PRESS RELEASE
DUBLIN SPIRE GOES GREEN FOR THE FIRST TIME
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Launching St. Patrick’s Festival 2015 and the UNESCO International Year of Light Celebrations
in Ireland
Friday, 13th March 2015: St. Patrick’s Festival celebrations started in style this evening when, for the first
time ever, iconic landmark the Spire of Dublin was lit green in collaboration with the UNESCO
International Year of Light Ireland 2015. Tonight marks the official opening the four-day St. Patrick’s
Festival which begins tomorrow, March 14th.
This evening’s proceedings were overseen by Grand Marshal of the 2015 St. Patrick’s Festival Parade,
Brendan O’Carroll who pushed the button to light the Spire of Dublin green at 7:15pm. Brendan was
joined Susan Kirby, CEO of St. Patrick’s Festival, Professor Martin Leahy NUIG, and Professor John
Sheridan UCD, of the National Committee for IYL in Ireland.
Presented by St. Patrick’s Festival in partnership with UNESCO International Year of Light 2015 Ireland
(IYL), the 398ft (121.2m) monument was illuminated in spectacular style, using the latest in light
technology, causing a sensation in the heart of Dublin City on O’Connell Street. The Spire will also
stream a twitter feed displaying tweets with the dedicated #LightIRL over the course of the four-day
Festival. Initially entitled ‘The Monument of Light’ by Ian Ritchie Architects, the Spire is a landmark
which has become synonymous with Dublin, situated in one of the Capital’s most historic locations. Also
this evening, landmark buildings across the capital including the Christchurch Cathedral and Trinity
College Dublin are being lit up green embracing the start of our national celebrations.
Susan Kirby, CEO of St. Patrick’s Festival commented, “On the eve of our national celebrations, the
atmosphere and energy around the city is palpable. We are delighted to partner with UNESCO
International Year of Light and tonight’s illumination of such an iconic landmark is a fitting way to begin
our four-day Festival of unmissable events and extraordinary experiences. I would encourage everyone
to check out the series of events, many of them free to attend, and to experience the best of Irish
culture this St. Patrick’s Festival.”
Professor Martin Leahy, NUIG, Chair of the Irish National Committee for IYL in Ireland commented, “This
global project seeks to raise awareness of how optical technologies can promote sustainable
development and provide solutions to worldwide challenges in energy, education, agriculture,
communications and health. It is gratifying to see one of Ireland’s best loved landmarks lit up in
celebration of such an important initiative. I would like to commend those involved and to thank our
supporters Philips Worldwide and Dublin City Council.”
The International Year of Light in Ireland will consist of coordinated activities on national, regional and
international levels. Activities will be planned so that people of all ages and all backgrounds can gain an
appreciation for the central role of light in science and culture, and as a cross-cutting scientific discipline
that can advance sustainable development. More information on the initiative is available here
http://www.light2015.ie/
St. Patrick’s Festival will take place from 14th – 17th March. Please do link with the Festival; like our page
on Facebook, follow us on Twitter and Instagram and use the hashtag #StPatricksFest. You can tweet the
Festival @stpatricksfest.
ENDS
For further information, please contact:
Maria McGrath, FleishmanHillard, on +353861653055 or [email protected]
Elle Caffrey, FleishmanHillard, on +353872447146 or [email protected]
Notes for the Editor
The Spire of Dublin was illuminated in green this evening to mark the launch UNESCO’s International
Year of Light in Ireland. The project was presented by St. Patrick’s Festival with support from Dublin City
Council. The project is also supported by PHILIPS Worldwide. The display will run nightly from 6pm to
midnight and will display a 24 hour twitter feed.
St. Patrick’s Festival is funded by Fáilte Ireland and Dublin City Council.
TECHNICAL CREDITS
Produced by Eventco
Concept, Tom Rohan
Project Lead / Lighting Design, Matthew Cregan
Technical Design /Programming, Matthew Cregan & Mick Murray
Buildings Going Green for St. Patrick’s Festival 2015:
Aras an Uchtarain
Bank of Ireland, 2 College Green
Board Gáis Energy Theatre
Christchurch Cathedral
Clontarf Castle Hotel
Connolly Station
Convention Centre
County Hall, Dun Laoghaire
Custom House
Dublin Castle Lower Yard (Palace Street Entrance)
Dublin Castle Upper Yard
Entrance to Stephen's Green - Shelbourne Hotel Side
Farmleigh - Water Tower
Four Courts
Glasnevin Museum's Daniel O'Connell Tower
Government Buildings
GPO
Grafton Lounge
Grand Canal Hotel
Guinness Storehouse
Heuston Station
Irish Architectural Archive
Iveagh House
Jobs Enterprise &Innovation/Transport, Tourism & Sport (Kildare St)
Kings Inn
Leinster House
Marker Hotel
Marlbourgh Street Complex
National Concert Hall
National Museum of Ireland - Archaeology (Kildare Street)
National Museum of Ireland - Country Life, Castlebar, Mayo
National Museum of Ireland - Decorative Arts and History (Collins Barracks)
National Museum of Ireland - National History (Merrion Street)
National Wax Museum
No. 52 St Stephens Green
O'Connell House
Odeon Bar
Phoenix Monument (Phoenix Park)
Rathfarnham Castle
RDS
Rotunda Hospital
Royal Hospital Kilmainham (RHK)- Clock Tower
Shelbourne Hotel
Smock Alley Theatre
St.Patrick's Cathedral
Trinity College Dublin
Ulster Bank, College Green
Ulster Bank, George's Quay