Taking a look at how Cork has celebrated the New Year down  through the years

The countdown to 2024 is almost upon us with many looking forward to celebrations at home or on the town on New Year's Eve.

Ahead of New Year’s Eve, this week’s Nostalgia takes a look back at previous years' festivities in Cork.

Of course, among the most notable was the turn of the millennium.

On December 30, the then titled Evening Echo underscored the sense of anticipation for the dawn of the year 2000.

“Cork city will come to a standstill with virtually all shops closed for this special bank holiday.

"The millennium party is expected to get underway at mid-day

“The main focus will be around the newly refurbished Emmet Place plaza which will be thronged with up to 3,000 spectators.

“The occasion will be a particularly special one for the city’s children who will lead Cork's Last Light Ceremony shortly after 4.30pm,” it said.

“More than 1,000 schoolchildren from across the city have been chosen to take part in the Last Light Ceremony, sponsored by the Evening Echo.

“The children will make up the bulk of the 2,000 people lining the quays from the Christy Ring Bridge as far as the Brian Boru Bridge.” 

The Southern Health Board, as it was then, said more ambulances would be on call to cover millennium celebrations and the board was also guarding against the threat of a certain bug – albeit unrelated to health.

“The health board said it had also drawn up contingency plans in case there were any problems caused by the Y2K computer bug,” an EveningEcho article stated.

The so-called Y2K bug was a problem in the coding of computerized systems that was projected to wreak havoc.

Despite global fears, the turn of the century came without catastrophe.

The city's millennium celebrations began at sunset on December 31 when thousands of Corkonians lined the banks of the Lee illuminating the river with torches.

Firework displays across the city and county heralded the start of a new century and celebration was ubiquitous.

Three year's later - around this time 10 years ago - the then city manager Joe Gavin, when asked by this publication about his ambitions for the year ahead, said his primary goal was to help the city get ready for its year as Europe’s Capital of Culture in 2005.

“I want to see Oliver Plunkett Street renewed and pedestrianised in 2004.

“With the city the way is at the moment, I'd like to do a monthly audit of all the cranes on our skyline.

“There are about 20 in the city at the moment, and this is a good thing for the city. 

“I would also like to celebrate May Day in Patrick's Street, to celebrate the ascension of the 10 new countries into the European Union” he added.

The advent of 2005 also marked a particularly special time for Cork.

“Thousands of spellbound spectators cheered as Saturday evening's electrifying Awakening ceremony and fireworks spectacular brought the city to a standstill,” an Echo article in early January read.

“Preceded by a day of force 10 gales and driving rain, conditions stayed miraculously dry for the family show that signalled the start of Cork's landmark status as 2005 Capital of Culture.” 

“A 600-metre serpent formed the centrepiece of the river-based event, complemented by more than 100 singers and performers."

“One of the biggest cheers of the day" was reported as going to hurling hero Seán Óg Ó hAilpín "who struck a flaming sliothar into the giant serpent and re-enacted the myth of the creation of the River Lee".