The Ireland Funds : Events - Literary Award 2002

Dermot Healy

  Sir Anthony O'Reilly,
  Actor, John Hurt
  Dermot Healy

Presiding over the awards ceremony at O'Reilly Hall on the campus of University College Dublin, Chairman of The Worldwide Ireland Funds Sir Anthony O'Reilly praised the Literary Award, "If you look back over the years it really is an honors list of modern Irish writing."

Adding to a long list which includes Nobel Laureate Seamus Heaney, Sir Anthony O'Reilly announced Westmeath-born poet and novelist Mr. Dermot Healy as the recipient of the prestigious American Ireland Fund Literary Award 2002.

The news had come to him by phone in a hotel bedroom in New York and Mr. Healy quipped how he had viewed it as "suspect" because he had once been congratulated on winning the Nobel Prize by a man on the streets of Sligo.

'Bend for Home', a memoir, is his most recent work. It is the culmination of a diverse literary output, including the acclaimed novels 'A Goat's Song' and 'Fighting Over Shadows'. Mr. Healy also has a role in the film 'The Map Maker', which is jointly funded by the Irish and Northern Irish film boards.

Mr. Healy was presented with the award by actor John Hurt, who described him as "someone who can write beautifully," before reciting his powerful poem about the Omagh bombing.

Sir Anthony O'Reilly commented how this "wonderful and insightful writer" was receiving The American Ireland Fund prize from a "world-class actor. "It is a very affecting opportunity to see the best give to the best - something I believe The Ireland Funds stand for."

Earlier he said how
"in our final days
we will be all asked a single question:
did we make a difference,
a difference to our lives,
a difference to our children,
a difference to our work fellows,
our village, our town or our country?

"Dermot Healy did make a difference and his lambent insights into life in Co. Westmeath represent one of the finest examples of modern Irish writing."

The judges of the award were poet Seamus Heaney, playwright Brian Friel and Chairman of the Advisory Committee Senator Maurice Hayes.

The AIF is grateful to the O'Neil family of Florida
who fund this award annually.

< literary award

The American Ireland Fund Literary Award Winners

1972 Austin Clarke, Poet
1973 Seamus Heaney, Poet
1974 Thomas Kilroy, Playwright
1975 John Banville, Novelist
1976 Dervla Murphy, Travel Writer
1977 Aidan Higgins, Novelist
1978 Paul Smith, Novelist
1979 Mary Lavin, Short Story Writer / Novelist
1980 Benedict Kiely, Short Story Writer / Novelist
1981 Brian Friel, Playwright
1982 Michael McLaverty, Short Story Writer
1983 Richard Murphy, Poet
1984 Thomas McCarthy, Poet
1985 John McGahern, Novelist
1986 Joint Award Sean O Faolain, Short Story Writer
Hubert Butler, Critic / Translator
1987 Derek Mahon, Poet
1988 John B. Keane, Author / Playwright / Poet
1989 Seamus Deane, Poet
1990 Michael Hartnett, Poet
1991 Nuala Ni Dhomhnaill, Poet
1992 Frank McGuinness, Playwright
1993 Bryan McMahon, Poet / Playwright / Short Story Writer
1994 Eavan Boland, Poet
1995 John Montague, Poet
1996 Michael Longley, Poet
1997 Sebastian Barry, Author / Playwright
1998 Medbh McGuckian, Poet
1999 Brendan Kennelly, Poet / Dramatist / Critic
2000 Edna O'Brien, Novelist
2001 Tom MacIntyre, Author / Playwright
2002 Dermot Healy, Poet / Novelist
2003 Marina Carr, Playwright / Author