Booze banned? In Dublin?

Booze banned at Dublin millennium bash

DUBLIN - Revellers intent on seeing in the millennium at big free concert in central Dublin will have to stay off the booze, police announced on Tuesday.

An estimated 20,000 concert-goers heading for the city's Merrion Square on millennium eve will be frisked for alcohol at police checkpoints.

Details of Ireland's celebrations were outlined by the head of the National Millennium Committee, government minister Seamus Brennan, who told reporters: "This is the last time I am doing this job."

Headline performers at the evening concert were announced as rock acts Divine Comedy and David Gray.

While the concert was being given by some "very famous people", Brennan said he did not know them all although he thought his teenage children probably would.

He said Dubliners would be treated to a fireworks display that would be not far behind what New York had to offer, and which would be visible from all over the Irish capital.

As the sun goes down on December 31 at about 1615, there would be a "Last Light Ceremony" in which candles would be lit across Ireland.

"Instead of the whole country going nuts at midnight, we can take our families to say farewell to the sunset," Brennan said.

Candles are to be sent to every home in Ireland. In addition, one million native Irish oak trees are being planted across the country and it is intended that every church bell in the nation should be rung at midnight on millennium eve.

Brennan said the idea was spread millennium celebrations to every village in Ireland, "rather than go the road of having a big dome" like London.

REUTERS

-- Servant (public_service@yahoo.com), December 08, 1999

Answers

Most pubs in Dublin will close early on New Year's Eve. Dubliners have been 'prepping' for this for some time!

From the Irish Times -

A free millennium concert is to take place outside Government Buildings from 2.30 p.m. on New Year's Eve until 1 a.m. on New Year's Day. Among those taking part will be Brian Kennedy, The Divine Comedy, David Gray, Rebecca Storm, Sharon Shannon, Donal Lunny, Picture House, the Kilfenora Ciilm Band, three Irish tenors and a children's choir.

Other artists have yet to be confirmed by MCD concert promoters, who have been appointed organisers of the event by the National Millennium Committee, but it is hoped that more well-known figures will be taking part in what is expected to be the biggest free open- air music event ever held in Dublin.

Incorporated into the proceedings will be the Last Light Ceremony, when candles will be lit throughout the State at sunset, 4:15 p.m. At 6 p.m. the 13 Liffey bridges, between Heuston Station and the sea, will be illuminated in a "Mexican wave" ceremony of light and fireworks. From 7.30 p.m. tickets will be required for the concert for security reasons, while later Macnas and Afro-Celt Sound Systems, together with the Millennium Drum, will count down to midnight. A fireworks display will end in a spectacular show at midnight, while the bells of Christ Church will ring out for several minutes as will church bells throughout the State.

RTI will televise the celebrations as part of a 24-hour broadcast which will include coverage from 60 TV networks around the world. Dublin Bus will operate special services on the day, while 20,000 free tickets for the evening concert will be available at outlets from December 15th.

The chairman of the Millennium Committee, Mr Siamus Brennan, said he was "particularly pleased at how all the elements of the New Year's Eve celebrations are coming together".

-- Risteard Mac Thomais (uachtaran@ireland.com), December 08, 1999.