HAD his mother been alive, she would have said: "Benny, you're a wise man now. You left it a little bit late."
With this self effacing quip, the novelist, short story writer and critic Benedict Kiely yesterday accepted an award from the artists organisation, Aosdana, for "his outstanding contribution" to the arts in Ireland.
The President, Mrs Robinson, presented Mr Kiely with the shiny gold plated tore which is the symbol of his new office of saoi, in a short ceremony at the Arts Council offices.
Mrs Robinson paid tribute to the "wide ranging and significant contribution" the 76 year old Tyrone born writer has made to literature.
"He's the voice that doesn't have to be identified on Sunday morning radio and it has increased the popular esteem he is held in Ireland", she said, before placing the torc around Mr Kiely's neck.
Mr Kiely said he was honoured by the award and felt surrounded by good friends and wonderful people. "Maybe I'm not as bad as I thought I was," he said.
There can be no more than five saoithe at any time in Aosdana. Mr Kiely joins writer Mary Lavin and painters Louis le Brocquy and Tony O'Malley as title holders. Past saoithe have included Samuel Beckett and painter Patrick Collins. The saoithe are nominated by 15 Aosdana members and then elected by postal ballot of the organisation's 141 members.
The saoi torcs are passed on after the death of the title holder. Mr Kiely's tore was formerly held by writer Sean O'Faolain. Modelled upon the ancient Irish torcs in the National Museum, the sterling silver necklaces plated in gold were made by artist Patrick Flood.
Mr Kiely has written 10 novels and six short story collections as well as non fiction work. His novels include The Cards of the Gambler, Dogs Enjoy the Morning, Proxopera and Nothing Happens in Carmincross.
From 1945 until 1964, he was a journalist. He worked with the Standard, the Irish Independent and became literary editor of the Irish Press. He was a professor of creative writing at universities in Virginia, Oregon and Georgia and has lectured at University College, Dublin.