Published on: Sunday, 28 March 2010

At 8.30pm, CIT Blackrock Castle Observatory (BCO) will participate on Saturday 27th March in a truly global event called “EarthHour” when over 1 billion people from over 125 countries around the globe will turn off their lights for one hour. Everyone is welcome to attend this free event at BCO.

In Ireland Government buildings such as Leinster House, the Custom House and the Four Courts will be plunged into darkness. National monuments such as the Rock of Cashel, Cahir Castle and Trim Castles will also turn of their lights.

Internationally landmark buildings such as “The Empire State Building”, “Sydney Opera House”, “The London Eye”, “The Eiffel Tower” and the world’s largest building “The Burj Khalifa” in Dubai will also take part.

In the three years since it began “EarthHour” has become a global call to action to every individual to turn off non-essential lights in a symbolic gesture to highlight our concern about climate change and the way we are wasting the world’s limited resources. This event symbolizes what man mankind can do when the world acts together to deal with climate change. It is about empowering the individual with a sense of being part of something great. Places as remote as Nepal have joined with countries such as Canada to make this a truly global event which affects all nations and their citizens.

Guests visiting BCO for “EarthHour will be able to view the night sky (weather permitting) through the observatory’s telescopes. Prior to “EarthHour” BCO’s popular ‘Movies by Moonlight’ programme will continue this month with a showing of ‘Fly Me to the Moon’ beginning at 6.30 pm.