There was a sense of joy and jubilation when the Stroke Warriors Community Hub officially opened last Tuesday (October 8) on Cross Street, Enniskillen.

The Tumbling Paddies got proceeding underway outside the shop as they sang their hit, ‘The Way I Am’ as the hub was officially opened.

Inside stroke survivors, their families and supporters of the Stroke Warrior group gathered enjoying refreshments and browsing the rails of the offerings in the shop.

The hub has already began hosting support meetings for stroke survivors in the lead-up to the opening after it was reformed in recent months.

Chairwoman of Stroke Warriors, Ciara Murray who is a survivor of stroke, was delighted with the turnout and atmosphere at the opening.

She said: “The members are loving it and so I am”

“It is so lovely to see this, we are stroke warriors and we will go forward from here. When this builds up we will be able to get out on outings. The Tuesday group has been back in the hub since September.”

“The atmosphere is brilliant, I am so glad for the local people of the town here. They have supported us, they have supported me in my nine years of stroke when I had fundraisers or anything and they are all here today.”

Patrons for the group, The Tumbling Paddies were also on hand and entertained those attending with some lively renditions of classic songs, with plenty of singing along!

John McCann: “It's for a great cause, the stroke group have been running for years and years. Personally for me, a cousin of mine, John is married to Ciara who is a big part of the group so that is why we got involved as being patrons for it.

We would have previously come in once a year and done half an hour and a bit of music for them and they enjoyed that and we enjoyed it too.”