Today (Wednesday 29th September) is World Heart Day. To mark the occasion the Irish Heart Foundation has encouraged landmarks across the country to light up in red. The movement aims to encourage people to look after their own heart health and show support for the thousands of people in Ireland living with heart disease and stroke.
A total of 49 buildings in 17 counties will illuminate in red to mark the occasion. Buildings that have pledged to light up range from historic to modern landmarks such as, Kilkenny Castle, the Rock of Cashel and the National Convention Centre Dublin. Government buildings such as Cork City Hall, and cultural hubs including the Theatre Royal in Waterford will also go red for World Heart Day. A full list of buildings lighting up in red can be found below.
World Heart Day also marks the end of Heart Month, during which the Irish Heart Foundation ran its successful Reboot Your Life campaign which asked men across Ireland to reflect on their lifestyles and Reboot.
"More than 3,500 men signed up to our Reboot Challenge committing to making healthy lifestyle changes, "
“Seeing buildings across Ireland go red is a lovely way to mark how men nationwide have committed to improving their heart health during Heart Month,” said Janis Morrissey, Director of Health Promotion, Information and Training, Irish Heart Foundation.
The campaign aims to encourage men to take charge of their lives and choose to look after their own heart health by making a lifestyle change during Heart Month. This could be anything from tweaking their diet, walking more or reconnecting with their old sports club. It’s never too late to make a change.
“As our Reboot campaign draws to a close, we have been bowled over by the reaction of individual men, community organisations and workplaces that have joined us this September. More than 3,500 men signed up to our Reboot Challenge committing to making small, sustainable, healthy lifestyle changes this month and beyond,” Ms Morrissey added.
The theme for World Heart Day 2021 which is organised by the World Heart Federation is #UseHeartToConnect, and harnesses the power of digital health to improve awareness, prevention and management of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Living through the coronavirus pandemic has highlighted an urgent need to connect people to heart health. This involves using the power of digital to connect every heart, everywhere and making sure we are fuelling and nurturing them to the best of our abilities.
The buildings around the country lighting up in red for World Heart Day include:
Cavan
Cavan Courthouse
Slieve Russell Hotel
Cork
Cork City Hall
Cork County Hall
Blackrock Castle Observatory
One Albert Quay
Navigation Square
Donegal
Donegal County Council and five public service buildings
Dublin
City Hall
Westin Hotel
Carmichael House
Mansion House
Convention Centre
Dublin Castle
CHQ building
Swords Castle
Galway
NUIG
GMIT
Kerry
County Buildings, Tralee
Princes Quay Building, Tralee
Killarney Town Hall, Killarney
Castletown House
Blennerville Windmill
Kildare
Newbridge Townhall
2 Trees at Aras Chill Dara
Kilkenny
Kilkenny Castle
St Patrick’s Parish
Laois
County Hall
Limerick
The Savoy
Askeaton Tourist Office
Limerick County Council Merchant’s Quay
Leitrim
The Bush Hotel
Louth
Millmount Tower
Monaghan
Monaghan County Offices Building
Carrickmacross Civic Building
Tipperary
Rock of Cashel
Waterford
City Hall
Theatre Royal
The Mall
Wexford
Dunbrody Famine Ship
Wicklow
Powerscourt House and Gardens
Greystones Civic Offices
Bray Town Hall
Wicklow County Council Library
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