#CoronavirusSolidarity diary: Florist gives flowers 'free of charge' to Glasnevin Cemetery

Welcome to the Irish Examiner's #CoronavirusSolidarity diary.
In the days and weeks ahead we will be highlighting for posterity those stories which capture the unique community spirit of Ireland's repsonse to the ongoing crisis. Please let us know about community initiatives which have been set up to offer support to those most impacted by the crisis or examples of people who are going above and beyond the call of duty. Tag us at @irishexaminer and use #CoronavirusSolidarity.
Monday, March 23
"For the first time in 26 years we are not here to see you," read the note on a table full of flowers at Glasnevin Cemetery yesterday.
Due to social distancing requirements, a florist, local to the well-known cemetery, was unable to open their shop so in a bid to put a smile of the faces of those who maybe visiting their Mother's graves, they decided to give flower away free of charge.
"This filled my heart.There are no words," tweeted one touched passerby.
This filled my heart. A beautiful effort from the florist in Glasnevin Cemetery who couldn't be open so they left flowers out for those visiting their mothers today. There are no words ♥️ pic.twitter.com/LGnehlr1zz
— Eimear Fitzmaurice (@TheMiseducation) March 22, 2020
Sunday, March 22
Almost 8,000 volunteers have signed up to a support system designed to mobilise members of the community to help those in need during the coronavirus outbreak.
What began less than a fortnight ago as the Twitter hashtag #selfisolationhelp has mushroomed to such a degree that volunteers are making themselves available all over the country via the website www.localsupport.ie to carry out simple everyday tasks such as grocery shopping or picking up prescriptions, on behalf of those forced to self isolate.
Former BBC One executive and former director of RTÉ TV Helen O’Rahilly, who is one of the key people behind the movement, said they are in for the long haul.
“This is not some self-referential Twitter nonsense, this is a genuine effort to put in another layer of support on top of all the effort that’s already going on,” Ms O’Rahilly said.
Ms O’Rahilly, who recently returned home after 30 years in London, said she was inspired by the spirit of volunteering evident in Ireland and by a tweet from social media manager Samantha Kelly, aka @tweetinggoddess, who had started the hashtag #selfisolationhelp last Thursday week.
6725 volunteers are now saturating Ireland. Gobsmacked by the response. Thank you all. SMS now launched for non-online people who need help with food/meds delivery. Ad coming out 2moro here. Please give it a boost when you see it. https://t.co/uWl3zIEp61 #selfisolationhelp pic.twitter.com/96L0HhdQxZ
— Helen O'Rahilly 🇮🇪🏳️🌈🇪🇺 (@HelenORahilly) March 18, 2020
The reaction on Twitter was so positive that Ms O’Rahilly felt its potential could be tapped.
She asked her friend, actor Chris O’Dowd, to re-tweet (he has 785,000 Twitter followers) “and by the next morning, it had gone into sixth gear”, Ms O’Rahilly said.
A number of fellow-professionals such as Gráinne Dwyer of Stori Creative in Skibbereen and freelance journalist Cóilín Duffy came on board, as well as Dave Bolger of Devhaus software company, leading to the development of the website www.localsupport.ie where people can now go to either register their offer of help or register a request for assistance.
Mr Duffy said they pair volunteers with people in need of help in the neighbourhood. He said the website also advises on best practice and HSE guidelines in terms of following social distancing and hand hygiene requirements when carrying out volunteer tasks.
Ms O’Rahilly said the movement is now attracting overseas interest.
She said herself and the small team running the operation are doing so between 7am and 11pm everyday, operating two to three hour shifts.
“I’m fully aware that there are already terrific volunteer groups out there, this is simply another layer,” she said.
“In my previous jobs I was used to dealing with crises, I’m a bit gobby, I’m here (in Ireland) and I have time, so I am in for the long haul.”
Ireland has come out in a rash of volunteers! 7000+ plus. Now we have a TEXT system for elderly/isolated people to ask for help. Monitored 7am-11pm. We are already matching volunteers with those in need of groceries/meds. https://t.co/uWl3zIEp61 #selfisolationhelp Please RT! pic.twitter.com/YLZFb9oE3x
— Helen O'Rahilly 🇮🇪🏳️🌈🇪🇺 (@HelenORahilly) March 19, 2020
The team has also created a text service/voice messaging service for those who are not on line (contact: 087 3658233).
Mr Duffy said anyone willing to display graphics to spread the word about the service - such as supermarkets - should get in touch through the website.
For the duration of the crisis, Libraries Ireland are allowing new registrants to use online services from their local library, before finalising their applications at their local branch.
Online borrowing of ebooks with the BorrowBox app, use of free digital copies of popular magazines, and lots of other services are available to all library members, regardless of location.
You can, join your local library online today and access books and more.https://t.co/lCGGfp9MW0 pic.twitter.com/P3qn2WlngB
— Janet Ní Shúilleabháin 🇮🇪 🇪🇺🏳️🌈🦄 (@Sharrow_irl) March 22, 2020
For more information and to register, head to the self-registration website for a PIN, then head to Libraries Ireland's eServices site.

