Ireland's first Ireland’s first purpose-built centre dedicated to the prevention of cardiovascular disease and stroke was officially opened in Galway today by Taoiseach Enda Kenny.

The centre has been funded entirely through the fundraising efforts of the heart and stroke charity, Croí, the West of Ireland Cardiac Foundation,

The €3.7m Croí Heart & Stroke Centre employs a multi-disciplinary team of 22 staff and is supported by a team of community volunteers.

The new centre, which Croi says  is unique in Ireland, is similar in concept to a number of 'health and wellbeing centres', mainly located in the United States.

The Croí centre is independent of any hospital facility, is a community based and led initiative and is not government funded.

The primary focus of the centre is the prevention of, and recovery from heart disease, stroke, diabetes and obesity.

The centre has a large exercise and fitness centre where the staff work with people at risk of, or recovering from heart and stroke events. Exercise programmes are designed so they can be replicated in the home.

There are three self-contained accommodation units on site, so that families in need may stay close to the hospital while a loved one is undergoing surgery or receiving stroke or coronary care.