Up to a thousand trade union activists gathered beneath the statue of James Larkin in Dublin’s O’Connell Street at lunchtime on Monday (27th November) in a solidarity demonstration organised by the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU).

The vigil was organised to show solidarity with those injured or caught up in last week’s events, responding to a call by Congress to clearly reject rioting and violence.

Among those to address the vigil was Fórsa SNA member Carol McSherry. She said: “I’d like to express the solidarity of the many thousands of SNAs around the country with the parents and staff of the school communities of Gaelscoil Coláiste Mhuire and surrounding schools.

“SNAs work with children from diverse backgrounds. The reception that they get from the community will colour the rest of their lives, how they perceive their place in our country. We want them to feel safe, loved and included.

“We gather as friends to offer our love, solidarity and support, and as allies in the healing process that lies ahead. And in your darkest hour, please know that we’re here, in solidarity with you, expressing love and rejecting hate,” she said.

Fórsa general secretary Kevin Callinan expressed gratitude and solidarity with those working to protect the city, and to the workers engaged in the clean-up of Dublin city centre: “On behalf of Fórsa’s members, we are appalled at the violence and commend the bravery of those who sought to intervene and prevent further injury.

“Equally, we want to express solidarity with retail, public transport staff and other workers affected by the violence in Dublin city centre, to thank those who continue to protect Dublin and its people, and the medical staff providing care and assistance to those affected. Those engaged in violent disorder don't represent the people of Ireland,” he said.

Congress general secretary Owen Reidy said: "Our bottom line is that every worker, whoever they are, has a right to health and safety, they have a right to go home at the end of their work unharmed.

“We also want to send a message that the xenophobic and racist nature of some of the violence last week does not represent us, we have to reject that. Whether you were born in this city, or whether you were born anywhere in the world, if you live and work here - you are part of our community" he said.

Christian Tei, originally from Romania and a Dublin Bus driver, said it was getting more difficult to do his job in Dublin: “I want to go to work and feel safe, one of my colleagues was attacked because he had a different colour of skin, that is not acceptable”, he said. He said he was born in Romania, has lived in Ireland for 17 years, and is now an Irish citizen: “I am Irish and proud,” he said, drawing sustained applause and cheers from the crowd.

Listen back to some of our recent radio interviews here:

· Fórsa assistant general secretary Liz Fay spoke to RTE’s Claire Byrne on Tuesday about the harassment of Fórsa members working in library services

· Fórsa media relations director Niall Shanahan spoke to Matt Cooper on Today FM’s Last Word programme about the solidarity vigil.