Michael D. Higgins facts for kids

Quick facts for kids His Excellency Michael D. Higgins
Higgins in 2022
President of Ireland
Incumbent
Assumed office 11 November 2011
Taoiseach	Enda Kenny Leo Varadkar Micheál Martin Simon Harris
Preceded by	Mary McAleese
Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht
In office 15 December 1994 – 26 June 1997
Taoiseach	John Bruton
Preceded by	Bertie Ahern
Succeeded by	Síle de Valera
In office 12 January 1993 – 17 November 1994
Taoiseach	Albert Reynolds
Preceded by	John Wilson
Succeeded by	Bertie Ahern
Mayor of Galway
In office 21 July 1990 – 3 May 1991
Preceded by	Angela Lynch-Lupton
Succeeded by	Michael Leahy
In office 12 December 1981 – 29 November 1982
Preceded by	Claude Toft
Succeeded by	Pat McNamara
Teachta Dála
In office February 1987 – February 2011
Constituency	Galway West
In office June 1981 – November 1982
Constituency	Galway West
Senator
In office 23 February 1983 – 3 April 1987
Constituency	National University
In office 1 June 1973 – 26 May 1977
Constituency	Nominated by the Taoiseach
Personal details
Born	Michael Daniel Higgins (1941-04-18) 18 April 1941 (age 84) Limerick, Ireland
Political party	Independent (since 2011)
Other political affiliations	Fianna Fáil (before 1968) Labour (1968–2011)
Spouse	Sabina Coyne ​ (m. 1974)​
Children	4, including Alice-Mary
Residence	Áras an Uachtaráin
Alma mater	University College Galway Indiana University University of Manchester

Michael Daniel Higgins (Irish: Mícheál Dónal Ó hUigínn; born 18 April 1941) is an Irish politician, poet, and sociologist. He has been the President of Ireland since 2011. Before becoming president, he served as a senator and a Teachta Dála (TD), which is a member of the Irish parliament. He also held a position as a government minister and was the Mayor of Galway.

President Higgins is known for focusing on fairness, equality, and helping everyone feel included in society. He made history by being the first Irish president to make a state visit to the United Kingdom in 2014. He was re-elected for a second term as president in 2018.

Early Life and Education

Michael Daniel Higgins was born in Limerick, Ireland, on 18 April 1941. His father, John Higgins, was from County Clare and was involved in the Irish War of Independence. When Michael was five, he and his younger brother went to live on their uncle and aunt's farm in County Clare. His older twin sisters stayed in Limerick.

He went to Ballycar National School and St. Flannan's College. Later, he studied at University College Galway (UCG), where he was active in student life, serving as president of the Students' Union. He also earned a Master of Arts degree in sociology from Indiana University Bloomington in the United States and briefly attended the University of Manchester.

Before focusing on politics, Higgins was a university lecturer in political science and sociology at UCG. He can speak Irish fluently and also speaks Spanish.

Political Career (1973–2011)

Michael D. Higgins began his political journey in the Labour Party. He first became a senator in 1973. Senators are members of Seanad Éireann, which is part of Ireland's parliament.

He was first elected as a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Galway West area in 1981. A TD is a member of Dáil Éireann, the main house of the Irish parliament. He represented Galway West for many years, from 1981 to 1982 and again from 1987 to 2011.

During his time as a politician, Higgins worked on important issues like equal pay for women and the rights of people with disabilities. He also cared deeply about international affairs, speaking out on human rights in different countries. He served as Mayor of Galway twice, in 1982 and 1991.

Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht (1993 to 1997)

From 1993 to 1997, Michael D. Higgins was Ireland's first Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht. In this role, he helped create the Irish Film Board again. He also set up Teilifís na Gaeilge, which is now known as TG4, a television station dedicated to the Irish language.

He also removed a rule that had prevented certain political voices from being heard on Irish media. This decision allowed more diverse opinions to be shared. As minister, he also started a program to restore Ireland's canals, which helped create jobs and boost tourism in rural areas.

Presidential Campaign (2011)

Higgins and Ivana Bacik campaigning during the 2011 presidential race

In 2010, Michael D. Higgins announced he wanted to become the Labour Party's candidate for president. He said he would only serve one seven-year term if elected.

He was chosen as the candidate in June 2011. During his campaign, he promised to be a fair and neutral president. On 29 October 2011, Michael D. Higgins was announced as the winner of the presidential election. He received over one million votes, which was a record at the time for an Irish politician. He became the first President of Ireland to have served in both houses of the Irish parliament.

