Scenes of crowds drinking and socialising in Dublin City Centre last night have been described as "absolutely shocking" by the Chief Medical Officer.
Large numbers of young people gathered in the mainly pedestrianised South William Street area from early evening yesterday.
Dr. Tony Holahan says scenes like a "major open air party" are not what the country needs.
Dublin City Councillor, Mannix Flynn, believes the good weather and the sale of take-away pints contributed to the numbers.
He says the publicans offering take away pints need to "wake up", saying they are putting everything at risk.
