Fireworks will help ignite five-day festival

IF YOU go down to the woods today, you'll miss it. In Dublin this weekend everything seems to be happening.

This evening the St Patrick's Day festival - a five-day event - begins in the city, and what is claimed to be the world's first millennium party will begin on Dublin's quays.

Tomorrow the Big Day Out takes place in the city centre. Gardai are advising people to use public transport. However, Tara Street DART station will be closed from 6 p.m. until 9.30 today. Passengers can use Connolly or Pearse stations.

The Dublin Bus Nitelink service will operate every night until Saturday, with buses departing the usual stops every hour on the half hour from 12.30 a.m.

Tomorrow will be a bright fresh day, according to Met Eireann, with some sunshine and the possibility of heavy showers.

Events in Dublin begin at 6 p.m. with the Big Bash Street Party on Burgh Quay, George's Quay and City Quay. At 7.15 p.m. what is claimed to be the world's largest drum (4.2 metres in diameter and made in Ireland) will be unveiled on Burgh Quay. This will also be the premiere of a drum carnival.

But it is at 8 p.m. that all hell will break loose in the sky above Custom House Quay as £400,000 worth of fireworks explode. "The greatest ever seen in Europe" is how the display is billed.

Fireworks maestro Syd Howard has promised that this evening will be a once-in-a-lifetime experience. It will last 30 minutes and take place against a soundtrack which will also be broadcast live on Dublin's 98FM radio station.

People are advised to arrive early as up to 200,000 are expected and vantage points will be at a premium.

The Big Day Out at College Green features magic, belly dancers, clowns, fools, beat music, puppets, Father Jack, Cuban music, giant slides, face painters, tumblers, samba bands, an ice rink and a group called Diced Carrots. Would any party be complete without them?