Hundreds of people from across Fermanagh braved the wet weather last Saturday to show their solidarity and support for the South West Acute Hospital (SWAH) with a 'Ring of Steel' around the hospital.

People clasped hands in a symbolic and powerful message for those who work in the hospital, and the decision-makers in the Western Trust alike, that they are fully behind the SWAH, and are determined to fight for the retention of services there.

Organiser Dylan Quinn said the demonstration was a success in getting the message out about the issues surrounding the SWAH.

Thanking all those who took part, he said: "It went great. It was a fantastic turnout and we had a great reception from the staff.

"We could hear the staff applauding as we were moving around the building, and as I was running around the building."

Making a full circle around the hospital with young and old involved, Dylan said: "We had people from all walks of life there and from all across the county.

"It picked up a lot of media coverage. It did what it was supposed to do – it galvanised the community and it also raised the profile of the campaign. It was also very poor weather, yet people came out anyway."

The Ring of Steel is part of an ongoing campaign by the local community to fight against cuts to services at the SWAH and with a public meeting due for this Friday in the Lakeland Forum, Dylan believes Saturday's demonstration was a successful first step in what he believes will be a long fight.

"I think it has hit the mark, in terms of making people aware that this is something ongoing. For that day, we needed our wet weather shoes, but for this battle, we need our long-distance shoes."

And while it was organised as a protest against the cuts, there was another element to it. "It was a demonstration to the staff. We ended up referring to it as 'the Ring of Steel and the Ring of Support'.

"It was a demonstration of how the community is really supporting this hospital.

"The byline for it was, 'This hospital has supported us – now it's time we supported it'. It was about us as a community coming together," he added.