Several hundred thousand people will have turned out to see the Special Olympics flame passing through their towns and villages by the time it reaches Dublin, Special Olympics organisers said yesterday.
The attendance was "amazing and far beyond our expectations", Ms Mary Davis, Special Olympics chief executive said yesterday.
"The enthusiasm around the country is infectious. It's just overwhelming. We expected to get reasonable numbers but this is just amazing."
On average, 3,000 people have turned out to welcome the flame as it passed through towns.
It is stopping in more than 130 towns and villages before arriving in Croke Park on Saturday for the opening ceremony of the 2003 Special Olympics World Summer Games.
As well as the scheduled stops, several impromptu stops are also being made every day.
Yesterday, the flame made an impromptu stop in Ballyvaughan, Co Clare as schoolchildren lined the streets waving handmade torches.
"We've had 5,000 in Monaghan, 2,000 in Cavan and Cootehill. Kiltimagh has painted the entire town. There's a carnival atmosphere everywhere we go," Ms Davis said.
In Limerick, District Court judge Tom O'Donnell swapped his robes for runners and shorts to take part in the event - which also attracted Irish and Munster rugby stars Jeremy Staunton and Mike Prendergast who joined the torch run in Arthur's Quay Park. Limerick football manager Liam Kerins, team captain Muiris Gavin and all-star Limerick hurler Mark Foley also took part.
Hundreds of people had lined the streets from early afternoon. The city - which is hosting the 169-strong Austrian team - was decorated with red and white flags and flowers to celebrate their arrival. The Austrian ambassador, Dr Harold Miltner, is also staying in Limerick and last night attended an official reception for the team at the White House in the University of Limerick.