Michael D. Higgins facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Michael D. Higgins
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Higgins in 2022
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| President of Ireland | |
| Assumed office 11 November 2011 |
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| Taoiseach | |
| Preceded by | Mary McAleese |
| Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht | |
| In office 15 December 1994 – 26 June 1997 |
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| Taoiseach | John Bruton |
| Preceded by | Bertie Ahern |
| Succeeded by | Síle de Valera |
| In office 12 January 1993 – 17 November 1994 |
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| Taoiseach | Albert Reynolds |
| Preceded by | John Wilson |
| Succeeded by | Bertie Ahern |
| Mayor of Galway | |
| In office 21 July 1990 – 3 May 1991 |
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| Preceded by | Angela Lynch-Lupton |
| Succeeded by | Michael Leahy |
| In office 12 December 1981 – 29 November 1982 |
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| Preceded by | Claude Toft |
| Succeeded by | Pat McNamara |
| Teachta Dála | |
| In office February 1987 – February 2011 |
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| Constituency | Galway West |
| In office June 1981 – November 1982 |
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| Constituency | Galway West |
| Senator | |
| In office 23 February 1983 – 3 April 1987 |
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| Constituency | National University |
| In office 1 June 1973 – 26 May 1977 |
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| Constituency | Nominated by the Taoiseach |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Michael Daniel Higgins
18 April 1941 Limerick, Ireland |
| Political party | Independent (since 2011) |
| Other political affiliations |
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| Spouse |
Sabina Coyne
(m. 1974) |
| Children | 4, including Alice-Mary |
| Residence | Áras an Uachtaráin |
| Alma mater |
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Michael Daniel Higgins (born 18 April 1941) is an Irish politician and poet. He has been serving as the President of Ireland since 2011. Before becoming president, he was a member of the Labour Party.
He served as a senator from 1973 to 1977. Later, he was elected as a Teachta Dála (TD), representing Galway West from 1981 to 1982 and again from 1987 to 2011.
Michael D. Higgins also served as Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht from 1993 to 1997. He was also Mayor of Galway twice, from 1981 to 1982 and from 1990 to 1991. He was the president of the Labour Party from 2003 until 2011. He resigned from the party after being elected President of Ireland.
As president, Higgins has focused on issues like justice, social equality, and fighting racism. In April 2014, he made the first state visit by an Irish president to the United Kingdom.
Higgins was re-elected for a second term in 2018. He won with a very large number of votes. His second inauguration took place on 11 November 2018.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Michael D. Higgins was born on 18 April 1941 in Limerick, Ireland. His father, John Higgins, was from County Clare. When Michael was five, he and his younger brother went to live on their uncle and aunt's farm in County Clare.
He went to Ballycar National School and St. Flannan's College in Ennis. He later studied at University College Galway (UCG). While there, he was involved in the college's debating society and was president of the Students' Union.
In 1967, Higgins earned a Master of Arts degree in sociology from Indiana University Bloomington in the United States. He also studied briefly at the University of Manchester. Before focusing on politics, he taught at UCG and was a visiting teacher at Southern Illinois University.
Higgins speaks Irish fluently and also speaks Spanish.
Political Journey (1973–2011)
Early Career in Politics
Michael D. Higgins first joined the Fianna Fáil party in college but soon switched to the Labour Party. He ran for election in 1969 and 1973 but was not successful. In 1973, he was appointed to the Seanad (the upper house of the Irish parliament) by the Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Liam Cosgrave.
Higgins became known for his strong views on social justice. He often spoke out on international issues, such as those in Nicaragua and El Salvador. He also supported equal pay for women and the rights of people with disabilities.
Serving in the Dáil and as Mayor
Higgins was first elected to Dáil Éireann (the lower house of the Irish parliament) in 1981. He represented the Galway West area. He was re-elected in February 1982 but lost his seat later that year. He then returned to the Seanad in 1983.
In 1982, Higgins became Mayor of Galway for the first time. He also wrote a regular column for Hot Press magazine from 1982 to 1992. In his columns, he discussed important topics like human rights and international affairs.
In 1982, Higgins visited El Salvador to investigate reports of a terrible event where many civilians were killed. He helped to bring international attention to what had happened. He also spoke out against US foreign policy in Nicaragua in 1984. He was re-elected to the Dáil in 1987 and held his seat until 2011. In 1991, he became Mayor of Galway for a second time.
Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht
From 1993 to 1997, Michael D. Higgins served as Ireland's first Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht. During his time as minister, he helped to restart the Irish Film Board. He also set up the Irish language television station, Teilifís na Gaeilge, which is now known as TG4.
He also removed a rule that had stopped Sinn Féin from appearing on Irish media. This decision was made before a ceasefire by the Provisional IRA in 1994. Higgins also started a plan to restore Ireland's canal network, which created jobs and helped tourism.
After Being a Minister
After his time as minister, Higgins continued to be active in politics. In 2003, he became the president of the Labour Party. He also remained the party's spokesperson on foreign affairs.
In 2003, Higgins was very involved in trying to prevent the Iraq War. He met with Iraqi officials and proposed a peace plan. He spoke out against the war and its impact on civilians. He also took part in large anti-war protests in Dublin.
In 2004, he considered running for president but the Labour Party decided not to put forward a candidate. In 2005, he visited Israel and Palestine to learn about the situation there. In 2010, he announced he would not run in the 2011 general election.
Presidential Campaign 2011
In September 2010, Michael D. Higgins expressed his interest in becoming the Labour Party's candidate for the 2011 Irish presidential election. He stated that if elected, he would only serve one seven-year term.
He was chosen as the Labour Party candidate in June 2011. His campaign received support from various people, including Hollywood actor Martin Sheen.
