Queen's University in Belfast today received a £4 million cash boost from the chairman of Independent News & Media (IN&M), Sir Anthony O'Reilly towards a new state-of-the-art library.
The £40 million project received a personal donation by Sir Anthony as well as contributions from his Independent News and Media group and the Ireland Funds.
The library will serve over 24,000 students and will boast the latest in technology including a specialist language laboratory and a purpose built area for the care and display of rare and unique manuscripts.
Queen's University vice chancellor Sir George Bain welcomed the donations and claimed the library would be the envy of other universities around the world.
"The constant improvement of facilities at Queen's University is paramount to the development of our institution as one of the leading third level education providers in the world," he told a reception.
"Sir Anthony's generous donations will allow Queen's University to proceed with this ambitious project that will ensure the academic needs of the university can be provided far into the next century," he said.