Town in dark for Earth Hour

The lights will go out in Kinsale, Co Cork, tonight to mark Earth Hour, a global initiative to raise awareness of climate change.

Transition Town Kinsale supporters are gathering at the 800-year-old St Multose Church for a candlelit concert at 8pm. More than 200 people are expected to attend the event in the country’s oldest continuously functioning church.

Video links will be broadcast from climate and community campaigners in India and South Africa while harpist Fiachra Ó Corragáin plays a self-composed piece.

Liz Creed, Transition Town spokeswoman, said last year’s successful event, when 100 lanterns were released from Charles Fort, surpassed expectations.

“It generated a lot of talk in the town afterwards and that’s continuing again this year. The whole event is powered by goodwill of the local community,” she said.

Meanwhile, guests at Blackrock Castle Observatory will mark the hour with a discussion of the effects of light pollution on stargazing.

Households across Ireland are being urged to switch off electric lights for one hour from 8.30pm this evening.