Neeson to open children's hospice

Neeson(right): starred in The Phantom Menace

Hollywood superstar Liam Neeson has agreed to perform the opening ceremony for Northern Ireland's first Children's Hospice.

The opening will take place in Newtownabbey, County Antrim in 2001.

Speaking after the announcement on Friday, media officer for the Children's Hospice, Jennifer Maguire, said she was delighted with the actor's response to the request.

She said: "I contacted Liam a number of weeks ago and asked him if he would consider coming to Northern Ireland to open our new Children's Hospice.

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"We are delighted with his response and, if his schedule allows, he will perform the ceremony.

"He has asked to be kept informed of how the building is progressing."

Speaking through his personal assistant, Mr Neeson said he "would be delighted to attend".

Ms Maguire also said the star had donated an autographed figure of the character Qui-Gon Ginn which he played in Star Wars, the Phantom Menace.

She said: "We are in the process of auctioning this to raise funds for the Children's Hospice."

The actor, who is also one of the patrons of the charity, has previously lent his support to several fundraising events.

Ballymena born Liam Neeson was awarded the OBE in the 2000 New Year's Honours list.

Before taking to the stage, he was a boxer and a forklift truck driver.

He was spotted by film director John Boorman while acting at Dublin's Abbey Theatre. He then appeared in Boorman's film Excalibur in 1981.

We are delighted with his response

Jennifer Maguire

He and his wife, Natasha Richardson brought a successful libel action against a number of UK newspapers over allegations that he was planning to leave acting after starring in the Star Wars blockbuster.

They donated the five figure proceeds of the case to the fund set up to help those injured and bereaved in the Omagh bomb.

He was nominated for an academy award for his portrayal of a German businessman who prevented thousands of Jews from being sent to Nazi death camps in Steven Spielberg's Schindler's List.

Another of his most prominent roles in recent years has been his portrayal of Irish rebel leader Michael Collins.

His other film roles include parts in The Mission, Suspect and Rob Roy.