A brave boy fighting cancer said he had the "best birthday ever" when thousands of cards and packages of well-wishers around the world were delivered to his home.

Fionn Doyle, who was seven years old, said it was "really cool" to see so many cards and gifts delivered under armed garda and fire brigade escort to his home in Kildorrery, in North Cork.

"I might open a few of them today, but I'll leave the rest of them for my next birthday," he said.

Fionn has been fighting leukemia for more than five years. But his parents Eimear and Jack were told in May that the illness of their little boy is terminal.

Prior to his birthday Eimear made a simple call on social media to invite people to send Fionn a birthday card.

She said she expected a few people to respond.

But her message resonated throughout the world.

Local mailman David Nolan got garda and firefighting attendant to the Doyle House yesterday, and needed a small army of helpers to deliver dozens of bags of cards, parcels and boxes that arrived from all over Ireland, Europe and America.

Eimear said that the fact that so many people responded to her message will give the family strength in the coming weeks.

"Days like today are a good diversion and allow us to focus on the moment and what we have here for us," she said.

"We have just felt the love of everyone and the support has given us strength for the times when you hit a wall and think you can not go on … but to think that so many people are behind us, gives us the the strength to keep going. "

Do not miss tomorrow's Irish Examiner for this gripping story.