Cork swamped with shoppers bagging last-minute Christmas gifts

Men typically outspend women by 8% on Christmas Eve — the only day in December when men will spend more than women, new data reveals.

Christmas shopping on St Patrick's Street in Cork. Picture: Denis Minihane

Christmas songs floated merrily through Cork City’s busy streets as enthusiastic buskers sang for passing shoppers hauling bags of last-minute presents home.

Thursday was expected to be the busiest day for retail this Christmas with Irish shoppers expected to spend more than €7m an hour in total during its peak.