THIRTY-SIX people from across Ireland held hands 13,500 feet in the Co Offaly air yesterday to create the largest formation of linked skydivers in Ireland to date.
The free-falling enthusiasts beat the previous Irish record of 30 skydivers; by tomorrow organisers hope to go even further by getting 50 people to link in the skies before dropping back down to earth with a smile.
As well as the thrill-seekers involved in the attempt, team captain Gordon Hodgkinson said in Clonbullogue last night that one of the biggest stars was the weather.
"We had blue skies for three consecutive days in recent days during training and that has been remarkable. We were building up 24-person formations at the weekend. We brought in several guest aircraft and we have been blessed by the weather."
Of the 36 people involved in yesterday's event, six were women and the rest were men.
Each paid €22.50 for their jump and the record-shattering bids are being subsidised by the Irish Parachute Club, which is based in Clonbullogue.
Those involved in the 67-member panel participating in the formations include a teacher, garda, electrician, mathematician, businessman, carpenter and property consultant. They range in age from 17 to 50+ and form part of the elite skydiving community of Ireland, which numbers about 400 people.
Mr Hodgkinson said the aim of the record event was to push the boundaries of skydiving and showcase the talent involved in the pursuit here.
The world record for the similar formation is 400 participants and that was set in 2006 in Thailand, while the British record is 100 people, Mr Hodgkinson said.
A number of those involved in the Irish formation have trained on simulators in Russia.