New Year’s Eve celebrations around the world to ring in 2019

Thousands attend Dublin’s New Year’s Eve festival with pyrotechnics and light shows

Dublin New Year's Festival hosts a pyrotechnics and laser light show at the Custom House at 7pm, including a faux countdown to allow smaller children to ring in the new year at a reasonable hour.

A wave of celebrations illuminated the skies above cities around the world including Dublin last night as millions of people welcomed the New Year with spectacular firework displays and light shows.

More than 25,000 people attended Dublin’s New Year’s Eve festival with pyrotechnics and laser light shows illuminating the river and the sky at the Custom House twice during the evening.

Fireworks over  Dublin’s Customs House on New Year’s Eve. Photograph:  Arthur Carron
Fireworks over Dublin’s Customs House on New Year’s Eve. Photograph: Arthur Carron
Fireworks light up the sky in Edinburgh during the Hogmanay New Year celebrations. Photograph: PA
Fireworks light up the sky in Edinburgh during the Hogmanay New Year celebrations. Photograph: PA

The Liffey Lights Midnight Moment Matinee lights display was held at the river side from 6pm culminating with a faux “countdown spectacle”at 7pm.

Fireworks over Dublin’s Customs House on New Year’s Eve. Photograph: Arthur Carron
Fireworks over Dublin’s Customs House on New Year’s Eve. Photograph: Arthur Carron
Fireworks over Dublin’s Customs House on New Year’s Eve. Photograph: Arthur Carron
Fireworks over Dublin’s Customs House on New Year’s Eve. Photograph: Arthur Carron

This was followed by the Liffey Lights Midnight Moment and was followed the midnight countdown.

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U2 frontman Bono watched a performance by his son Elijah, with his band Inhaler as part of the line up for the 3Countdown Concert in Dublin last night, which also featured Gavin James, Hudson Taylor and Wild Youth.

Singer Christina Aguilera performs on New Year’s Eve in Times Square, New York. Photograph:  AFP
Singer Christina Aguilera performs on New Year’s Eve in Times Square, New York. Photograph: AFP

In the US, New York’s Times Square erupted with fireworks and cheers at the stroke of midnight as thousands of merrymakers braved pouring rain and watched the glowing New Year’s Eve ball complete its midnight descent to mark the start of 2019.

Fireworks illuminate the sky over the Arc de Triomphe during the New Year’s Day celebrations on the Champs Elysees, in Paris. Photograph: AP
Fireworks illuminate the sky over the Arc de Triomphe during the New Year’s Day celebrations on the Champs Elysees, in Paris. Photograph: AP

For the multitudes who gathered in the famed midtown Manhattan crossroads, the thrilling moment was reward for enduring hours of standing in a steady downpour during the waning hours of 2018.

Fireworks explode over the Sydney Harbour during New Year’s Eve celebrations in Sydney, Australia. Photograph: AAP
Fireworks explode over the Sydney Harbour during New Year’s Eve celebrations in Sydney, Australia. Photograph: AAP

Helping to keep spirits high was a slate of performers including Christina Aguilera, New Kids on the Block and Sting who entertained the resilient crowd. Many donned plastic rain ponchos and sported colorful, oversized top hats handed out by organizers.

New Year’s Eve fireworks erupt over Sydney’s  Harbour Bridge and Opera House during the fireworks show. Photograph: AFP
New Year’s Eve fireworks erupt over Sydney’s Harbour Bridge and Opera House during the fireworks show. Photograph: AFP

"It was a bucket-list thing," said Daniela Ramous, a 34-year-old sales manager from McAllen, Texas. "You grow up watching it on TV, you see all the excitement. There's something magical about New York during this time of year."

The celebrations kicked off in Australia and this was followed by 20 hours of ringing in 2019. Happy New Year all.