Saoi (Irish pronunciation:[sˠiː], pluralSaoithe; literally "wise one"; historically the title of the head of abardic school) is the highest honour bestowed byAosdána, a state-supported association of Irish creative artists. The title is awarded, for life, to an existing Aosdána member. There are at most seven living Saoithe at any time;[1] a limit increased from five in 2007–08.[2][3] At the conferring ceremony, atorc (a twist/spiral of gold, worn around the neck) is presented to the Saoi, typically by thePresident of Ireland.
A committee of ten members of Aosdána referred to as theToscaireacht[4] monitor and manage the nominating process to confirm adherence to the established rules. Fifteen members of the Aosdána must nominate a candidate of merit and distinction. An election bysecret ballot then occurs with all members. Approval is determined by at least 50% + 1 of the membership voting approval.
Only one nomination per vacancy may be processed through an election at a time. If multiple candidate submissions are received, they go through the election process one at a time until a successful approval is declared. Subsequent nominees are held until there is a future vacancy.
| Name | Field[nb 1] | Elected | Invested | Died | Refs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Samuel Beckett | Literature | October 1984 | 1985 (in absentia) | 1989 | [6][7] |
| Seán Ó Faoláin | Literature | 1986 | 1986 | 1991 | [8] |
| Patrick Collins | Visual arts | 1987 | 1987 | 1994 | [9][10] |
| Mary Lavin | Literature | 1992 | 1993 | 1996 | [11][12] |
| Louis le Brocquy | Visual arts | 1992 | 1993 | 2012 | [13][11] |
| Tony O'Malley | Visual arts | 1993 | 1993 | 2003 | [11][14] |
| Benedict Kiely | Literature | March 1996 | 1996 | 2007 | [15][16] |
| Francis Stuart | Literature | October 1996 | 1996 | 2000 | [15][17] |
| Seamus Heaney | Literature | 1997 | 1998 | 2013 | [18][19] |
| Anthony Cronin | Literature | March 2003 | 27 June 2003 | 2016 | [20][21] |
| Brian Friel | Literature | 2006 | 2006 | 2015 | [22] |
| Patrick Scott | Visual arts | 28 March 2007 | 11 July 2007 | 2014 | [23][3][24] |
| Camille Souter | Visual arts | 9 May 2008 | 24 November 2008 | 2023 | [2][25] |
| Seóirse Bodley | Music | September 2008 | 24 November 2008 | 2023 | [26][25] |
| William Trevor | Literature | 29 September 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | [27][28] |
| Edna O'Brien | Literature | 2015 | 15 September 2015 | 2024 | |
| Imogen Stuart | Visual arts | 2015 | 15 September 2015 | 2024 | [29] |
| George Morrison | Visual arts[nb 2] | 2016 | 9 March 2017 | living | [32][31] |
| Tom Murphy | Literature | 2017 | 2017 | 2018 | [33] |
| Roger Doyle | Music | 2019 | 2019 | living | [34] |
At today's General Assembly it was also announced that painter Camille Souter had been elected as Saoi. The honour of Saoi is for singular and sustained distinction in the arts: not more than seven artists may hold this honour at any one time.
Members of Aosdána may receive this honour of distinction in the arts, known as Saoi, and not more than five artists may hold this honour at any one time.
At the October General Assembly, Mr Samuel Beckett was elected as the first Saoi. In accordance with the regulations of Aosdána Uachtarán na hÉireann presents a Tore in recognition of the honour of Saoi to the recipient. By the end of the year arrangements were being made with Áras An Uachtaráin to give effect to this.
The Members of Aosdána elected Sean O'Faoláin as Saoi the highest honour for artistic achievement. Uachtarán na hEireann, Dr. Patrick Hillery, visited Dr. O'Faoláin in his private residence to present to him the Torc which is the symbol of the office of Saoi.
A new Saoi was elected in 1987, Patrick Collins, visual artist. At a special ceremony in Aras an Uachtaráin, Uachtarán na hEireann, Dr Patrick Hillery, presented Patrick Collins with the Torc which is the symbol of the office of Saoi.
Patrick Collins ... was also a member of Aosdana and was elected Saoi in 1987.
Three new Saoi, Mary Lavin, Louis le Brocquy and Tony O'Malley, were elected by the membership
She was elected 'Saoi' by Aosdana, in 1992, for her outstanding achievement in literature.
Tony O'Malley ... is a member of Aosdána and was elected Saoi in 1993.
In March, Benedict Kiely, novelist, short story writer and journalist, was elected to the office of Saoi in Aosdána. In October this honour was also conferred upon the ninety-four year old writer, Francis Stuart, a most important and controversial figure in the history of 20th century Irish literature. Both men were presented with the gold torc, the symbol of the Saoi, by President Mary Robinson at ceremonies at the Arts Council offices.
In 1998, a General Assembly and a Pre-Assembly meeting were held, poet Seamus Heaney was elected to the position of Saoi
He was a founder member of Aosdána and was elected a Saoi in 1997
Anthony Cronin, a founding member of Aosdána, was elected Saoi in March 2003, and conferred with the gold Torc, the symbol of the office of Saoi by President Mary McAleese, in a ceremony at the Arts Council offices on 27 June 2003.
Anthony Cronin was ... founding member of Aosdána, of which he was made a Saoi in 2003.
President of Ireland Mary McAleese ... presented both Camille and Seóirse with the symbol of the office, a gold Torc.
A conferring ceremony, at which the President of Ireland will present William Trevor with a torc, the symbol of Aosdána, will be announced in the coming months.