A naturist cycling event is taking place in Co Cork this summer - and organisers are looking for people to sign up to take part.

The World Naked Bike Ride returns to the People's Republic on Saturday, June 8 and will see riders cross the city by bicycle, encouraged to go nude entirely or be bodypainted.

The event is an annual, worldwide bike ride that highlights the vulnerability of cyclists everywhere and decries society’s dependence on pollution-based transport. It’s also a lot of fun and it’s free for all.

The dress code motto is "bare as you dare" and full or partial nudity is encouraged, but not mandatory.


The event began in Zaragoza, Spain, back in 2001, after a spate of six cyclist deaths in separate road accidents spurred a group of protesters into taking action.

It has since spread to become a truly global phenomenon with nude bike rides place in more than 100 cities across the world each year – including Cork.

Organisers of the event say its objective is a global protest "against global oil dependency, a statement about the vulnerability of cyclists, and a celebration of the power and individuality of the human body."

“In an era when most of us have had to tighten our belts, traffic jams are a major source of stress and parking fees and fines are ruinous, there are plenty of reasons close to home why cycling is an ideal option.

“That’s without looking at broader issues of pollution, resource wars and global warming," they said.

"The rides raise awareness of cycling, while the nudity highlights the vulnerable status of the cyclist when compared to, say, a car user. A cyclist’s body is fully exposed; a car user is inside a protective structure."


If you're interested in taking part you still plenty of time to sign up for the Cork event, with anyone eager to get their kit off in support of a unique cause invited to register via [email protected]