Irish Radio Host Beats Leno's Leprechaun Record

On St Patrick's Day this year, host Jay Leno of NBC's The Tonight Show set a new world record when he gathered 224 people dressed as leprechauns at his studio in Burbank, Los Angeles.

But that title is now back where it truly belongs - in Ireland.

262 people dressed in leprechaun costumes gathered in Dublin's Grand Canal Square on Thursday last after heeding a call from radio host Derek Mooney.

The number was enough to smash the Guinness Book of World Records for organizing the "Largest Gathering of People Dressed as Leprechauns."

"We believe that a record for leprechauns belongs to its native soil and we're really pleased to bring it back to Ireland," Mooney said during his live broadcast on RTE Radio One.

Mooney was helped by efforts from the Shankill Tennis Club, the Kilmacud-Crokes Ladies Football Club and the Moyclare School.

There were also dozens of individuals who turned up including people from Romania, Poland and Italy.

"There are even leprechauns here who came down from the Cooley Mountains, which is a protected leprechaun site," joked Mooney.

The leprechaun stunt was one of hundreds around the world marking World Guinness Record Day.