Willie O'Donovan , The Irish Open Egg Throwing Champion , who will attempt to break his own irish record at the Shrule & District Vintage CLub Ltd. Annual Vintage Show, at Glencorrib on July 12th. Wille was pictured recently at an unkown secret location for a last minute training session.Pic:Trish Forde.

Egg throwing record part of vintage show fun

Mark Walsh

Published: Fri 10 Jul 2026, 5:30 PM

THE Irish egg throwing record holder will look to defend his national title at a vintage show in Glencorrib on Sunday.

The Shrule and District Vintage Club are hosting their vintage show, autojumble and family fun day in the Glencorrib area (Eircode H91Y9WA) from 10am to 5pm on Sunday, where the Irish National Open Egg Throwing Championships will be one of the main attractions.

Willie O’Donovan, a road bowler from Cork living in Belcarra in Mayo, broke the World Egg Throwing Federation record for throwing an egg 71.2metres in 2013 in Ballinrobe.

Willile currently holds the Irish record for throwing a fresh egg 78.3metres in 2023. He has regularly competed for Ireland in the World Egg Throwing Federation’s World Championships. A plasterer by trade, Willie’s son Brian will act as his catcher on Sunday.

The sport of egg throwing and catching started in England in the 12th century. It is done in pairs, with a thrower and a catcher. The current world record for egg throwing and catching is 94.3metres, held by the New Zealand duo of Nick Hornstein (thrower) and Riki Paewai (catcher).

“Willie is up there with the best of them. Other people will come on Sunday to see can they beat him," said Paddy Rock, the Chair of the Irish Egg Throwing Society.

"We went over twice to England to watch egg throwing competitions, and we felt it was something that could happen here. It’s fun and simple.

"Somebody has to be there to catch the egg. Every competitor has a partner. They must have someone well-trained to catch the egg.”

As well as the egg throwing competition, the Shrule and District Vintage Club will host a strong showing of vintage cars, tractors, farm machinery, trucks and motorbikes on Sunday.

There will be threshing displays and rock breaking. A modified car section forms part of the show’s lineup alongside an auction, a dog show, tug-o-war, and egg throwing competition and other events. Those in attendance will also be able to avail of food vendors, live music and dancing, and free entertainment for children.

Signs will be in place in the Glencorrib area to assist patrons. Tickets for adults cost €10 while children enter free.

For more visit www.shrulevintage.ie.