A demonstration by over 1,000 anti-car and anti-globalisation protesters passed off peacefully yesterday.
Watched by dozens of gardaí, the Reclaim The Streets protesters blocked off part of Dublin city centre for a 3½-hour street party.
There was no repeat of the violence which occurred during the last such protest in May, when scores of protesters were arrested or injured.
An investigation into that incident was ordered after video evidence showed gardaí batoning protesters.
Yesterday's protest began at St Stephen's Green, from where most participants walked to Baggot Street.
There they were met by a group of cyclists which blocked the opposite side of the road. Using a set of record decks powered by a generator, the organisers turned the street into a party venue.
The protest, which was held to mark European Car-Free Day, was an exclusively good natured affair.
Aside from the rave under Baggot Street's sycamore trees, there was theatre, juggling, fire-eating, skate-boarding, badminton, street supper and fancy dress.
Throughout the afternoon, Garda helicopters hovered overhead. Up to 100 officers were kept in reserve, while mounted policemen kept watch from a distance.
The Garda failed in its attempts last week to contact the organisers and it made no attempt to intervene yesterday. A Garda spokesman said there had been "absolutely no incidents".
Some participants were handed leaflets advising them what to do if they were arrested. Another handbill called for "a direct assault" on the "twin towers" of private property and law and order.
Shortly after 6 p.m., the protesters ended their street demonstration and moved back to St Stephen's Green, where they continued to party in the park for several hours.
One of the organisers of yesterday's event, Mr Chekov Feeney, said the aim was to demonstrate opposition to "car culture".
It was also designed to give people some control over their public space, if only for a short time.
"It's also about empowering people. Most of us have brought our own entertainment here and there's no commercial stuff."
He said the organisers had gone out of their way to ensure the event was peaceful and did not unduly disrupt traffic. They had even brought along bin bags for people to clear up litter.
Mr Feeney accused gardaí of "provoking confrontation" at the last Reclaim The Streets event, but said they were more "laid back" this time. "The police are the armed wing of the State so you may have to defend yourself during protests," he insisted.
About 20 people who were charged after last May's demonstration are due to appear in court this week.
Mr Feeney said this was purely designed to stop them bringing legal action against the Garda.
