Locals are gathering for a rally in Drogheda, Co Louth to protest the violence that has gripped the area.

It follows a surge in gang-related violence in recent weeks.

The 'Standing Together' rally was organised following the death of 17-year-old Keane Mulready Woods.

People met on the Bridge of Peace in the town at 1.30pm on Saturday for the solidarity rally.

From there they marched towards St Peter's Church in West Street.

The gathering was then addressed by a number of speakers, including Drogheda Mayor Paul Bell.

Thousands of people are expected to attend, while a large Garda presence was also anticipated.

An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and other party leaders are also expected to attend the rally.

The Drogheda City Status Group (DCSG) has called for an end to the violence that has "shocked the people of the greater Drogheda area and the entire country."

Drogheda Mayor Paul Bell told Newstalk Breakfast earlier this situation is not unique to his town.

"We need to stress this - this is not a political rally - we want the party leaders and An Taoiseach there as the legislators of our country.

"This is not a specific issue to Drogheda: there are many towns and cities and villages right across this country who are suffering similar issues concerning drug criminality.

"The rally today is not about making noise - it's actually about making a difference".

"We as a community are being terrorised and the people of Drogheda are suffering what's probably best described as a terror fatigue.

"But in the last number of days it's starting to change where people are saying we need to stand up against this activity, we need to stand as a community, we need to stand with An Garda Síochána which are trying to mange the situation.

"And I'm absolutely confident they will bring prosecutions against those who are responsible for Keane's death - and other activities in Drogheda.

"And also to let our legislators know that things need to change with regards to the legislation dealing with criminality, dealing with drug activity, and especially in relation to the courts system and how people involved in that type of criminality are handled.

"The other thing is that this is subversive activity in its nature.

"People are being intimidated, they're being terrorised, they are being bullied, they are being basically locked down in their own community.

"People are starting to fight back against that... the rally today gives expression to that".