People add spark to the opening celebrations

THE night sky above Cork lit up with thousands of fireworks but the real sparks were on the street of the 'People's Republic'. The city was thronged as more than 85,000 people poured in to gawk at the hundreds of carnival performances, bask in the atmosphere or gaze at the colourful eruptions over the River Lee.

Thousands wrapped up and braved the cold to join in the city's proud celebration of its prestigious status as European City of Culture for 2005.

It took a 3.5 tonne fireworks display, 11 miles of cabling, 14 giant creatures, 35-foot air-filled characters and 10 carnival stages to provide the entertainment but it was the people and performers who set the atmosphere.