Birr's John O'Halloran started donating platelet cells 25 years ago.
An Offaly man who's being honoured for donating his platelet cells 500 times is encouraging others to consider giving it a go.
Birr's John O'Halloran first began donating blood at 18, and started donating platelets 25 years ago at a Irish Blood Transfusion Service clinic at St James's in Dublin.
The IBTS's panel of donors for this particular cell sits at just over 2,000 across the country, with only 3 per cent of the population eligible to donate overall.
Mr O'Halloran says it's a vital way to save a life:
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