On 29 October 2011, Michael D. Higgins was declared the winner of the presidential election. He received over one million votes, which was the highest number of votes for any Irish politician in the history of the Republic of Ireland. He is the first president of Ireland to have served in both the Dáil and the Seanad.
Presidency
First Term (2011–2018)
Michael D. Higgins became President of Ireland at Dublin Castle on 11 November 2011. He chose to reduce his annual salary by 23.5%.
His first official visit outside of Ireland as president was to London in February 2012. He also visited his former university, NUI Galway, and became the sole patron of the RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra. In March 2012, he spoke out against homophobia and racism in Ireland.
In April 2014, President Higgins made a historic state visit to the United Kingdom. He was a guest of Queen Elizabeth II at Windsor Castle and spoke to both Houses of Parliament. In December 2014, he made a state visit to China.
On 25 August 2018, President Higgins welcomed Pope Francis to Áras an Uachtaráin during the Pope's visit to Ireland.
Second Term (2018–Present)
On 10 July 2018, President Higgins announced he would seek a second term as president. He had previously said he would only serve one term. He won the 2018 Irish presidential election with 56% of the vote.
His second inauguration took place on 11 November 2018 at Dublin Castle. In July 2019, he made a state visit to Germany, meeting with Chancellor Angela Merkel and President of Germany Frank-Walter Steinmeier.
In September 2021, President Higgins declined an invitation to a church service marking Northern Ireland's centenary. He stated it would be "inappropriate to attend." Pope Francis later called Higgins a "wise man of today."
In June 2022, Higgins described the housing situation in Ireland as a "disaster." In September 2022, he attended the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II in the UK.
In January 2023, Higgins made a state visit to Senegal, his first time in Africa since 2014. In April 2023, he welcomed U.S. President Joe Biden to Áras an Uachtaráin.
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In May 2023, Higgins attended the Coronation of Charles III and Camilla, marking the first time an Irish President attended a British monarch's coronation. In February 2024, he was taken to hospital as a precaution and later confirmed he had suffered a mild stroke.
On 20 December 2024, President Higgins delivered his final Christmas Message as President of Ireland. He spoke about global conflict and human rights. He also thanked the people of Ireland for their support during his two terms.
In January 2025, Higgins spoke at a Holocaust Memorial Day Commemoration in Dublin. He called for a ceasefire in Gaza, which led to some protest.
Political Beliefs
Michael D. Higgins is generally seen as a left-wing socialist. He has always focused on human rights and social justice. He has supported gender equality, minority rights, and civil liberties.
He has also been a critic of war and imperialism. He opposed American actions in Latin America in the 1980s and the Iraq War in 2003. Higgins strongly believes in cultural development and climate justice. He also promotes the Irish language.
Some critics have said his views are outdated. However, others defend his comments, saying he encourages important debates.
Council of State
The Council of State advises the President. Higgins appointed members to this council during both his terms.
Presidential Appointments
For his first term, Higgins appointed:
- Michael Farrell – a solicitor
- Deirdre Heenan – a university professor
- Catherine McGuinness – a former Senator and judge
- Ruairí McKiernan – a community activist
- Sally Mulready – a campaigner for rights
- Gearóid Ó Tuathaigh – a history professor
- Gerard Quinn – a director of disability law
For his second term, Higgins appointed:
- Cara Augustenborg – an environmental policy expert
- Sinéad Burke – a writer and disability activist
- Sindy Joyce – a human rights activist
- Maurice Malone – chief executive of the Birmingham Irish Association
- Johnston McMaster – a minister and professor
- Mary Murphy – a university lecturer
- Seán Ó Cuirreáin – a former Irish language commissioner
Writing and Other Work
Besides his political career, Michael D. Higgins is also a poet and writer. He has written for political and philosophical journals. He also made a television film about Montserrat and a documentary about Noel Browne.
Higgins has published four collections of his poetry:
- The Betrayal (1990)
- The Season of Fire (1993)
- An Arid Season (2004)
- New and Selected Poems (2011)
- The Prophets are Weeping (2014)
He also wrote for Hot Press magazine from 1983 to 1993. A selection of these writings was published in the 2024 book Power to the People: The Hot Press Years.
Non-fiction Books
- Causes for Concern (2007)
- Renewing the Republic (2011)
- Foreword to "Delinquent Genius: The Strange Affair of Man and His Technology" by Mike Cooley
- Power To The People: The Hot Press Years (2024)
Other Interests
Higgins has campaigned for human rights around the world. He spoke in the Dáil in support of the 2010 Gaza Freedom Flotilla. In 1992, he received the Seán MacBride Peace Prize for his work for peace.
He also supports the Campaign for the Establishment of a United Nations Parliamentary Assembly. This group works for a more democratic United Nations.
Higgins is a big sports fan. He often attends the Galway Races and League of Ireland football games. He used to be the president of Galway United F.C.. In 2014, the Football Association of Ireland created a new football cup, the President's Cup, in his honour.
The popular band The Saw Doctors wrote a song about him called "Michael D. Rocking in the Dáil."
Awards and Honours
- El Salvador: Grand Cross of the Order of José Matías Delgado (2013).
- Peru: Grand Collar of the Order of the Sun of Peru (2017).
- United Nations: Agricola Medal (2024), for his work towards food security and sustainable development.
Personal Life
Michael D. Higgins's wife is Sabina Higgins (née Coyne). She is an actress from County Galway. They met in 1969 and married on 8 July 1974.
They have four children: Alice-Mary, Daniel, and twins John and Michael Jr. Their daughter Alice-Mary was elected to the Seanad Éireann in 2016.
Higgins has a Bernese Mountain Dog named Misneach, which means "Courage" in Irish. He previously had two other Bernese dogs named Síoda and Bród.
See also
In Spanish: Michael D. Higgins para niños
