Local bikers bid for Guinness world record on Mullingar bridge

A local group is hoping to help set a new world record for the largest number of motorcycles ever assembled on a bridge. The Guinness world record attempt, which will take place in Mullingar on Saturday August 4, is being organised by the Moate-based Midland Motorcycle Club and the Joe Dolan Mullingar Festival. The record bid will take place on the Joe Dolan Bridge, and organisers are calling on motorcyclists to take part regardless of whether their vehicle is "a Harley or a Honda 50." They stated that the bridge has the capacity to hold up to 2,000 motorcycles for the record attempt. The event follows a successful staging of the Midland Motorcycle Club's annual 'Sponsored Motorcycle Fun Run' which took place on the weekend of June 29 to July 1. This fundraising bike trip set off from Moate and took in much of the Midlands and South of the country. Club PRO Aidan Dunne estimated that between 300 and 400 bikers participated in the event at various stages of the weekend. "It went very well and our numbers were definitely up on last year," he said. "We haven't received all of the sponsorship cards from the event yet but we're hoping we will get them over the coming weeks." The Midland Motorcycle Club was initiated by local woman Loretta Farrell in 2000 to help raise funds for St Luke's Hospital in Dublin where she underwent treatment for breast cancer. The group has raised more than €888,000 for St Luke's Hospital to date and is hoping that future fundraisers will push that total over the €1 million mark. Following the upcoming record attempt on August 4, the bikers will parade through Millingar and there will be fundraising events in aid of St Luke's. "It promises to be a fantastic family day out with huge crowds. We'd ask people to please lend their support by coming to Mullingar and taking part in this record attempt. We guarantee a great day's entertainment and you would be helping a great cause," said Aidan.