President Mary McAleese has conferred the prestigious Saoi of Aosdána on Cork-born painter Patrick Scott at a ceremony at the Arts Council in Merrion Square today.
A founder member of Aosdána - the affiliation of creative artists - Patrick Scott was presented with a gold Torc, which is the symbol of the office of Saoi.
Membership of Aosdána, which is by peer nomination and election, honours artists engaged in architecture, choreography, music, literature and the visual arts, who have produced a distinguished body of work.
Members of Aosdána may receive the honour of distinction in the arts, known as Saoi. However, not more than five artists may hold this honour at any one time.
It is the members of Aosdána who nominate and elect a Saoi.
Current Saoithe are Louis Le Brocquy, Seamus Heaney, Anthony Cronin and Brian Friel.
Previous Saoithe include Samuel Beckett, Sean Ó Faoláin, Patrick Collins, Mary Lavin, Francis Stewart, Tony O'Malley and Benedict Kiely.
Aosdána was originally established in 1981 by the Arts Council to honour artists who have made an outstanding contribution to the arts in Ireland.
Currently there are 228 members in Aosdána.
Those present at today's ceremony included Robert Ballagh, Louis le Brocquy, Anthony Cronin, Seamus Heaney and Anne Madden. Also present were the Chair of the Arts Council, Olive Braiden and other Council members, Arts Council Director, Mary Cloake and acting Registrar of Aosdána, Stephanie O'Callaghan.