Organisers say that around 30,000 people have attended the event while gardaí told TheJournal.ie this evening that around 25,000 people were in attendance with traffic restrictions in place across the city centre.

The Vigil for Life in Merrion Square heard from a number of pro-life activists who are opposed to the government’s decision to legislate for the X Case on abortion in certain, limited circumstances.

AN ESTIMATED 25,000 people have attended a pro-life vigil in Dublin this evening calling on Taoiseach Enda Kenny and the government to keep their “pro-life promise”.

At the event, Dr Eoghan de Faoite of Youth Defence called the Taoiseach’s constituency office and left a message with the crowd shouting in unison: “Enda, keep your promise”.

Attendees also heard from Tyrone GAA manager Mickey Harte who told the crowd: “Like every country we have our faults and failings.”

“But when it comes to life before birth, we have a value system, an ethos, which we should proudly share with the rest of the world. We should not undermine it at this time, or ever.”

Earlier, a counter demonstration also took place in Dublin with the newly-formed Abortion Rights Campaign calling for the repeal of the 8th Amendment to the Irish constitution.

Around 200 people are estimated to have attended the counter demonstration on the other side of Merrion Square, according to gardaí.

United Left Alliance TD Clare Daly said that legislating for the X Case was just the start of the new group’s campaign: “We also want the simplest, broadest legislation that includes the right to abortion in the case of fatal foetal abnormality.

“We will keep the pressure on until we get this.”