"Jeepers!"
The statement of pure wonder came from the female behind us every five or six minutes during the fireworks display at Dublin's Custom House and along the North Quays.
I say "female" because I am not sure whether the use of the word "jeepers" meant she was very young or very old.
Turning to find out would have meant missing a marvellous display which enthralled one of the largest crowds seen in Dublin city centre.
Every bus into town was packed. The streets streamed with people moving towards the quays. The crowds were reminiscent of the papal visit in 1979 or of the tax marches which, for some, took place around the time of the Crusades.
In the city centre, it was still possible, at a quarter to eight, to squeeze close to Sir John Rogerson's Quay for a close-up.
There are not many things in this world that live up to the hype - but this one did. The explosions of colour brought shouts of delight and the beautiful bursts of silver and blue stars ooooohs of wonder - not to mention a regular "Jeepers!" from the female behind us.
Yesterday brought a street carnival - and much smaller crowds as parents recuperated - with mythological figures, fire-eaters, dancers and a zooful of animals (including crocodiles, zebras and a giraffe) in Temple Bar. Real animals? As real as anything else in Temple Bar, child.
Today brings a Cuban carnival in Temple Bar at 1 p.m., a Togolese theatre company with voodoo, ritualistic figures, Dali-esque (that's what the press release says) elephants and snakes also in Temple Bar at 8 p.m. and another Notting Hill/Trinidad carnival in Grafton Street at 9.30 p.m.
Tomorrow night Galway's Macnas and Barcelona's Els Comediants bring Homer's Odyssey to the streets of the capital, starting at St Stephen's Green at 9 p.m.
All this and the Flood tribunal.
Jeepers!