Limerick - Despite almost continuous rainfall, more than 35,000 people lined the River Shannon at Limerick city to watch spectacular fireworks and laser beams and to listen to the music and song which were part of the "River of Light" heralding the new millennium. The lasers, projecting images of 1,000 years of Limerick's history, were beamed across the river from the public viewing site at Clancy's Strand to the walls of King John's Castle, City Hall, the Courthouse, the tower of St Mary's Cathedral and Sarsfield House.

The ceremony began at 3.30 p.m. with services at the two cathedrals and at the Redemptorist church, Christ Church and the Holy Rosary church. The Last Light ceremony, as the sunlight gave way for the last time in the 20th century, involved an eight-minute ecumenical service, conducted by Bishops Donal Murray and Edward Darling, with Rev C.J. Walker of the United Presbyterian and Methodist Churches.