Kilcornan to unveil two plaques in honour of longest GAA game ever played

TWO plaque unveilings will take place at Kilcornan Community Centre this Saturday afternoon in honour of the Guinness World Records set there in 1986.

In May 1986 the parish of Kilcornan attempted to set a world record for the longest Gaelic football match. This was the first time any such GAA challenge had been set and seeing as there was no previous record for the longest Gaelic football match in the Guinness Book of World Records, the organising committee could be modest with their ambition in the length of the match. 4 hours maybe? 12 hours at a push? 60 hours was agreed upon as it would ensure that the record would be hard to beat.

The event took place over three days from May, Friday 23 to Sunday 25, 1986 in the grounds of Kilcornan GAA club. The two teams, Curraghchase Rovers and Morenane Mighties, were made up of 14 players from the parish. All 14 players were there for the entirety of the three days, playing football morning, noon and night. They met at 5.30am on Friday morning and converged in the dressing rooms. The teams were not allowed any substitutes and played for a total of 60 hours and five minutes. 

With the fourteen players still alive and kicking it has been decided by the parish to commemorate the World Record with Limerick Hurler Declan Hannon asked to unveil the plaques on Saturday.

A second plaque will also be unveiled for the World Record of playing table football for 90 hours total.