3 July: Here is a fact that always surprises me that so few people in Wexford know – one of the most iconic international publication of lists – The Guinness Book of Records – started off in Castlebridge in Wexford! Simple really – two men could not agree after a bit of bird hunting in The Slobs on which was the fastest European bird – was it the Golden Plover or the Grouse. In order to sort the bet – Sir Beaver (MD of Guinness in 1951 at the time) commissioned The McWhirter brothers – fact finders of note in Fleet Street London – to provide the answer (I’ll leave for you to research the result). He recognised that many people must have daily arguments about similar bits of trivia – Often made even more important over a pint or two – And from there stems the Guinness Book of Records.
The irony is that in this time of Google and simple answers to anything – now more than ever people are interested in records – and wouldn’t it be nice if we could have this little nugget grow into something global like a possible Guinness Records Theme park (the highest roller coaster, the deepest dip, with artists and local crafts maybe creating artistic interpretations of records) or maybe even just replicas or actual Irish record holding memorabilia… I let your imagination add to that!
Failing all that – the park in front of it is clean, well maintained, and there is a spot or two where an easy picnic can be held and watch the passing parade – Castlebridge is a busy spot that we all speed through on the coast road – but really worth a stop – even if just to pause for a short while and look at the old house/conservatory and imagine an era not too long ago of such intricate beauty and esteem.
I digress – this little walk and sojourn was at the end of a most enjoyable end of season dinner with the lovely friends and members of the Wexford Toastmasters Club at the Yard Restaurant in Wexford Town. Here’s hoping for an exciting 4th of July!
