World Record attempt will be made on Saturday,

Posted by Jim on May 30, 2026

Thousands of Sullivans / O’Sullivans descending on West Cork for world record attempt

Will the Sullivans beat the Gallaghers? A Guinness World Record attempt will be made on Saturday, May 30 in West Cork as part of a massive clan gathering.

May 29, 2026

More than 3,350 people with the surname Sullivan or O’Sullivan have registered to take part in a world record attempt in Castletownbere, Co Cork, this Saturday, May 30.

The record? The largest gathering of people with the same surname.

Perhaps not surprisingly, the current Guinness World Record was set in Ireland when 1,488 Gallaghers gathered in Letterkenny, Co Donegal in 2007.

This weekend’s world record attempt – which has been in the works for at least two years – will be staged on the Beara peninsula, which organizers say is the historic home of the O’Sullivan Beares. 

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On Saturday, registration for the world record attempt will be held from 1:30 pm at Beara Community School, though registration is also open online. Participants will need to show their birth certificate, passport, or driver’s license. Married names and maiden names are both acceptable.

At 3 pm, two pipers will lead participants to the Beara Community School pitch for the final count.

After a few short speeches, celebrations will get underway with music and Irish dance performances, and letters will be presented for a time capsule, which is set to be opened in 25 years. Dancing at the Sports Hall will follow.