On Thursday last Mayo barber, John McGuire, now working in Galway broke the world record for the number of heads shaved in one hour as part of the Cancer Society of Ireland and Today FM’s ‘Shave or Dye’ campaign.
John shaved 60 heads in 60 minutes for the event which has raised more than €350,000 for the cancer charity. Having travelled to Dublin the previous day, John won a tense live on-air shave-off competition against three other barbers and having completed his headshave in 44 seconds was chosen to attempt the world record.
The world record attempt was staged in the Style Room Salon, Dublin, and was broadcast live on the Ray D’Arcy Show. Despite the obvious pressure John’s steady and speedy hand saw him off to a flying start and with just 20 minutes gone it was apparent that he was not only on course to break the world record of 44 heads, but to smash it completely.
Having reached 60 heads, John actually ran out of willing participants but was delighted with his efforts. “It was a big challenge but I was pretty confident going into it,” said John who co-owns the Fat Tony's Barber Shop chain in Galway. “I just got my head down and half way through I knew the record was in sight.”
A number of celebrities also had their head shaved or dyed on the day including Today FM presenters Tony Fenton, Matt Cooper, and Ray Foley. The event culminated in John shaving the head of Ray D’Arcy. The details of the day have been sent off for verification but his remarkable effort should now see John entered into the Guinness Book of Records.
