Saoi

Template:Short description Saoi ({{#invoke:IPA|main}}, plural Saoithe; literally "wise one"; historically the title of the head of a bardic school) is the highest honour bestowed by Aosdána, a state-supported association of Irish creative artists. The title is awarded, for life, to an existing Aosdána member. There are at most seven living Saoithe at any time;<ref name=saoi>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> a limit increased from five in 2007–08.<ref name="pr20080509" /><ref name="pr20070711">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> At the conferring ceremony, a torc (a twist/spiral of gold, worn around the neck) is presented to the Saoi, typically by the President of Ireland.

Nominating process

A committee of ten members of Aosdána referred to as the Toscaireacht<ref name=Toscaireacht>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> monitor and manage the nominating process to confirm adherence to the established rules. Fifteen members of the Aosdána must nominate a candidate of merit and distinction. An election by secret ballot then occurs with all members. Approval is determined by at least 50% + 1 of the membership voting approval.

Only one nomination per vacancy may be processed through an election at a time. If multiple candidate submissions are received, they go through the election process one at a time until a successful approval is declared. Subsequent nominees are held until there is a future vacancy.

List

citation

CitationClass=web }} and {{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Name	Field<ref group="nb">The fields of choreography and architecture have not produced any Saoithe.<ref name="aosdanamembers"/></ref>	Elected	Invested	Died	Refs
Template:Sortname	Literature	Template:Dts	Template:Dts (in absentia)	1989	<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref name="LendennieHickson1991">Template:Cite book</ref>
Template:Sortname	Literature	Template:Dts	Template:Dts	1991	<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
Template:Sortname	Visual arts	Template:Dts	Template:Dts	1994	<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Template:Sortname	Literature	Template:Dts	Template:Dts	1996	<ref name="report1993">Template:Cite book</ref><ref name="Briggs1996">Template:Cite journal</ref>
Template:Sortname	Visual arts	Template:Dts	Template:Dts	2012	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="report1993"/>
Template:Sortname	Visual arts	Template:Dts	Template:Dts	2003	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Template:Sortname	Literature	Template:Dts	Template:Dts	2007	<ref name="report1996">Template:Cite book</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Template:Sortname	Literature	Template:Dts	Template:Dts	2000	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Template:Sortname	Literature	Template:Dts	Template:Dts	2013	<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Template:Sortname	Literature	Template:Dts	Template:Dts	2016	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Template:Sortname	Literature	Template:Dts	Template:Dts	2015	<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Template:Sortname	Visual arts	Template:Dts	Template:Dts	2014	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="pr20070711"/><ref>Template:Cite news </ref>
Template:Sortname	Visual arts	Template:Dts	Template:Dts	Template:Dts 2023	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="pr20081128"/>
Template:Sortname	Music	Template:Dts	Template:Dts	Template:Dts 2023	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="pr20081128">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Template:Sortname	Literature	Template:Dts	Template:Dts	Template:Dts	<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Template:Sortname	Literature	Template:Dts	Template:Dts	Template:Dts 2024
Template:Sortname	Visual arts	Template:Dts	Template:Dts	Template:Dts	<ref name="imogen">Template:Cite news</ref>
Template:Sortname	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="aosdanaMorrison"/> </ref>	Template:Dts	Template:Dts	Template:Dts living	<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="aosdanaMorrison">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Template:Sortname	Literature	Template:Dts	Template:Dts	Template:Dts 2018	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Template:Sortname	Music	Template:Dts	Template:Dts	Template:Dts living	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>

External links

• Official Aosdána Website