Over 15,000 blankets have been knitted and crocheted by volunteers for people undergoing chemotherapy in Cork hospitals.
Knit and natter groups, national school students and Irish Countrywomen's Association guilds are among the hundreds of volunteers who have supported 'Blankets of Hope', a project run by charity the Cork Cancer Care Centre.
The project was started by the charity's founder, the late Ann Dowley-Spillane who knew just how cold it could get when someone is undergoing chemotherapy.
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She adapted an idea she first came across while on holidays in Boston. Five years on, and many thousands of blankets later, it is considered her legacy.
Knit and Natter groups met regularly at the Cork Cancer Care Centre in Cork city centre, among them several cancer survivors who themselves were given a gift of a Blanket of Hope.
Northsider Margie Desmond, successfully underwent treatment for breast cancer. She says that when she was undergoing treatment, her blanket was a great comfort.
The lovely Ashling Considine helps prepare & deliver @corkcancercare #BlanketsOfHope to #Cork’s hospitals’ & their oncology wards - she’s bringing these baby blankets @CMRF_Crumlin next week. pic.twitter.com/XCjaN3uZMQ
— JennïeØSullivân (@OSullivanJennie) March 19, 2019
Una Dineen, 89, from the Model Farm Road, and her friend Ann White, from Ballincollig are also regulars.
Una says she was introduced to the group after one of her daughters was diagnosed with breast cancer. She says she has been knitting all her life and likes that her work can be of a comfort to others.
Her friend Ann who is in remission from cancer says she treasures her blanket.
A self-confessed knitting addict - Margaret Kelleher runs the Wednesday night Knit and Natter - she has made hundreds of blankets over the years. On every blanket she includes a little brooch of an angel.
"You don't have a face, you don't have a name but you do think about somebody when you are making it.
"You just try to make it as pretty and comfortable, and warm and as colourful as possible. Just to send love to somebody who needs it at the time."
The blankets are delivered to the oncology wards at the city's four main hospitals every three weeks. Ashling Considine packs them, enclosing a leaflet about the centre, and helps retired taxi driver John Murray to deliver them.
Linda Goggin-James, who manages the centre says the reaction from the public and the hospitals has been fantastic.
The charity relies on donations for its services, and despite the demand the project makes on its funds, she says it will always be part of what they do.
