Michael D. Higgins facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Michael D. Higgins
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Higgins in 2022
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| 9th 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 (Irish: Mícheál Dónal Ó hUigínn; born 18 April 1941) is an Irish politician, poet, and sociologist. He has been the ninth President of Ireland since 2011. The President is the head of state in Ireland.
Before becoming President, he was involved in national politics with the Labour Party. He served as a senator (a member of the upper house of parliament) from 1973 to 1977. He was elected as a Teachta Dála (TD), which is a member of the Dáil Éireann (the main parliament), representing Galway West from 1981 to 1982 and again from 1987 to 2011. He also served as Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht from 1993 to 1997. Additionally, he was the Mayor of Galway twice, from 1981 to 1982 and from 1990 to 1991.
As President, Michael D. Higgins has focused on important issues like justice, social equality, and fighting against racism. He made history in April 2014 by being the first Irish President to make a state visit to the United Kingdom. In 2018, he was re-elected for a second term with a huge number of votes, showing strong public support. His second term began on 11 November 2018.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Michael Daniel Higgins was born on 18 April 1941 in Limerick, Ireland. His father, John Higgins, came from County Clare. John and his two brothers were involved in Ireland's fight for independence.
When Michael was five, he and his younger brother went to live on their uncle and aunt's farm in County Clare because his father's health was not good. His older twin sisters stayed in Limerick. He went to Ballycar National School and then St. Flannan's College in Ennis.
He studied at University College Galway (UCG). While there, he was very active in student life, leading the college's debating society and serving as president of the Students' Union. He later earned a Master of Arts degree in sociology from Indiana University Bloomington in the United States in 1967. He also spent some time at the University of Manchester.
Before focusing on politics full-time, Higgins was a university lecturer in political science and sociology at UCG. He also taught as a visiting professor at Southern Illinois University. He is fluent in the Irish language and also speaks Spanish.
Family Life
Michael D. Higgins is married to Sabina Higgins (born Coyne), who is an actress. She grew up on a farm in County Galway. They met in 1969 and got married on 8 July 1974 in Dublin. In 2024, they celebrated 50 years of marriage.
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. The Higgins family also has a Bernese Mountain Dog named Misneach, which means "Courage" in Irish. They previously had two other Bernese dogs named Síoda and Bród.
Political Career (1973–2011)
Early Political Roles
Michael D. Higgins first joined the Fianna Fáil party while at university but soon switched to the Labour Party. He ran for parliament in 1969 and 1973 but was not elected. However, he was appointed to the Seanad (the upper house of parliament) in 1973.
In 1981, he was first elected as a Teachta Dála (TD), a member of the Dáil Éireann (the main parliament), for the Galway West area. He lost his seat in 1982 but returned to the Seanad. He also served as Mayor of Galway twice, from 1982 to 1983 and from 1991 to 1992.
Higgins was re-elected to the Dáil in 1987 and held his seat until 2011. From 1993 to 1997, he was a government minister, serving as Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht. During this time, he made important changes, such as ending a rule that limited broadcasting and helping to set up the Irish language television station, TG4. He became the president of the Labour Party in 2003.
In October 2010, he announced that he would not run in the 2011 general election.
2011 Presidential Campaign
In September 2010, Michael D. Higgins showed interest in becoming the Labour Party's candidate for the 2011 Irish presidential election. During his campaign, he said he would only serve one seven-year term if elected.
He was chosen as the Labour Party's candidate in June 2011. Famous Hollywood actor Martin Sheen supported his campaign, calling Higgins a "dear friend."
On 29 October 2011, Michael D. Higgins was announced as the winner of the presidential election. He received over one million votes, which was more than any other Irish politician in the history of the republic. Many people in Galway celebrated his victory. Media around the world noted his background as a poet and his intelligence. He is the first President of Ireland to have served in both the Dáil Éireann and the Seanad Éireann.
Before his inauguration, he met with the outgoing President, Mary McAleese. He also attended a football game in Galway, showing his support for his favourite team.
Presidency
First Term (2011–2018)
Michael D. Higgins officially became the President of Ireland at Dublin Castle on 11 November 2011. He chose to have his annual salary reduced by 23.5% from €325,000 to €250,000 during his first term.
His first official visit as President to Northern Ireland was in November 2011, where he attended a school choir competition. In December 2011, he hosted a children's tea party at his official residence, Áras an Uachtaráin.
In February 2012, he made his first official trip abroad as President, visiting London. He toured the Olympic Stadium and attended a play. He also visited his former university, NUI Galway, to open an autism centre. In March 2012, he became the patron of the RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra. He spoke out against homophobia and racism, calling them a "blight on society."
In May 2012, he was given the special honour of being the 28th Freeman of Galway. In October 2012, President Higgins and his wife, Sabina, went on a two-week trip to South America, visiting Argentina, Brazil, and Chile.
