Mass celebrations mark New Year 2008

Dublin- Millions staged midnight parties at icon landmarks around the world to see in 2008.
More than 1m people lined Sydney harbour for fireworks that set off the global party. Hundreds of thousands packed Hong Kong streets and historic European venues such as the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin and the Champs Elysees in Paris. An estimated 700,000 people were out on the damp London streets and crammed on riverbanks to watch the ten-minute fireworks display on the Thames, which focused on the giant London Eye observation wheel.

In Ireland, gardaí reported no major incidents arising from celebrations in the larger cities.
In New York, hundreds of thousands of revellers crowded fabled Times Square, braving the cold and stringent security measures, to see Mayor Michael Bloomberg release the New Year's Eve ball on its 100th lowering, with a dazzling display of new environmentally-friendly lights.