Use of UK firm for Gathering launch defended

Organisers of the Gathering festival have defended giving a showpiece contract for the first official event in the year-long celebration of Irishness to a UK firm.

The Gathering and Davis Events — the Irish group behind tonight’s New Year’s Eve events — said the move is to ensure the best show possible in the safest way. An Irish fireworks company claims it was just as able for the project.

As part of tonight’s festivities — to be shown live on RTÉ and attended by 70 international media outlets, including NBC and Sky News — a major concert headlined by Imelda May and Bell X1 will take place in the heart of Dublin City.