IT IS a case of lights out and clocks forward this weekend as summer time officially begins and Earth Hour – during which people around the world will switch off lights – is marked.
Coinciding with the longer days are a number of events taking place around the country, including Ireland’s crucial Euro 2012 qualifier against Macedonia.
Summer time begins at 1am tomorrow and people are reminded to put their clocks and watches forward by one hour at that time.
Households and businesses are also being urged to turn off lights for one hour from 8.30pm this evening to mark Earth Hour, a global event aimed at raising awareness of the need to take action on climate change.
Last year 400 cities in 126 countries participated in the event, with lights being switched off at major landmarks such as Big Ben, the Eiffel Tower, the Empire State Building and Sydney Opera House.
In Ireland, Leinster House, the Custom House and the Four Courts are among the buildings that will go dark for Earth Hour.
On the music front, former X-Factor winner Shane Ward will be at the Olympia tonight and tomorrow while country singer Taylor Swift is performing at the O2 tomorrow. The much-loved musical Chess continues its run at the Grand Canal Theatre.
The Ballymun Youth Action Project Community Festival takes place today with Aslan frontman Christy Dignam among those playing a free lunchtime concert at the plaza. Elsewhere, the Poetry Now 2011 festival is on at the Pavilion Theatre in Dún Laoghaire.
On the sporting front, Ireland take on Macedonia at the Aviva stadium in Dublin at 7.45pm this evening.
Racing is on at Navan today and at Leopardstown racecourse tomorrow, and for those who like to take a punt it’s also worth noting that tonight’s Lotto jackpot is heading towards €14 million after no one won the top prize in the midweek draw.
Met Éireann forecasts a warm start to the weekend with dry, settled weather and temperatures reaching 14 degrees in some areas.
CHARLIE TAYLOR