Any very late night revellers passing Dublin's Sandymount Strand in the gloom at 5.30 a.m. yesterday could be forgiven for wondering if they had overdone it. Was it imagination or were there really two women on the sand below standing over a blazing fire, a 'Danger' sign nearby? But it was the case.
Ms Brenda Ó Tighearnaigh and Ms Mary Dolan were making preparations for the annual Ecumenical "Sonrise" Celebration to mark Easter Sunday and planned for dawn - 6.34 a.m.- yesterday. The danger sign was a warning against being marooned by incoming tides.
Some 250 people had gathered when the interdenominational service began, at about 6.20, including some sleepy children and a very lively Jack Russell terrier.
"I am suffering from EMAS," said one man, "Early morning adjustment syndrome." Another confessed he was on his way home.
Beside the fire were paschal candles and fire logs. One little girl was making comparisons between Santa and the Easter Bunny while another child's father explained: "It's not a Mass, Isabella, it's a service with singing."
It was led off by Monsignor Peter Briscoe of the nearby Our Lady, Star of the Sea church, immortalised by James Joyce in the 'Nausicaa' episode of Ulysses, set almost 100 years ago, on June 16th, 1904.
A goodly number of local clergy, from the four main Christian Churches in Ireland - Catholic, Church of Ireland, Presbyterian, and Methodist - took part as the new day broke to the accompaniment of the gospel according to St Matthew, the Iona Creed, and prayers of intercession, including "that all Christians will live and grow in unity".