New Year’s Eve: what's happening in Dublin and around the country

Dublin will have two chances to usher in the new year, with two countdowns to 2018 scheduled for New Year’s Eve in the capital.

For the first time, Dublin’s New Year’s Festival will feature two countdowns: the Liffey Lights Midnight Moment Matinee in the early evening and the Liffey Lights Midnight Moment at, well, midnight.

Both countdowns will feature light shows and acrobatics performed on the river Liffey against the backdrop of the Custom House.

Entertainment at the matinee event will begin at 6.30pm and is to feature aerial, aquatic and street acrobats. Colourful performances are promised by the organisers as high-flying acrobats “spiral through the sky while attached to giant helium balloons”. At the same time “flyboarders” will perform aquatic and aerial stunts on and above the river. The best place to view is at George’s Quay. The fun is to be repeated before midnight. Unfortunately tickets for both these events are now sold out.

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Also on New Year’s Eve will be the 3Countdown Concert with headliners Kodaline and special guests Hudson Taylor and Keywest at the Custom House. Tickets for this event are now sold out.

From midnight on New Year’s Eve Dublin’s Spire will beam a light show into the sky expected to be visible for miles, to mark the start of 2018.The lights will continue until midnight on New Year’s Day.

With temperatures set to drop to below freezing on New Year’s Eve, revellers are advised to wear plenty of layers and check local weather forecasts before setting out for the night.

People travelling to and from the city centre are strongly advised to use public transport. Dublin Bus Nitelink routes will operate as per their normal weekend service while Bus Éireann will operate a Sunday service until around 9pm on New Year’s Eve. Bus Éireann will operate a full Sunday service on New Year’s Day with some minor exceptions.

The Luas will be running a Sunday schedule on New Year's Eve and will run a night service until around 3am. Check luas.ie for further updates.

Dart and commuter trains will also be running a late night service on December 31st with trains running to between 2.10am and 2.55am. Check irishrail.ie for further details.

On Monday, a family-friendly New Year’s Day Celebration takes place at Custom House Quay from noon until 4pm. Entertainment for this non-ticketed event will be provided by street performers as well as the annual New Year’s Day Concert. Attendees can expect flyboarders performing their aquatic and aerial stunts on the river. There will also be jugglers, mime artists, stilt walkers and face painting at the event.

Information on all NYF Dublin events is available on NYFDublin.com.

Around the country

In Cork, the Oliver Plunkett venue will host a series of free-admission gigs starting with Big Swinging Mikies at 6pm, and including Paddy's Irish Dance Party as well as Hot Guitars and Cosmic Funk. Jack Lukeman, returns to the Everyman to ring in the new year.

In Galway, New Year’s Eve balls will be held at the Harbour Hotel, The Meyrick and Galway Bay hotels among many others. A New Year’s Eve Masquerade Party will take place at the House Hotel where there will be a prize for the best mask. Another no cover charge party will be held in the King’s Head with the first 50 women receiving a free glass of Prosecco. The Supertones will help ring in the new year.

In Belfast, the Titanic museum will be hosting a New Year’s Eve event where attendees can dress up in old-school style and sit down to a light supper before dancing the night away. Tickets for the event are £40 (€45). There will also be a New Year’s Eve black tie gala ball at the Europa hotel with live music, a five-course meal and champagne. Ticket’s for this night out are a steep £100 (€112). The Metropolitan Arts Centre (Mac) is hosting an ’I Heart NYEurotrash’ with 90s themed music playing late into the night featuring a pop-up karaoke bar. Tickets are a far more affordable £17 (€19).

In Waterford, John Street and the Applemarket will close daily from 3pm to facilitate the Winterval Christmas Festival until Wednesday, January 3rd. For a full list of events including Winterval on Ice, see winterval.ie

In Limerick, the Christmas festival was continuing until Sunday with a full calendar of theatre, musical, arts and family-friendly events. For full details see Limerick.ie/christmas. However, the New Year’s Eve event has been postponed because of a fear of flooding in the area.

In Mayo, what is being described as the last sunset of the year in Europe will be visible on Minaun Hill, Achill Island on New Year’s Eve. The sunset will be followed by a parade, pipe bands and a welcome for 2018 at midnight. The island will also feature a New Year’s Day swim.

Several New Year’s Day swims will take place around the country. Minister for Health Simon Harris will join Bray Lions Club in Bray, Co Wicklow for the 35th annual sea swim which gets underway at noon on Monday.

In Donegal, the Culdaff swim on the Inishowen peninsula usually attracts more than 200 swimmers on New Year’s Day. In Co Cork, the RNLI charity swim will take place in Courtmacsherry.

Irish Water Safety has advised swimmers to take appropriate care and not to swim alone.