Help our bid to record a Records Book record

Village where idea started aiming to gather 70 editions

- BY SEAN MURPHY

A VILLAGE where the Guinness Book of World Records was invented is embarking on its own record bid as locals try to gather all 70 editions of the renowned bestseller.

The book came about when former Guinness chief Hugh Beaver travelled to Castlebridge, north of Wexford town, 74 years ago to buy hops for the brewery.

During discussions, a question was asked about Europe's fastest game bird and out of that came an idea to compile a book of facts - which became the Guinness Book of World Records and went on to sell over 150million copies globally.

In the decades since then, there have been 70 editions of the book, and now a group from Castlebridge is trying to gather all of them for a special collection.

John Ryan, of the Castlebridge Inspire group, explained: “It all started here. Castlebridge is the birthplace of the Guinness Book of Records.