New Year’s Eve: Festival set to generate €7m for businesses while 40,000 come to Dublin

Dublin’s New Year celebrations, which take place over New Year’s Eve and New Year, are expected to attract 40,000 visitors to the capital and generate over €7million for local businesses over the two days, Fáilte Ireland has confirmed.

Art of Fáilte Ireland’s ‘Winter in Dublin’ programme, the New Year’s Festival aims to establish Dublin as ‘a must-visit destination to celebrate New Year’s Eve’ and is a key driver of tourism businesses during the off-season.

Westlife, supported by Gavin James and Lyra, will lead the midnight countdown on the main stage.

The New Year’s Eve celebrations begin with a family-friendly “Midnight Family Matinee” from 4pm on North Wall Quay hosted by Gavin James with special guests Lyra and Brad Heidi.

The New Year’s Dublin Festival Village opens at 8pm with performances across 4 stages from The Blizzards, Tolu Makay, Bradley Marshall, Dara Quilty’s Bangers, 2FM’s Emma Power, Katie Phelan, Kingfishr and Rachel Mae Hannon.

As part of the celebrations there will be a light show performed to the beat of original music created specifically for the countdown event called The Rhythm Of The Irish.

The New Year’s Day celebrations continue on New Year’s Day in Temple Bar’s Meeting House Square with performances by Liam Ó Maonlaí, Cormac Begley, Clare Sands, Lorraine Nash and the Pride Of Plains Marching Band.

The two-day festival aims to encourage national and international visitors to explore Dublin City, with music and entertainment events suitable for all the family running over the weekend.

Minister Catherine Martin said the return of Fáilte Ireland’s New Year Festival this year “will encourage thousands of local and international visitors to explore the capital during the festive season and experience the very best in Irish music and entertainment”.

“Festivals and events are important drivers for tourism all year round, but especially in the winter months,” said Minister Martin.

Ciara Sugrue, Head of Festivals at Fáilte Ireland, said that the New Year’s Festival “is back in full swing this year with a really first class line up of music, entertainment and fun for all the family”.

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“Creating new and exciting reasons to visit is a crucial part of supporting tourism businesses during the shoulder season and Fáilte Ireland has developed the New Year celebrations to position Dublin as a must-visit destination to ring in the New Year,” said Ms Sugrue.

Conor O’Kane, General Manager, Clayton Hotel Cardiff Lane, said this year’s event was the “biggest yet” and “has had a very positive effect on bookings and attendance for businesses in Docklands and throughout the city centre”.

New Year’s Festival Dublin New Year’s Eve events are chargeable and only accessible to ticket holders. Remaining tickets are available at www.nyfdublin.com

Traffic restrictions apply throughout the weekend which can be viewed on the Dublin City Council website.