Teachers groups and farmers and have staged separate protests against Budget cuts.
Up to 8,000 people took part in a protest march in Donegal town against cuts in education.
They were addressed by the General Secretary of the INTO, John Carr. Representatives of other teaching unions were also there.
The protest also involved teachers, parents and members of boards of management from schools across Sligo, Leitrim and Donegal.
A national rally will be held in Dublin next Saturday.
INTO President Declan Kelleher has said there was strong political support for the campaign.
Meanwhile, the Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers Association demonstrated outside a meeting of Fianna Fáil councillors in Tullamore, Co Offaly where Taoiseach Brian Cowen and other Government Ministers were in also attendance.