A boy with a rare disease, who had to cancel his birthday party due to Covid-19, has had over 1,000 cards posted to him after his mother made an appeal for people to mail him, writes
Ruth Beattie asked people to send cards to her son Jack, who is (9) tomorrow after his party had to be called off.
It would have been his first party in three years - the last two years he was not able to have one as a result of having surgery related to having Osteogenesis Imperfacta or brittle bone disease.
Ruth said it broke her heart when she had to tell him his party this year could not go ahead and instead she appealed for people to post him birthday cards.
“The response has been unbelievable,” she said.
The latest count has over 1,000 cards, including one for Ruth, and some have come from as far away as France and Switzerland as well as Ireland and the UK.
She said the response means he has having “a birthday he will never forget.”
The family live in Raphoe, county Donegal and Ruth said, “We have had cards and parcels from Dublin , Carlow, Mayo, Donegal, Monaghan, Derry and London and that’s not even half of them opened.”
“I’d like to thank each and everyone that took the time to make/send a card/parcel to Jack. It has been a very emotional and overwhelming few days to watch the delight in Jack’s face. This will be a birthday never to forget.”


A loving gran who can't see her grandchildren because of Covid-19's social distancing has started reading them online bedtime stories - and other kids are fast adopting her as their own surrogate nan.
Maire Hughes from Ahascragh, Galway was missing her grandchildren so much that she asked her daughter Aisling to film her reading the younger ones a bedtime story on her Instagram page, The Irish Horse Life, last Thursday.
But the sprightly native of Clontarf in Dublin is already gaining a big following from other kids who are tuning in to her vivid and engaging storytelling -which is partly down to her drama background.
Saturday, March 21
Volunteer group Covid Community Response today announced the release of their national support helpline. Members of the public seeking assistance can now do so via text (086 180 0256) or phone call (021 237 7809).
Speaking about the campaign, software engineer Danny O’Donovan, said, “Our helpline is a very big step forward – we have managed to set up a professional helpline operated entirely by volunteers.. As we know, many communities are doing extraordinary work around the country, and we are just adding to this by creating a coordinated system to make sure nobody is without support. Our helpline is available between the hours 9.00 am and 9.00pm, and volunteers can register at any time on our website.’
Our national support helpline is live!
— Covid Community Response (@CCRIreland) March 21, 2020
TEXT – 086 180 0256
CALL – 021 237 7809#communityresponseirl #CovidCommunityResponse #SelfIsolationHelp pic.twitter.com/W8Kb4teqYD
The proprietor of Cork's beloved Istanbul and PizzAmore fast-food restaurants has been on the streets, handing out free pizzas and making deliveries to the staff of Cork University Hospital.
Earlier today, Hawre and his team called up to Marymount Hospice with some freshly-made comfort fare.
Hawre of the Istanbul kebab shop and pizza amore has been handing out free pizzas to people on the street & also delivered to the staff of CUH. Today he visits Marymount ❤️ pic.twitter.com/4xNRF5Danc
— Stevie G (@StevieGrainger) March 21, 2020
The deliveries are the latest in a series of food donations to frontline healthcare staff, working in the prevailing conditions.
Pregnancy loss is a difficult and painful experience, and social distancing in the current circumstances may compound feelings of loneliness and isolation.
The HSE, in association with Cork Miscarriage, has issued guidelines and supports for people and families dealing with pregnancy loss at this time.
If you have experienced pregnancy loss or the death of a baby please do reach out for support. Please RT #Covid_19 #Miscarriage #Stillbirth @FergalBowers @TCD_SNM @mammi_tcd @joanlalor2907 @ca18211 @IT_HealthPlus @CorkSafetyAlert pic.twitter.com/GVi7eJ1OZ4
