THE clock in the dock. The time in the slime. Anna Livia's wrist watch. Even before the Countdown 2000 timer was switched on at O'Connell Bridge last night, Dubliners had already dubbed it with countless alternative names.
The National Lottery's nine digit timer, which floats just beneath the surface of the River Liffey, began counting down the 119 million seconds to the start of the 21st century shortly after 11.15 p.m. last night.
About 10,000 people lined the quays as far down as the Ha'penny Bridge to celebrate with the Minister for Finance, Mr Ruari Quinn, the director of the National Lottery, Mr Ray Bates, and RTE hosts, Gay Byrne and Joe Duffy.
Before he pressed the button to start the clock, Mr Quinn said his one wish was for "millennium of peace for everyone on this island".
As the green neon seconds began to tick away, a sheet of fireworks straddling the River Liffey began to spill into the water while others burst in volleys from both quays.
Earlier in the evening, the crowd was entertained by the Army No 1 Band as well as jugglers and performers from tomorrow's St Patrick's Day parade.
Designed by architects Grainne Hassett and Vincent Ducatez, the timer is the winning entry in the National Lottery's Countdown 2000 design competition.
It is surrounded by a cluster of large white "reeds" - chrome plated electracarbon rods - which emit flashes of light. A printing dispenser on O'Connell Bridge connected to the clock will print out postcards for sale showing the number of seconds left to the year 2000.
The timer will be temporarily removed to allow annual events such as boat races and the Liffey swim to take place.