"Please continue to pray for all of us and especially for the patients and their families and all staff at the front line," says hospital chaplain Fr Damien O'Reilly.

“Although our Church buildings might be closed, Christ our Light is still present and alive in so many ways as our light and hope," say Cork's bishops.

“And so, a bit like Good Friday, darkness is having its day. But the light is there and like the rising Son, it will become brighter and brighter until there is only the Light of Resurrection," – Fr Kevin Doherty.

“May all of us, by our love, bring light and hope to all whose lives are troubled this Christmas.”

My hope is that he will speak kindly but also speak frankly, the Archbishop said.

When we light the Christmas tree in Áras an Uachtaráin, we remember the bereaved who are finding this Christmas difficult; we remember those on the edge, the marginalised in our society, our homeless people, and those who are worried about keeping a roof over their families’ heads.