— Dr Margaret Murphy (@mgtmurphy123) March 21, 2020
If you have been affected by pregnancy loss, and require support at this time, visit Pregnancy and Infant Loss and Cork Miscarriage for more information and further support.
University College Cork's campus radio station, UCC 98.3FM, is dedicating its entire day to local documentary programming, specifically for elderly radio listeners who use the medium as company in their homes.
In a tweet sent out yesterday, the station, run by the college and volunteer-staffed entirely by students, staff and alumni, has said the day's programming is designed 'to help us still feel connected to our city'.
If you know anyone elderly who is self-isolating and uses radio as a companion from today @UCC 98.3FM will be broadcasting on 98.3FM around Cork city a series of short docs to help us still feel connected to our city and people but also take a breather from the news cycle
— UCC 98.3FM (@UCC983FM) March 20, 2020
The station is available in the city centre on 98.3FM, and online at UCC's website (click the 'Listen Live' button).
The operators of a Cork nursing home have launched a novel scheme that they hope will be taken up nationwide whereby care home patients become penpals with school children.
St Luke’s Nursing Home in Mahon put out a Facebook request earlier this week for children to correspond with its residents and, on the first day received 200 letters and 100 emails.
They want to promote a link between the generations during these difficult times where they can be of mutual help to each other.
The idea came from Lisa Howard, the activities manager at the nursing home, which is celebrating 25 years in its Mahon base this year, although it has been providing care for the elderly in Cork for 123 years.
The nursing home has 128 residents ranging in age from 60 to 101. Ms Howard said she hoped that many of the residents would be able to write back to the children and build friendships.
“At this time, it would be nice for the kids to tell us how they are feeling too,” Ms Howard said.
“It will also lift the spirits of our patients.
I’m hoping that other nursing homes around the country will follow suit. Hopefully this will create a lot of new penpals.
Ms Howard said that residents would prefer to get letters rather than emails “because they’re more authentic”.
“Children could use some sellotape as an alternative way of sealing the envelope and remember to keep washing and sanitising their hands,” she said.
However, Ms Howard said she realised under the current circumstances that some people would prefer to email letters and provide pictures of themselves, which staff will print off for the patients.
Children are being urged to write to St Luke’s Nursing Home Activity Team, Castle Road, Mahon, Cork. Alternatively, they can email lisa. howard@stlukeshome.ie.
Friday, March 20
Dublin residents have organised the most unique and uplifting game of Bingo you'll ever see.
In a move that's been described as one of "the most Irish things ever", residents in a set of flats in Ringsend set up a loud speaker on a roof and began calling bingo numbers for the people living locally.
Watch the video below yourself.
Up the flats, playing the Bingo. 😂 #COVID19ireland 🇮🇪 pic.twitter.com/MZ62FybsMk
— Graham Merrigan (@Merriganmania) March 20, 2020
An Post is giving every household free postcards to write personal messages for posting on, free-of-charge, to family and friends across the country to help them stay connected in the weeks ahead as more people socially isolate and become ‘cocooned’.
5,000,000 postage-paid postcards have been produced by An Post to enable people of all ages to post a message of love and support to special people in their lives.
Over the coming days An Post will be dropping postcards to your homes that you can send anywhere in Ireland for free. The written word is a powerful thing, so embrace it and come together 💌 #WriteNowhttps://t.co/JtCk4h7lrC pic.twitter.com/n3DyJQN4s0
— An Post (@Postvox) March 20, 2020

Dunhill farmer Eddie Murphy is offering free eggs to those in the area who wish to collect them from him.
Eddie is a commercial egg supplier and doesn't want to see the eggs go to waste.

