5,000 people joined a Sinn Féin march to mark the 70th Anniversary of the Proclamation of the Irish Republic.
A colour party wearing masks led the march starting in St. Stephen's Green along a planned Garda route to the General Post Office (GPO). Traffic was seriously disrupted as the march supported by 15 pipe bands took half an hour to reach the rally area at the GPO. Gardai said unofficially that they were taken by surprise by the big turnout.
At the GPO Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams, Sinn Féin's Martin McGuinness, Martin Galvin the leader of Noraid (the fundraising wing) of the Irish Republican Army (IRA) and Michael Flannery a member of the old IRA all made brief appearances. Sinn Féin's National Organiser Pat Doherty addressed the rally and said the Government had been indicted by its failure to commemorate in any meaningful way the 70th Anniversary of the Proclamation of the Irish Republic.
There was no actual trouble at the march but during the rally several flags including a Union Jack and an Ulster flag were burnt in the street.
An RTÉ News report by Mary Fanning broadcast 5 April 1986.
