Video: Principal issues chilly challenge

Earlview PS pupils Charlie McClenaghan (left) and Daniel Stewart are only too happy to give principal Raymond Smyth a helping hand with his ice bucket challenge. INNT 37-510CON

The gauntlet was thrown down by Earlview Primary School principal Raymond Smyth as he got ready to take a sub-zero soaking on Friday morning (September 5).

Excited pupils, staff and parents gathered in the playground at the New Mossley school to watch Mr Smyth get drenched with buckets of freezing cold water. And it was hard to tell who enjoyed the event more - the cheering children or the staff members who were only too eager to dish out the drenching.

Mr Smyth was nominated for the challenge by P4 pupil Charlie McClenaghan and P2 pupil Daniel Stewart, who have both completed their own ice bucket challenges.

Thanking Charlie and Daniel for the nominations, Mr Smyth went on to challenge every other primary school principal in Newtownabbey to complete their own freezing fundraiser.

Money raised from the event at Earlview Primary will be donated to the Northern Ireland Hospice.

The ice bucket challenge craze has been a massive online hit, with millions of people around the world posting videos of themselves getting soaked with icy water and nominating friends to do likewise - all in the name of raising money for good causes.