Fantastic is the word that comes to mind when reading the some of the ideas emanating from the Millennium Office at Government Buildings in Upper Merrion Street.

It appears that a National Millennium Committee think tank has been set up to generate ideas on how to mark New Year's Eve 1999. Already 408 hot projects are being considered.

Under the heading "The Unusual And Quirky" we have the proposal to move the All-Ireland Hurling final to New Year's Day 2000 and turn it into a fourhour televised extravaganza of Irish music, dance and sport. In addition, there will be a suggestion made to the GAA that they allow free entry to the event.

Imagine the New Year's Eve chat: "Jaysus lads go easy on the drink. Yez have a match tomorra and there'll be half a million comin'."