Anti-fox hunting protestors held demonstrations at the St Stephen's Day meets of two hunts in Counties Meath and Waterford today.
In what is now becoming an annual event, the Association of Hunt Saboteurs and Badger Watch Ireland mounted protests at the traditional Stephen's Day hunt meetings around the country.
The Waterford hunt passed off peacefully, after up to 30 protestors gathered in Tramore.
There was a large Garda presence.
Over sixty horses took part in the hunt.
A small group of protesters turned up at the start of the Meath hunt in Kells.
They waved placards and blew whistles but there was no violence.
The protesters had said these would be peaceful demonstrations which they hoped would highlight what they describe as the plight of the hunted animal. They are calling for a ban on all bloodsports in Ireland.
With the momentum building in the UK in favour of legislation to curb hunting, anti hunt demonstrators here in Ireland say they fear that British bloodsport enthusiasts will start coming to Ireland to hunt.
The Irish Association of the Masters of Foxhounds said they hoped there would be no trouble today and that people could be calm and enjoy the day's sport.
