Irish UFC legend Conor McGregor has vowed to spend $1 million on personal protective equipment for staff at hospitals in the Leinster province.
It comes after he was contacted by Ireland’s Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe, who asked him to use his influence to encourage people to practice social distancing.
McGregor had already appealed to the government to order a full lockdown, as has happened in most of Europe, in order to protect people from the virus.
Donohoe replied to McGregor’s video message saying that many teenagers and young men and women are still not social distancing.
He told McGregor that they were likely to listen to him.
This led to a conversation between the pair that McGregor shared with his social media followers.
McGregor said that he had gave his fans several instructions, including to wash their hands, not touch their face and to keep their distance from one another.
He then said: “Today I am purchasing myself €1 million worth of personal protective equipment to be deployed to all the fighting hospitals in the Leinster region.
“Our most affected region to this date.
“St James’, Mater, Tallaght, Beaumont, Vincent’s. Where would we be without these brave men and women I do not know.
“May God bless over them and keep them safe!”
McGregor also urged Donohoe to make sure the government does more to stop the spread of the virus.
He said: “Building sites should be closed. They are open for what? We can always build again after this. In every way.
“But we must put Health before Wealth. Bingo halls is not enough.
“You think a building site canteen is going to separate? Or on site while working together?
“I respect you, and your team and I believe you are doing as good a job as you possibly can. I have been impressed by all. As has the nation.
“I feel we are moving in the right way, it just feels to me like it is not all the way. I urge all the way! “All in” is the term we must use here.
“Bit by bit will cost us lives. To see what is happening here in Ireland and all across the entire globe is heartbreaking to me. I pray.
“God speed Minister and thank you for the message and your service to our nation.”
Written by Michael Kehoe @michaelcalling