Ireland never was Ireland to me - Naguib Mahfouz is dead

Naguib Mahfouz died on Wednesday, 30th of August, and I just found out about it this morning; is this a reflection of the esteem that arabic culture is held in in Ireland? Was there more coverage given to Günter Grass about his war time experience that the actual death of the author of the Cairo Triology because of attitudes in our country?