Irish sheep farmers gave away free lamb on O'Connell Street in Dublin this morning to highlight low returns they are getting on the meat.
The Chairman of the Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers Association (ICSA), Mervyn Sunderland said the lamb was being given away for free "as we are practically giving it away free to the factories and retailers anyway".
Scores of members of the public pushed and shoved to get the free meat outside the GPO this morning.
"At least this way, the public will get to sample the best of Irish lamb without lining the pockets of multinational retailers," he said.
Mr Sunderland said Irish sheep farmers were getting the same price for their lambs as they were 25 years ago and said that the current price was the lowest it has been for seven years.
The ICSA said that is was extremely difficult for Irish farmers to continue to maintain production when the prices paid are so low. These low prices are not being passed on to the Irish consumer he said.
"Farmers are getting between €66 and €76 for a lamb at the factory gates. This same lamb, once boned, will retail at between €240 and €270," said Mr Sunderland, meaning these low prices are not being passed on to the Irish consumer.