Well over 100,000 people attended anti-war demonstrations in Dublin and Belfast this afternoon adding their voice to the millions around the world expressing opposition to the expected US-led war in Iraq.
Between 80,000 and 100,000 gathered in Dublin and tens of thousands rallied in Belfast in the biggest demonstration of its kind in the city.
Singers, political figures and clergymen joined a huge procession of demonstrators on the streets of the capital before gathering to hear speeches near the Central Bank in Dame Street.
O'Connell Street was closed for over an hour as the march set off from the Garden of Remembrance in Parnell Square. Boos and hisses were regularly heard outside the Dail as marchers moved up Kildare Street and onto St Stephen's Green, where similar sentiments were expressed outside the Department of Foreign Affairs.
As the head of the march made its way off St Stephen's Green for the final leg back to Dame Street demonstrators were still streaming down O'Connell St.
Chants of "George Bush we know you, your daddy was a butcher too" could be heard as placards were waved saying "No Blood for Oil" and "USA - Israel: Axis of Evil".
SIPTU general president Mr Des Geraghty told the rally that today's demonstration showed the Irish were opposed to terrorism from all quarters.
"The Irish opposition to this unjust war is no more anti-American than it is pro-Saddam Hussein. It is pro-people, pro-human rights and pro-United Nations," he said.
Green Party MEP, Ms Patricia McKenna, recently returned from Iraq spoke of the effect a war would have on the ordinary people in the country.
"All the UN agencies with which we met were clear in their predictions that, in the event of a conflict, the situation would spiral out of control. The latest report from UNICEF warns that few families would be able to withstand even a short-term interruption to basic services," she said.
Among other speakers were, Labour TD, Mr Michael D Higgins, Sinn Fein TD Mr Aonghas O Snodaigh, former UN deputy secretary general, Mr Denis Halliday, Bishop John Kirby of Trocaire and march organiser Mr Richard Boyd Barrett.
Before the event, Mr Boyd Barrett hoped there would be over 200,000 people at today's demonstration. The Garda this evening estimated the turnout to be between 80,000 to 100,000.
"I certainly think the government is going to get a shock about the size of this demonstration.
"I hope it will force them to sit up and listen to what the majority of people in the country think, that we should have nothing to do with plans to kill tens of thousands of innocent people in a war for oil," Mr Boyd Barrett said.
Entertainers including singers Christy Moore, Hazel O'Connor, Mary Coughlan and Luka Bloom performed at the rally and music, face paint and costumes all added to the festive atmosphere. There were no reported incidents of trouble.
In the biggest rally of its kind ever seen in Northern Ireland, a sea of protesters made their way down Great Victoria Street to hear speeches outside City Hall.
Journalist and civil rights activist Eamon McCann drew huge roars of approval when he declared: "Bush and Blair can say what they will, but Ulster says no."
Rally co-ordinator Alisa Keane from the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) said she was overwhelmed by the numbers who took to the street.
"It's more than we ever imagined and it tells Tony Blair loud and clear that this war is not in our name."
Messages of opposition from the leaders of both the Catholic Church and the Church of Ireland were read out from the platform.
Belfast-born Nobel Peace Prize winner Ms Mairead Maguire read from a letter written by four US veterans of the last Gulf war.
"We were ordered to kill fleeing Iraqis," the troops wrote. "We bulldozed trenches and buried people alive."
Representatives from Sinn Fein, the SDLP, Women's Coalition and the Alliance Party were also in attendance.
Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams insisted there could be no justification for war on Iraq. He said: "If President Bush and Mr Blair want war, it should be war against poverty and for equality."
The messages were delivered after the names of the 3,672 people killed in Northern Ireland's 30-years of violence were chalked onto city centre kerbstones.
Additional reporting PA