THE President, Mrs Robinson has presented the writer Francis Stuart with a gold plated tore, the symbol of Saoi of Aosdana. The ceremony took place 11 days after she had failed to turn up for an earlier presentation because of a mix up in the council over dates.
The Arts Council chairman, Mr Ciaran Benson, say that although there was sense of deja vu yesterday, he was delighted that the Arts Council had got it right this time.
The President called Mr Stuart an "awkward, uncomfortable voice" who had followed his own path and in so doing had "contributed hugely to Irish literature".
She was glad to see him honoured by election to the highest position in Aosdana.
She said she had been very influenced" by his most celebrated novel, Black List, Section H, which traces his personal odyssey from an Anglo Irish background, though the Irish war of independence to wartime Nazi Germany. Although it was "painfully insightful" she did not find "its way of looking forward pessimistic".
Mr Stuart, who is 94, said he had been a man of action before he had become a poet and would have preferred to have won this at the battle of Clontarf". But he was very moved and very touched at this moment."
There can no more than five Saoithe at any one time. With the election of Stuart there are now four, the others being Louis Le Brocquy, Tony O'Malley and Benedict Kiely. Past Saoithe have been Samuel Beckett, Sean O Faolain, Patrick Collins and Mary Lavin.