Six paintings have been returned to a Co Galway village, almost three years after being stolen from the local church.
The works, by artist Evie Hone, form part of a series depicting the Stations of the Cross.
The paintings were taken from the Church of St Peter and St Paul in Kiltullagh, in June 2013.
There was no trace of them until yesterday, when gardaí in Co Offaly found the paintings on wasteland in Edenderry.
While the frames had been removed from each of the works, they were wrapped in plastic and in perfect condition.
Local parish priest Fr Martin McNamara travelled to Tullamore to collect the paintings. He returned home with them this afternoon, accompanied by gardaí.
Fr McNamara said his eyes filled with tears of joy when he heard the artworks had been recovered.
Locals have expressed delight that the set of 14 paintings is complete again.
The works are considered significant because Hone worked mainly through the medium of stained glass.
The Stations were commissioned by a local family in Co Galway in the 1940s and had been displayed in the local church until they were stolen.
While no value has been put on the works, preliminary sketches for them fetched over €40,000 at auction in 2012.
Evie Hone paintings return home. More later this evening on @rtenews pic.twitter.com/98g5zPsGGR
— Pat McGrath (@patmcgrath) April 13, 2016
Fr McNamara said he was delighted to see the paintings back in the parish.
He said he had never given up hope that they would be found one day and that he had reminded people to pray for their safe return on the anniversary of the theft in 2014 and 2015.
Security has been significantly enhanced at the church since the robbery. CCTV cameras have been installed and measures have been taken to make the building more secure.
The paintings will be stored in a secure location until they are re-framed.
While there have been no arrests in relation to the theft, detectives say the investigation remains open and a number of lines of inquiry are being examined.
