Carnival mood takes over 'people power' protest

Jugglers, drummers and cyclists were among the revellers who basked in the Dublin sunshine during today’s May Day protest.

Hundreds of demonstrators blocked off the Irish capital’s Parnell Street with a “street party” while shoppers and police officers looked on.

The Reclaim the Streets protest was so far peaceful with none of the violent clashes that marred last year’s event – a number of gardai are due in court over allegations of heavy-handedness towards the crowd last May.

Protesters said they were expressing their anti-capitalist views and trying to take control of an area of the city to demonstrate “people power“.

Patrick O’Toole, of the Reclaim the Streets group, said: “It’s a celebration of people power and a celebration of our vision for the city.

“The aim is to take over an area of the city for the afternoon.”

A largely young crowd gathered outside Dublin’s General Post Office at 2pm and made their way to Parnell Street where they set up a sound system and a banner marked “Liberate Public Space“.

Gardai – who had not been informed of the protesters’ plans – were present in patrol cars, on bicycles and horse-back. A helicopter was also used.

Organisers with “Legal Support” signs distributed leaflets asking protesters to inform them in the event of them being arrested.

A spokeswoman said: “Around half a dozen of us volunteered to tell people what to do if they are arrested.

“But so far it’s going brilliantly and the gardai have kept a low profile.”

Officers said no arrests had been made and that the event was passing off peacefully.

At around 5.30pm the crowds moved on to another location in the city. The event looked likely to carry on through the early evening.