ENNISKILLEN was thrust onto the global stage yesterday as a 90-year-old woman originally from the Co Fermanagh town made history in becoming the first person in the world to receive the Covid-19 vaccination.
While Margaret Keenan may have moved away from Enniskillen around 60 years ago, people in the town were delighted by the news she was from the area.
It was the main topic of conversation in the town as Ms Keenan, known to her family and friends as Maggie, received the first Pfizer Covid-19 jab outside a clinical trial as the NHS began its mass vaccination programme across the UK.
The pensioner, who turns 91 next week, moved to Coventry in her thirties and has a daughter, son and four grandchildren.
A former jewellery shop assistant, she only retired four years ago.
Ulster Unionist councillor Howard Thornton last night said "it's such positive news and for Enniskillen to be connected to it is fantastic.
"Everyone is trying to find out if anyone knows her," he said.
"There's a few Keenans about Enniskillen, but she moved away that long ago.
"But it's nice for Enniskillen to get a mention, especially on world-wide news."
Given the vaccine at 6.31am from nurse May Parsons at University Hospital in Coventry, Ms Keenan will receive a booster jab in 21 days' time to ensure she has the best chance of being protected against the virus.
SDLP councillor Paul Blake said "for a woman originally from Enniskillen to receive the vaccine is incredible".
"It has been a bleak couple of months for so many people so if Margaret can kick-start the optimism that things will get better, it has to be a positive thing," he said.
"She has put Enniskillen on the world map."
Ms Keenan - who has been self-isolating for most of this year - said she felt "so privileged to be the first person vaccinated against Covid-19".
"It's the best early birthday present I could wish for because it means I can finally look forward to spending time with my family and friends in the new year after being on my own for most of the year," she said.
"I can't thank May and the NHS staff enough who have looked after me tremendously, and my advice to anyone offered the vaccine is to take it - if I can have it at 90 then you can have it too."
She quipped she was hoping to holiday in Barbados, adding: "I don't mind the attention, it doesn't bother me. I'm just happy to have it done.
"At the moment I don't know how I feel, just so strange and so wonderful really.
"This is for a good cause and I'm so pleased I had it done."
Stormont First Minister Arlene Foster - who also comes from Fermanagh - described the news as "wonderful", while secretary of state Brandon Lewis said: "Fantastic to see Enniskillen woman, Margaret, receive the first vaccine this morning".
