Taoiseach to hail Baxter success story during Mayo visit
US industrial pioneers helped transform Mayo economy
Taoiseach Micheál Martin is making a special visit to Castlebar tomorrow (Wednesday) to hail the success of Baxter, celebrating the 50th anniversary of its establishment in Mayo.
The pharmaceutical giants, which currently employs 1,200 people at its plants in Castlebar and Swinford, have played an integral role in the development of the county as a hub for foreign direct investment.
An Taoiseach has been invited to address the golden anniversary celebrations tomorrow morning before attending a number of engagements in the county town.
He will meet business leaders, including the president of Castlebar Chamber of Commerce, Bernard Hughes, at The Connaught Telegraph offices on Main Street around noon before visiting the Mayo Mental Health Association's Mindspace facility and dropping into Cuppa Joes on Market Square for lunch.
Afterwards he is scheduled to visit Atlantic Technological University Mayo at Westport Road before being given a short tour of the Lough Lannagh amenity.
He will be accompanied by local Fianna Fáil party representatives, including Senator Lisa Chambers, Councillor Al McDonnell, Councillor Blackie Gavin and Councillor Martin McLoughlin.
Baxter's decision to set up a base in Mayo in 1972, taken on the strength of Ireland's entry into the Common Market and attractive tax incentives, helped to attract other multinationals, including Allergan and Hollister, to invest in Westport and Ballina, respectively.
Doug Scott, who was appointed by Travenol, the former trading name of Baxter, to locate a European base in Mayo 50 years ago, has confirmed that both Allergan and Hollister consulted him before opting to follow in Travenol's path.
“I informed them that our experience was a very positive one. We found the IDA to be very accommodating. They did not just want our investment, they wanted to create a future for a well-educated young workforce.
“They wanted companies like ours to come here with our managers and the Mayo county development officer at the time, Sean Smyth, was very helpful to me, both personally and from a business standpoint in terms of integrating to the town of Castlebar,” he told Midwest Radio.
Mr. Scott said while his company benefitted in terms of tax breaks on their exported products, he said the arrival of a number of multinationals to Mayo helped to stem the tide of emigration which existed in the county for many generations.
“Mayo is a different place than when I first arrived. The place is thriving and Castlebar has grown so much I don't think I could find the house in which I lived for many years!
“And, from Baxter's perspective, it has been a great success story. While we had a few rough patches in the first 20 years or so, it's been a wonderful journey.”