A smaller counter-protest took place outside the GPO, where gardaí formed a boundary between both groups as they exchanged chants.
There was a large garda presence throughout the city centre, including members of the Public Order Unit.
The crowd gathered in the Garden of Remembrance in Parnell Square at around 2.30pm before marching down O'Connell Street towards the Custom House.
Many protesters held Irish flags and some carried signs with slogans such as 'Irish Lives Matter' as the crowd chanted.
Those at the front of the march carried a banner with the words “The community of Newtown says no” and similar banners for Coolock, Finglas, Kildare and other areas were also seen.
At a recent protest in Newtownmountkennedy, Co Wicklow, a number of arrests were made and three Garda cars were damaged after crowds opposed plans to house asylum seekers there.
Speakers at the Custom House today called for applause as they praised those protesting in the city despite “government violence”.
Traffic was brought to a standstill along the city's main road for the duration of the protest, with Luas trams and buses diverted or suspended.
Members of the public order unit gathered at the turning to Parnell Street where rioters damaged shop fronts and set fire to a Garda car during the Dublin riots.
Counter-protesters outside the GPO today held a banner reading “refugees welcome” and a number of flags, including Palestinian flags.
Gardaí formed a line between both groups and the march continued towards the Custom House after both groups exchanged chants.
Many speakers were local or European election candidates seeking to rally voters before June 7, when the country goes to the polls.
It called for protesters to “take back control” and ensure they vote in the upcoming elections.
Some of their supporters gathered among the crowds and passed out pamphlets, while others handed out copies of the Declaration of Independence.
The speeches focused on migration policy and pushed back on the EU migration pact, with many telling the crowd that “Ireland is full” and “Enough is enough”.
They claimed Ireland's heritage was under threat, while others told protesters they were marching to “defend” their children, without specifying what.
Protesters heard that the parties in the Dáil did not care about them, at one point booing Justice Secretary Helen McEntee and Simon Harris and later singing that Sinn Féin were “traitors”.
The demonstration lasted until 5 p.m. before the crowd dispersed.