Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport, Patrick O’Donovan attended the official opening of the new Bon Secours hospital in Ballysimon, Limerick.
Marking the first new hospital built nationally in the past two decades, the facility holds the first private cardiac catheterisation laboratory (Cath Lab), as well as the first PET-CT scanner in the Mid-West.
Despite the official opening ceremony on Monday, March 9, 2026, the hospital has been expanding its available services since last September, when they began a phased opening of the facility.
In an interview with the Limerick post, the CEO of Bon Secours Limerick, Jason Kenny, shared that the facility will relieve pressure from UHL by treating patients “who have had serious medical intervention.” Mr. Kenny also shared that 12 public patients were attending the hospital on Monday and were visiting the dedicated Barringtons Ward as part of efforts made by the HSE and private hospital providers to help ease the strain on public facilities nationally
The hospital, which aims to help patients “feel at ease throughout their visit” hosts a range of specialities including endoscopy, cardiology, plastic and reconstructive surgeries and radiology and diagnostic imaging. According to figures shared with the Limerick Leader, the facility employs more than 4,000 staff and 500 leading consultants.
The project had an investment of €213 million and is the fifth hospital opened by Bon Secours nationally. Minister O’Donovan spoke on the steps at the facility and stated it was “the first private hospital of scale in the region.”
The facility took 3 years to complete, raising questions about public hospital build times. However, the minister shared that the private sector has an easier time building facilities compared to the public sector as they “don’t have to go through public spending codes.”