Gardaí struggle to gag the giggles and repress the forces of mirth

AT least one street was taken over yesterday as several hundred revellers partied in the centre of Dublin.

In the last of a series of protests and parties by radical groups, youths drank and danced as a stereo system blasted out tunes.

Many of those who gathered for the Reclaim the Streets protest were May Day veterans, having attended other events over the weekend.

The idea was to take over a small part of the city and hold a party.

Around 300 gathered at the top end of O'Connell Street and walked a short distance to Lower Gardiner Street.

It's not clear whether the organisers of this event had a plan of action or whether the gardaí knew what they planned to do.

But the gardaí kept a discreet distance as the stereo and drink came out after stopping at the corner of Talbot Street.

The crowd were technically in breach of the law as they had not given notice of the route of their march or protests.

But the gardaí were happy to keep them contained on a street where most of the buildings were hotels or bed and breakfasts. Guests watched from the window of O'Shea's Hotel.

Banners one being 'Expansion not Exploitation' placed neatly before the Dublin City Council EU 'Fáilte' sign were strung between the lamp posts, emphasising the overtly political nature of this end of weekend party.

The march to Phoenix Park ended in violence on Saturday but yesterday all was calm but for the blasting music and a few casualties caused by beer.

One young woman had to be lifted in to an ambulance shortly after 7pm, the victim of drink.

It was good humoured up to early evening. Two gardaí cracked smiles as a tall woman dressed in tight black PVC leather danced between them in the doorway of the hotel.

By early evening the party was breaking up, the stereo was packed away and people starting drifting home.

But with a lot of drink obviously taken on board, the gardaí became more visible, sensing the potential for normal public order problems.

No need for the riot squad, messy crowds full of booze they deal with every day.