Now in its seventh year, Jailbreak was launched in Front Square yesterday by the Minister of State for Higher Education, Mary Mitchell O’Connor.
The race, which will take place in March 2018, sees teams of students try to get to a mystery location in 36 hours. Co-organised by the Trinity branches of St Vincent de Paul and Amnesty International, teams aren’t allowed to use any of their own money and anything they do collect is passed on to the two charities. As clues are revealed over the weekend to the mystery location, teams are expected to work out where “Location X” is.
In addition to the two charities, An Cumann Gaelach will also be co-organising the event. After starting a partnership with Jailbreak in 2017, the society is hoping to promote Irish culture and the use of the Irish language through the event.
Trinity is the designated hub for the weekend, with volunteers working to help teams and release more clues about the mystery location.
Students from third-level institutions across the country can get involved. In previous years, “Location X” has seen students end up in San Marino, Krakow and Lake Bled in Slovenia. Over the last six years the event has raised over €225,000, with €57,000 raised last year alone.
In a press statement, Hugh Fitzgibbon, Co-Director of Jailbreak 2018 for VDP, said that “Jailbreak truly is a challenge like no other”.
In a press statement, Mitchell O’Connor said: “It is great to see 3rd Level students use their ingenuity, stamina and the power of their collective to help people less fortunate than themselves. I am sure the enthusiasm of the 2018 Jailbreak participants will motivate people within our Colleges, Universities and the wider community to engage with the two charities, St. Vincent de Paul and Amnesty International.”
Trinity teams have always been highly successful in the challenge with Liam Cronin and Mark Perham reaching “Location X” first last year and also being the top fundraisers. The duo raised €2,720 between them.
