The London one was good - small enough (well 30-50,000 is small by the standards of Notting Hill. Thanks Christ, it was a bit too crowded for comfort) - small enough to be chaotic and fun. The floats were real lorries and vans - there was one with the builder's ladders still stuck on the top. (Mind, a lot of the music was crap, but who was listening?)

And it was special because it was the first time it's happened, and it wasn't over shadowed by a war going on back in Ireland, as it would have been for the past generation.

And not a drop of Guinness to be had in the Square, in spite of all the silly Guinness hats. Murphys had the bar concession. Every bit as good.

I'd imagine the Dublin one would have been affected by the fact that last year's was cancelled with the Foot and Mouth, and the Yank presence this year would have been potentially hit by the fears about flying.