Artist and writer Benedict Kiely has died. He was 87.
The Co Tyrone-born Kiely up in Omagh and wrote a number of novels including: Land without Stars(1945), The Cards of the Gambler(1953) and Nothing Happens in Carmincross(1985).
Mary Cloake, Director of the Arts Council said: "The Council is deeply saddened at the passing of Benedict Kiely who was a major figure in Irish arts and literature.
"Over six decades he has created a body of work which is impressed indelibly in contemporary literature."
Kiely received the highest honour awarded by the Arts Council of Ireland and was named Saoi of Aosdána in 1996.
