Tuesday 31 December

As of 10 am today, people across the country were allowed to let off their fireworks. And by Jove, they did. Bangs, rattles, booms rang out non-stop until the midnight hour, by which everything reached a crescendo that lasted for an hour and a half. I found it slightly galling that this country spends €67m on fireworks, whilst a recent national charity event 'only' raised €12m. Anyway, we're all allowed some fun.