A website for coronavirus volunteers has grown to over 7,000 volunteers.
7322 volunteers on https://t.co/uWl3zIEp61 Friday AM, Volunteers PLEASE check your Junk email folders regularly as our messages asking for help might be lost there! We need fast replies. Thank you! 087 3658233 TEXTLINE for help with deliveries of food/meds. #selfisolationhelp pic.twitter.com/QFaqbzGoFm
— Helen O'Rahilly 🇮🇪🏳️🌈🇪🇺 (@HelenORahilly) March 20, 2020
The initiative to coordinate grassroots help for self-isolated people received support from Irish comedian Sir Stevo Timothy.
Serious message:
— Stevo Timothy (@SirStevoTimothy) March 19, 2020
Well done Ireland! Over 7000 volunteers! Please sign up at https://t.co/G1IwExFoqp
TEXT: 087 3658233 for people not on web/social media. We match people who need food/meds brought to their house safely by a local volunteer. #SelfIsolationHelp pic.twitter.com/ixq4rIDfTT
Volunteers are urged to contact the organisation so they can be matched with a person in their local area who needs assistance.
The initiative is being driven by Helen O'Rahilly and Johnathan Randall.
This Mother's day is set to be like no other.
Just like St Patrick's day, the coronavirus outbreak has affected another special day spent closely with family.
With many older people staying at home and children and young adults unable to visit their mothers and grandmothers, this unique day for Irish mothers will be celebrated differently to say the least.
RTÉ have launched a campaign to capture this. #RTELoveOurMammies wants to see all your photos and videos of the day and how you celebrated your mother.
It's #MothersDay this Sunday.
— RTÉ (@rte) March 20, 2020
We want to help you make this an extra special one for all the mammies out there. Use #RTELoveOurMammies for your messages, videos or photos.
PS Mammy says wash your hands@rteradio1 @rte2 @rteone @rte2fm pic.twitter.com/r05jF2eAgM
This year's Daffodil Day - a major annual fundraiser for the Irish Cancer Society - had to be cancelled due to the Covid-19 outbreak.
Instead, virtual coffee mornings held in kitchens across Ireland raised funds in support of the charity.
Grab a coffee ☕️ and support the #virtualcoffeemorning this Daffodil Day 🌼 https://t.co/uoeGpVnd7h
— LyndseyFlanagan (@_flanaganl) March 20, 2020
Participants tweeted their coffees under the hashtag #virtualcoffeemorning as part of #DigitalDaffodilDay.
A little bit later than 11am but I am supporting @IrishCancerSoc having a #VirtualCoffeeMorning for #DigitaldaffodilDay while working from home today 🌼
— Sarah Barrett (@Sarah_Barrett_1) March 20, 2020
Text DAFFODIL to 50300 to donate €4 https://t.co/3tPucBwGd6 pic.twitter.com/mkiQ0rJv0q
Coffee at 11! #DaffodilDay2020 #VirtualCoffeeMorning 🌼 #DigitalDaffodilDay pic.twitter.com/fxgyAiKeFa
— Kieran Walsh (@WalshKieran) March 20, 2020
Other groups have tried to help the charity and BGR Fitness has been live-streaming workouts each evening.
Their Facebook group, has a few hundred members and last night they raised €600 for the cancer charity.

40,000 applicants have signed up for the HSE's 'On Call For Ireland' initiative so far.
Any healthcare professional who is not already working in the public health service is being asked to help out in the fight against coronavirus here.
It is anticipated that many additional hospital and care beds will be needed to deal with this outbreak.
Feed The Heroes has raised over €230k to give cooked meals to frontline healthcare staff since it was set up on Sunday.
Thanks so much to #feedtheheroes from all in Cork University Hospital especially all those in the intensive care unit. Beautiful sandwiches today as we prepare for battle #COVID2019 @CUH_Cork @misspollyanna @cauley_peter pic.twitter.com/kxsKAsIR8w
— Esther (@esterfitz21) March 17, 2020
Founder of the drive Cian O'Flaherty says there is now enough money to be adaptable for whatever is needed:
"We are building as we go. We're figuring it out as we go along and we'll do our best. The pressures that are coming down the line on the teams will mean gaps will open up and we are going to be ready there to plug them.
We're in a position to spend €10k to €20k over the next period of time. If it's three months, as the Taoiseach indicated, we stand ready to keep that going and to keep the operations on the road.
Mr O'Flaherty says the donations have also helped to keep restaurants in business.
Thursday, March 19

