Poet Cathal O'Searcaigh wins €20,000 literary prize

Poet Cathal O'Searcaigh has won the American Ireland Fund Literary Award for 2007.

The prize was presented last night in Muckross House in Killarney, before a gathering of Irish literati and American business people.

As part of the award Cathal O'Searcaigh receives $25,000 - around €20,000.

"It's always difficult for poets to make a living - so this will certainly enhance my purse. They have a phrase in Irish. 'A heavy purse makes a light heart' - and that's how I feel after receiving this prize," he said.