Bubbly greets the early-bird money-changers

Champagne does not usually flow at the Central Bank in Dublin at 10 a.m. but an exception was made yesterday for the introduction of the euro. Bank staff were surprised by the enthusiastic response to their offer to change pounds to euros on a frosty new year's morning and rewarded their chilly customers with champagne, whiskey and hot drinks.

"We don't normally have champagne in the Central Bank at this time of the morning, but I think we can say the euro is popular by the looks of it," said a spokesman, Mr Neil Whoriskey.

More than 1,500 transactions were carried out at the bank yesterday, with the average involving £300 (€380.92). However, a significant number of customers wanted to exceed the bank's £500 exchange limit.

"We did have cases with some people with thousands of pounds, at least one customer with more than £3,000," Mr Whoriskey said. "We had to explain nicely to them that our limit was £500."

About 100 people, mostly senior citizens, had gathered outside the bank by 10 a.m. In the afternoon, the queue stretched down the steps and round the corner to Dame Street. At 2.15 p.m., bank staff stopped additional people joining the queue and the last customer left the bank at 5 p.m.

Although shops were still accepting pounds and most city-centre cashpoints were dispensing euros, many preferred to exchange what was left of their "old money" at the only bank in the State to open for business yesterday.

First in line was Mr Robert Wilson from Stoneybatter, who turned up at 7.45 a.m., but only because he thought the bank was opening at 9 a.m. Mr Wilson's long wait to change money for his mother and himself was rewarded with a bottle of champagne, presented to him by bank staff when the doors finally opened.

He said the adoption of the euro would make it easier for him to follow his favourite football team, Arsenal, around Europe.

A Kildare man, Mr Edward Lynch, was waiting to change £300 for the euro equivalent. "What I'll get for that I don't know. I haven't a clue," he said. However, once he got his hands on the euro notes, he was determined to "try them out in the pub".

Mr Tom Byrne from Walkinstown said he had no choice but to turn out early to get his hands on the new money. "I have hungry grandchildren waiting to grab it," he said. Did they understand the new currency? "I hope so, because I certainly don't!"

New Year's Eve reveller Mr Andrew Mansfield from Upper Leeson Street in Dublin called at the bank after witnessing angry scenes in the early hours of yesterday morning.

He said some of his fellow clubbers did not know cash points would close at 1.30 a.m. on New Year's Day morning and were left without enough money to get home.

"People were trying to get money out at College Green last night. There were a lot of very annoyed people with no money," he said.

Mr James Tunney, from Finglas but living in Scotland, was collecting some euros to make his trip to France next week easier, while Ms Marion Winget from Tallaght said she simply wanted to see what the new money looked like.