Высшая награда для члена Aosdána: звание Saoi

Highest honour for a member of Aosdána
Saoi (, plural Saoithe; literally "wise one"; historically the title of the head of a bardic school) is the highest honour bestowed by Aosdána, 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; a limit increased from five in 2007–08. At the conferring ceremony, a torc (a twist/spiral of gold, worn around the neck) is presented to the Saoi, typically by the President of Ireland.

A committee of ten members of Aosdána referred to as the Toscaireacht 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 by secret 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.

+Saoithe of Aosdána Name The fields of choreography and architecture have not produced any Saoithe. Literature 1986 1986 1991 Visual arts 1987 1987 1994 Literature 1992 1993 1996 Visual arts 1992 1993 2012 Literature March 1996 1996 2007 Literature October 1996 1996 2000 Literature 1997 1998 2013 Literature March 2003 27 June 2003 2016 Literature 2006 2006 2015 Visual arts 28 March 2007 11 July 2007 2014 Visual arts 9 May 2008 24 November 2008 format=hide 2023 Literature 29 September 2014 2015 2016 Literature 2015 15 September 2015 format=hide living Visual arts 2015 15 September 2015 2024 Morrison is a filmmaker; there being no specific category for "film", he is classed by Aosdána under "visual arts". Literature 2017 2017 format=hide 2018 Music 2019 2019 format=hide living