Artist Pauline Bewick has donated some 240 of her paintings to a new public-private project in the town of Killorglin near her Kerry home.
The paintings, valued at more than €1.3 million, will be on permanent display at the Killorglin town centre project and will form the biggest art collection held by Kerry County Council.
The €34-million town centre offices, retail and apartment building includes an underground car park and large paved community area for outdoor performances. It will also house the county council's area offices, the public library and tourist office, as well as a playground, and is the result of a partnership between Laune Properties and Kerry County Council.
Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism John O'Donoghue, who officially opened the project, paid tribute to Pauline Bewick, who last year donated some 200 of her paintings to Waterford Institute of Technology.
"Although born in England, I think that Pauline can now be justifiably claimed as one of our greatest Kerry folk," Mr O'Donoghue said. "Pauline has been painting since the age of two and for almost 70 years she has drawn much of her inspiration for her art from her Kerry surroundings and from Irish life and mythology. The Bewick Seven Ages Collection is a great addition to the aesthetic of the buildings and I wish to pay tribute to Pauline for providing these fine artworks."
Brian McCarthy, chairman of Laune Properties, welcomed the town centre project as another positive step in the development of Killorglin.
"Its location in the heart of the county, as well as its importance as a strategic route within Kerry, gives Killorglin a vital role in this county." Fronting the main Ring of Kerry road, on the western end of Killorglin, the area will become known as "Library Point".
The new town centre will complement the cultural and economic vibrancy of Killorglin said Carmel Brosnan senior executive director with the council.
The area service centre is a quality public building with a sense of space, utilising natural light, sun and the warmth of earth via use of a geothermal heating system, she said.