Presidency

First Term (2011–2018)

Higgins meets with First Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon, June 2016

Michael D. Higgins became the ninth President of Ireland on 11 November 2011, at a ceremony in Dublin Castle. He chose to reduce his annual salary by 23.5%.

His first official trip abroad as president was to London in February 2012. He also visited his old university, NUI Galway, and became the patron of the RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra. President Higgins spoke out against unfair treatment, saying that prejudice in Ireland was a "blight on society."

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 addressed both houses of the British Parliament. This was the first time an Irish president had made such a visit. He also made a week-long state visit to China in December 2014.

In August 2018, 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, even though he had previously said he would only serve one. He won the 2018 presidential election with 56% of the votes.

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 Frank-Walter Steinmeier.

In September 2021, President Higgins decided not to attend a church service marking Northern Ireland's 100th anniversary, stating it would be "inappropriate." Pope Francis later called him a "wise man of today."

In June 2022, President Higgins spoke about the challenges of housing in Ireland, calling it a "disaster." In September 2022, he attended the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II. In January 2023, he visited Senegal, his first trip to Africa since 2014. In April 2023, he welcomed U.S. President Joe Biden to Áras an Uachtaráin.

Higgins meeting U.S. President Joe Biden and ringing the Peace Bell, April 2023.

On 6 May 2023, President Higgins attended the Coronation of Charles III and Camilla. This was the first time an Irish President had attended the coronation of a British monarch.

Higgins and his wife, Sabina, with Charles III, at a reception in Buckingham Palace, May 2023.

On 20 December 2024, President Higgins delivered his final Christmas Message as President of Ireland. He spoke about global peace, praised Irish communities worldwide, welcomed new citizens, and thanked the people of Ireland for their support during his two terms.

On 27 January 2025, President Higgins spoke at a Holocaust Memorial Day Commemoration in Dublin. He discussed the importance of peace and human rights.

Political Ideas and Beliefs

Michael D. Higgins is known for his focus on human rights and social fairness. He has always worked to ensure everyone is treated equally and has a voice. He has spoken out against war and unfair treatment of people around the world.

He also believes strongly in supporting arts and culture, protecting the environment, and building a kind and welcoming society. He is a fluent Irish speaker and has always promoted the Irish language and culture, for example, by helping to create the Irish-language television station TG4.

Council of State

The Council of State is a group of people who advise the President of Ireland. President Higgins appointed several people to this council during his terms. These appointees include lawyers, academics, community activists, and human rights advocates. They help the President with important decisions.

Writing and Creative Works

A piece of Higgins's poetry on a plaque in Cahir

Besides his political career, Michael D. Higgins is also a poet and writer. He has written many articles for political and philosophical journals. He has also created television films and documentaries.

He has published four collections of his poetry, including The Betrayal (1990), The Season of Fire (1993), and An Arid Season (2004). His writings often explore important social and political themes. He also wrote a regular column for Hot Press magazine for ten years, covering global issues and celebrating arts and culture.

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
• Power To The People: The Hot Press Years (Hot Press Books, Dublin, 2024)

Other Contributions

Higgins, Derek Nolan and Eamon Gilmore on the campaign trail, Galway, 2009

Michael D. Higgins has always championed human rights and peace around the world. He has spoken out about conflicts in many countries. In 1992, he received the Seán MacBride Peace Prize for his work for peace and justice.

He also supports the idea of a United Nations Parliamentary Assembly, which aims to make the United Nations more democratic.

Higgins's interests also extend to sport; he is a regular at the Galway Races each summer and he has also previously served as president of Galway United F.C.. He is a well known football supporter and regularly attends League of Ireland games. In 2014, the Football Association of Ireland introduced a new football competition called the President's Cup in his honor.

The popular band The Saw Doctors even wrote a song about him called "Michael D. Rocking in the Dáil."

Honours and Awards

Michael D. Higgins has received several awards for his work:

• El Salvador: Grand Cross of the Order of José Matías Delgado. Awarded in 2013.
• Peru: Grand Collar of the Order of the Sun of Peru. Awarded in 2017.
• United Nations: He was awarded the United Nations Agricola Medal in 2024. This award recognized his commitment to helping all people, supporting food security, and working towards the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Personal Life

His wife, Sabina Higgins (née Coyne), is an actress. 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 Seanad Éireann in 2016.

The Higgins family lives at Áras an Uachtaráin, the official residence of the President of Ireland. President Higgins is also known for his beloved Bernese Mountain Dogs. His current dog is named Misneach ("Courage"). He previously had dogs named Síoda and Bród.

Dáil Election Results

See also

In Spanish: Michael D. Higgins para niños