A Navajo woman says the generous response of Irish people to a Covid-19 appeal "almost brings her to tears".
There has been a huge response to a plea for help from Native Americans battling one of the worst coronavirus outbreaks in the United States.
Thousands of Irish donated to a GoFundMe page as a gesture of solidarity and to repay a gift sent by Native Americans to Ireland during the Great Famine.
In 1847, the Choctaw Nation sent $170 in aid to Ireland, the equivalent to $5,000 today.
Doreen McPaul, Attorney General for the Navajo nation, revealed the tough circumstances Native Americans are facing amid the pandemic.
She told RTE's Morning Ireland: "We (the Navajo Nation) are similar in size to Ireland, 27,000 square miles and we cross three states here, Arizona, Utah and New Mexico and 11 counties within those states.
"We are remote and we have issues with infrastructure and water and multiple generational families living in the same homes, we have people who have a high prevalence of disease, diabetes and cancer and things that are not good for the virus."
Ms McPaul told how many Navajo homes lack water and electricity.
She explained: "We don't have the broadband capacity for people to maintain their normal lives from home if they don't have electricity or power, or water to wash their hands for 20 seconds."
And she told how Navajo people often face a long journey just to get to a grocery store or post office.
Isolation of a sick person on a reservation is another difficulty.
Ms McPaul said: "We're very social beings and communal beings and we take care of not just our families and our household, but our extended families and our communities and the Nation at large.
"Separating somebody if you live in small quarters it just isn't feasible.
"Not having access to the necessary cleaning supplies to keep a home disinfected is a challenge for some of our communities and then just not having access to water to keep your hands clean is problematic as well."
Ms McPaul, whose paternal grandfathers were Irish, told how the Navajos received "very kind messages" from Irish people after their appeal for help.
"It was just really heartwarming to see that and I'm particularly proud of that, just because of my own heritage," she said.
She explained: "My dad is actually a dual citizen of the United States and Ireland but he was raised here on the Navajo reservation so my primary connection is my father."
Ms McPaul added her sister studied in Ireland and is now married to a Clare man from Newmarket-on-Fergus.
Recalling the famine story which led to the donations, she said: "It's beyond amazing, the outpouring of support has just been incredibly heartwarming and it almost brings me to tears just to think about it.
