Ireland came together on Saturday night to Shine A Light and show solidarity amid the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.
Organised by RTE and Culture Minister Josepha Madigan, the #ShineYourLight campaign saw thousands of households light candles and display lights in their windows at 9pm last night as a symbol of hope during the coronavirus crisis.
Not only were lights lit in homes around the country but a number of Government buildings and other culturally significant areas were illuminated.
The Irish Aviation Authority (IAA), in collaboration with ESB, beamed a beacon of light into the sky from Dublin Airport’s new Air Traffic Control tower in support of the campaign.
Dublin Airport staff joining the nation in the #ShineYourLight tribute for hope & solidarity. #TogetherApart #LonraighdoSholas pic.twitter.com/bILhi3LMwO
— Dublin Airport (@DublinAirport) April 11, 2020
Dublin Airport wasn’t the only airport to take park; as airports in Cork, Kerry and Shannon also used their various lighting systems to show their solidarity.
#ShineYourLight @CorkAirport tonight as our tribute to those who have died or have been diagnosed with the coronavirus & to frontline workers responding to the outbreak. All internal and external terminal lighting was switched on in support and solidarity @rtenews pic.twitter.com/smPUVSGID5
— Cork Airport (@CorkAirport) April 11, 2020
Our landing lights symbolise new beginnings when better days will return. #shineyourlight at 9pm to symbolise hope & solidarity with anyone those who have died from coronavirus, their loved ones, people who are sick with Covid-19, emergency workers & those who feel isolated. pic.twitter.com/nvgxDZdN6Y
— Kerry Airport (@KerryAirport) April 11, 2020
For all those who lost their lives to #COVID19 , to the frontline staff & healthcare workers out there so we can #staysafe, our Shannon Airport runway lights shine bright in honour of you all. ✨#ShineYourLight | #wereinthistogether
Read more: https://t.co/oMhu5OHXOk pic.twitter.com/2B3yn11E0E
— Shannon Airport (@ShannonAirport) April 11, 2020
An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and President Michael D. Higgins also took part to show support for the initiative.
https://twitter.com/LeoVaradkar/status/1249064056457134091
President and Sabina Higgins joined the 'Shine Your Light' / 'Lanraigh Do Sholas' campaign, lighting lanterns as a symbol of hope and solidarity.https://t.co/PeqaS8DbqI #ShineYourLight pic.twitter.com/jdKChYe5CD
— President of Ireland (@PresidentIRL) April 11, 2020
Fingal County Council lit up six buildings in honour of the frontline workers who have since contracted Covid-19, as well as anyone else suffering with coronavirus.
Tonight we lit up our offices in Swords & Blanchardstown along with Swords Castle, Bremore Castle, Ardgillan Castle and the Casino in Malahide as part of @rte #ShineYourLight in honour of all the sick, frontline workers and anyone affected by #COVID19 pic.twitter.com/zphCZM4nmu
— Fingal County Council (@Fingalcoco) April 11, 2020
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*Featured image AppPhoto