The chairman of the National Millennium Committee has urged critics to stop being cynical about the occasion and has invited the entire population to take part in the Last Light ceremony tomorrow.
Speaking yesterday at a press conference in Dublin, Mr Seamus Brennan said family, friends, neighbours and colleagues should join in lighting their millennium candles "as they witness this most historic of sunsets".
"This is the last century you are going to see the end of in your lifetime," he said. It was time for critics to "throw off the cynicism". "If you can't do that I can't help you," he added.
Earlier the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, received a lantern lit from the Omagh Millennium Beacon, which he will use to light candles during the main Dublin Last Light ceremony in Merrion Square. He said it was very important that Omagh people took part in the celebrations, as they had suffered more than most in recent times.
The lantern was handed over by the Omagh District Council chairman, Mr Alan Rainey, and his three young grandchildren. Mr Rainey said that by making such gestures at the beginning of the century, "we can look forward to reaping a bountiful harvest" of peace and prosperity on the island. The Omagh Beacon was lit in September, one of 200 which will be lit in the North.
The President, Mrs McAleese, will light the first candle in Aras an Uachtarain at 4.16 p.m., Dublin's sunset time. Minutes later Mr Ahern will use the Omagh flame to light the candles of representatives from various services including gardai, nurses and the fire services on stage in Merrion Square. The final ceremony will take place at Dursey Head, west Cork, for the last sunset in Ireland at 4.41 p.m.
Details of a two-hour fireworks display which can be viewed across the capital tomorrow night were also announced. Produced by the Grucci family of Long Island, New York, the show is the "largest, loudest, most spectacular" display of pyrotechnics ever held here.
A volley of shells, some reaching to 1,000 feet before exploding, will be fired every 15 minutes from 10 p.m. to 11.50 p.m., when there will be bursts every minute until 12.06 p.m.
A "teaser" display will take place tonight just after RTE's Six One News, E tonight, allowing so people can find the best viewing points, expected to be on either side of Dublin Bay.
Irish people worldwide will also be able to participate in the Last Light ceremony through a live Internet link broadcast on a number of websites, including www.ireland.com and www.2000ireland.ie and www.broadcasco.net