Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has given a televised address warning the Coronavirus crisis could last well into the summer months.
He said at some point older and vulnerable people will be asked to restrict their movements.
There was no new announcement of any further restrictions from the Taoiseach tonight, but an address that stressed the dangers of this virus.
He said he hopes that future generations will say that when things were at their worst, we were at our best.
He praised health care workers - quoting Winston Churchill from the Battle of Britain in World War 2 when he said never will so much be owed to so few.
The Taoiseach said everyone will need to pitch in and maintain social distancing in order to limit the spread of this virus.
From a financial point of view he said the bill is going to be enormous and take years to pay but that supports will be there for people who lose their jobs
Leo Varadkar also warned this could last well into the summer months and that this is just the calm before the storm and the surge, with as many as 15,000 cases expected by the end of the month.
A very different St Patrick's Day message from the Taoiseach.
No shirking the challenge ahead - and he said the Irish people now need to come together, by staying apart.
