CO. GALWAY, Ireland - Boston Scientific has invested 60 million euro to expand its operations in Ireland.

The first phase of the expansion has come with the opening of a new facility at its Co Galway site at Ballybrit.

Founded in 1979 and headquartered in Massachusetts, in the United States, Boston Scientific employs 32,000 employees worldwide. It is a global participant in the development of medical devices that impact 30 million patients every year. As well as marking 25 years in Galway, Boston Scientific is also turning forty this year. To mark the occasion, on Monday the company rang the closing bell at the New York Stock Exchange.

The Irish expansion will broaden the company's capacity to support global product demand and also includes a new Equipment Technology Centre. The new facility is at the site of the former Digital building by the end of this year will be housing more than 250 people. Boston Scientific Galway has a workforce of over 3,700 people covering all aspects of product design & manufacturing, exporting more than four million life saving medical devices each year.The company began operating in Ireland in 1994 with less than 30 employees. Today it has a workforce of over 5,700 across three locations in Ireland, at Clonmel, Cork and Galway.

Mike Mahoney, Chairman and CEO of Boston Scientific officially opened the new facility and at a special town hall meeting attended by almost 800 employees, he acknowledged the importance of the Galway site to the company. "The opening of this new facility reflects our ongoing commitment to Galway and Ireland. Our highly skilled workforce has made a significant contribution to the development of many innovative medical solutions, with our Galway site playing a key role in products in areas such as Interventional Cardiology, Endoscopy and Peripheral Interventions," he said.IDA Ireland CEO Martin Shanahan added: "I was delighted to join Mike Mahoney, James Lyons and close to 800 of Boston Scientific's workforce at the special town hall to mark the company's 25th anniversary. Having a company of the stature of Boston Scientific operating in Galway, with a workforce of over 3,700 employees, is of enormous value to the economy of Galway and the wider West Region. Boston Scientific's longevity demonstrates a huge commitment to Galway and Ireland and this further investment in a new facility to support existing and new business is testament to the company's continued focus on innovation and excellence in medical technology."The opening of the new facility is part of a programme of celebrations for Boston Scientific's 25th Anniversary in Galway. James Lyons, Vice President of Operations at Boston Scientific Galway said: "Given the scale of our campus and workforce here, the support of the wider community has been especially important. I would like to acknowledge the contribution in turn that our employees have made to the local community, including raising over €2.6m for local charities and organisations since 1994."(Pictured: James Lyons, Vice President, Operations, Boston Scientific Galway, Martin Shanahan, CEO IDA Ireland and Mike Mahoney, CEO & President, Boston Scientific at the official opening of Boston Scientific's new facility at its Ballybrit site).