Dublin has been earmarked as one of the world’s top venues to ring in the New Year by top travel guide The Lonely Planet.

The guide has ranked Dublin alongside Prague and the French Alps as the must visit venues for New Year celebrations.

The Lonely Planet’s digital editor James Kay said: “Dubliners are said to drink nearly 10,000 pints of beer each hour from Friday night to Monday morning.

“Make no mistake – this is a town that knows how to party.”

The French Alps were noted as an ‘antidote to New Year’s Eve mayhem’ while the ‘Republic’s rambunctious capital’ was singled out for that very reason according to a report in the Irish Independent.

The recognition comes as the Irish government prepares to launch the Gathering festival this New Year’s Day.

Tourism Minister Leo Varadkar said: “The endorsement from Lonely Planet is a great boost to the Gathering celebrations which will be the best ever staged in the city.

“The 2013 New Year’s Eve Festival in Dublin will be extra special as it marks the start of The Gathering Ireland.”

Minister Varadkar said thousands of expats are expected to visit Ireland next year as part of The Gathering.