Loughrea in Co Galway has become the Republic's first euro town, the first Irish town fully euro-prepared for the changeover to the new currency, come January 2001.

And some 31 local businesses and professionals have already embraced the changeover with open arms.

Mr Michael Callaly, the project manager, explains that retailers, hoteliers, pubs, professional services, manufacturers and travel agents all have become involved in the euro-town exercise.

Even a vet and a dairy farmer have joined in.

"We're learning from their experiences and we hope to use it around the country," he says.

Large manufacturers such as Chanel and Crackerjack were enthusiastic about the project, but many smaller firms and services also were delighted to take part in what now will become a blueprint for other urban centres.

Mr Eoin Gahan of Enterprise Ireland, also in Dublin, says Loughrea is regarded "as a little lab or a test-bed".

He adds: "These businesses are being put into it earlier than they would have done otherwise.

"They are being pushed, so we can do the analysis and learn from it."

Flynn Concrete Products was the star performer in the 18-month pilot programme, winning an Enterprise Ireland certificate to prove it.

"We were using a software which we thought was euro-compliant, but it wasn't.

"We located suitable software, the Big Redbook, manufactured in Dublin, and got going on it," said Mr Martin Flynn of Flynn Concrete Products.

"Now I can write in euros or pounds and can do all my accounts. I had to make contact with my customers - some of them didn't want to know.

"Six months later, when you invoice them in euros, they say `we all have to do it now'. I'm invoicing nearly two-thirds in euros now.

Mr Pat Murphy, a vet who deals with 700 to 800 clients in a big and small animals practice, also has a retail outlet for veterinary products.

"It was a very exciting exercise. It turned out to be a time when you assess where you're going and for information technology as well. There's a lot of apathy out there. I think it's creating an awareness.

"The Y2K caused a big scare and, because of that, a lot of people aren't taking notice of the euro."