Parts of city left in the dark as others shine on

DUBLIN CITY:"WHERE'S THE Dáil gone?" asked a passerby of his friend as they walked down Merrion Street on Saturday night. And it was true; it was as if Leinster House had disappeared, with nothing visible behind the railings but a sliver of a crescent moon hanging low in the sky.

Down the road, the National Gallery also lay in darkness, save for a single security light. It was the same story throughout the city, where, for an hour, State buildings generally turned into oceans of blackness.

The impact of Earth Hour 2009 on Dublin was hardly dramatic; there was the usual bustle of a Saturday night, the pubs were full with soccer fans and the street lighting remained undimmed.

Yet in quarters with high concentrations of Government buildings or office blocks participating in the initiative, the quieter, darker atmosphere was undeniable. The International Financial Services Centre, for example, was largely dark, as large banking and consulting firms implemented a lights-out policy in their blocks.

Only the CHQ shopping centre glowed brightly on the Liffey, though it wasn’t even open.

Eyesores such as Hawkins House and O’Connell Bridge House, which are home to various Government departments, were the better for being in the dark, while the Custom House, dark and forbidding at the best of times, was blacker than ever – not surprisingly, given that Minister for Environment John Gormley has his office there.

It was business as usual on Grafton Street, while on O’Connell Street, the GPO lay in darkness. Across the road, however, Clery’s shopfront blazed as brightly as ever and the iconic Happy Ring House sign above McDowell’s Jewellers flashed away merrily. The lights at the top of the Spire stay on too, presumably for safety reasons.

The banks tried hard to dim their towers of mammon, but with varying degrees of success.

There were plenty of lights on in Ulster Bank’s headquarters on George’s Quay, despite the company’s stated aim to go for “lights out” in its buildings. AIB Bankcentre in Ballsbridge was darker than usual, although the exterior lights were still on.

Bank of Ireland on College Green looked formidable in the dark, but many ordinary branches remained illuminated.

And for the record, the lights were on too on the news and feature floors of the Irish Times building.

The lights were also blazing away outside the Four Seasons Hotel in Ballsbridge but inside, the restaurant was entirely candle-lit.

Diners could choose from a variety of organic products, sourced locally, including chicken from Connemara and striploin from the Knockmealdowns.

“We’re trying to keep it green this evening,” said hostess Marie Claire Sabegal from Australia, where the Earth Hour initiative started. “We’re using less power in the dining-room but also in the kitchen, by using slow cooking methods.”

The diners were happy too. “It’s like Valentine’s night, without the roses,” said Ciara Brennan.

By 9.30 pm, however, the spell was over and, as disappointed football fans filled the streets, the lights generally went on again.

You were left wondering why.