An enhibition of works by Paul Henry, one of the most influential Irish landscape painters of the 20th century, was opened by the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism in the National Gallery last evening.
"It is the first major show devoted to an Irish artist that has been staged here in the wonderful Millennium Wing," Mr O'Donoghue said.
The exhibition is a collection of more than 100 Paul Henry works from both public and private collections from all over Ireland, Europe and the United States.
"As a native of the Kingdom of Kerry, I am particularly pleased that one of the highlights of the exhibition is A Kerry Bog," the Minister said, describing it as "a tour de force in its representation of the landscape of the south-west of Ireland".
According to a National Gallery spokeswoman, there has been "a terrific response" to the exhibition since booking began last November.
Curated by Dr S.B. Kennedy, Head of Fine and Applied Art at the Ulster Museum, Belfast, it is the largest exhibition of the Belfast-born artist ever held.
Born in 1876, Henry studied in Paris where he absorbed influences from such painters as Millet, Van Gogh and Whistler. But it was a visit to Achill Island in Co Mayo in 1910 that had the greatest influence on his work.
Among his best-known paintings are A West of Ireland Village (1920-1), which is from the Musée National d'Art Moderne in the Centre Georges Pompidou in Paris, and A Mountain Village (1926-9), which is from the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.
Members of the public can book by telephone on 01-663 3513 (no booking fee applies) or at the gallery's box office. Tickets range from the full price of €10 to various concession rates, including the €3 school group rate. There is a special rate for everybody on Thursdays when the gallery remains open until 8.30 p.m. with an all-day €6 rate for each person.
There is no entrance fee to view the early works on paper by the artist, which are on view in the Print Gallery.