A scheduled rally to support Mayo farmer Padraig Nally, who was last week given a six-year sentence for the manslaughter of Traveller John Frog Ward, has been called off.
Michael Biggins, one of the organisers of the rally that was to be held in Athlone on Sunday, said they had last night decided to defer it to a later date.
Mr Biggins, who is also chair of the Mayo county executive of the IFA, said the decision had been reached for a number of reasons.
He said the decision had been made because of a perception that the rally was anti-Traveller, and said this was something that had never been the organisers' intention.
Mr Biggins said the organisers would be meeting the Minister for Justice, Michael McDowell, and wanted to allow him time to address their concerns about citizens' rights to protect themselves and their property.
Mr Biggins said public safety was another factor in the postponement as was the desire to allow Nally to have an appeal of his sentence processed.
