Playwright McGuinness to enter Hall of Fame

Top playwright Frank McGuinness will today enter the Hennessy Literary Awards Hall of Fame.

The Co Donegal-born writer will be presented with the accolade at a ceremony at Dublin's Four Season's Hotel.

McGuinness first made his mark in 1985 when his highly-acclaimed play 'Observe the Sons of Ulster Marching Towards the Somme' opened in the Abbey Theatre.

The production collected a series of awards including the London Evening Standard Award for Most Promising Playwright.

Accepting his award, McGuinness said: "This touches me very deeply."

McGuinness's translation of the Bertolt Brecht play 'The Caucasian Chalk Circle' is currently running in the National Theatre in London.

The new production also celebrates the tenth anniversary of the original production of Frank's translation in 1997.

Hennessy awards in other categories will be announced later this afternoon.

The Hall of Fame Award was introduced four years ago to honour the achievement of major writers who were first published in New Irish Writing or won Hennessy awards.

Previous recipients include Joseph O'Connor and Colum McCann.