MORE THAN 900 STUDENTS IN GALWAY DECIDED YESTERDAY THAT THEY WOULD “ROCK THE BOAT”

THE NUIG UNDERGRADUATES GATHERED ON CAMPUS, INTENT ON SETTING A NEW WORLD RECORD.

THEY MARKED THE START OF THE ANNUAL COLLEGE WEEK BY RE-WRITING THE RECORD BOOKS FOR THE BIGGEST NUMBER OF PEOPLE TO TAKE PART IN THE ROCK THE BOAT DANCE.

THE 1974 HUES CORPORATION HIT IS A FAVOURITE AT WEDDINGS AND OTHER CELEBRATIONS AND INVOLVES EVERYBODY SITTING ON THE FLOOR IN ROWS AND SWAYING BACK AND FORTH IN TIME TO THE MUSIC.

UP TO YESTERDAY THE RECORD WAS HELD BY 820 PEOPLE WHO ROCKED THE BOAT IN TIPPERARY IN 2009.

BUT THANKS TO A LAST-MINUTE RUSH OF STUDENTS TO THE NUIG SPORTS CENTRE AT LUNCHTIME, THE NEW RECORD WAS SET.

USING SEPARATE COUNTING CLICKERS, IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT A TOTAL OF 907 HAD TAKEN PART IN THE RECORD ATTEMPT.

THE ACCOMPLISHMENT IS BEING USED TO RAISE FUNDS FOR THE ALAN KERINS PROJECT AND ABILITY WEST.

LAST YEAR THE GALWAY STUDENTS RAISED €20,000 FOR VARIOUS CHARITIES.