A businessman with a warehouse full of fruit and veg is giving it away wholesale before it rots as businesses in Cork City promise they’ll be ‘back soon’.
Homeless charities, frontline medical staff, nursing homes, and residents of some direct provision centres are now set to benefit from the generosity of AllFresh fruit and veg wholesaler Barra Sweetnam.
He joked that he hopes someone with a recipe that requires hundreds of lemons and limes, or a few hundred asparagus and pomegranate, will come forward to ensure the food doesn’t go to waste.

“I might as well give it away to people who can do something with it than leave it here in the warehouse to rot,” he said.

A fitness company based in Dublin and Athlone have come up with an idea to help people stay fit and active while raising much-needed funds for the Irish Cancer Society at the same time.
This year's Daffodil Day - a major annual fundraiser for the Irish Cancer Society - had to be cancelled due to the Covid-19 outbreak.
In an effort to help the charity raise some extra money, BGR Fitness, has been live streaming workouts each evening.
Their Facebook group, has a few hundred members and last night they raised €600 for the cancer charity.

Men, women and children got involved with some getting extra creative and using their children or pets as weights!
Ben and Gary are hoping they can continue to generate some positive energy while improving people's health.
One of Ireland's mental health charities, GROW Mental Health Recovery, has been forced to suspend their weekly support meetings due to the coronavirus restrictions in place.
The meetings offer members a practical path out of mental and emotional issues by empowering them to construct their own recovery.
The current crisis is particularly difficult for people with mental health challenges and many people will be looking for supports and someone to talk to during the coming weeks.
Now, GROW members and those with mental health issues have been given the opportunity to continue with their meetings by joining an online group in Australia.
More details can be found here.
More than 30,000 people have responded to a massive recruitment drive across the health service to tackle Covid-19.
The “Be on call for Ireland” campaign launched on Tuesday to seek help from healthcare professionals who are not already working in the public health service.
Volunteers have been taking to their social media accounts to back the initiative, some travelling from as far as Canada to help.
The recruitment call came with the message: “Your country needs you.”
A Dublin yoga teacher is promoting positive exercise and mental health by holding free classes on Instagram.
Maura Rath, whose yoga classes normally take place in Blackrock market, has been holding them online as many people are left working from home or social distancing.
She holds the classes at 8am and 5pm every day via Instagram live on her account @Yogawithmaura.
Wednesday, March 18

Irish teachers have published social media posts offering assistance to parents and children taking lessons at home due to the schools' shutdown.
Posting under the title: "Better together" teachers offer help with their subject of expertise or else state the school curriculum they instruct.
Last week Taoiseach Leo Varadkar announced a two-week-long shutdown of schools, colleges and childcare facilities in an early morning press conference in Washington DC.
Schools in the UK are to close from Friday this week in a similar measure to tackle the spread of Covid-19.
A Cork village has rallied to help to keep one of Ireland’s silent services on the road.
Dozens of volunteers, including many who have lost their jobs in recent days, have signed up to ensure that the operation of Blarney’s Meals on Wheels continues to deliver hot meals to the elderly and other vulnerable people in the world-famous tourist village in Co Cork.
Many of those who run the Meals on Wheels service normally are now unable to do so because of the coronavirus outbreak. However, some of the new volunteers say that does not mean the service can stop.

A nationwide initiative is underway to harness and coordinate the massive grassroots response to the Covid-19 crisis.
As community groups and volunteers around the country mobilise to help the vulnerable in their neighbourhoods, a national Covid Community Response (CCR) campaign has been set up to encourage collaboration and to provide focus to their efforts.
It is hoped that by standardising communication and campaigns, and by sharing resources, the initiative will help to coordinate the various local community initiatives with the ongoing national response to the virus outbreak.

