Over 110,000 people took to the streets of Dublin city centre on Saturday in what is reported to be the largest protest in Ireland’s history, as an anti-immigration rally was met with a smaller counter-demonstration.
Despite the massive turnout, both events passed without major incidents, with gardaí maintaining a cordon between the groups along O’Connell Street to ensure order.
The anti-immigration rally, which organisers described as an Easter Rising commemoration to honour “those who fought and sacrificed for the Irish nation and Republic,” began at 2pm at the Garden of Remembrance on Parnell Square.
In response, United Against Racism — supported by a number of organisations and members of Opposition parties including Sinn Féin, Labour, People Before Profit, the Social Democrats, the Socialist Party, and the Green Party — held a counter-protest outside the nearby GPO, starting at 1.30pm.
