'Yet another artist gone from us in recent times': Poet Derek Mahon dies aged 78

Derek Mahon. File picture

Irish poet Derek Mahon has died aged 78, with the President lamenting the "loss of a great poet"

Mr Mahon died in Cork last night following a short illness.

Born in Belfast, Mr Mahon had been living in Kinsale in recent years.

President Michael D Higgins paid tribute to Mr Mahon, saying news of his death was received with great sadness.  

He said: "News of the death of Derek Mahon will be received with great sadness by his colleagues in Aosdána but also, and more widely, by those who understand what the loss of a great poet, with a body of work such as his, entails.

"Not so long ago one of his poems ‘A disused Shed in County Wexford’ was in contention as Ireland’s favourite poem. Derek Mahon’s body of work revealed a poet that could draw on an easy familiarity with the classics, but which brought to them a wit and freshness that was both perceptive and provocative in equal measure.

"He shared with his northern peers the capacity to link the classical and the contemporary but he brought also an edge that was unsparing of cruelty and wickedness.

"What I recall as his greatest strength was his poetic instinct to continually dredge for what was human about us; what was contradictory as well as what was full of possibility. 

"Such poetic work would sometimes conclude with a near manifesto statement, such as in the lines from his poem ‘Calypso’: 'Homer was right though about the important thing, The redemptive power of women'.

"I will miss those short cryptic but hopeful messages I got from him from Kinsale. 

The loss of Derek Mahon, yet another artist gone from us in recent times, is like the falling of oak trees. We are left with hope from the fruit of the acorns in which the writing and its encouragement represents as legacy.

"To his partner, family and many friends, Sabina and I send our deepest sympathy."

Taoiseach Micheál Martin said he was saddened to hear the news of Mr Mahon's passing. 

Paying tribute to the poet Mr Martin said "Derek was an outstanding poet. He was recognised on the national and international stage, winning many awards.

“He was a distinguished member of Aosdána. Earlier this year his poem Everything is Going to be All Right resonated with people across Ireland as we came to terms with the global pandemic.

“Derek was truly gifted and he has left a wonderful legacy to the world of poetry and literature."

Poetry Ireland said they were “deeply saddened” to hear of the poet’s death.

They said: “His influence in the Irish poetry community, literary world and society at large, and his legacy, is immense.

“Our sympathies to his family and friends.” 

The Gallery Press, who published a number of works by Mr Mahon, described him as a “master poet” and a “pure artist”.

They wrote on social media: “To his partner Sarah Iremonger and his children Rory, Katy and Maisie we send heartfelt condolences. We will miss him forever as a friend and beloved author. Peace to Derek’s beautiful mind.” Mr Mahon was a member of Aosdána, the Irish association of artists and had received numerous awards for his work.

He received the David Cohen Prize for Literature in 2007 in recognition of his work.

Mr Mahon's poem, 'Everything Is Going To Be Alright' has been circulated widely since the Covid-19 pandemic.