Plans for the biggest entertainment event ever staged in the south-east were unveiled last night when Waterford announced details of its millennium party.
The festivities will include a programme of events on a scale never before attempted in the city, the project director, Mr Brian Merriman, told guests in Waterford City Hall.
The celebrations will begin at 9.14 a.m. on New Year's Eve, signifying the year 914 when the Vikings first sailed up the Suir.
Community, school, music, arts groups and individuals will participate in a series of events from 10 a.m. until 8 p.m. commemorating significant events and natives of the city at relevant times.
"In conjunction with local historians, a chronology of dates and events will be drawn up and a series of short, entertaining, commemorative events will be held throughout the city as our `human millennium clock' ticks through 1,000 years of history in just 10 hours," said Mr Merriman, a Dublin-based theatre director who comes from Waterford.
When the "millennium clock" hits 8 p.m. the curtains will rise in the historic Theatre Royal for a gala celebration featuring internationally-known Waterford performers including Val Doonican, Brendan Bowyer and the Tony award-winning actor, Anna Manahan. This event will be broadcast to every home in the region.
As midnight approaches it is hoped every citizen of Waterford will head for The Quays for the city's biggest ever outdoor event, titled "The Quays - to our future".
There the performers from the Theatre Royal event will be joined on a massive stage by the street theatre group, Spraoi, and local artists for a series of music, orchestral and dance pieces specially created for the night.
But the stage will not be for established artists only, Mr Merriman pointed out.
"Whether you are a member or not of one of these groups, we extend a special invitation even to `bathroom baritones' to join a massive choir of up to 1,000, or dare I hope 2,000, voices to sing in the new year with us. We are inviting all available local musicians to join in the fanfare and welcome the year 2000," he said.
Waterford Corporation and Waterford Crystal, whose chief executive, Mr Redmond O'Donoghue, is chairman of the millennium committee, have donated 20 per cent of the overall cost of the project, estimated at £250,000. Mr Merriman urged local businesses to give generously towards the remaining costs.
"In return we guarantee you a large dose of great fun and entertainment and, unlike other sales people, we include a guarantee that we will only ask you this once every 1,000 years," he said.