A fundraising campaign to feed hospital and emergency workers has raised almost €190,000 in just three days.
Businessman Cian O’’Flaherty, one of the founders of the Feed The Heroes GoFundMe page, described the public response as ’’incredible’’, adding that donations "went bananas" once the campaign was picked up on social media.
Based in Blackrock in Dublin, Mr O’’Flaherty set the page up with Tad McAllister with the aim of paying for food deliveries to hospitals for frontline staff who are putting in extra hours during the coronavirus outbreak.
Vibes and Scribes’ craft outlet on Cork’s Bridge St have been putting together craft kits for distribution online.
Owner Joan Lucey said:
We have been coming up with ideas for different age ranges and seeing what things might occupy a five-year-old or give an 11-year-old something to get stuck into. You can get a lot of ‘little bits’ for even a fiver.
The craft bags from Vibes and Scribes have already proven popular online. These feature a craft book with 10 projects and the kit comes with the materials needed to complete three of these projects.

Sean Drugan, chef at The Vintage Kitchen in Dublin, cooked and packeted a variety of dishes to deliver to anyone who may need them.
After the offer received over 2k likes, he decided to dish the spread out between Dublin paramedics and the Beaumount hospital.
#CoronaIreland #COVID19ireland #Hse pawn risotto, lamb,beef, vegetarian, vegan. Have these left all fresh and I can deliver to any hospital that needs them. Pls share pic.twitter.com/YeNpjvUzKN
— SeanDrugan (@vintagekitchen2) March 17, 2020
The head of a homeless charity says they have more offers of volunteer help than they know what to do with.
Inner City Helping Homeless chief executive Anthony Flynn says they are currently "inundated" with requests from volunteers looking to support their efforts.
Mr Flynn said that they have a huge volunteer base and they are working with them while ensuring that they follow HSE guidelines.

Tuesday, March 17
As the public is urged to remain indoors to limit the spread of Covid-19, buildings all around the country have gone green to mark St Patrick's Day.

