Irish poet Paul Muldoon was awarded the honour of Saoi of Aosdána by President Michael D. Higgins this morning.

Muldoon is the 22nd elected Saoi, joining the three current Saoithe George Morrison, Roger Doyle and Eiléan Ní Chuilleanáin. Only seven Saoithe may hold the title at any one time.

Born in Portadown, Armagh in 1951, Muldoon has authored twelve major collections of poetry over his lifetime. He was a professor of poetry at Oxford University for five years, and was awarded both a Pullizer Prize for Poetry and two T. S. Eliot Prizes, among many other accolades.

He also collaborated with American rock musician Warren Zevon on two songs from his third album, Excitable Boy - ‘My Ride’s Here’ and ‘Macgillicuddy’s Reeks.’

Speaking at the conferring ceremony, President Higgins said:

“Reflecting upon a lifetime of outstanding creative work, which continues, it is such a pleasure to congratulate Paul Muldoon on being chosen by his peers in the world of arts and culture for this honour and, mar Uachtarán na hÉireann, to thank him for all that he has given, and all that he continues to give to us and to the world of Irish literature.”

The Aosdána (‘people of the arts’) is a group of up to 250 distinguished Irish artists from a range of disciplines. The association exists to acknowledge and support original, distinguished, and continued contributions to a variety of Irish artistic disciplines.

The title of Saoi (‘wise one’) is bestowed upon members of Aosdána by their peers through a process of election. During a conferring ceremony, the recipient of the honour is given a gold torc as evidence of the office.