A NUMBER of high-profile Irish sports stars have come together to make a moving video, urging people to stay at home.
16 Irish athletes joined forces to take part in the video, entitled 'Unite by Staying Apart', including the likes of Robbie Keane, Brian O'Driscoll and Paul McGrath.
The message is simple: stay at home to help our health workers and save our people.
In the video, the coronavirus crisis is described as "one of the biggest fights in our country's history," and that "it's time for us all to unite and rise to the occasion".
The rousing footage certainly does its job, by sending a message to the nation that we must work together to do all we can to slow the spread of Covid-19.
Watch the full video below:
16 Irish sports stars have joined forces to make a rallying call to people to #UniteByStayingApart as we all seek to stop the spread of #coronavirus together. pic.twitter.com/3VYuvg5GN4
— RTÉ (@rte) March 31, 2020
"Everyone knows that the Irish are the best fans in the world," the video begins.
"We travel the world supporting this great little country. With our flags, green jerseys and banners.
"We do our country proud wherever we go. Now it's time for us all to unite, and rise to the occasion by keeping our distance and by staying at home.
"We are facing into one of the biggest fights in our country's history. The future of our nation and our people is in our hands.
"This situation isn't easy for any of us. We're all in the same boat, we're all in this together, we're all in isolation, we're all missing friends, families and loved ones.
"We are all experiencing the same fears and emotions, but this is what we have to do to keep our people and our country safe.
"Our heroes are now our healthcare workers: the nurses and doctors working on the front line, putting themselves at risk to protect you, me and our friends and families.
"Protect yourself and protect your loved ones.
"Unite by staying apart.
"Please. Stay at home everyone."
The 16 athletes featured in the video are:
- Bernard Brogan (All-Ireland football winner with Dublin)
- Joe Canning (All-Ireland hurling winner with Galway)
- Seamus Coleman (Irish football captain)
- Colm Cooper (All-Ireland football winner with Kerry)
- Pádraig Harrington (2020 Ryder Cup captain & three-time Major winner)
- Robbie Keane (former Irish football captain)
- Shane Lowry (The 2019 Open Champion)
- Kate McCabe (Irish women's football captain)
- Paul McGrath (former Irish footballer)
- Katie Mullan (Irish women's hockey captain)
- Annalise Murphy (Irish Olympic athlete)
- Paul O'Connell (former Irish rugby captain)
- Brian O'Driscoll (former Irish rugby captain)
- Peter O'Mahony (Munster captain & Irish rugby player)
- Derval O'Rourke (former Irish Olympic athlete)
- Henry Shefflin (All-Ireland hurling winner with Kilkenny)
