The Kilkenny-born artist, Tony O'Malley, made a rare public appearance at the weekend for the annual award ceremony created in his name. The Butler Gallery in Kilkenny hosted the reception at which the acclaimed artist presented the 1999 Tony O'Malley Travel Award to a young Dublin painter, Eoin Llewellyn.
Travel has always been a prominent factor in the career of O'Malley, who has worked extensively in Cornwall, the Bahamas and Lanzarote.
Mr Llewellyn, who received a cheque for £2,000 sponsored by Waterford Crystal, hopes to travel to Cambodia to spend some months researching ideas for a new and innovative body of work.
The award-winner has an interest in ancient history and civilisation, and his canvasses are painted layer upon layer with oils. He is also noted for sometimes dispensing with traditional oil techniques and using naked flame to burn the oil on to the canvas.
His work can currently be seen in the Butler Gallery, and he expects to exhibit extensively on his return from Cambodia.
The award was announced by Mr Tony Walsh, director of enterprise and community with Kilkenny County Council, who noted that for the first time culture was being afforded an equal place alongside social and economic development.
Chris Dooley can be contacted at cdooley@irish-times.ie