Taoiseach Bertie Ahern today congratulated John Banville on winning the 2005 Man Booker Prize and called him a "deserving winner".
John Banville
"He has dedicated all his adult life to his art and this award is a fitting recognition for an outstanding book, The Sea."
"It is also international recognition for a life of literary achievement. I want to extend to John Banville my sincere congratulation and best wishes," the Taoiseach said.
Minister for Arts John O'Donoghue also sent Banville his congratulations.
"This is a marvellous achievement for John Banville, who is one of Ireland's most serious and gifted writers," he said.
"John has always inspired other Irish writers and his winning of the prestigious Booker award is well deserved," the Minister said.
The Wexford-born writer scooped £50,000 prize in London's Guildhall last night. The Seatells the story of a widower returning to the seaside village where he spent his childhood summers.
Banville said winning the prize was "a great surprise, a great pleasure". He is the first Irish winner since Roddy Doyle won with Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Hain 1993.
Among the writers Banville beat included, bookmakers' favourite British author Julian Barnes for his novel Arthur & George, Irishman Sebastian Barry's first World War novel A Long Long Way, Never Let Me Goby Kazuo Ishiguro, The Accidental, by Ali Smith and On Duty, by Zadie Smith.
The Seahad sold only 3,318 copies in the United Kingdom up until last Tuesday, but Banville can now expect another financial windfall as bookshops in Britain and Ireland stock up.