'Physical music formats are dead' has become an all too common belief among many observers. On Record Store Day, however, the music fans come out in force to prove it wrong.

The now annual tradition has been designed as a day to support and celebrate the dwindling number of independent music shops and the renewed popularity of vinyl records. It has proven a successful initiative, as the huge crowds flocking to Dublin music shops this morning rather definitively proves.

Many music labels have issued limited edition LPs for the day that's in it from beloved artists old and new, although fans might already be too late to pick up some of the more popular titles. However, many of the participating stores have lots of live music and events taking place over the rest of the day, as well as great deals on their stock. Even if you just have an album you've been meaning to pick up for a while, today's an ideal day to do so.

You can check out the full list of Irish stores participating on the Record Store Day website, which includes shops in Carlow, Galway, Cork, Offaly, Dungarvan, Kilkenny and more.

Here's some images and videos posted up by some of the stores.

We still have some great RSD stock .. https://t.co/QGmgVTsQAj

— Freebird Records (@FreebirdRecords) April 19, 2014

100 people outside @TowerDublin this morning at 8am for @recordstoreday pic.twitter.com/h8hj2dNBS2

— Ken Sweeney (@KenSweeney) April 19, 2014