Cork's lord mayor says he was 'disappointed and angry' over the high levels of social activity in the city centre over the weekend.
Joe Kavanagh says it followed similar scenes in recent weeks, and he thought the city 'had put that behind us'.
Gardaí confirmed large numbers of people gathered to socialise in the city on Saturday evening.
While the vast majority are said to have been family groups and social bubbles following COVID-19 guidelines, there were also nine arrests over public order incidents.
Councillor Kavanagh said he was disappointed more than anything at the scenes on Saturday.
He told Newstalk Breakfast: "I was angry and annoyed at the high level of social activity in the city centre.
"We've come so far in recent months in terms of sacrifices made by so many people... our business community in particular has suffered incredibly. They have complied, by-and-large."
He said gardaí are doing a very good job to the best of their ability, but they were 'overcome with sheer numbers'.
Councillor Kavanagh said he does feel sorry for young people and how frustrated they must feel.
However, he suggested: "The message we have been shouting from the rooftops... is to cut your social contacts and limit your social contacts... and here we are with just over a week to go until the easing of restrictions.
"The [virus] numbers are not decreasing the way we'd like them to."
He said everyone is hoping for a return "to some degree of normality" from December 1st, and he'd personally like to see businesses in the city having a "good run" in the lead-up to Christmas.
