RSS
News


Home Page > News > Botox boom saves Irish town amid the massive downturn and recession

Botox boom saves Irish town amid the massive downturn and recession

Westport in County Mayo is thriving as other towns face economic ruin

By
DARA KELLY,
IrishCentral Staff Writer
Published Monday, February 6, 2012, 7:07 AM
Updated Monday, February 6, 2012, 11:21 AM

print this article Print
email this articleE-mail
comment on article 9 Comments
See more: Irish business news  

Manufacturing botox saved Westport town, Mayo, from the sharp bite of the recession
Manufacturing botox saved Westport town, Mayo, from the sharp bite of the recession
Photo by Google Images


The production of Botox on the outskirts of Westport in Co Mayo is helping to create an Irish boom town despite Ireland's economic recession.

Allergan, which manufactures the cosmetic drug, announced that it is expanding its workforce in the west of Ireland to more than 1,000 and is building a new research and development center in the coastal town. The company estimates that within five years, 60 per cent of Botox sales will be for illnesses ranging from cerebral palsy to migraines as well as what it is most known for - anti-ageing treatments.

Allergan started with only 25 workers in 1977 and little was expected back then when nothing was known about Botox.

“When they arrived, Westport, like a lot of towns on the west of Ireland, was on its knees,”  Sean Staunton, who served on the town council for 37 years told the irish Times. “They were very welcome, but there were no great expectations at the time.”

Now the factory and the surrounding beauty  keeps 10 hotels in business, providing an estimated 1,000 jobs in tourism and catering as well as the 1,000 jobs at the Botox plant..

Joe Corcoran, a local hotelier says the town would be devastated without Botox. “There have only been two construction projects here in the last three years – a school and the Lidl supermarket – so these jobs will be very welcome.”

According to the Guardian, Allergan's quarterly profit figures were revealed last Thursday in the US at $279.8m (£176m), up 6% from last year's fourth quarter. Global sales of Botox, its key product, grew 8% in the fourth quarter to $415.3m.

______________________
Read More:

Ireland hit by Europe’s big freeze as flight chaos affects thousands 

Dublin’s dolls hospital and teddy bears clinic, the DollStore, to close – VIDEO

Read more Irish immigration news on IrishCentral
_______________________

Pat O'Donnell, Allergan's managing director in Ireland, wants to emphasize that Botox is more than just a way to fight wrinkles.

"What a lot of people don't realise is that at present about 50% of the revenue we get from Botox is cosmetic, but the rest comes from therapeutic treatments such as juvenile cerebral palsy, adult spasticity and, just recently, we got approval for chronic migraine and overactive bladder in people with spinal cord injuries or patients suffering from MS.

1 2 Next page >
​
See more: Irish business news , Irish economy , New from Ireland
print this article Print
email this articleE-mail


9 Comments

See all comments

IrelandNorth | Feb 08, 2012, 07:18 AM EST
To all Irish -American tourists! Beware of any De Valerian comely Irish maidens dancing at the cross-roads of Westport and environs, with lovely red hair and soup-coolers lips. They're not blowing kisses at ya! They're hyperventilate after overdosing on botox. What can I say except - pog mo thoin leis do liopa lan. Come to think of it. would JKF have kissed a botox beauty?

Report abuse

Scrivner | Feb 06, 2012, 05:05 PM EST
If California's Nancy Pelosi retires from public life, how many redundancy layoffs will happen in Westport?

Report abuse

Scrivner | Feb 06, 2012, 04:55 PM EST
If California's Nancy Pelosi retires from public life, would there be severe layoffs in Westport?

Report abuse

Scrivner | Feb 06, 2012, 04:55 PM EST
If California's Nancy Pelosi retires from public life, would there be severe layoffs in Westport?

Report abuse

Curitiba | Feb 06, 2012, 04:54 PM EST
The stuff they get models to do! Fancy trying to smile when you're getting 3 needles pushed in your face!

Report abuse

canadianirish | Feb 06, 2012, 04:24 PM EST
When it comes to Botox injections proceed with caution. I have a sensitivity to medications and had one very small injection to test me for sensitivity. The result was a pounding headache and soreness around the incision. I would NEVER recommend using Botox unless you first have a sensitivity test. A better alternative with no side effects is Juvederm.

Report abuse

Murph46 | Feb 06, 2012, 04:09 PM EST
Good for you badolan,I love Westport,we B&B'd in a home of an ancestor of Grace O'Malley there.I hope it continues to provide what you need but I do laugh at those vain old bags.I hope Wesport brings in Billions for the area.

Report abuse

badolan | Feb 06, 2012, 03:15 PM EST
I use botox for a rate voice disorder. I can barely be understood without Botox injections. This drug is not just used for vanity reasons. I've been to Westport twice and love it. I'm glad to hear that they are doing well.

Report abuse

Murph46 | Feb 06, 2012, 01:04 PM EST
Not as long as you have these 60-70 year old idiot women trying to look 20!They are laughably pathetic.

Report abuse

 


IrishCentral logo
"Like" IrishCentral
IrishCentral Mobile QR code


Connect to IrishCentral with your Facebook account

or Sign-Up directly

Already Registered? Sign-In!

Welcome to IrishCentral!
Please provide the following information in order to create your account

Username:
E-Mail Address:
Password:
Confirm Password:
I agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy


Already Registered? Sign-In!
Forgot my password

Welcome to IrishCentral!
All we need is the following information and you will be part of the #1 Irish community in the US

E-Mail Address:
First select a unique username:
Username:
Now choose a password:
Password:
Confirm Password:
I agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy
Thank you!

Just one more step and you will be part of the largest Irish community in America! Tell us a little more about you to start enjoying all the features of IrishCentral.

Additional Information:

First Name:
Last Name:
Date of Birth:
Zip:
Gender: Male  Female 
Country:
Degree of Irishness:
Household Income:
Level of Education:

Subscribe to our newsletters:

The Best of IrishCentral - Daily Newsletter
Special Offers from our sponsors

or
Skip

You can edit your information at any time, just go to "my account" when you're logged in.

Log into IrishCentral with your Facebook account

or sign-in directly

E-Mail:
Password:
 Remember me Forgot my password
Not a member? Register Now!
submit to reddit
print this article Print
email this articleE-mail