Tens of thousands of anti-water charge protesters marched in Dublin for the first demonstration of its kind in almost six months.

The Right2Water protest began at 2pm, with protesters marching from Heuston Station and Connolly Station to the GPO on O'Connell Street.

Opposition politicians and community groups demanded the abolition of the controversial state utility and the bills that go with it. 

Newstalk's Shona Murray reports:

Paul Murphy TD of the Anti-Austerity Alliance has said many of those arrested in relation to the Jobstown protest last November will be gathering at the Criminal Courts of Justice on Parkgate Street ahead of today's protest.

The 'Jobstown 23' marched together to join the demonstration on O'Connell Street.

Organisers Right2Water earlier warned anyone who can't control their anger to stay away today.

But Mick Bates, who was also in Jobstown, says they still want the Government out:

Deputy Murphy said tens of thousands of people will attend today's protest to show the Government that the movement hasn't gone away:

Catherine Murphy TD, one of the leaders of the new Social Democrats party, has said that the money collected from the water charge will only cover the costs of collecting and that it leaves nothing for investment or conservation.

She also says people see Irish Water as a failed model, and that support is building behind the Right2Water movement: