BBC News Online: World: Europe

Ireland campaigns to change its time

A campaign is underway in the Republic of Ireland to persuade the government to move the clocks forward by nine hours during the World Cup this year.

The Give Us Back Our World Cup campaign wants the Irish Republic to go on to Japanese time, so that fans can watch the action in the pubs at the end of the day.

More than 5,000 people have signed a petition on the internet and, on Tuesday, there was a small demonstration outside the Irish parliament.

Ireland's first game in the World Cup will be against Cameroon on June the first and will kick-off at 7.30am Irish time.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service