A survey by travel website lastminute.com has revealed that 62% of Irish people are looking forward to next year, despite predictions for tough times ahead.
Irish people aged between 18 to 24 are the most positive about next year with the least positive were in the 45 to 54 bracket.
Almost 27% of 18 to 24-year-olds said that they are planning on leaving Ireland over the next 12 months, while more than half said they are doing so for travel and adventure.
Most people, 92%, will be celebrating New Year's Eve in Ireland while New York topped the poll of dream destinations to ring in 2011, followed closely by Sydney.