We licked it!

One week after grabbing two first prize taste awards, Morelli’s Ice Cream has set a new world record for the longest chain of people licking ice cream.

Recognition of the Italian family’s efforts in bringing together 2,728 people in the grounds of Dominican College four months ago, arrived this week in the form of an official certificate from the Guinness World Record team.

Although it spells the family’s name wrong, there is no mistaking the content of the letter which now grants all those who took part, the official title of Guinness World Record Breakers 2011!

The Morelli family, including brothers Nino, Corrado and Guido, brought together the largest collection of people Portstewart had ever seen for their 100th anniversary event which involved participants linking arms and licking from a tub of the award-winning gelato for one minute.

The event was filmed and official adjudicators employed to ensure everything met with Guinness’s exacting requirements enabling them to beat the previous record holders, Augustana College, Illinois, in the US, by 34 people.

MC for the world record attempt, DJ Brian Moore, told the Times he was delighted at the official recognition: “I’m lucky enough to be booked for all sorts of wonderful events however, the highlight of my year was the attempt by Morellis to beat the Guinness World Record for the most people eating ice cream which raised a lot of money for the Chest, Heart and Stroke Charity.

“Almost 3,000 people turned up and I had the delightful task of cajoling and jollying them into position. The sight of all those incredibly good-humoured enthusiasts is a sight that will stay with me for a long time and I still marvel at how the Morelli family put this and the night of entertainment that followed together.

“This week I learnt that the Guinness Book or World Records have confirmed it as a new World Record and I would like to congratulate not only the Morelli family but all those who helped make it so by taking part on the day. Well done to you all.”

He added: “Maybe we’ll see you a few of you at the turning on of the Portstewart Christmas Lights this Saturday – and you could wear your World Record T-Shirts!”

* MORELLI’S 22, Coleraine, is taking part in the “Hug in a Mug” campaign during this Friday’s Christmas lights switch-on. The event offers customers a number of special offers at their local eatery and all in aid of a very worthy cause: Northern Ireland Cancer Fund for Children (NICFC).