Strabane's 'Tinnies' have been decked out in healthcare scrubs as a tribute to health service staff.
The four giant figures in the “Let the Dance Begin” sculpture created by Maurice Harron to mark the new millennium stand sentinel over the Strabane/Lifford border.
In the last 20 they have frequently been kitted out in the red and white of Tyrone GAA to mark the O’Neill county’s success in All-Ireland campaigns.
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However, this week they were dressed in health scrubs by the O’Neill’s sportswear company which is based in Strabane.
It switched production to personal protective equipment for frontline workers at the onset of the Covid-19 lockdown.
Managing director Kieran Kennedy said the new outfits for the statues were timely after Altnagelvin Hospital reported last week that all Covid-19 patients in its intensive care unit had been discharged.
“Now it’s time for us to thank our heroic frontline healthcare staff for their incredible work treating patients during the pandemic," he said.
“O’Neills are delighted once again to put our manufacturing skills to use in creating these special large-scale scrubs, gown and masks in sky blue, maroon and navy to dress Strabane’s most iconic sculpture in recognition of all our frontline workers.
“We think the Tinnies look fantastic in their scrubs and we hope the many people passing by in the coming days and weeks enjoy admiring them as much as we do.”
The Strabane businessman also paid tribute to his staff who, he said, showed, “loyalty, flexibility, commitment and passion” through the weeks of coronavirus lockdown.
A banner thanking frontline workers was also erected at the site.
