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THE 25th anniversary of Blackrock College’s annual St Patrick’s Day Badge campaign will get off to a great start tomorrow morning when the boys attempt to break a world record for the world’s largest human shamrock.
Already sports stars and rugby pundits such as Luke Fitzgerald, Leo Cullen and George Hook have given their support to the record attempt, which will see more than 800 students gathering on the lawns of Blackrock College and, with the assistance of teachers and staff, forming the shape of a giant shamrock.
All the boys will be wearing pre-made green t-shirts to follow the record regulations and are required to hold the shape of the image for five minutes.
The College has led the St Patrick’s Day badges campaign for the past 25 years and over that period, have managed to raise more than €2 million for GOAL and Aidlink.
The campaign has been a huge part of the transition year programme since its inception in 1988. The boys control all aspects of the project from selling to advertising and ordering the badges.
Over 5,000 students have taken part over the years, including Ryan Tubridy, Leo Cullen, Paul Byrom and Brian O’Driscoll, while 3.5 million badges have been sold in Ireland, and overseas in countries such as the USA, England, Scotland, Wales and France.
This year, being the 25th year of the campaign, the students decided to break a world record to promote the badge.
The badges - which cost just €2 – will once again be sold by the students on the streets, shops and newsagents nationwide in the run up to St Patrick’s Day. The money raised will once again be split equally between Goal and Aidlink.
