Nobel Laureate Seamus Heaney opened the McClay library following a £10m personal donation from Almac founder, Sir Allen McClay.
Sir Allen worked closely with Queen’s University to increase research and development into personalised medicine, acting as the bridge between academia and industry. After helping to establish Northern Ireland’s ‘oncology hub’ – a collaboration between academia and the pharmaceutical industry – Sir Allen made the donation to the library to help enhance Northern Ireland’s knowledge-based economy, directly funding tomorrow’s leading scientists.
Lady Heather McClay said the library was a most appropriate way to remember her late husband.
‘Allen spent his entire life learning, even in his older years. As he set up and grew Almac he always said that he was learning every day. He held Queen’s University in the very highest regard and was acutely aware of the role universities play in driving an economy forward. He would be very pleased to have his name associated with the library and I am hopeful that what he achieved in business can inspire future business leaders in Northern Ireland,’ she said.
Alan Armstrong, chief executive of Almac, added: ‘The library at Queen’s was one of the projects which gave Allen most satisfaction. He took great pride in the fact that Almac, as an international company with a presence in the US and Europe, was headquartered right here in Northern Ireland. Queen’s University has the same level of international standing and it too has put Northern Ireland on the world map. This link-up between the two is therefore very fitting and on behalf of the entire Almac family, I wish the McClay library every success.’
