Kate Henshaw kicking off the marathon debate attempt
27 hours and 58 minutes later, we have a new world record!
After debating for well over 24 hours straight, we have officially earned the title of Longest Marathon Debate from GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ and received our second plaque of the week. Eight speakers debated 26 motions in a row, one from each decade of our history. We were so excited to experience this journey through the Hist's past and into sleepless insanity and are absolutely thrilled it has been a success!
We are incredibly proud of Kate Henshaw, Mary Woods, Tom Francis, Anna Sawicka, Daniela Williams, Ziyad Anwer, Caoimhin Hamill, and Sébastien Dunne Fulmer for every single one of their 26 incredible speeches. A sleep has never been quite so well deserved!
Caoimhin Hamill giving the final speech of the entire marathon debate, opposing the motion “This House Believes There is a Future to Look Forward to”
Joanne Brent, the speakers, and organisers following the Guinness World Record being achieved
Guinness World Record Official Adjudicator Joanne Brent observing the record attempt (in addition to the impartial witnesses on shift)
We also would like to give our sincerest thanks to all our incredible judges, witnesses, and volunteers. It really meant a lot to all of us to see so many people come together to help make this possible and we are so grateful for every single person who helped make it happen! We have to give a special mention to Stephen Ryan, Ella O’Neill, and Nina Crofts, who made sure all the speakers were fed, well looked after, and awake the entire time.
Back row from left to right: Luke Fehily; Mary Woods; Anna Sawicka; Ziyad Anwer; Tom Francis; Kate Henshaw; Daniela Williams
Front row from left to right: Malika Maniar; Áine Kennedy; Sébastien Dunne Fulmer: Joanne Brent; Caoimhin Hamill; Provost Linda Doyle
We must say another big well done and thank you to Áine Kennedy and Malika Maniar who did a lot more than sit in the big chair and began organising this months ago and did all the behind the scenes work both before, after, and during to make the record a success.
Last but not least, thank you to everyone at Guinness World Records and Trinity College Dublin who supported us both in the organisation process and the record itself.
If you’d like to hear more about our debate marathon, check out some of the news coverage linked below for full details!
Any further media enquiries should be directed to auditor@thehist.com