The official opening of the new 14 bed Mayo Roscommon Hospice Facility in Castlebar was carried out by Minister for Health Simon Harris last Friday.
Up to 1,000 people attended the official opening of the facility which was built over the past two years and built solely with donations from the public collected over two decades, with over €9.5 million raised in order to complete the project.
At the launch, Minister Harris said he was "humbled" to be performing the official opening and confirmed that funding is in place for 2020 for the Hospice to recruit staff and get the new facility up and running.
The launch was also addressed by Minister Michael Ring, as well as CEO of Mayo Roscommon Hospice, Martina Jennings, Chairperson of the Mayo Roscommon Hospice, Joanne Hynes and former CEO of the organisation Cynthia Clampett, along with a special video message from former US Vice President and contestant for the Democratic Party nomination for the 2020 US Presidential election, Joe Biden.
The speakers all paid tribute to the current staff and volunteers from the Mayo Roscommon Hospice and those who were deeply involved in the organisation but have passed on before the new facility was completed.
Paying tribute to those who fundraised over the the years for the charity, hospice CEO Martina Jennings said: "Thank you so much to our incredible volunteers, our supporters' groups, fundraisers and donors for placing your trust in us and for giving your time and money so generously."
