Kevin Barry among new members elected to Aosdána

Aosdána, the affiliation of creative artists in Ireland, have elected 12 new members – bringing their total membership to 249.

There is also a tie between candidates for the last available place, which will be decided by postal ballot.

13 members have passed away since last year's General Assembly: Micky Donnelly, Ciaran Carson, Ulick O’Connor, Tom MacIntyre, Sonja Landweer, Veronica Bolay, Joe Steve O’Neachtain, Janet Mullarney, Tim Robinson, Michael Cullen, Eric Sweeney, Eugene McCabe, and Derek Mahon.

The newly elected members are:

• Kevin Barry (Literature)
• Gerard Byrne (Visual Art)
• Pat Collins (Visual Art)
• Jim Doherty (Music)
• Margo Harkin (Visual Art)
• Martin Lynch (Literature)
• Gina Moxley (Literature)
• Valerie Mulvin (Architecture)
• Mairead O’hEocha (Visual Art)
• Arthur Riordan (Literature)
• Liz Roche (Choreography)
• Jennifer Walshe (Music)

Founded in 1981, Aosdána honours artists whose work has made an outstanding contribution to the creative arts in Ireland – "and assists members in devoting their energies fully to their art practice."

Current members include Bill Whelan, Donal Lunny, Ronan Guilfoyle, Raymond Deane, Sebastian Barry, Edna O'Brien, Anna Burns and Sean Scully. President Michael D. Higgins is sole Patron of Aosdána.