A 90-year-old nun living in Belfast has spoken of the importance of receiving her daily newspaper delivery during the Covid-19 crisis.
Sister Sheila McGovern said reading her copy of the Irish News every day enabled her to "keep in touch with everything that's happening in the local news, in the community as well as abroad".
On Saturday, The Irish News revealed it had joined forces with other leading daily newspapers to launch a home delivery service.
The initiative with the News Letter and Daily Mirror is designed to ensure that readers are provided with a vital source of trusted news during the coronavirus pandemic.
And with new service already proving popular with readers since it began on Monday, it is being expanded to include more local newspapers - the Belfast Telegraph, Andersonstown News, North Belfast News and FarmWeek are all coming on board.
The service was launched following a huge number of requests from readers looking for their paper to be delivered either for themselves or elderly parents, particularly during the ongoing lockdown period when people are self-isolating and embracing social distancing.
Among those to receive her copy of the Irish News is Sr Sheila, who is self-isolating in the fold she lives in on the Andersonstown Road in west Belfast.
The St Louis Sister moved into Tearmann Fold in December with the closure of her convent on Hillhead Crescent in the city.
Originally from Belcoo, Co Fermanagh, her 70 years of religious life have seen her serve in Nigeria, England and Ireland before she moved to Belfast 16 years ago.
"I spend a lot of my time praying, especially at the moment I pray a lot for what is going on," she said.
"I moved out of the convent in December and into this fold and it's great, I have my own space and am able to enjoy the peace and quiet.
"I sit every day and read the Irish News, we used to get it in the convent and we would all read it.
"It is useful to be able to read the death notices, but I enjoy reading the paper as it allows to me to keep in touch with everything that's happening in the local news, in the community as well as abroad."
Readers can sign up to the Belfast Delivery Service by calling 028 9032 2226 or visit irishnews.com/homedelivery.
