Hundreds of cycling Santas take to Irish streets for Christmas sportive | Video | Sticky Bottle

Hundreds of cycling Santas have taken to the streets of Cork City for the annual festive bike ride to raise money for charity (Video Echo Live)

Hundreds of cycling Santas, riding bikes decked out for the festive period, took to the streets of Cork City on Sunday night for the annual Cork Santa Cycle in aid of charity.

With 500 Santa suits ordered by the organisers and arriving in Cork last month, a big crowd was expected for the 2021 edition and local cyclists did not disappoint. They turned out in their droves for what is always a fantastic occasion and is regarded as the start of Christmas in Cork.

Cyclists pay €35 to enter - to raise money for charity and also for their Santa suits and lights - and the peloton always makes its presence felt on the 7km cycle route through the city, from the starting point at Goldberg’s on Victoria Road.

This year's event was in aid of Marymount University Hospital & Hospice. The Cork-based facility provides specialist palliative care and other services to care for dependent older people.

The annual charity cycle was also sponsored by Ronan Daly Jermyn, a legal firm with offices in Cork. Galway, Dublin and London and which has been a long-term supporter of the event.