The works which include titles like, Evening Harbour, Co Donegal and In the Donegal Hills have been painted by various artists including Hugh McIlfatrick, Carrie O’Duinn, Sam McLarnon, George Morrison and Alan Beers.

The auction has been described as a major sale of art and includes familiar names such as Markey Robinson and JP Rooney.

Gerry McAfee of McAfee Auctions, wh is charged with selling the collection said: “The scenes are painted by artists some may know but the real worth of the artworks is in the subject and deftness of touch shown by the painters who obviously fell in love with the Donegal scenes they were depicting.

“Paintings of Donegal come up often enough in the general sales we have at McAfee Auctions in Ballymoney and Ballycastle and at the many house clearances we do but the quality of these works lifts them above the norm which is why they are included in this sale.”

The pieces by Markey Robinson and JP Rooney will be in demand, he said. “These two names are big hitters in the art world and have many fans always on the lookout for other pieces to add to their collections. They are also great investment pieces and I know of many people who, whilst not necessarily big fans of theirs, buy paintings with a view to selling them in later years at increased profit.”

A total of 113 works being auctioned off this Wednesday March 10 in the Everglades Hotel, Derry.

For further information on the auction in the Everglades Hotel, 41 Prehen Road, Derry on the 10 March or to receive a catalogue of sale contact McAfee Auctions on (048) 27667669 or visit their website www.mcafeeauctionsandproperties.com.

Letterkenny Ring Road

Fianna Fáil Clr Dessie Larkin said that Noel Dempsey, TD, Minister for Transport, will review the council's request for funding for the proposed Letterkenny Ring Road, also called the Bunnagee link road.

Clr Larkin said he met with the minister last week to discuss the project, which was not funded for this year in the council's National Roads Authority allocation.

The councillor said he would be sending a further submission to the minister, backed up by the council's director of services for roads and transportation. The minister wanted to know how much funding was needed to keep the project going this year, Clr Larkin said.

Earlier this year the council learned they had received about €12 million from the NRA, about €2 million more than the 2009 allocation but about €4 million less than they sought. Among the priority projects that received no funding were the Bunnagee road, and realignment of the N14 from Letterkenny to Lifford-Strabane, of the N15 from Lifford to Stranorlar and of the N13 from Stranorlar to Derry.