Dublin City Council is delighted to announce that the spectacular ‘Dublin Winter Lights’ were officially switched on last night and will remain on from now until January 1st.
16 locations around the city have been transformed with colourful projections and lighting displays, including for the first time, The Spire. In another first there will be a Viking Boat lit up in the Liffey and a new installation in the Liberties’ Bridgefoot St Park.
There’s also a walking trail map, meaning you can start at location number one and work your way right through to the end. Why not follow the adventures of Rua the red squirrel as you go, in our new Children’s story book. At each location there is a QR code, which will let you read the next chapter in the story. The entire story and the walking trail map are available on our new website www.dublinwinterlights.ie. Printed copies of the book in English and Irish will be available in every Dublin City Council Library.
The Lord Mayor of Dublin Caroline Conroy said, “Christmas really is a magical time for everyone and what better way to get you into the festive spirit than to visit this year’s Dublin Winter Lights. Whether you’re 5 or 85 I guarantee you’ll enjoy it. So come on into town, visit the lights and feel the magic this Christmas.”
For ‘Dublin Winter Lights’ 2022, Dublin City Council will have generators that use hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) as its fuel source for projections and installations. This will be the third year that Dublin City Council has successfully used these type of generators for its events. HVO is an alternative to fossil based diesel fuel.
In addition for 2022, where possible localised battery storage power will be used for some installations. The battery packs will charge during off peak hours, and the stored energy from the batteries will be used during peak hours to power projectors and installations, thus eliminating any additional draw on the grid during peak periods.
Simon Clarke, from Dublin City Council’s Events section says, “the introduction of battery packs as a power source for some installations, in addition to the use of HVO generators, and the commissioning of our enhanced lighting systems on Samuel Beckett Bridge and the light sails on Smithfield Square, confirms Dublin City Councils commitment to facilitating and delivering more energy efficient and environmentally sustainable events in the city centre.”
The power used to light The Spire is comparable to that used in a domestic iron (1800w), a toaster (900w) uses the same power as we’re using on the Millennium Bridge, while Smithfield Sq will be illuminated using the same amount of power as a dishwasher (3000w).
A Childens Art Competition for Primary School Children is also taking place as part of ‘Dublin Winter Lights’. All artwork will be projected onto Barnardo Square beside Dublin Castle. 3 winning artworks will receive a prize from the Lord Mayor and their artwork will be used on the Lord Mayor’s Christmas Cards this year.
‘Dublin Winter Lights’ at Merrion Sq Park will also return for the 2nd year running, from December 1st. More details will be announced closer to the time.
Source: Dublin City Council
