Over 500 Irish swimmers went for a dip in the nip on Sunday – to raise much needed funds for cancer research.

Beach goers in Sligo, Meath, Cork and Clare got a sight of more than they bargained for as the skinny dippers hit the waves.

The Irish Sun reports that up to 570 buck naked lads and lassies attempted to break a record for the collective total of nude swimmers.

They also attempted to raise over $130,000 for a cancer fund at the Dip in the Nip event.

The paper says that some wore funny hats and others crazy scarves with at least one totally nude on a surfboard.

Sligo hosted the event for the fourth time but this year it was also extended to Gormanstown in Co Meath, Youghal in Co Cork, and Doonbeg in Co Clare.

One family of naked swimmers told the paper that they had their teenage daughter close to their hearts.

Brendan and Marie Lowry and their son Kevin hit the water at Dunmoran Stand, Co Sligo, and admitted to the Irish Sun that they were quite emotional as they remembered the late Amy.

Mum Marie, from Ballymote, said: “Amy wanted to take part in last year’s event but she became too ill. She died less than two months after it. Every day we think of her.”