Clones man breaks another world record for pulling ferry

Monaghan amputee breaks his sixth world record for pulling a 120-ton passenger ferry

CLONES Paralympian and amputee, Shane McLoughlin, has done it again breaking a sixth world record by pulling a 120-ton ferry at the weekend.

On Valentine’s Day, Shane pulled Ireland’s largest passenger-only ferry, the Saoirse na Farraige, over five metres at Rossaveel Harbour in Connemara.

The largest of the Aran Island Ferries fleet measures 40 metres wide by nine metres long and weighs 120 tonnes.

Shane’s latest success brings to six the number of world records he holds for truck and vessel pulling.

“This is fantastic, I was focused and as always it’s mind over matter, I believed I could achieve a successful pull of the fabulous passenger vessel,” Shane said after completion of his challenge.

He was supported on Saturday by a local Galway girl and amputee, Katie Walsh from Tuam (7), who lost her leg when she was three years old in a lawnmower accident at her home.

“This is success for all amputees and people with disabilities all over the world. I want to encourage them to believe in themselves and strive for more,” Shane said before dedicating his latest world record to Katie Walsh and his daughter, Jessica.