Hundreds of anti-water charge protesters gathered outside a hotel in Sligo this evening where the Taoiseach was attending an event.

A scrum formed around Enda Kenny's car as he arrived at the Sligo Park Hotel at around 7.30pm with some protesters leaping onto his car.

The vehicle was kicked and struck, as Gardai struggled to hold the crowd back.

A crowd of around 300 to 400 people had gathered from earlier in the evening for what was, up to then, a peaceful gathering.

The protest had been organised by the local Right 2 Water group.

This protester says she was shocked by what she saw: "It’s absolutely horrific and awful to see what has happened to the country and how desperate the people are.

"I have never been so emotional at a protest in my whole life but it also shows just how enraged the people are. It’s awful, something needs to be done now."