Today

Northern Irish poet Derek Mahon has been awarded the coveted David Cohen Prize for Literature.

Mahon, whose poetry collections include Night Crossing, Harbour Lights and The Hudson Letter, picks up a cool £40,000.

The prize was presented by the chair of judges and poet paureate, Andrew Motion, at a gala ceremony hosted by the British Library.

Accepting his award, Mahon said: "The really nice thing is the element of surprise. There you are, staring at clouds and dreaming up unrealistic projects, when the world comes and tells you you’ve been noticed.

"The other nice thing is the distinguished company: the donors, judges and previous recipients, including a great playwright and two of my favourite novelists. I couldn't be more grateful."

Mr Motion said: "Mahon is one of the most original and subtle poets writing in the English language; the Cohen Prize rightly honours his achievement - and will help to bring the wider recognition that it deserves."

Andrew Motion, chair of judges: "Mahon is one of the most original and subtle poets writing in the English language."

The David Cohen Prize for Literature is awarded every two years to a living writer who has written in English.

Previous winners include Harold Pinter, Muriel Spark, William Trevor, Doris Lessing and Michael Holroyd.

Mahon is one of Ireland’s foremost poets. In 1999, a survey in the Irish Times ranked him as one of the ten most important Irish writers of all time.

Born in Belfast in 1941, Mahon studied French at Trinity College Dublin and the Sorbonne, Paris.

He has worked as a teacher and journalist, and has adapted Irish novels and short stories for television and radio.

The David Cohen Prize also incorporates the Clarissa Luard Award, which allows Mahon to donate £12,500 to a project which encourages young people to read.

Mahon chose to present this money to his publisher, The Gallery Press, to continue its development of younger poets.

The Clarissa Luard Award is funded by Arts Council England.