You don’t have to sit at home on your couch as the countdown to the next year begins.
On December 31st of this year, various events will take place across the country.
Here are some of the biggest and best events for New Year’s Eve this year.
dublin
This year’s Dublin New Year Festival will be held over four days at multiple venues around the capital.
The National Museum of Ireland at Collins Barracks and Dublin Castle are the venues for the festival, and on New Year’s Day the party extends to Meeting House Square in Temple Bar.
Elsewhere, the city is buzzing with club nights, gigs, and parties. There are plenty of things you can do to keep yourself busy on New Year’s Day, like filling your lungs with fresh air or listening to classical music.
New Year Festival Dublin runs from December 29th to 31st and features a mix of free and ticketed events.
December 29th
The main focus of the entire celebration will be the NYF Dublin Festival Quarter, located at the National Museum of Ireland at Collins Barracks. The party officially begins at 6pm and will feature three stages and numerous live performers until 11pm.
The Divine Comedy will headline the main stage, with special guests The Hikings. His two other stages will host sets from All Tvvins, Lucy McWilliams, Big Sleep, Aonair and his DJs Ed Smith, Sally Cinnamon and Kelly-Anne Byrne.
Ticket price is 39.90 euros.
December 30th
At Collins Barracks, performances from Chasing Abbey, Ryan Mack and Jen Payne will follow in the festival quarter, while DJ sets from Emma Power, Cherie Gray and Dec Pearce’s Block Rockin’ Beats will keep the energy high.
Ticket price is 29.90 euros.
December 31
The family-friendly celebration at Dublin Castle will have all the fun of a midnight countdown, but with an earlier end time starting at 4pm.
Tickets start from 7.90 euros (22.90 euros for families).
As the new year begins in earnest, the master of ceremonies will be Picture This. Join Moncrief and Lee Hart to keep audiences entertained starting at 8 p.m.
As the clock strikes midnight for 2024, the sky brightens.
Live tickets cost 49.90 euros.
Festival Quarter will run until 12.30am at Collins Barracks, featuring main stage headliners The Scratch and special guests Sharon Shannon and Gemma Dunleavy.
Tickets here cost €29.90.
Galway city. Image: Hemis / Alamygalway
Visit Galway on most weekends of the year and you’ll be treated to a night out that rivals most New Year’s Eve parties.
Follow the High Street through the Latin Quarter and soak up the atmosphere of some of Galway’s famous pubs such as Taaffes, Ty Coili, King’s Head and The Quays.
Ticketed events will also be held in the city on New Year’s Eve.
Renowned music venue Róisín Dubh will host the GASS event with entertainment, music and a lively atmosphere from 9pm.
The night begins with not one, but two drag shows.
As the clock nears midnight, the energy builds as Kiki takes the stage at 11:30pm to lead the countdown.
Ticket price is €20.00.
cold
Why not watch the last sunset of the year on Achill Island in Mayo?
Achill, one of Ireland’s most westerly points, will be home to the last European sunset of 2023.
A great viewing platform overlooks Keel Head and Achill Head and is a beautiful place to watch the sun disappear and dusk set in.
Crowds will gather to watch the sunset, which should set shortly before 4:30 p.m.
Still, there’s still plenty of time to celebrate the impending arrival of the new year and new possibilities with a party.
Keem Beach, Achill Island, County Mayo, photographed in 2014. Photo by: Trish Punch/Zuma Press/PA Imageskelly
Watch the New Year’s fireworks display in Dingle, County Kerry.
Festivities begin at 8pm on the pier for ‘Kerry’s best fireworks display’.
A fireworks fundraiser will be held on the pier.
Then you can head into town and ring in the New Year with thousands of other people on Main Street.
A countdown clock will also be projected on the buildings next to the old bridge in the village of Anascor, and everyone will be invited to join in the New Year celebrations.