Almost 20,000 people marched through Dublin this evening to Merrion Square for the Make Poverty History campaign rally and concert.
Led by a green Lough Ness monster, the rally kicked off at Parnell Square shortly after 6.40pm.
Carrying placards saying ‘0.7 now!" "Debt still kills" and G8 my pajamas" the crowd was made up of a huge number of young families pushing babies in buggies.
Nessie abandoned the will to live on Kildare street but the march carried on, encouraged by loud cheers from workers in pubs and restaurants along Merrion Row.
Organisers handed out white balloons and collected donations from a willing crowd while children sporting home-made MakePovertyHistory tee-shirts danced to Kíla, the first band to take the stage.
Joe Duffy, MC for the evening, told the crowd that the rally was a "march for life and a demonstration against death." "In the shadow of government buildings we are here to make poverty history," he said.
Trade union activist Des Geraghty took the stage on behalf of the 40 different organisations, development agencies and trade unions groups behind the Make Poverty History campaign.
"During the three seconds of my speech here tonight, a child will die somewhere because of preventable poverty. We want something done about that. The challenge for our generation is to make poverty history," he said.
Zambian Justice and Peace Co-ordinator Mulima Akapelwa began her speech with an effortless "Dia diabh." She stressed the importance of sending a message to the rich nations of the world that corruption "is an easy excuse not to give aid."
She added: "Today, together we can demand justice. We should not be denied our right to develop."
Director of Trocaire Justin Kilcullen underlined the responsibility that wealth brings. "Ireland is without doubt one of the wealthiest countries in the world. A responsibility comes with that wealth."
"We are here at Bertie’s front door. Listen to us Bertie. We want 0.7% and we want it now. It’s time to make poverty history."
Mrs Doyle, aka Pauline McLynn, urged the crowd to "go on, go on, go on home and tell everyone that we will be the generation to make poverty history."
Eamon Stack, the Make Poverty History Dublin Rally co-ordinator, said he was "absolutely delighted" at the huge turnout. "How can they close their ears to that?"