Minister for Foreign Affairs Dermot Ahern expressed his shock and sadness today after up to 1,000 Iraqi pilgrims were killed in a stampede near a holy shrine in Baghdad.
The crush was sparked after rumours spread through the crowds of Shia Muslims that a suicide bomber was about to attack the pilgrimage in the north of the city.
"Our thoughts are with the families of those who died. It is doubly a tragedy that such a calamity has befallen people during a holy day of such significance to Shia Muslims," Mr Ahern said.
"I find it particularly disturbing that it appears that the tragedy was triggered by rumours of suicide bombers among the crowd. Today's cynical and deliberate attack represents an appalling new low," he added.
Thousands of people rushed to both banks of the river searching for survivors. Hundreds of men stripped down and waded into the muddy water in a bid to pull out bodies.
It is understood about one million pilgrims from Baghdad and outlying provinces had gathered near the shrine in the capital's Kazimiyah district for the annual commemoration of the Shiite saint's death. Shiite religious festivals have often been targeted by Sunni extremists.
Green Party Chairman and foreign affairs spokesman John Gormley said the latest atrocity in Baghdad "is further confirmation of all the worst predictions of those who opposed the Iraq war".
He went on to say: "This latest atrocity following as it does years of brutal killings of mostly civilians, confirms our worst fears. Iraq is now a tragic mess, on the verge of civil war between the competing Sunnis, Kurds and Shi'ites, with living standards dropping and women in a far worse position than under the Saddam regime."
Mr Gormley also said that in light of this tragedy it was now time for Ireland to "reconsider its assistance to the American war machine."
"We alone of the so-called neutral states are giving our airports and airspace to the US military. In aiding and abetting the Americans in this way we will be seen as a "legitimate" target for Islamic terrorist organisations," he said.