Dublin is bracing itself for a celebrity invasion as the stars of the MTV Europe Music Awards at the Point descend on the capital.
On Monday evening a white stretch limo carrying Puff Daddy was seen cruising around Ringsend in search of the Factory studios, tucked away in Barrow Street. Today teen-queen Britney Spears will drive locals crazy if, as expected, she sweeps into the studio with her entourage for a spot of high-energy rehearsing.
Tomorrow Whitney Houston is booked in to practise her scales. Ringsend residents have never seen the like.
Elsewhere in the capital, top hotels filled up with more celebrities than the overworked paparazzi could snap. The rumour machine was in overdrive. At one stage a crowd gathered outside the Merrion Hotel as word spread that some of the biggest stars had holed up in its luxury. The Morrison was packed with beautiful people, as was the U2-owned Clarence in Temple Bar.
Kitchen porters and chambermaids became valuable sources of information as hotel managements refused to blow their VIP guests' cover. In some cases they didn't even know who was coming to stay - MTV organisers had simply block-booked.
Meanwhile, at Dublin Airport, Mariah Carey posed happily for waiting photographers. Geri Halliwell and The Cardigans have also arrived. Steps, the 1990s answer to Abba, fly in tomorrow.
Restaurants are expected to be major beneficiaries of the awards, which so far have been about everything except music. Those thought to be cashing in on private parties for the stars include Dobbins and Peacock Alley. The latter is rumoured to have been totally booked out by Mariah Carey for a party on the night after the awards.
At Dublin Castle last night the Minister for Tourism, Dr McDaid, spoke at a reception hosted by MTV. Unfortunately, it was more of a corporate event and stars were in short supply. The ubiquitous Ronan Keating did make an appearance, however.
When not star-gazing, the only other acceptable activity seems to be turning green with envy over those who have managed to secure tickets to the event. The last time anyone can remember such a frenzied rush was when Willy Wonka put golden slips of paper in bars of chocolate.
Since Friday 1,500 people have entered their names in computers at the BT2 clothing store in Grafton Street for a draw to win two tickets. The precious booty is on display in the store window, and the draw will take place at BT2 at 6.15 p.m. tomorrow evening. The lucky winners will be whisked straight off to the ceremony courtesy of the event sponsor, Carlsberg.
This is of no consequence to those living near the Point, some of whom have expressed their annoyance at the impersonal MTV machine. One woman went on Liveline to say that the screen erected around the venue amounted to "social exclusion", and that locals should have been offered tickets as a matter of course.
But it was down to business at the venue yesterday. Technicians were busy putting together a specially made crane-type structure flown in from the United States for rapper Puff Daddy. His performance is expected to be one of the highlights of the night.
All this is thirsty work, which has been good news for Norman Hewson, owner of Nude organic food and juice bar in Dublin. He is the official supplier of smoothies and juices to the stars.
Still, the only rumour worth confirming remains just that, a rumour. Nobody is yet sure whether Madonna, the queen of pop, will grace Dublin with her regal presence. Speaking of rumours, has anyone else heard the one about Puff Daddy walking into Pearse Street Library to borrow a copy of Peig?
ringle@irish-times.ie