Security tight for visit of England to Croke Park

Thousands of rugby fans are ready to descend on Croke Park for this afternoon's 6Nations clash between Ireland and England at Croke Park.

Turnstiles open at 3.30pm, and fans are being advised to arrive early.

Security is tight and there are appeals for calm and good behaviour.

Republican Sinn Féin is to hold a protest outside and is expecting up to 150 people to attend its protest, which it says will be peaceful.

However, there are fears of a repeat of the type of trouble seen at the Love Ulster rally in Dublin this time last year.

In 1920 a GAA match between Dublin and Tipperary was interrupted by the army and the RIC in retaliation for the killing of 14 British agents and Auxiliaries by Michael Collins' IRA.

Shots were fired into the crowd of around 5000, killing 14 people including a woman and two young boys, as well as Michael Hogan, a Tipperary player.

Two IRA members and a friend were arrested afterwards and taken to Dublin Castle and shot that evening, allegedly while trying to escape.