Christy Maye portrait becomes permanent feature of Bridge Centre Tullamore

Offaly artist Claire Guinan's portrait of the late Christy Maye has earned a permanent place in the Bridge Shopping Centre in Tullamore.

The midlands shopping centre celebrated its 30th anniversary last weekend, having first opened its doors back in 1995.

"I was honoured to be asked to draw Christy Maye, the mastermind behind the Bridge Centre, which celebrated its 30th year of opening its doors," Claire wrote in a post to social media.

"I remember the excitement when it was announced that a new shopping centre was coming to Tullamore. It had a great variety of shops and a cinema. I even worked in one of the clothes shops when I was starting off my art business.

"I was asked to draw a picture with Christy surrounded by a few features of the Bridge Centre and his horse. The drawing is on permanent display in Bridge Shopping Centre."

A plaque placed beneath the portrait features a quote from TS Elliot, "Time present and time past, and both perhaps present in time future and time future contained in time past", as well as a quote from Mr Maye himself "I'll leave it with you now".