Christy Moore pulled no punches when he appeared on The Ryan Tubridy Show on RTÉ Radio 1 on Friday, telling listeners that people who travel away for the Easter weekend are "spitting at the Nation".

"The majority of people are doing everything they can to look after the country," the 74-year-old said.

"It's made me feel so proud the way we are responding to this terrible crisis. And, I suppose, sad - sad to hear about the miscreants who behave so badly.

"I had a thought this morning about the people who are flocking to the holiday places. I had this thought that, you know those videos of people spitting at shop assistants and spitting at guards? It's like these people are spitting at the Nation in a way.

"[It's] As if they're saying, 'We don't mind. We're above all this. We're going away for the weekend. We're going to go out and keep our jollies going'. That makes me sad and frustrated, even a little bit angry sometimes."

"But thankfully they are in a small minority," he continued. "And their behaviour is becoming very visible. We can all see them now."

Moore paid tribute to "our health workers and cleaners and nurses and doctors and leaders and shop staff and guards", describing them as "absolute heroes".

"And let us not forget them when this is over," he said. "Let us remember and let us look after them as they are looking after us."

"One day at a time," he added. "And let's have hope and confidence in those who are helping us through."