GRAFTON STREET was brought to a standstill today after up to 1,000 protestors staged a sit-in demonstration on the historic Dublin road.
Large crowds were shown gathered along the historic stretch of the Irish capital, carrying tricolour flags and placards.
Those in attendance showed little regard for social distancing and other measures designed to stop the spread of coronavirus.
Few, if any, of those seen in attendance were wearing masks.
The march was organised by the anti-lockdown protest groups Health Freedom Ireland and Yellow Vest.
The protest comes on a day when Ireland reported 10 new deaths as a result of Covid-19.
Demonstrators were pictured blocking the path near to the intersection between Grafton Street and both South Anne Street and Harry Street.
The protest began earlier in the day at Custom House quays.
From there, they marched through the centre of Dublin, eventually settling on Grafton Street.
In footage filmed live at the scene, protestors could be heard repeatedly chanting the words “No more fear!”
Never a dull moment on Grafton Street! A protest happening right now - view from @cardgallery_ie.@IrishTimes @Independent_ie @thejournal_ie @rtenews @rte @newstalk @DublinTown #graftonstreet#dublin #protest #Dublincity pic.twitter.com/BWDD1014QG
— Card Gallery (@cardgallery_ie) October 3, 2020
The protest has drawn strong criticism on social media.
“Bunch of selfish p***ks on Grafton Street today,” one person wrote.
“And we wonder why our cases aren't dropping.
“We're told to keep our social contacts low & this shower of w***ers think it's a good idea to practically sit on each other's laps."
“How is Dublin ever going to move back to level 2 with reckless & selfish behaviour like this?" Another asked.
The protest is the third of its kind to take place in Dublin in less than a month.
Again note that although people were told this was being organised by an apolitical group called Health Freedom Ireland once you turned up you were marching behind the far right Yellow Vest banner and under fascist Knights Templer flag pic.twitter.com/gLT65JsmgQ
— Workers Solidarity (@WSMIreland) October 3, 2020
Gerard Craughwell, an Independent Senator and member of the Labour Vocational Panel of Seanad Éireann, called for the Garda to be given extra powers to stop more demonstrations of this kind.
“We are seeing hundreds of Covid 19 cases every day and these clowns have learned nothing,” he said.
“They are placing us all at risk. Time to give the Garda powers to stop this nonsense.”
