Eight men arrested in west Dublin yesterday on suspicion of dissident republican activity have had their period of detention extended.
The men, aged from their mid-20s to 50s, were detained following a Garda search of commercial premises in Clondalkin at about noon.
During a follow-up search of the premises, a loaded firearm was recovered, gardaí said today.
The weapon has been sent to Garda headquarters for forensic examination by ballistic experts, a spokesman said.
Gardaí said the arrests were part of the ongoing investigations into dissident republican activity, and involved officers from the Special Detective Unit and national garda units.
The men were being held at various Garda stations in Dublin under the Offences Against the State Act of 1939.