It’s Official! Youghal United are Guinness World Record Holders – Guinness recognises club’s new world record for “longest five-a-side soccer marathon” Photo: www.youghalonline.com

After thirty-three and a half hours of non-stop, five-a-side soccer, the hardest part of Youghal United’s quest to break the world record for the longest five-a-side soccer match may have been the eleven weeks they’ve had to wait to find out if their record-breaking attempt would be officially recognized by Guinness World Records.

Last week event organizer Jock Gallogley got the following good word from Guinness:  “The longest five-a-side football marathon is 33 hr 30 min by members of Youghal United AFC (Ireland) at Ardrath Park, Youghal, Ireland from 5-7 June 2010.” A certificate and other official documentation are now on their way to the club.

Many will remember the excitement and drama at Ardrath Park this past June bank holiday weekend, when sixteen stout and hardy souls, a few well past their physical prime (we won’t name names, but they know who they are), bravely battled hunger, fatigue and the elements to beat the world record formerly held by Club Next, a youth organisation in Ballyhaunis, Co. Mayo.

When the dust finally settled at Ardrath Park that balmy Sunday evening, Youghal United’s record breaking attempt was just beginning. Over the next few weeks, the club started work on completing the strict record verification procedures required by Guinness, which were nearly as big a challenge as breaking the record itself. A package of video highlights, photos, witness reports, and a logbook of player substitutions and rest breaks were turned over to Guinness for scrutiny. Just one mistake in the club’s presentation could cost them the record.

Thankfully, the record is now official, and the following sixteen players can now truly call themselves Guinness World Record holders:

Martin Coen, Christophe Colin, Kevin Gallogley, Leon Geary, Peter Geary, Barry Goggin, Pierce Hennessy, Stuart Hickey, Anthony Kelly, David Kenneally, Mike Lyons, Patrick Morrissey, David O’Keefe, Gavin O’Leary, Aidan Ryan, and Diarmuid Schuel

While the players deserve much praise for their incredible achievement, the event organizers and many supporters are also worthy of recognition.

Emmett Perry, Jock Gallogley, Ken Dempsey, Jamie Lawton, Sally O’Sullivan, Finbarr Walsh, Sammy Revins, Brian Wade, T Kennedy, and Dick Sheehan of Youghal United all had a part to play, as did many other volunteers from the club and the town. The support of physiotherapist Jimmy Healy and his staff, the tireless work of videographer Willie O’Mahony, and backing from main sponsors T&M Fitzgerald Homes, Youghal Credit Union, Bertie’s Bar and Farrell’s Summerfield Bar were also greatly appreciated.

Mark your calendars for next year’s June Bank Holiday weekend, as Youghal United now try to figure out how to top their Guinness World Record breaking success.

Michael Del Punta is the latest singing sensation to come out of Youghal. The talented 19 year old crooner wows the diners with his singing in the popular Capri Bay Italian restaurant in Youghal, where he works as a part time waiter. The diners have discovered that Michael is not only good at serving tables, he displays his fine talents singing his favourite songs by artists such as Sinatra, Crosby, Tony Bennett, etc., much to their delight and surprise.Report/Photo: Michael Hussey & Tony Irwin for YoughalOnline.com

The UCC student found he could not afford to bring his girlfriend to fancy restaurants so he decided to work as a part-time waiter in town. After meeting the proprietor of Capri Bay, Gerald Esposito, he immediately got the job and has been working there part-time for the past seven months. While working, Michael would often break out in song in the kitchen, when Gerald and his father Rocco asked him, with such a magnificent voice, to go out and sing to the customers. This has proved to be so popular that he has been affably called ‘the singing waiter’ by the customers and now Michael sings regularly to the packed restaurant. Now, customers come from far and wide to hear Michael serenade them at the tables as ‘the singing waiter’.

A recent Youtube videoclip of Michael singing in the restaurant, made by YoughalOnline.com, is rapidly climbing in the rankings of the entertainment section and is just one of many to be uploaded by YoughalOnline.com in the near future. Michael was also interviewed by Shane Supple on Youghal’s local radio station, C.R.Y.

His debut self-titled EP, recorded at Claycastle Studios in Youghal, has exceeded all expectations, so much so that he had to order a second pressing, such is the demand for the singing waiter. Michael says his goal one day is to sing at Madison Square Gardens in New York City, sell twenty five million albums and appear on the Late Late Show!

Michael and his family, who have been living in Youghal for the past seven years, originate from Verona, Italy. Since he was a young boy, when his older siblings were listening to the likes of Depeche Mode, Michael Jackson, Madonna or Kylie, Michael’s first contact with music was through his mother’s record collection consisting of works by Bing Crosby, Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra. He has continued this love of that ‘big band’ genre ever since. He has trained his voice with the help of well-known music conductor, Mary Peadar-Daly where she taught him to study his breathing technique so much so that Michael and his mature voice have been likened to Michael Bublé, although his favourite artist of all time and greatest influence is undoubtedly Ol’ Blue Eyes himself, Frank Sinatra.

After moving to Youghal from Italy and studying at the old Youghal CBS school (he was the last person to do the Italian Junior Certificate exam in that school), he completed his fifth and sixth year studies in Pobalscoil na Tríonóide and now currently studies Arts at UCC, Cork City.

Michael has proved to be so popular, he is asked to sing regularly by friends at parties and weddings and is growing in confidence all the time. Speaking exclusively to YoughalOnline.com, he said “I am amazed by the reaction of the Youtube video and would like to thank YoughalOnline.com and everyone involved for their support” and confidently added “the way I see it, you should be able to do whatever it takes to make it to the top.”

So on your next trip to Capri Bay Italian restaurant to hear the singing waiter, when ordering your “big-a pizza pie”, you’ll get “Amoré” than you bargained for!

For the latest updates on Michael Del Punta go to his fanpage on Facebook or click here to view his Youtube videos.