MORE THAN 1,400  people took to the streets of a Kerry town this weekend dressed as nuns, smashing a Guinness world record in the process.

The habit-wearing crowds descended on Listowel on Saturday for Nunday, which was organised by local woman Cora O’Brien to raise money for Pieta House, the suicide and self-harm centre.

The crowd smashed the previous record which stood at just 250  for the largest ever gathering of people dressed as nuns.

“We’d initially expected a couple of hundred people to take part but the whole thing just took off over the past week and we actually ran out of nuns habits a few days ago,” said Cora.

Organisers provided full outfits – including a black habit, a white coif, and a black veil – to all participants, while anyone who signed up too late had to bring their own.

The official count took place at 6 o’clock last night which was followed by a nun-tastic parade through the town.

“The excitement in the town was immense and everyone really got into the spirit of things,” said Cora O’Brien.

Cora organised the event after she lost her son David to suicide in 2007. All money went to Pieta House, which has seen a huge increase in people seeking support from its services over the past two years.