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 gave a speech to both Houses of Parliament. He also met with British leaders. In December 2014, he made a week-long 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 that he would seek a second term as President, even though he had previously said he would only serve one term. He won the 2018 Irish presidential election with 56% of the votes.
On 11 November 2018, President Higgins was inaugurated for his second term at Dublin Castle. Important guests, including the Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister) Leo Varadkar and former presidents, attended the ceremony. The ceremony was held in the evening so President Higgins could attend Armistice Day events earlier that day.
In July 2019, President Higgins made a three-day state visit to Germany, where he met with German leaders like Chancellor Angela Merkel.
In September 2021, President Higgins decided not to attend a church service with Britain's Queen Elizabeth to mark Northern Ireland's 100th anniversary. He explained that he felt it would be "inappropriate to attend." Pope Francis later called Higgins a "wise man of today."
In June 2022, President Higgins spoke about the housing situation in Ireland, calling it a "disaster." In September 2022, he attended the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II in London.
In January 2023, President Higgins began a five-day state visit to Senegal, his first trip to Africa since 2014. He met with the Senegalese president. In April, he welcomed U.S. President Joe Biden to Áras an Uachtaráin during his visit to Ireland.
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On 6 May 2023, President Higgins attended the coronation of King Charles III in London. This was the first time an Irish President had attended the coronation of a British monarch.
In February 2024, President Higgins was taken to hospital as a precaution. In April, he confirmed he had suffered a mild stroke. On 20 December 2024, he delivered his final Christmas Message as President, speaking about world peace and thanking the people of Ireland.
Council of State
The Council of State is a group of people who advise the President of Ireland. The President appoints some of its members.
Presidential Appointees
For his first term, President Higgins appointed these people to the Council of State on 6 January 2012:
- Michael Farrell – a solicitor who helps with legal advice.
- Deirdre Heenan – a university leader.
- Catherine McGuinness – a former Senator and Supreme Court judge.
- Ruairí McKiernan – a community activist.
- Sally Mulready – a campaigner for the rights of Irish people living in London.
- Gearóid Ó Tuathaigh – a history professor.
- Gerard Quinn – a director of a center for disability law.
For his second term, President Higgins appointed these people:
- Cara Augustenborg – an expert in environmental policy.
- Sinéad Burke – a writer and disability activist.
- Sindy Joyce – an Irish Traveller human rights activist.
- Maurice Malone – the chief executive of the Birmingham Irish Association.
- Johnston McMaster – a minister and professor.
- Mary Murphy – a university lecturer.
- Seán Ó Cuirreáin – a former radio producer and Irish language commissioner.
Writing and Other Interests
Besides his political career, Michael D. Higgins is also a poet and has worked in broadcasting. He has written many articles for political and philosophical magazines. He also made a TV film about Montserrat and a documentary about Noel Browne.
Higgins has published several collections of his poetry, including The Betrayal (1990), The Season of Fire (1993), and An Arid Season (2004). His personal notes and workbooks are kept at the National Library of Ireland.
Poetry
- The Betrayal (Salmon, Galway, 1990) ISBN: 094833939X
- The Season of Fire (Brandon, Dingle, 1993) ISBN: 0863221645
- An Arid Season (2004)
- New and Selected Poems (Liberties Press, Dublin, 2011)
- The Prophets are Weeping (M.D.H. 2014)
Non-fiction
- Causes for Concern (Liberties Press, Dublin, 2007)
- Renewing the Republic (Liberties Press, Dublin, 2011)
- Foreword to "Delinquent Genius: The Strange Affair of Man and His Technology" by Mike Cooley
Higgins has always supported human rights and spoken about conflicts around the world, including in Nicaragua, Chile, and Iraq. In 1992, he received the Seán MacBride Peace Prize for his work for peace and justice. He was also a strong critic of U.S. foreign policy under President Ronald Reagan.
He supports the Campaign for the Establishment of a United Nations Parliamentary Assembly, which wants to make the United Nations more democratic.
Higgins also loves sports. He often attends the Galway Races and is a big football fan. 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. He attended the first final of this cup in March 2014.
The popular band The Saw Doctors from Tuam even wrote a song about him called "Michael D. Rocking in the Dáil."
Honours and Awards
Foreign Honours
- El Salvador: Grand Cross of the Order of José Matías Delgado. He received this award in 2013.
- Peru: Grand Collar of the Order of the Sun of Peru. Awarded in 2017.
- United Nations: In January 2024, it was announced that Higgins would receive the United Nations Agricola Medal. This award recognizes his work for the well-being of people and his support for global food security.
Images for kids
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Higgins and Ivana Bacik campaigning during the 2011 presidential race
See also
In Spanish: Michael D. Higgins para niños
