A Flemish altarpiece discovered by a priest in Piercestown parish, excepted to fetch upwards of €120,000 was sold at auction for €40,000.

The 15th-century artwork went under the hammer at Sheppard’s art auction in Durrow, Co Laois, the winning bid was made by an anonymous buyer in Belgium.

Fr John O’Reilly, the parish priest of Piercetown, who attended the auction said afterwards he was happy with the “marvellous and fantastic” price achieved.

Fr O’Reilly said the money would be used to benefit the parish, including a project to renovate the church sacristy for use as an oratory.

The altarpiece was discovered when an outbuilding of his presbytery residence was being cleared of rubbish to convert it into a parish office.

Workmen found what they thought was an old press or bathroom cabinet and were about to dump it into a skip when Fr O’Reilly asked them to leave it to one side.