Around 10 thousand people have joined a demonstration against low funding and poor pay for childcare workers.
Close to two thousand pre-school services have shut for the day of action.
Early-years workers are angry at the lack of Government funding and poor wages.
Among their issues; they are unhappy that they have to sign-on during mid-term, summer and other breaks.
From every corner of the country, busloads of childcare workers arrived to Parnell Square to demonstrate at poor wages and a lack of funding in the sector.
Elaine Dunne, who owns crèches in Kilteirnan and Glencullen, says they have "had enough".
While she agreed wages need to increase, she said funding is the main issue for her.
"We don't want to put fees up for parents, they should not have to take the hit for the lack of funding", she said.
Organisers say this is just the beginning of their action and are vowing to keep the pressure on the incoming Government to meet their demands.
The Department of Children had told pre-school services they would lose a day's funding if they closed for today's demonstration.
However, the Minister rowed back and said they would get their funding if they offered to make up the day lost to children.
