As the hunger strike by the Afghan asylum seekers entered its fifth day yesterday, supporters maintained a vigil near St Patrick's Cathedral.
However, on the streets outside there was by no means unanimous support for the asylum seekers' demands that the Government allow them remain in Ireland.
Last night up to 100 supporters demonstrated outside St Patrick's calling on the Government to "let them stay".
However, a number of youths in the area chanted occasionally that the men should be sent home.
Throughout the afternoon there had also been occasional verbal sparring between supporters of the men and those who appeared sceptical on the issue of immigration in general.
One man walking past supporters of the men at the Garda barrier on Kevin Street said he had never backed Justice Minister Michael McDowell but that he was right behind him on this occasion.
Outside the front of the cathedral another man argued strongly with supporters of the asylum seekers on at least two occasions that "Ireland was a soft touch for foreigners".
Supporters of the men argued that without foreigners there would be no Spar shops open in Dublin.
Many of the supporters of the asylum seekers at St Patrick's yesterday were activists from a number of parties and left-wing political groups.
Green Party TD Ciaran Cuffe and Sinn Féin deputy Sean Crowe were present at various stages during the day.
James Monaghan, one of the "Colombia Three", was also outside the cathedral for much of the afternoon and evening. He declined to comment on why he was there.
A number of activists appeared willing during the day to block the road from the cathedral in the event of gardaí seeking to remove the men by force.
One group called School Students Against Deportation arranged for a group of pupils from Dundrum College in Dublin, which is attended by three of the asylum seekers, to demonstrate outside St Patrick's at lunchtime yesterday.
One of the students, Tim O'Sullivan, said some of the Afghans at Dundrum College were midway through their Leaving Cert course. He said that they should be allowed to stay.
