As the bus set off from Dublin on Friday morning, Laura Fitzgerald, a member of the Reproductive rights against Oppression, Sexism and Austerity (ROSA) group which has been involved in organising the bus action, told BuzzFeed News: "The continued ban on abortion in Ireland is draconian, dangerous, and completely discriminatory against women."

Under the 8th amendment of the constitution abortion is completely illegal in Ireland unless the life of the mother is considered to be at risk.

Any women who is found to have had an abortion in Ireland, even in cases of incest, rape, or where the foetus may not survive, could face 14 years in prison.

She said the anti-abortion laws demonstrated "huge misogyny" and that "we can't let women's bodies be policed."

The bus will stop to hold pro-choice rallies in Limerick, Cork and Galway, before returningto Dublin for a final rally on Saturday afternoon.