Motorists travelling to and from Dublin city centre experienced significant delays as a result of yesterday's taxi protest, with near gridlock traffic at times in some parts of the city and as far out as the Swords Road.
Alison Byrne of AA Roadwatch said much of the worst disruption occurred after schools closed and evening rush-hour traffic began.
The situation was further complicated by those trying to avoid the city centre who found themselves caught up in traffic jams which stretched to the Swords Road in Whitehall, she said.
Taxi drivers, who had earlier parked their cars along O'Connell Street and surrounding areas, also began to march later in the day, further impeding traffic flow, she said.
Traffic was reduced to one lane in both directions on O'Connell Street for much of the day.
Yesterday evening, AA Roadwatch reported heavy traffic along Dame Street and Westmoreland Street, the north and south Quays, Church Street to Constitution Hill, and Phibsborough at Hart's Corner.
Other affected areas included Dorset Street and North Frederick Street, as well as Bolton Street and Parnell Square, where taxi drivers had also parked.
While disruption on the southside of the city was initially minimal, later in the evening there were some significant delays around Seán Moore Road and East Wall Road, due to people trying to avoid the city centre by using the East Link toll bridge.
The protest began to break up by 7.30pm.
A spokeswoman for Dublin Bus confirmed that, following the advice of gardaí, its drivers did not set down or pick up passengers on O'Connell Street for approximately two hours from 3pm. However, this service recommenced from 5pm, with the company reporting heavy demand for all affected routes.