Ticketmaster, the ticket-selling agent, has launched its own Internet site (www.ticketmaster.ie) where customers can order and pay for concert, theatre and sporting tickets online. Because it is linked to Ticketmaster offices in the US, Canada, Australia, Mexico and Britain, Irish people travelling abroad will be able to purchase tickets through the Irish website in advance of travelling to these destinations.

On the website, viewers will be able to see ticket prices, availability and seating plans, and after booking they will have the option of having tickets posted or collecting them at the venue on the night. Standard booking charges apply to the transactions with no additional fee for online booking.

"I believe this is the way people are going to buy their tickets in the future," said Mr Tommy Higgins, managing director of Ticketmaster Ireland. "In the States, for instance, 230,000 tickets were put on sale for a series of recent shows by Bruce Springsteen and, of those, over 100,000 were sold over the Web by Ticketmaster in only 15 hours."