West Cork celebrates its own special place in the sun

Whatever anyone else was saying, the people of the Dursey region in west Cork were convinced they were right. The last Irish sunset before 2000 would take place off Dursey Head. They even had expert evidence proving that the tilt of the earth in relation to the sun left no doubt about their case.

But last Friday afternoon was overcast off the headland, putting a potential damper on the momentous event. Then the fates smiled. The clouds peeled back and at 4.46 p.m. the last sunset of the second millennium in Ireland, and Europe for that matter, was witnessed in glorious style.

The event was marked in a special ceremony. A huge candle was lit on the headland and the Allihies choir gave the moment a musical dimension. Piper Brendan Ring played out the last sunset as people from all over the Beara Peninsula looked on. As the haunting music from the pipes wafted over the tranquil waters below, the dying sun spectacularly illuminated the clouds, almost as if on cue. It was a moment to savour.

In Cork city, Last Light ceremonies were held at several venues, with about 2,000 schoolchildren taking part. The city's bridges were illuminated as dusk descended and in Bantry, where similar ceremonies were held, a giant screen in the square enabled the townspeople to follow what was going on in Cork.

The celebration brought hundreds of parents with young children on to the streets. An open-air rock concert near Cork's Opera House fell victim to the rain, however, but still the party went on and the mood was jovial throughout the city. The Lord Mayor of Cork, Mr Damien Wallace, brought his children along. It was wonderful to see so many young people enjoying themselves, he said, as the new age was dawning.

But Corkonians seemed bent on partying at home for the most part. The majority of the city's pubs had signalled well in advance that they would be closing at 6 p.m. and those staying open were asking a cover charge of £10 to £50. Taxi depots closed early as well and the result was that off-licences did a roaring trade throughout the day and early evening.

There were no reports of serious incidents on the streets but the party atmosphere was marred by the death of Ms Aoife Bell (21), from Kerry Pike, who was crushed by falling masonry when a building at Washington Street collapsed on Thursday last. Her funeral will take place today.

Towards midnight, thousands of people converged at various vantage points overlooking Cork Harbour. Cobh Urban Council had announced that it putting on a spectacular fireworks display for the new year, which would be preceded by the firing of an old cannon at the Martello tower on Haulbowline Island, headquarters of the Naval Service. The 24-pounder was fired only twice before - in 1807 when the tower was formally commissioned and in 1996 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Naval Service.

As the seconds were counted down, the people gathered around the various headlands heard the sound of a series of detonators on the island exploding to herald the new millennium. The Martello tower, on the north-eastern rim of the island, was bathed in bright light. Then it was midnight. The great bells of St Colman's Cathedral rang out as the harbour became a backdrop for a dazzling display of lights. Sirens on land and at sea sounded.

There were gala balls in Bantry and at City Hall in Cork, where the bells of all the city's churches rang in unison. At Collins Barracks, overlooking the city, army personnel presented one of the most memorable firework displays seen in Cork.

In most of the local county towns, similar ceremonies were held. Having seen what they came to see, most people rushed home to private parties and to view on television what was happening all over the world.