Hozier has announced a series of livestream concerts for ISPCC Childline on social media.

The helpline has recorded a 20% increase in the number of children contacting the service since the coronavirus crisis began.

Health Minister Simon Harris also pleaded with people to “keep your distance”.

Childline has seen an increase in calls since schools closed due to Covid-19, with a rise in the number of people expressing heightened anxiety.

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Childline received on average nearly one contact a minute on Christmas Day, according to the helpline’s providers, who said calls to the service were up almost a quarter compared to the same day last year.

The head of the ISPCC has warned that online safety is “the child protection issue of our day”.

That’s nice…the runaway global success of Brendan O’Carroll’s foul mouthed mammy, Agnes Browne resulted in Brendan O’Carroll and his wife, Jennifer Gibney sharing a dividend windfall of €1.3m last year.

The ISPCC has recorded a sharp rise in demand among children for its Childline online services — at a time when it is facing a shortage of volunteers.

Childline expects to receive seven million phone calls before the end of the year.

Childline and its volunteers offer a variety of ways to get in contact, writes Karen Murray.

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Childline is asking people to consider donating to the charity as part of their New Year's Resolutions.

Some of the hundreds of troubled children who called Childline on Christmas Day just wanted to say thanks to the volunteers for being there for them.

All parties involved with the 2FM Xmas Ball are providing their services free of charge on the night including artists, organisers and 3Arena.

Charity kayaker Ger O’Leary will this morning recommence an attempt to solo circumnavigate Ireland after being blown off course in West Cork.

Brendan O’Carroll is working on a new show and Agnes will not be in the picture.

The ISPCC is defending its latest campaign which aims to get 8-10 year-olds talking about their feelings.

The charity behind Childline has said the phone service has received an increasing number of calls from children concerned about homelessness.

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Any fundraising initiative supporting the ISPCC and Childline will always have The Menu’s support but one that introduces a spot of baking to the equation is especially commendable. 

Childline received more than 1,000 calls for help on Christmas Day, with some children citing domestic violence and alcohol abuse as problems in their home.

More than 1,000 children contacted Childline on Christmas Day.

More than a thousand children in distress will call Childline this Christmas Day.

Social media is helping fuel a nation of "deeply unhappy" children, a British charity has warned, as it published new figures showing a rise in self-harm.

Childline received 1,176 calls from children who were scared, neglected, sad, or lonely on Christmas day last year.