Some of the world’s strongest men will be making their way to Mullingar this August bank holiday weekend.
Westmeath County Council received confirmation on Tuesday this week that the Ultimate Strongman International Team Challenge 2012 is to take place in Columb Barracks on Monday August 6 this year.
The high profile two-man team event, which will bring together strongmen from eight different countries to compete for the Ultimate World Strongman team title, will be televised on 12 Sky channels all over the world to an estimated 150 million viewers.
The production team will arrive on Sunday August 5 to film at several of Mullingar’s landmark locations such as Belvedere House, the Joe Dolan statue, and the cathedral, with this footage forming part of the TV coverage.
The Ultimate Strongman team event includes such competition elements as the Farmers Railway Walk, Team Log Lift, Team Dead Lift, Team Ultimate Arm over Arm, Car Hercules Hold, and Stones of Strength.
The event is being brought to Mullingar by Westmeath County Council’s Destination Sport Mullingar in association with Daddy Promotions Ltd and Northern Irish International Strongman Glenn Ross, with additional sponsorship from Fáilte Ireland.
Administration officer with Westmeath County Council, Maurice Stenson, paid tribute to the Department of Defence for agreeing to allow the event to take place in Columb Barracks.
“We would like to acknowldege the Department of Defence and thank them for allowing us to use the barracks for this event.
“It is a huge opportunity to build up our tourism product; it is a community-orientated event and it will put the town on the map,” he said.
Mullingar Chamber of Commerce also welcomed the news, saying, “We have successfully managed to get Columb Barracks returned to the people of Mullingar to host this historic, exciting, and unique event for Mullingar which will bring many ancillary benefits to the town in terms of increased economic activity, increasing the tourism potential of the area through world stage promotion of all that Mullingar has to offer.
A festival is being built around the event, which includes the Joe Dolan Festival weekend, a fireworks display, as well as various musical and family entertainment.
Any businesses interested in becoming a sponsor of the event are asked to contact Mullingar Chamber of Commerce.
