The Government has greatly misjudged the depth of anti-war feeling across the State, Labour leader Mr Pat Rabbitte claimed today.
Mr Rabbitte said yesterday's demonstration in Dublin - which attracted more than 100,000 protesters - proved public opinion had been underestimated.
"I think the Government has badly misjudged the depth of anti-war sentiment in this country," he said. "I think their statements in the house and outside have borne that out."
He said the composition of yesterday's march was even more impressive than its scale and size.
"This wasn't the professional protesters he told RTE radio's This Week programme.
"This wasn't the round-up of the usual suspects or the usual political leadership or whatever. This was comprised of a great diversity of ordinary people of all classes."
Mr Rabbitte said both the Taoiseach Mr Ahern and the minister of Foreign Affairs Mr Cowen had been dismissive of public opinion in their attitude towards war.
"Some of the speeches by Brian Cowen have been very hawkish and dismissive of the point of view that was given expression to on the streets of Dublin yesterday," he said.
He added: "I think that the international community will be motivated and mobilised by yesterday's expression of anti-war sentiment in these particular circumstances across the world."
Organisers had originally estimated that 20,000 people would gather in Dublin for yesterday's day of international protest.