Members of the public are being invited to break a unique Guinness World Record as well as drop off their Christmas tree for recycling on Sunday 7 January 2018 from 1.00 p.m. to 3.00 p.m. when the annual Irish International Christmas Tree Throwing Championship takes place at Active Ennis Tim Smyth Park.
Organised by Clare County Council’s Active Ennis Unit, the seventh annual event is a novel way to turn Christmas tree recycling into a sport, while at the same time raise funds for a needy cause with this year’s proceeds going to the Mid West Simon Community.
The Championship, which is based on age-old lumberjack traditions, sees members of the public competing to achieve the longest distance for throwing a standard 1.5 metre tree. There will be trophies for the longest throw in various age categories with a trophy for the overall champion. Every participant will also be entered into a draw to win one year family membership at Active Ennis Leisure Complex.
John Leahy of Lissycasey, County Clare, was named overall winner of the 2017 Irish Christmas Tree Throwing Championship title after he beat off competition from more than 200 competitors.
Meanwhile, householders are also being invited to recycle their real Christmas trees for free at one of five designated tree recycling centres around County Clare from 2 January 2018 to 20 January 2018. The drop-off points include the Central Waste Management Facility (Ballyduff Beg, Inagh), Lisdeen Recycling Centre & Transfer Station (Kilkee), Scariff Recycling Centre & Transfer Station, Shannon Recycling Centre, and the Gardening Section (Behind Cois na hAbhanna, Gort Rd, Ennis – drop-off point outside gate).
The Irish Christmas Tree Throwing Championship takes place on Sunday 7 January 2018, between 1.00 p.m. to 3.00 p.m at Active Ennis Tim Smyth Park, Ennis, Co. Clare. Visit clarecoco.ie, activeennis.ie, Twitter (@clarecoco.ie) or Facebook (/clarecountycouncil) for more details.