A video of gardaí performing a socially-distanced dance challenge has gone viral, notching more than a million views.
An Garda Síochína filmed the Jerusalema dance in various locations across Ireland after they were challenged to do so by Swiss police.
The video sees officers dancing two metres apart to the song Jerusalema by South African musician Master KG – part of a viral trend performed by various businesses and collectives across the world, from Swiss police to Austrian Airlines.
The Gardaí version includes Irish dance and even some police horses, and was organised by Garda Mary Gardiner from Tralee, County Kerry.
We have stepped up to the Swiss police @fedpolCH #JerusalemaChallenge. Gardaí across Ireland answered the call to give the public we serve a lift in these challenging times. #StayTogether #homeStaySafe pic.twitter.com/sbLdkk54hB
— Garda Info (@gardainfo) February 2, 2021
“I’m not sure why (Swiss police) challenged Ireland, but we thought ‘sure we’ll go with it’,” Ms Gardiner told RTE Radio One’s Ray D’Arcy Show.
“The whole purpose is to put a smile on the face – even listening to that song, you can’t help but smile.
“There were guards in it from Thomastown, Sligo and the Garda College – where you see the fabulous Irish dancer, who I believe was a former member of Riverdance.”
The video has been widely shared on social media, garnering over a million views on Twitter alone and more than 100,000 Likes on Facebook.
