An Post has announced that it will give every household two free postcards in an effort to help people stay connected over the coming weeks.

Five million cards have been made available to send to households across Ireland free of charge.

They will be delivered to 1.8 million households in the coming weeks and additional cards will also be available in Post Offices.

An Post CEO David McRedmond said: "There's nothing like a personal note to raise our spirits and remind us that we're not being forgotten, that we are all in this together and that we will get through it."

He said: "Post is a powerful link connecting people and communities who have to remain apart at this strange and difficult time."