A campaign is offering messages of "compassion and hope" to those who will not be spending Christmas at home this year.
Thousands of people will not be travelling to Ireland from abroad due to the coronavirus pandemic.
However, the 'Words of Light' campaign from The Mater Foundation aims to also focus on people spending Christmas Day in hospital.
This includes both patients and healthcare workers who often work through the festive period.
Tom Hickey, Head of Fundraising and Communications at The Mater Foundation, explained to Alive and Kicking with Clare McKenna how the campaign works.
He said: "Obviously, there's been a lot of talk about people not being home for Christmas.
"That got us thinking here in the Mater there are people who don't get home for Christmas every single year, whether that is frontline health workers or patients who are spending their Christmas in hospital.
"What we wanted to do was to allow people to share that experience in some way.
"We've set up a website where people can go on, leave their message of 120 characters, just like on Twitter, and we then take those messages and project them onto the eight-storey high Mater Hospital building on Eccles Street."
He added: "It's like a giant smartphone with a live Twitter feed with messages of compassion and hope and people sharing thoughts for anyone who can't be at home for Christmas."
People can leave their message without adding a donation, but the Foundation is asking that people give what they can to support them.
The funds will go towards the continued development of the hospital in response to COVID-19, as well as the expansion of the emergency unit and adaption of stroke facilities.
Mr Hickey explained: "Every single cent that we raise at The Mater Foundation goes straight back into the hospital and helps us to improve and make our hospital better all the time."
Thank you so much to @ImeldaOfficial @iamNATHANCARTER & @U2 & to the thousands of messages of goodwill pouring in for those spending Christmas away from home. You can leave your #WordsOfLight on https://t.co/OYibwQnIkG with livestream available to view from 4.30pm 🙏🏻💫💙 pic.twitter.com/NBFFeiUPwZ
— The Mater Foundation (@TheMaterFoundat) December 20, 2020
Famous faces have also added their own words to the campaign, including U2, Imelda May, Nathan Carter and Fontaines DC.
Mr Hickey said all of us have the power within us to say the right words to people at a difficult time.
He added: "It's not just about the people who are unwell or in the hospital at the time, we're seeing messages form all over the world, from family and loved ones who can't get home this Christmas.
"We're seeing messages from the US, from Canada, New Zealand, Australia, Asia, the UK, there are messages coming in from everywhen with people just wanting to connect with home and connect with the people that they love."
People can take part in the Words of Light campaign and leave a donation here.
