Fáilte Ireland’s New Year’s Festival, which runs across New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day, is expected to draw 40,000 visitors to the capital city, generating over €7million from tourism for the local economy.
Part of Fáilte Ireland’s ‘Winter in Dublin’ programme, the New Year’s Festival aims to establish Dublin as a must-visit destination to celebrate New Year’s Eve and is an important driver for tourism businesses during the shoulder season.
The 2-day festival, which takes place along the North Wall Quay on New Year’s Eve and Meeting House Square, Temple Bar on New Year’s Day, will encourage domestic and international visitors to explore Dublin City, with music and entertainment events that are suitable for all the family running across the weekend.
Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media Catherine Martin TD said, “Festivals and events are important drivers for tourism throughout the year, but particularly during the winter months. The return of Fáilte Ireland’s New Year’s Festival this year will encourage thousands of domestic and international visitors to come and explore the capital city over the festive season and experience the best of Irish music and entertainment.”
Ciara Sugrue, Head of Festivals at Fáilte Ireland said “New Year’s Festival is back in full swing this year, with a truly world-class line up of music, entertainment, and fun for all the family. Creating new and exciting reasons to visit is a crucial part of supporting tourism businesses during the shoulder season and Fáilte Ireland has developed the New Year’s Festival to position Dublin as a must-visit destination to ring in the New Year. This year’s festival is a flagship event in Fáilte Ireland’s Winter in Dublin programme and expects to attract 40,000 visitors to the capital over 2 days. This will play an important role in driving footfall in the city for the tourism and hospitality sector, supporting jobs and driving economic benefits for businesses in the city.”
Conor O’Kane, General Manager, Clayton Hotel Cardiff Lane added “New Year’s Festival Dublin is a really important fixture in the winter events calendar and helps to draw people from at home and abroad to Dublin during the quieter part of the winter season. This year’s event is the biggest yet, and has a very positive effect on bookings and footfall for businesses in the Docklands and throughout the city centre.”
New Year’s Festival Dublin New Year’s Eve events are ticketed and will be accessible to ticket holders only. Remaining tickets are available at www.nyfdublin.com
Traffic restrictions will be in place across the weekend and can be accessed at Current Road Closures | Dublin City Council
The New Year’s Eve Celebrations will commence with a family friendly ‘Midnight Family Matinee’ from 4pm on North Wall Quay, headlined by Gavin James with special guests Lyra and Brad Heidi.
From 8pm, the New Year’s Dublin Festival Village will open, with performances across 4 stages from The Blizzards, Tolü Makay, Bradley Marshall, Dara Quilty’s Bangers, 2FM’s Emma Power, Katie Phelan, Kingfishr and Rachel Mae Hannon. Westlife, supported by Gavin James and Lyra, will headline the midnight countdown on the main stage.
As part of the festivities, there will be a spectacular light* display, performed in time with original music created especially for the countdown event called ‘The Rhythm Of The Irish’.
The celebrations on New Year’s Day continue in Meeting House Square in Temple Bar on New Year’s Day with performances by Liam Ó Maonlaí, Cormac Begley, Clare Sands, Lorraine Nash and The Pride Of Plains Marching Band.
