There were a few anxious moments on Saturday for Queenstown’s Declan Malone.
The Irishman, originally from County Down, has spent the past year organising what was believed to be a world-first — assembling one representative from each of Ireland’s 32 counties to be in a single photograph.
Dubbed "The Full 32", several representatives live in Queenstown, but many flew in especially for the occasion, from Christchurch, Wellington and Auckland.
However, Mr Malone did not factor in Auckland declaring a state of emergency, due to unprecedented flooding across the city, which forced its airport to close and affected flights across the country.
Stuck in Auckland was the Kilkenny representative, who had been due to leave on Saturday morning.
Fortunately, however, the historic photo was timed to be the precursor to an annual charity hurling match, played between Queenstown and Christchurch.
Among them was another person from Kilkenny.
While several players from Wellington, drafted in to bolster both teams and included in the 32, also had an anxious wait after their flight was delayed, they arrived in the nick of time.
Observing the historic moment were the new Irish Ambassador to New Zealand Jane Connolly during her first visit to the resort, New Zealand-based Friends of Ireland co-ordinator Karen Manning and Queenstown Lakes Mayor Glyn Lewers, alongside a crowd of Irish ex-pats.
Mr Malone described the moment as "awesome".
"It all went better than expected, to be honest, and we got it done."
The special jerseys will be available for public sale from next month — $10 from each jersey will go to the Tara Trust, which supports New Zealand’s Irish community, to support mental health.
The charity hurling match was also fundraising for Hato Hone St John.
Central Otago community engagement co-ordinator Sarah Bloxham, of Queenstown, said some of the funds raised on Saturday would be used to provide at least two free first-aid courses in Glenorchy, focusing on resuscitation training.
That followed the drownings of Wanaka’s Leroy Kaaho (48), also known as Linkin Kisling, on January 13 and Jonathan Young (35), of Australia, on January 19 in Lake Wakatipu at Glenorchy.
Ms Bloxham said given the strong interest in the courses, St John was considering putting on a third.
As far as the clash of the ash, it was Christchurch who lifted the Ian Flanagan Trophy, named in honour of a Queenstown resident who died suddenly late last year.
Mr Flanagan first moved to Christchurch from Ireland, where he played for the Canterbury side, before moving to the resort.
Mr Malone said both teams played brilliantly and the result meant Queenstown and Christchurch had now won two matches a piece, "so next year’s a big day, it makes it even more exciting".
