Hey Macarena! Hospice patients' dance flash-mob goes viral

Tens of thousands have already viewed the three-minute clip on YouTube which shows the sick and elderly doing ‘the Macarena’.

The video was shot at Our Lady’s Hospice in Harold’s Cross in Dublin, where unsuspecting diners in the canteen were surprised by the patient and staff flash-mob.

Within moments of them starting the moves to the sound of the floor-filling Spanish dance song, others are joining in - some of them discarding their walking frames.

Among them is a nun while others can be seen doing the Nineties dance craze moves from their wheelchairs.

Jeanne McDonagh, spokeswoman for the hospice, said 24 patients and 10 staff had been secretly practising the surprise as part of Positive Ageing Week.

“They were doing dance classes as part of an independent living programme to help them keep living well,” she said.

“They really enjoy it and the Macarena is particularly popular, so they decided to do this for Positive Ageing Week.

“They just jumped up at lunchtime and started moving and then everyone started joining in.

“It was really wonderful and really typical of the hospice, it is such a warm, happy place - they really celebrate life here.”

The whole canteen can be seen erupting into applause at the end of the dance.