Seamus Heaney receives one of the highest honours in literature in recognition for his life's work.
The David Cohen Prize prize of £40,000 is given to a writer from Britain or Ireland every two years. The judges said that the scale of Seamus Heaney's achievements made him the obvious choice for the prize.
Seamus Heaney tonight joined an elite group of winners of David Cohen Prize for Literature.
According to poet and judge for the prize Andrew Motion, Seamus Heaney is head and shoulders above every other writer. Seamus Heaney is being recognised for a lifetime achievement in literature. His first collection of works 'Death of a Naturalist' was published in 1966 and in 1995, he received the Nobel Prize for Literature.
Seamus Heaney says it is terrific to be awarded this prize and to be in such good company. Previous winners include Harold Pinter, Muriel Spark and Edna O'Brien.
The winner of the prize also gets to choose the recipient of a second prize. Seamus Heaney has chosen Poetry Aloud an annual poetry speaking competition which takes place in schools across the island of Ireland.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 18 March 2009. The reporter is Ray Kennedy.
