Videos have emerged on social media this morning showing the aftermath of a massive street party in Dublin's city centre.
Crowds thronged the South William Street area of the capital and other places nearby on Saturday evening to enjoy the sunshine amid the first taste of freedom for several months, following the announcement of easing of Covid lockdown restrictions over the next few months.
Meanwhile, Dr Tony Holohan has faced a backlash for a tweet showing concern about the crowds he saw.
The Chief Medical Officer had tweeted: "Drove into Dublin City Centre to collect someone from work at 815 PM. Absolutely shocked at scenes in South Great George’s St, Exchequer St, South William St area.
"Enormous crowds- like a major open air party. This is what we do not need when we have made so much progress."
Many claimed it was what should have been expected given the long lockdown, while others made points about contracting coronavirus in the open air, opening pubs and the likelihood of younger generations getting seriously ill or dying.
Others described the scenes, however, as an "absolute disgrace".
A video shared by the owner of Dublin coffee outlet Coffeeangel Karl Purdy, shot by John Collins from Laduree bakery on South William Street, showed the rubbish left behind by the crowds this morning.
One onlooker who walked down the street on their way to work last night and back home this morning told Dublin Live they struggled to move along South William Street yesterday as hundreds of people covered the road and pathway.
They said the area around the Powerscourt Centre and Pygmalion was particularly bad, with rubbish also strewn outside Grogan's pub.
The Department of Health announced 464 new cases yesterday, with the number of people in ICU down to 35.
