CELEB-SPOTTERS hoping to glimpse their favourite pop people at the MTV Europe Music Awards at the Point Depot on Thursday night will be better off watching it live in their living rooms. Security at the gig will be tighter than at Posh and Becks's wedding.
The Dublin venue was yesterday beginning to resemble a kind of fortress, with every inch of spare ground covered in a massive tented village. A 7ft barrier (in trendy white) has been erected around the railings, obscuring whatever view there might have been of Britney, Whitney, Mariah et al.
Gardai at Store Street, Dublin, have spent the last six months devising a wide-ranging security operation and are warning pop fans to stay away from the venue on the night.
"We don't want anyone going down there who doesn't have a ticket," said Sgt Sean Ward, of Store Street. "You won't be able to see anything, it will be a wasted journey."
Some 200 members of the force are being brought in for security duties, which include protecting the galaxy of stars which is set to sparkle over Dublin for the awards.
Those desperate for stars in their eyes should do a tour of top Dublin hotels as over the next few days they will be bursting with famous folk including, if the rumour machine is to be believed, Madonna.
Whatever about the material girl, the MTV Veejays will be out in force around the city for special Dublin editions of the music programmes Select, Daily Edition, Hitlist UK, Dancefloor Chart Show and Brand New.
The Corrs were last night going through their paces on the massive MTV stage at the Point. Stars due to fly in today include Mariah Carey, Britney Spears, Marilyn Manson and Offspring.
Up to 200 million people are expected to tune in when the awards are broadcast live at 8 p.m. on Thursday, with one billion people viewing when the programme is rebroadcast on local channels. According to the relentless MTV hype, around two thirds of the world's population will either see, read or hear about the awards.
It's becoming impossible to remain unaware of the event in Dublin. The quayside is lined with MTV flags and a giant 30ft pint of Carlsberg, an MTV sponsor, is about to be launched on the Liffey. Harry Crosbie, owner of the Point Theatre, has erected a stainless steel rocket outside his music venue, Vicar Street in the Liberties, to welcome the awards to Dublin. Vicar Street is one of several venues which will host post-award parties.
While true pop fans will have to be content to watch the event on the box, the best seats in the house will be reserved for those who wouldn't know US rapper Puff Daddy from Puff the Magic Dragon. A number of politicians, including the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation, will be getting down with the 4,000-strong audience at the Point on Thursday.