When Time began to rant and rage
The measure of her flying feet
Made Ireland's heart begin to beat;
And time bade all his candles flare
To light a measure here and there
These words from W.B. Yeats's To Ireland in the Coming Times are printed on the scroll that accompanies the millennium candles which will ignite the Last Light ceremonies across the State this evening.
From Donegal to Dursey, people in towns and villages will join together to light the candle and sign the scroll as they witness the last sunset of this millennium. The candle project, which cost £1.3 million, has come in for criticism. An Post, which was charged with delivering the candle confirmed yesterday that about 10,000 households in the Dublin area had not received theirs.
While some have said the money could have been more usefully spent, the ceremony is described by the Millennium Committee as "sensitive and symbolic".
Many towns are organising Last Light events while others are expected to light their candles with family and friends at home. The first lighting will take place at 4 p.m. at Aras an Uachtarain when the President, Mrs McAleese, and her family host a ceremony to be televised live by RTE. The President will make a short statement after she lights the candle, and the flag over Aras an Uachtarain will be lowered for the last time this millennium.
Minutes later at the open-air concert in Merrion Square the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, will use a flame from the Omagh Millennium Beacon to light the candles of representatives of a number of services including the Garda and nurses.
The chairman of the Millennium Committee, Mr Seamus Brennan, has invited the population to take part in the ceremony. The final Last Light event will take place at Dursey Head, west Cork, where the latest sunset over Ireland will occur at 4.41 p.m.
Irish people abroad can participate in the Last Light ceremony through a live Internet broadcast on a number of websites including www.ireland.com, www.2000ire land.ie and www.broadcastco.net