Thousands of anti-austerity protesters march in Dublin

People march along O'Connell Street in Dublin during an anti-austerity march.

Between 8,000 and 10,000 people have been holding a demonstration against austerity in central Dublin this afternoon, according to a Garda spokeswoman.

Initial Garda estimates placed the size of the march at approximately 4,000 but people are continuing to join the protest. Organisers had expected a crowd of about 10,000 and there is a strong Garda presence in the city. A number of roads have been closed an traffic restrictions are in place.


Michael O’Reilly, president of the Dublin Council of Trade Unions (DCTU), which co-organised the gathering, said it was just one step in a long campaign to reverse cutbacks.

“The evidence is clear - you cannot cut your way out of a recession,” he told protesters gathered outside the GPO on O’Connell Street.

“On the contrary: with each cut in public spending, and with each euro taken out of the pockets of low and average earners in new or increased taxes, we are  digging ourselves further into a hole.”