The Chief Executive of the Roscommon Mayo Hospice says the opening of the new palliative care campus in Roscommon today could not happen without the efforts of the people of the region.
After years of hard work and an enormous amount of fundraising, the new 8 bed palliative care centre is now open.
As well as individual suites, the building, which cost 6.3 million euro, will provide a day centre, therapy rooms, family rooms, and be the base for the home care teams.
CEO of the Roscommon Mayo Hospice Martina Jennings says it's a day of celebration for all those in the community who have worked so hard to raise funds for the hospice down through the years.
Irene Beirne set up the Knockcroghery Hospice Support Group in the years after her daughter Sinead passed away.
She is one of hundreds of people who helped raised thousands of euro for the Roscommon Mayo Hospice to make up the millions needed to build this centre.
She sadly died before she would see the centre built, but is remembered in the garden pod at the hospice.
Her husband Michael says it's a fitting tribute.
Her daughter Tracey says it's a special day for all those who helped make this centre happen.
The Health Minister Stephan Donnelly officially opened the hospice today.
He told today's launch that there was a question mark over the funding required to run the centre and that on foot of representations from local government politicians he had sought to ensure, before he cut any ribbon, that the it would be fully funded into the future.
Minister Donnelly also took an extensive tour of Roscommon University Hospital and says he hopes the planned rehabilitation unit can progress quickly.
Hundreds attended today's event with a special message from Amercian President Joe Biden.
