IRISH MUSIC legends U2 have donated €10 million to aid the fight against coronavirus in the Republic of Ireland.
The band, consisting of singer Bono, Adam Clayton, Larry Mullen Jr and the Edge, have donated the incredible amount in order to help source and purchase much-needed personal protective equipment (PPE) to help front line workers in hospitals across the country.
The Dubliners are among multiple private and public businesses who have pooled together resources to bring PPE to Ireland, with the first shipment having arrived yesterday, according to RTÉ.
The Dublin rockers have donated €10 million to help bring much-needed PPE to Ireland. Photo: Leah Farrell/RollingNews.ieA spokesperson for the band confirmed the donation to the PA news agency, with Irish aircraft leasing company Avolon working with companies to source, buy and import the protective equipment to Ireland.
The first shipment arrived at Dublin Airport earlier this week, with 40 tonnes of gear in total expected to arrive in the near future-- an amount which, in normal times, would be a 13 year supply of PPE, according to Taoiseach Leo Varadkar.
Govt has ordered what in normal times would be a 13 year supply of PPE. Even so, all assistance from private sector and general public is welcome. We’d rather be using it than looking for it. And, when its all over we can build a stockpile and help out other countries in need too https://t.co/ZPbprgrcq0
— Leo Varadkar (@LeoVaradkar) April 8, 2020
"This entire project was conceived and executed in just ten days," Emmet Moloney of Avolon told RTÉ.
"We want to support the remarkable people on the front lines of our healthcare services. Avolon is an Irish company. We're proud and privileged to play our part in that."
Dr Niall Mulvihill, a consultant cardiologist, said of the consignment:
"We're talking 40 ventilators, approximately 60,000 goggles, 20,0000 face masks - which are the type of masks required in the ICU settings; also over a million disposable gloves, so it's a significant amount of equipment."
"To the best of our knowledge it's all been quality assured but obviously we'll have to check it on arrival."
Along with private and public donations, the sourcing and delivery of the protetcive equipment was the result of a collaboration between Avolon, Irish company PCH, the Health Service Executive, the IDA and the Irish Embassy in China.
