Hundreds have gathered in Dublin city today in rival protests concerning transgender rights. 

Trans & Intersex Pride Dublin (TIPD) formed a counter rally against anti-transgender groups Standing for Women and The Countess at Merrion Square's 'Let Women Speak' (LWS) rally this afternoon. 

The opposing protesters were divided by two rows of barriers and a group of Gardaí in between the barriers. 

British anti-trans campaigner Posie Parker announced her plans to speak at a LWS rally in Dublin in August, and many people have flown from the UK to attend the rally today.

Anti-trans campaigner Posie Parker speaking at a rally at Merrion Square, Dublin, 16/09/2023. Image: Leah Farrell/Rollingnews.ie

A counter-rally was quickly planned by TIPD against Ms Parker and other anti-trans campaigners. 

At the protest today, trans rights activists said Ms Parker is trying to “export her hate” to Ireland. 

“These protests the past few weeks, the libraries in Cork, this is all an export from America and England,” one protestor said. 

“We’re here to just say, ‘You’re not welcome’.

Trans rights campaigners protest at Merrion Square against an anti-trans rally, 16/09/2023. Image: Leah Farrell/Rollingnews.ie

Another protestor said Ms Parker is particularly against the 2015 Gender Recognition Act that allows Irish citizens to change their gender on Government documents without medical intervention.

"It originally passed without much fanfare," they said. "Ms Parker thinks the fact that Ireland has a Gender Recognition Act is abhorrent.

"Her ethos is to get it reversed and to stop trans people basically having any rights to self-identify."

Writer Graham Linehan and Senator Sharon Keogan were seen at the LWS rally, while members of People Before Profit and the Socialist Party appeared on the TIPD side.