The Irish Blood Transfusion Service is calling on people to prioritise blood donation this festive season.

10,000 blood donors are needed during the holiday season to keep up with the demand.

You can check your eligibility by completing the ‘New Donor Eligibility Quiz’ on the Irish Blood Transfusion Service (IBTS) website.

The IBTS Operations Director Paul McKinney said that certain blood groups are running low.

“Well, we like to have seven days blood supply for all blood types,” he said.

“We never do, unfortunately, it's an obvious challenge.

“We're particularly under pressure for our rhesus negative blood groups - that's O negative, which is the universal blood group, A negative and B negative.

Mr McKinney has asked people that are part of the rhesus negative blood groups to “please make that special effort” and donate.

A young man donates blood. Image: Alamy Stock Photo