About 250 people gathered outside Dublin Castle yesterday evening to protest against the visit of the Chinese Premier, Mr Zhu Rongji, who was attending an official function.
The protesters assembled at the Cork Hill entrance to the building, but Mr Zhu went in by a different entrance.
However, other dignitaries arriving at Dublin Castle were booed, and Supt Tom Conway said missiles, including eggs and paint, were thrown at cars and buses.
A few of the protesters refused to speak to "corporate newspapers" or were unwilling to give their names, but those who would talk had strong words to say against the Chinese regime.
Mr Tom Hyland, co-ordinator of the East Timor Ireland Solidarity Campaign, was there, holding a green Afri banner that proclaimed "Ireland: No Arms Trading With China".
He said the situation in Tibet was similar to what he had experienced in Timor.
"The situation with regard to Tibet is so serious that governments now have to consider if this is the type of regime they want to deal with," he said.
Mr Hyland said he hoped the protest would send a positive message to the Chinese Premier.
"If China wants to take its place as a global power that's respected, then it should see that this is the way to do it. You use dialogue, you don't use guns and bullets," he said.
A substantial number of the protesters were with Globalised Resistance and chanted slogans such as "No welcome for the butchers of Tiananmen".
One large white banner depicted the symbol of the Olympic Games with blood dripping from the coloured rings and the legend "Chinese state champions of persecution".
Mr Justin Moran, a member of the group's steering committee, said he particularly objected to the fact that Mr Zhu and his entourage were staying at Farmleigh.
"We're disgusted and we're registering our disgust that so much money was spent on Farmleigh when the first guest is a dictator and there's a housing crisis in this country," he said.
Other protesters represented the Socialist Party and the Workers' Solidarity Movement as well as members of Trinity College's graduate students' union.
Around the corner five young people in yellow tops practised Falun Gong outside the City Hall. Mr Colm Quinn, a computer programmer, said he was there for a peaceful protest.
About 50 members of the Chinese community living in Ireland were there to welcome Mr Zhu. They waved Chinese flags, and there were also one or two Tricolours.
Some of the young people chanted loudly in Chinese in response to the jeering protesters. Their words were translated by Ms Lily Ye, a Chinese woman who has been living in Ireland for 10 years.
"They're saying, `Long live China'. It means they love China, China is strong," she said.
