Distinguished Irish playwright Brian Friel was presented with an award by President Mary McAleese today.
Mrs McAleese presented the playwright with a gold Torc in recognition of the fact that the members of Aosdána have elected him a Saoi.
A Saoi is elected by secret ballot of all 220 members of Aosdána and an approval consists of 50% + 1 of the membership.
Not more than five members of Aosdána may hold this honour at any one time and Friel joins fellow Saoithe Louis le Brocquy, Benedict Kiely, Seamus Heaney and Anthony Cronin.
Friel's 'Faith Healer', starring Ralph Fiennes, Ingrid Craigie and Ian McDiarmid, is currently playing to sold out audiences in the Gate Theatre.
He also won Best Play in London's Evening Standard Theatre
Awards for 'The Home Place' last November.