SHINE A LIGHT: Tralee's Ashe Memorial Hall gets in some practice ahead of Saturday night's Shine a Light nationwide solidarity message. Photo: Sean Moriarty

By Sean Moariarty

Killarney Town Hall is one of several landmark buildings that will light up tonight (Saturday) to send a nationwide message of solidarity.

RTE is calling on the whole country to “shine a light at 9pm to create a moment of solidarity in our battle against the COVID-19 pandemic".

President Michael D. Higgins and his wife Sabina are set to shine their light from the Áras. Government buildings will light up with a host of national and local public buildings across the island shining their beacon lights, along with Irish embassies and missions around the world.

Local buildings include Killarney Town Hall, as well as the Ashe Memorial Hall and County Buildings in Tralee.

Locals and individuals and invited to participate too by being as creative as they wish to either power their phone torches, flashlights, leave a candle safely in the window or even put up Christmas lights, to participate in the initiative from wherever they are.

RTÉ will be creating special content on TV, radio and online to mark this coming together and share the moment of light during what is a dark time for many.

“This global pandemic is affecting each and every person in our society so let's come together for this moment where we can express solidarity with each other while we remain separated from friends and family," RTÉ Director-General Dee Forbes said.

"Let's light up our homes or light a candle to remember all of those who have lost their lives to COVID-19 and their loved ones. Let's also remember and thank our key frontline staff for their ongoing heroic work throughout this crisis. Light reaches across all boundaries and as we watch the light flicker, perhaps we will see a glimmer of hope, in this time of fear and distancing.”

Coverage begins on RTÉ Radio 1 at 8.30pm with Shine Your Light presented by John Creedon featuring music from some of the country’s finest artists including Martin Hayes and Glen Hansard, and poetry from Moya Cannon.

At 9pm, RTÉ will broadcast a short live special on RTÉ One television, RTÉ Radio 1, RTÉ Player and RTE.ie/culture to share this moment.

It will also broadcast images from around the country as families, individuals and workers shine their light, along with local and national public buildings and embassies around the world, joining in solidarity with their communities and loved ones near and far.