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23/03/2007
Northern Ireland poet receives £40,000 prize
Northern Ireland poet Derek Mahon has been awarded the David Cohen Prize for a lifetime’s achievement in English-language writing.
Belfast-born poet was awarded £40,000 at the British Library.
“There you are, staring at the clouds and dreaming up unrealistic projects, when the world comes and tells you you’ve been noticed,” said Mahon.
Born in 1941, and educated at Trinity College Dublin and the Sorbonne Paris, Mahon also worked as an editor, screenwriter, journalist and lecturer while producing several collections of poetry.
These included ‘The Hudson Letter’, ‘Twelve Poems’ and ‘Night Crossing’.
Poet laureate Andrew Motion, who was the chairman of the judging panel, described Mahon as “one of the most original and subtle poets writing in the English Language.”
Previous winners of the award include Harold Pinter, Muriel Spark and VS Naipaul.
(JM/SP)
Belfast-born poet was awarded £40,000 at the British Library.
“There you are, staring at the clouds and dreaming up unrealistic projects, when the world comes and tells you you’ve been noticed,” said Mahon.
Born in 1941, and educated at Trinity College Dublin and the Sorbonne Paris, Mahon also worked as an editor, screenwriter, journalist and lecturer while producing several collections of poetry.
These included ‘The Hudson Letter’, ‘Twelve Poems’ and ‘Night Crossing’.
Poet laureate Andrew Motion, who was the chairman of the judging panel, described Mahon as “one of the most original and subtle poets writing in the English Language.”
Previous winners of the award include Harold Pinter, Muriel Spark and VS Naipaul.
(JM/SP)
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