Thousands of anti-war protesters are expected to take part in a march in Dublin today to mark the first anniversary of the invasion of Iraq.
The march will be part of an "international day of action" which will see protests in 108 cities worldwide.
The Dublin march has been organised jointly by the Irish Anti-War Movement, the NGO Peace Alliance and the Peace and Neutrality Alliance. The groups arranged the anti-war protest last year when 100,000 people took to the streets of the capital.
Mr Richard Boyd Barrett, of the Irish Anti-War Movement, said yesterday that while realistically they did not expect as many people as last year, there would still be thousands taking part. Buses had been organised from Cork, Galway and Waterford.
"I think events in Spain will increase the number of people likely to participate, not only here but all over the world. It has highlighted for people that the war is not over and the war on terrorism has not resolved the conflict," he said.
The numbers were difficult to predict but he said he considered that this march would be a dress rehearsal for the protests which will take place when President Bush comes to Ireland in June.
He said already there were indications that people who would not normally protest intended to come out and take part in the peace marches against the Bush visit. The protesters today will assemble in Parnell Square and the march will start at 3 p.m. to the Department of Foreign Affairs.
Before that, the Peace and Neutrality Alliance will lay a wreath outside the US Embassy at 1.30 p.m. in memory of the 10,000 Iraqi civilians, and more than 550 American, British, Spanish, Italian and Polish soldiers and others who have been killed in Iraq, as well as the victims of the Madrid atrocity.
Organisers say today's march will call for an end to the occupation of Iraq, the US military out of Shannon, and justice for Palestine.
Bush address: page 8