Get all the very latest news in Dublin straight to your email every single day Sign Up! Thank you for subscribing See our privacy notice Invalid Email

Dublin City Council has raised the Catalan flag over City Hall in a show of solidarity with the want-away Spanish region.

Councillors voted in November to fly the flag over the council's headquarters on Dame Street for a month, following a motion put forward by People Before Profit councillor Tina McVeigh.

The proposal followed a violent crackdown by Spanish authorities against Catalan activists, who voted for independence on October 1 last year.

Over 90% of those who voted opted to secede from Spain, although the majority of those who were expected to vote to remain in the country stayed away from polling stations on the day of the vote.

The autonomous Catalan government later declared independence, stoking tensions with the central Madrid government, who proposed the introduction of direct rule for the region.

Ahead of the motion, Councillor McVeigh said: "Anyone who believes in democracy, anyone who believes in basic human rights and the right to self-determination will support the Catalan people.

Video Loading Video Unavailable Click to play Tap to play The video will start in 8 Cancel Play now

"Flying the flag is an important message of solidarity with the Catalan people and puts us on the right side of history”.

Dublin City Council raised the flag over City Hall on Thursday, and will fly for a month following the vote by councillors last year.

The move follows a similar motion passed by the council in May last year, when councillors voted to fly the Palestinian flag fly above City Hall in another show of solidarity.

That move proved somewhat controversial, with the Israeli embassy calling it "counter-productive" and supportive of "terror organisations, hatred and blackmail."