Up to 4,000 people today protested against the closure of a children's hospital on the south side of Dublin.
Parents and children joined campaign organisers demonstrating against the pending closure of Tallaght Children's Hospital.
Under new plans the service will be moved to a state of the art tertiary children's centre on a site next to the Mater Hospital on the north side.
However, activists are calling for the retention of the current services to meet the needs of the area.
"The recent decision to move children's services from Tallaght has caused anger and concern within the community," said organiser Eamon Maloney, Mayor of South Dublin County Council.
"Last year over 30,000 children from all over Co Dublin and beyond attended for treatment at The Children's Hospital, Tallaght.
"There is no reason why the new planned hospital can't be on two sites — one at the Mater to service the north side and one at Tallaght to serve the south side."
Mr Maloney said the stress and worry of parents trying to make their way into the city with a sick child should not be acceptable.
He was joined by protestors who marched for 40 minutes from the hospital gates into Tallaght village and back to The Square car park.
PA