Almost 50 iconic buildings around the country will light up red for World Heart Day

Today (Wednesday 29^th 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.

“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