Fireworks herald start of 2009 worldwide

SPECTACULAR fireworks and light shows heralded the start of 2009 in cities across the world, but here revellers made do with house parties and the faithful charms of the pub.

The recession was forgotten, at least for a night, as people paid out cover charges at some bars and drank in the new year. Gardaí said there were no major incidents of violent disturbances around the country as events passed off peacefully.

Pubs had already agreed a price freeze in advance of the Christmas period in a bid to entice people through the doors, while off-licences also fared well as revellers stocked up for house parties. With little in the way of large, organised events here, however, it was left to other parts of the world to lay on expansive celebrations to ring in 2009.