An Irishwoman living in Cairo has warned that any stand-off could result in a bloodbath.

Originally from Co. Kerry, Bridget Brosnan has been living in Cairo for 30 years and has said she has barely slept since the situation has intensified.

Ms Brosnan said she has remained a prisoner in her own home as people in her locality are fearful over what may happen over the coming days.

“I’ve been here for over 30 years, and I don’t think Egypt will ever be the same, it will be hard for it ever to go back," she told RTÉ’s Morning Ireland radio programme.

"For us here who are caught up in it, it is the fear of uncertainty, of not knowing what is going to happen, not knowing will this government continue in power, will it leave, when it leaves who will take over, what will it be like to continue here? It’s this feeling of fear really.

"Last night we really didn’t know what was going to happen, we had neighbors protecting our area but you didn’t know if the security forces would come and remove them — you didn’t know.

"The problem, as you saw on Wednesday, is that within an hour something can change so you don’t know what is going to happen so you are living in a constant fear of not knowing what is going to happen."

She told listeners there was calm in her local area but "we cannot go over the bridges."

She added that her daughter was planning to give blood as a lot of civilians had been wounded, many of whom are being treated in a makeshift mosque.