Thousands protest water charges around the country

There were hundreds of people at an anti-water charges demonstration outside Irish Water headquarters on Talbot street in Dublin today.

Demonstrations also took place in Ennis, Donegal, Galway, Limerick, Tralee and Cork.

Today's events were organised by the 'We Won't Pay Campaign' and in Dublin involved groups from East Wall, Tallaght, Clondalkin, Cabra and Ballyfermot.

Organisers called for a nationwide boycott of the charges and for people to attend a rally against the charges in Dublin on December 10.

Deputy Paul Murphy, from the Anti-Austerity Alliance, says today's events are being held ahead of a mass demonstration in Dublin on December 10.

He said: "I think we'll have thousands of people on the streets today in a number of different cities and locations across the country.

"It'll be a very strong message that people of people saying that they haven't registered for the water protests, saying that they're going to refuse to pay.

"And it's a step toward the major protest on the tenth of December."

Anti-water charges groups in Galway have amalgamated in order to galvanise opposition to the new charge.

The Galway Unites Against Water Charges group has brought in members of the We Won’t Pay, Galway Against Water Charges, Galway Lockout, East Galway Says No to Water Charges, Glor na Tuaithe (Rural Voice) and Right2Water Galway.

Dette McLoughlin of Right2Water Galway told almost 300 protesters gathered in Galway city centre today: "It is an opportunity for the people of Galway to let the local politicians and the Government know exactly what they think of the revised water charges at the GUAWC (Galway Unites Against Water Charges) protest".