Golden Moment for Friel

BRIAN FRIEL’S status in the arts world was recognised yesterday after the legendary playwright was presented with a golden torc.

Accepting the highest honour the State can bestow on an artist, Mr Friel said there were certain conditions necessary to be made a Saoi - a person of special standing within the artists’ organisation Aosdána.

“You’ve got to be very old, creatively washed up and the end is around the next bend in the road,” he joked.