It's been blood sweat and tears for the 26-strong team who have been gearing up for the event since September and are hopeful of success when they compete in four weight categories at the prestigious event.

The team, who believe they're the only club in Ireland that has its own club house, have already scooped five gold medals as well as scores of silver and bronze medals in previous world championship events, and major awards in a host of other events.

They are also hoping to win back the title of 'world champion tug-o-war club' when they go head to head with teams from across the world on February 21.

Joint club leader (Big) Danny McGonigle said for him it would be an extra special achievement to win the gold this year, as he's recently celebrated 30 years with the club.

"We are all really excited about going to Italy. We have all been training hard and we are doing five nights a week of training at the moment. It is all go now up until we head to the championships in February. Before the lads come to training tonight they went to the beach running, then here to train. And if they are not in here training they are in the gym.

"We got gold medals in 1993, 1995, 1999, 2000, 2002 and hopefully we will get some in 2008."

The club which was set up back in 1946 - making it one of the oldest clubs in Ireland - has its own state-of-the-art tug-o-war building which was built voluntarily back in 2000 by the local community.

Construction worker Danny said tug-o-war is the greatest sport in the world.

"There's more to tug-o-war than meets the eye," he said. "It is unbelievable the training you have to do for this event. I won my first trophy back in 1977 at the Clonmany festival and I have enjoyed every minute. I have a trophy for every year since the day I started.

I have enjoyed every bit of it and I truly believe it is the greatest sport in the world.

"If God gave me 30 years back in life it would be for tug-o-war!"

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