Alkermes announces funding deal for Pieta House West facility

Alkermes has announced a substantial financial commitment to Pieta House West, the charity which focuses on the prevention of self-harm and suicide. Pieta House hopes to open a facility for the west of Ireland that would also serve Athlone. While Alkermes has refused to disclose the amount it has committed, it is rumoured to be in the region of €100,000. The pharmaceutical company would simply say that it had committed to the providing funding to Pieta House West for an initial period of three years to help set up and run the facility. It is expected to cost in the region of €200,000 to build the facility, which will be based in Tuam, and once it is up and running it will cost €250,000 to run. It is expected that Athlone will be served by the first outreach facility from the Tuam office. The announcement of the funding commitment was made at the launch of the Defence Forces Gala Concert, which will be held in the Hodson Bay Hotel on June 7 and the main benefactor of which is Pieta House. Associate Director of HR at Alkermes Tom Ryan, who was previously an army officer in Athlone, represented Alkermes at the launch and said: "While we do not want to disclose the amount committed, it is substantial and will go a long way in covering the running costs associated with this wonderful initiative. We have also designated Pieta House West as the company's preferred charity for Athlone staff, so fundraising initiatives such as our 45 strong TriAthlone team, will be fundraising on their behalf." Mr Ryan said the company was delighted to support Pieta House's efforts to open a facility in the west of Ireland and to support the work of the Lions Club in working to combat suicide. He said both management and staff at Alkermes were happy to support Pieta House West. General Officer Commanding (GOC) the 4th Western Brigade Brigadier General Ger Aherne said the Western Brigade was the only one of the three Defence Forces brigades that didn't traditionally hold an annual gala concert and this was something he had wanted to change. He said annual concerts were held in the East and Southern Brigades, with a designated charity chosen each year and some of the money also going to the Army Benevolent Fund. He said that around the same time he had been thinking of beginning an annual gala concert in the west, he happened to take a wrong turn going home one evening and instead of heading for home he called to his friend Paddy Kelly's house, where Paddy, who is on the Roscommon committee of Pieta House, was meeting with Frankie Flynn, of the HSE, about Pieta House West. "It happened to coincide with my own thought process about the gala concert so over a cup of tea we decided I would suggest Pieta House West as the charity," he said. He explained that Pieta House has been in existence since 2006 and said the Defence Forces was not immune to the problem of suicide. Brig. Gen. Aherne said it costs €1.5m a year to run Pieta House and its outreach services. Brig. Gen. Aherne explained that the gala concert will see the Band of the 4th Western Brigade perform alongside renowned soprano Cara O'Sullivan, with music also from local group Anam. He thanked the Hodson Bay Hotel, which provided the premises free of charge and mentioned, in particular, John O'Sullivan, Padraig Sugrue, Tim Hayes and Michelle Peake. Speaking about the support from Alkermes, he said: "I'm absolutely thrilled that we are in partnership with Alkermes, formerly Elan. It is as much a part of the fabric of Athlone as the Defence Forces. I acknowledge the people who brought us together - the Lions Clubs in Athlone and Roscommon." Brig. Gen. Aherne also thanked the hardworking concert committee in Custume Barracks for their professionalism, drive and enthusiasm. Chairman of the Pieta House Roscommon committee Tony Whyte said the concert committee in Custume Barracks had raised their spirits every time they had met with their professionalism and their attitude. The concert will be held in Hodson Bay Hotel on Thursday, June 7, at 8.30pm. Tickets, priced at €15, are available from the Hodson Bay Hotel on 090 6442000 or from Mal Doran at Custume Barracks on 087 8202017 or 090 6421172.