’.

The Guinness Book of Records contacted the club recently to inform them they have achieved the incredible feat.   

Craig Reilly and Sharon Keogh instigated the ambitious project which captured the imagination of club members and locals alike. 

Craig is a Trinity Gaels GAA Club committee members, a mentor for the Girls’ Under 9s and Minor teams and also finds time to play for the adult men’s team.

“I brought up the fact to the committee that we haven't had a club day in a few years so the chairman said: ‘Off you go so’, and from that night, to hearing we got the record, was one hell of a road,” he told Northside People. 

“One of the parents on the team works for the Ronald McDonald House charity and we got chatting about the club day.

“She said she was thinking of doing this ‘Largest Human House’ record, and that was that: we set the wheels in motion to get it done. 

“Myself and Sharon Keogh spearheaded everything along with our committee. We sat down and went through the how, when and why we were doing this.

“The ‘why’ was to promote our club to the community while giving as much exposure to the charity about the new house they are building for the kids beside the new children's hospital. We got local companies on board for sponsorship which was a big help.”  

As part of the record attempt, a number of events took place on the day including long kick, Puc Fada, balloon target game, sumo wrestling, sack races and a bungee rope game. Fire brigade personnel and mounted Garda horse patrols were in attendance along with an ice cream van, food truck and face painters, while Ruth Scott, from Dublin’s Nova FM, was MC for the event. Mini matches between the club’s juvenile teams also took place. 

Craig said that after these events were completed the “real stress levels” were tested because they had to line up around 1,000 people in different coloured ponchos and ensure they took the correct position in the ‘human house’.

“We marked out the house the night before using the pitch marking we have at the club,” said Craig. “That took two and half hours. We had Darren from Dublin Snap (Drone) and clubman Alan O’Sullivan (on a cherry picker) to do all our recordings.

“One of the main rules was we had to video it from start to finish – everyone walking in and taking their spot without moving.

“It was a very hot day. Once that was done we had to do a five-minute countdown of everyone in place while mammies were shouting at me saying there kids needed the toilet – but the rule was no one was to leave. 

“Sharon and I were frantically running around with our mega phones making sure people were in place and giving them the countdown which we started and restarted a few times. 

“Anyway, to our amazement, when we got the count, we managed 787 people to make up the house. The target was 401.”

Craig said it was a day he and the club will never forget.  

“We had over 1,000 people on the day,” he added. “For a small community to have that in one day was amazing and so we are happy to say we have now officially broke the record.” 

Well done to all involved!