RTÉ star to preside at opening of major new Mayo facility this Friday

THE newly expanded Western Alzheimers Marian House in Ballindine, will be officially opened on Friday next, July 18, at 3pm. It is being renamed as the Joe and Helen O’Toole Respite Home, Ballindine, and this €4.7 million development marks a major milestone in dementia care in the west of Ireland.

This major expansion has been made possible through the generous support of the Joe and Helen O’Toole Charitable Trust and community partners. Mary Lardner, representing the Tuam based Trust, along with Patrick Kielty, presenter of RTÉ’s The Late Late Show, will preside at the opening ceremony.

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The home was opened in Ballindine back in the mid-1990s after being initially set-up by John Grant, who served as CEO for several years, at Convent Road, Claremorris. The Ballindine venture was the first purpose-built respite home in the country and gained a lot of attention countrywide. It won four national awards in the early years and was the template for other ventures around the country.

Support from the O’Toole Family Trust in Tuam has been central to the latest expansion and all associated with the Respite Home are deeply appreciative of the tremendous support in bringing this latest development to fruition in Ballindine.