Although there is no St Patrick's Parade through Cork city today, that didn't stop one member of a Cork institution from performing at home.
Alan Ashman of the Barrack Street Band dusted off his trombone for a mini-performance in his garden.
Brilliant!
The Ballinhassig Village Association threw a 'Stay in your car St. Patrick’s Day parade' at Kirby’s Korner, Ballinhassig, Cork.
,
Whilst adhering to social distancing, people have been throwing their own parades and celebrations and sharing them on social media using the tag #VirtualParade.
My beautiful niece Isabella celebrating St. Patrick’s Day from home! Making the best of it☘️☘️ #RTEVirtualParade #PaddysDay #VirtualParade @irishexaminer @rtenews @rte pic.twitter.com/sJHXXTVFSa
— Lydia Ferrari Kehoe (@LydiaFerrari1) March 17, 2020
Great turnout for the most local Parade ( ballyshannon, Co. Donegal)#StPatricksDay #stayhomechallenge #QuarantineLife #RTEVirtualParade pic.twitter.com/cxckoPDIPa
— Donal O F (@donalof) March 17, 2020
No #StPatricksDay parades today due to #CoronavirusOutbreak
— Peter Hynes 🐄🥛🇮🇪 (@Peterhynes15) March 17, 2020
We decided to try & cheer you all up with our very own #FarmParade for #LaFheilePadraig
Where ever you are in the world today, tweet us a photo of you with your Irish Flag 🇮🇪 #FutureofFarming #RTEVirtualParade pic.twitter.com/hZFTwvn8A1
#happystpatricksday Ruby Dancing with grandad Terry #RTEVirtualParade @VirginMediaNews #letsbeatthevirus #LaFheilePadraig pic.twitter.com/LiE0fHwsoF
— Terry Healy (@TerryHealy2) March 17, 2020
The Patrick’s Day Parade must go on. #LaFheilePadraig pic.twitter.com/A24i3lMFnL
— Eamon Sheehan 🐄 (@eamon_sheehan) March 17, 2020
We ask you to send us in pictures and video of and your families celebrating St. Patrick's Day indoors.
Aideen O'Donoghue sent us this video of Roisin and Sean, who want to keep peoples spirits up and just like St. Patrick banished the snakes out of Ireland, they will too help banish this virus.
Kodaline, The Script, Picture This, the Coronas, and Lottie Ryan are among some of the names who today launched a RTÉ 2FM campaign to encourage young people to help prevent the spread of coronavirus and create content from their homes in the process.
Called #CreateDontContaminate, it is hoped the RTÉ project will kickstart a movement to keep young people’s energy and spirits up while keeping their families and communities safe.
Each day over the next 14 days, RTÉ'S team of presenters and influencers, also including James Kavanagh, Greg O’Shea, Doireann Garrihy and Eoghan McDermott, will share a new challenge, that will get young people creating while maintaining social distance.
Young people are encouraged to make content from anywhere in their house - with creative challenges in music, comedy, dance, art, story-telling, fashion or beauty.
Will Sliney has tweeted a special 'Paddy's Day' challenge for the kids getting involved in his #wewilldraw initiative.
The Marvel artist has asked his followers to draw their favourite Irish person, whether it's a sports star, a historical figure or family member and stick the drawing on their window for people to see.
From Donegal footballer, Michael Murphy to Irish Paralympic swimmer Ellen Keane, responses have been flowing in with Irish pride.
#wewilldraw one of Faye's favourite Irish people, Irish Paralympic swimmer Ellen Keane @ParalympicsIRE #20x20
— Ruth Bowers (@ruthebowers) March 17, 2020
Happy St Patrick's Day pic.twitter.com/wiJJsTkR1L
Covid-19 has not stopped Irish people at home and abroad from taking to social media and wishing each other a happy St Patrick’s Day ... with characteristic good humour.
Happy St Patrick’s Day 2020.#stpatricksday #paddiesday #17thmarch #coronavirus #CoronaIreland pic.twitter.com/lMxHtEA847
— Transalpino(Official) (@TransalpinoO) March 17, 2020
On this starkly different St. Patrick’s Day, we send you all love and health🙏🏻Thoughts&prayers for those sick in hospital or self-isolation. Huge respect & gratitude to our heroic Front Liners, we salute you🍀#Reversestpatricksday #covid19ireland #coronaireland #covidireland pic.twitter.com/812XSwSL5l
— Whizz.ie (@WhizzIreland) March 17, 2020
Despite the worldwide disruption to St Patrick’s Day the University of Limerick has celebrated the spirit of the day with a stunning new video that marks the occasion in a digital sense.
Monday - March 16, 2020
In east Cork a community support group has been set up for the elderly and healthcare workers from the area.
Organiser Emma Kelly revelaed how they already have a team of 80 volunteers, shop owners, chemist workers and others ready to go.
"We have strict hygiene and risk management protocol in place to limit the spread of the virus and ensure safety of everyone involved. We'd love to hear form anyone who wants to help"

Local GAA clubs throughout the country are mobilising to help elderly neighbours and people in isolation.
Club committee officers in many areas are coordinating volunteer efforts.
Lara O'Brien, PRO with Killarney Legion GAA club, says all the local clubs in East Kerry have stepped up.
"We have a number of volunters on stand by to do deliveries, collect people or prescriptions, do shoping or do anything that needs to be done.
"And even if they just want to talk, we just want people to know they have someone to talk to.

An Irish comedian has been organising online group film screenings so people can watch movies together, while at home alone.
With authorities calling for social distancing and self-isolation due to the Covid-19 outbreak, Alison Spittle's #CovideoParty has seen people come together on Twitter to watch films as an online community while following advice from health officials.
So far, the online group has watched films such as Clueless and Matilda and tonight, they plan to watch Jumanji, starring Robin Williams.

Lidl, Iceland and Tesco are implementing priority shopping hours for the elderly due to the coronavirus.
Lidll is prioritising older shoppers at stores nationwide from 9am until 11am every day from now on.
Tesco is offering over 65-year-olds and family carers a dedicated time for them to do their shopping.
Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, starting this Wednesday, March 18, these customers will have dedicated access to all Tesco stores up to 9am. Tesco stores open at 7am or 8am, every morning, depending on location.
Iceland Ireland will be opening its 27 stores between 8am and 9am each day to customers who are over 65 from Wednesday.

