A special gathering took place earlier this week to mark Disability Pride Month.

Around 50 people gathered at the heart sculpture by Enniskillen Castle to mark the occasion in what was a first-time event in Enniskillen.

The event was organised by Shelley Cowan and attended by members from a variety of groups, including Safe Haven, Women Making Waves and JustUs.

Also in attendance was Fermanagh and Omagh District Council Diversity Ambassador Noeleen Hayes, and Selwyn Johnston, a keen supporter of volunteers in the county.

Ms. Cowan thanked them for their attendance and said it was “lovely to have their support”.

Commenting on the wide range of people present at the event, she added: “We had people with physical, learning, sensory and all types of disabilities and we had parents of people with disabilities."

All those attending the gathering at the heart at Enniskillen Castle stood in solidarity with each other and other people with disabilities.

Ms. Cowan continued: “We had the music pumping and waved our flags. It was a lovely turn-out, and the weather was very kind to us.

"We danced to music such as ‘Proud’, by Heather Small, and ‘This is Me’,  from 'The Greatest Showman'.

"We were celebrating us out in society, as years ago we wouldn’t have been, and realising how far we have come on.

“However, more accessibility awareness and sustainability is required for an inclusive world for all.”

She added: “None of us are immune to disability. One in four of us have a disability in Northern Ireland.”

Ms. Cowan wished to thank some of those who kindly supported the event.

The banners and flags were donated by David McAviney, Erne Deals; the Valley Hotel, Fivemiletown supplied drinks; Wash Me Enniskillen supplied goodie bags; and Raymond McMullan, of Rustic Bear Laser Engraving, made a special sign for the event.

Ms. Cowan set him a task to include the colour of the Disability Pride flag as well as including the Enniskillen Heart in his design, and he did so as well as using a variety of fonts to represent all of the different types of disabilities present in society.