There were a few people in need of a body massage and a lie-down early today after 24 hours of record attempts, back-aching activity and various other antics for the 1998 Telethon.
Top of the list were the more than 70 TEAM Aer Lingus workers who towed by hand a 130 tonne, 200-foot long A330 Airbus - the kind used for transatlantic flights - 105 yards along one of Dublin Airport's runways. They claimed it was the first time the feat had been attempted - and who would doubt them?
Also in need of a good night's sleep was Mr John Bowles, a Telecom Eireann employee from Baldoyle, who conducted a 24-hour fast in a Dublin telephone box. "Knackered - that's how I feel," he groaned, emerging from his College Green home yesterday evening.
It was all in aid of People in Need, of course, as part of the sixth and biggest Telethon so far. This year there was a high-tech flavour with Ennis, Ireland's information age town, hosting the financial centre, which was staffed by more than 100 Telecom employees.
Organisers said early today that they expected to break the 1996 total of £3 million for People in Need.
Among the larger fund-raising efforts was GolfAid which, sponsored by Dunnes Stores, raised over £75,000 at 44 golf clubs throughout the country. Super Valu donated 5 per cent, or £50,673, of total sales of Irish goods at its stores yesterday.
Some fund-raisers combined their efforts with a more personal mission, among them the participants in Bachelors In Need, which culminated in a televised Blind Date show in Monaghan last night. They raised £55,000 in total.
Army personnel from Cathal Brugha Barracks in Rathmines went for both a hard and soft-sell approach, incorporating an AML 90 armoured car in one Dublin street collection and jugglers and belly dancers in another. The Army Number One band and pipe band were also involved, helping to collect over £10,000. This was added to £8,000 raised during an open day at the barracks last month.
One event which held much promise was a head-shaving extravaganza involving the Tanaiste, Ms Harney, at Ballymount Industrial Estate. Staff were disappointed at AC Tape & Packaging, however, as she limited her role to overseeing cuts.
Meanwhile the Minister of State for Food, Mrail TD Ned O'Keeffe, was imprisoned in Cork City jail last night, only to be released after the President, Mrs McAleese, paid his bail.