March 8-15, 2020
What started yesterday as a Twitter trend: #selfisolationhelp is now a website.
Building on Helen O'Rahilly's work on twitter, Johnathan Randall has developed a website to link self-isolation volunteers.
The #SelfIsolationHelp hashtag is excellent but it's a bit hard to find helpers near you.
— Johnathan Randall (@MrJRan) March 14, 2020
I've created this map where you can mark yourself as available to help.
If you think it's useful, please share/RT - it only works if people use it.https://t.co/GK1CoUHHkb
The website shows people where assistance is available and highlights towns and counties missing volunteers.
All over Ireland people are offering #SelfIsolationHelp... add yourself here ➡ https://t.co/GK1CoUHHkb
— Johnathan Randall (@MrJRan) March 14, 2020
Let me know if you have any technical issues. I only wrote it this morning so there could be some. I have fixed one issue where it was asking for your location. pic.twitter.com/nBDfqhRQVw
The public's great work has continued as different community organisations lend a hand.
Members of Glenville GAA club are volunteering to help those in need.
Important notice from the club.
— Glenville GAA Club (@GlenvilleGAA) March 14, 2020
Anyone who needs help or knows someone who needs help, please do not hesitate to contact the people below or DM this account. #COVIDー19 #SelfIsolationHelp pic.twitter.com/pU5Y6WISRw
A Skerries volunteer group are helping people with their shopping.
This just came in the door. Lovely stuff from the people of #Skerries #COVID19ireland pic.twitter.com/BJ0mQ3z5xx
— Alan Daly (@Garthicus) March 14, 2020
Irish Examiner journalist Anna O'Donoghue has urged people to support creative artists with disrupted work.
Over on Instagram I’ve been sharing the accounts of some Irish creatives I love. Hopefully people will begin to do the same.@Aoife_Dooley @thisispopbaby @juliejaycomedy #HelpingIrishCreatives #Selfisolationhelp #CoronavirusSolidarity pic.twitter.com/nEaChg3HmG
— Anna O'Donoghue 🌻 (@AnnaVDesigns) March 13, 2020
Offers of childcare support are rolling in.
While communities as widespread as Aranmore are doing their part.
Arranmore Island Community Council have compiled information for islanders on the #COVID19ireland epidemic.
— MODAM (@MODAMremote) March 13, 2020
Link below: https://t.co/SmiXrEQ5Fz #arranmore #arainnmhor #islands #COVID19
Another common thme is the offer is to do people's groceries for them, especially for the elderly.
If there is any old people over the age of 60 that need help with there shopping 🛒 or to get there medication from the chemist I’m free all day tomorrow to help out as many people as I can 🙌🏻
— David Scully (@DavidScully6) March 13, 2020
I live in Dublin 18 and work in the city centre, and am able to drop off groceries or any other bits to anyone in these areas if needed. I promise my hand washing routine is v good #selfisolationhelp
— Fiona Frawley (@fionafrawl) March 13, 2020
Just heard a good news #selfisolationhelp story. Woman unable to get out has just had groceries delivered to doorstep by a Dublin volunteer. Thanks to both! Keep Retweeting. This is *working*
— Helen O'Rahilly 🇮🇪🏳️🌈🇪🇺 (@HelenORahilly) March 13, 2020
Others are offering conversation (over the phone) to those who are feeling lonely in quarantine.
I’d be available to do shopping for people in the D6W area if that helped on Saturday / Sunday. Also would be available to just chat to people on phone if that was of any use whatsoever to anyone feeling lonely. #Selfisolationhelp Not sure how trust issues work #avoidscammers
— neo🇮🇪🇪🇺 (@YewtreeGirl) March 11, 2020
Many businesses are struggling, but are still doing their part to assist members of the public to carry on with their lives as normal.
The Townhouse O D’s in Schull Co Cork, for example, has offered delivery to elderly customers.
We're happy to deliver food to any eldery in Schull/ Mizen Peninsula- we won't see anyone stuck!
— The Townhouse O D’s (@TheTownhouseODs) March 13, 2020
Opening a takeaway tonight to allow people to still get food but not eat out
Head Chef is currently writing up some simple recipes that parents can make with their kids at home! 🙌
The Villa