Fermanagh people were among those who were delighted to meet and greet Prince Harry during his first official visit to Northern Ireland last week.

The Royal visitor, who received a warm welcome, fulfilled a number of engagements last Thursday, September 7, which saw him visit Ballymena, Belfast and Hillsborough Castle.

The Board members and staff of the Ely Centre, Enniskillen said they had the honour of being nominated to attend the Royal Garden Party in Hillsborough. This special event was hosted by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Sir James Brokenshire and the Royal representative was Prince Harry. 

A representative from the Centre explained that the invitation was an acknowledgement of the work carried out by the Ely Centre to support victims and survivors of the Troubles in Fermanagh and South Tyrone since its establishment in 2002.

It was at the Garden Party at Hillsborough Castle that Selwyn Johnston, High Sheriff for County Fermanagh, was also among those local people to speak to Prince Harry.

Speaking afterwards, Selwyn said that he congratulated the Prince on promoting positive mental health and wellbeing.

Selwyn who works in the field of mental health and has a special interest in it, says he congratulated him on the work that he and his brother, Prince William and his wife Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge, are doing and the difference it has made.

“I invited him to visit Fermanagh,” said Selwyn.

Meanwhile, pupils  Trinity Creighton and Steven Murray from Erne Integrated College Enniskillen met Prince Harry last Thursday at an event to celebrate the work of Co-operation Ireland and officially launch Year two of Co-operation Ireland’s Amazing The Space programme in which the school is taking part.