Micheál Martin facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Micheál Martin TD
Martin in 2025
15th Taoiseach
Incumbent
Assumed office 23 January 2025
President	Michael D. Higgins
Tánaiste	Simon Harris
Preceded by	Simon Harris
In office 27 June 2020 – 17 December 2022
President	Michael D. Higgins
Tánaiste	Leo Varadkar
Preceded by	Leo Varadkar
Succeeded by	Leo Varadkar
Tánaiste
In office 17 December 2022 – 23 January 2025
Taoiseach	Leo Varadkar Simon Harris
Preceded by	Leo Varadkar
Succeeded by	Simon Harris
Minister for Foreign Affairs
In office 17 December 2022 – 23 January 2025
Taoiseach	Leo Varadkar Simon Harris
Preceded by	Simon Coveney
Succeeded by	Simon Harris
In office 7 May 2008 – 18 January 2011
Taoiseach	Brian Cowen
Preceded by	Dermot Ahern
Succeeded by	Brian Cowen (acting)
Minister for Defence
In office 17 December 2022 – 23 January 2025
Taoiseach	Leo Varadkar Simon Harris
Preceded by	Simon Coveney
Succeeded by	Simon Harris
Leader of Fianna Fáil
Incumbent
Assumed office 26 January 2011
Deputy	Jack Chambers
Preceded by	Brian Cowen
Leader of the Opposition
In office 9 March 2011 – 27 June 2020
President	Mary McAleese Michael D. Higgins
Taoiseach	Enda Kenny Leo Varadkar
Preceded by	Enda Kenny
Succeeded by	Mary Lou McDonald
Further ministerial offices Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Acting 21 August 2020 – 2 September 2020 Taoiseach Himself Preceded by Dara Calleary Succeeded by Charlie McConalogue Acting 14 July 2020 – 15 July 2020 Taoiseach Himself Preceded by Barry Cowen Succeeded by Dara Calleary Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment In office 29 September 2004 – 7 May 2008 Taoiseach Bertie Ahern Preceded by Mary Harney Succeeded by Mary Coughlan Minister for Health and Children In office 27 January 2000 – 29 September 2004 Taoiseach Bertie Ahern Preceded by Brian Cowen Succeeded by Mary Harney Minister for Education and Science In office 26 June 1997 – 27 January 2000 Taoiseach Bertie Ahern Preceded by Niamh Bhreathnach Succeeded by Michael Woods
Lord Mayor of Cork
In office 20 June 1992 – 21 June 1993
Preceded by	Denis Cregan
Succeeded by	John Murray
Teachta Dála
Incumbent
Assumed office June 1989
Constituency	Cork South-Central
Personal details
Born	(1960-08-16) 16 August 1960 (age 64) Cork, Ireland
Political party	Fianna Fáil
Spouse	Mary O'Shea ​ (m. 1990)​
Children	5, including Micheál
Education	Coláiste Chríost Rí
Alma mater	University College Cork

Micheál Martin (born 16 August 1960) is an Irish politician. He is a member of the Fianna Fáil party. Since January 2025, he has been the Taoiseach, which is the head of government in Ireland. He also held this role from 2020 to 2022.

Mr. Martin has been a TD (a member of the Irish parliament) for the Cork South-Central area since 1989. Before becoming Taoiseach, he was the Leader of the Opposition from 2011 to 2020. He has also served in many important government jobs under previous Taoisigh.

Early Life and Education

Micheál Martin was born on 16 August 1960 in Cork, Ireland. He grew up in the Turners Cross area. His father, Paddy Martin, was a soldier, a bus driver, and an international boxer. His mother was Eileen "Lana" Corbett. Micheál was the third of five children. His older brother, Seán, and twin brother, Pádraig, also became involved in local politics.

Micheál went to Coláiste Chríost Rí for school. After that, he studied arts at University College Cork. While at university, he became very interested in politics. He joined the youth group of the Fianna Fáil party, called Ógra Fianna Fáil, and later became its national chairman.

After finishing his studies, Micheál Martin earned a master's degree in political history. He also got a teaching qualification and worked as a history teacher for a short time at Presentation Brothers College. In 2009, he published a book based on his master's research.

Early Steps in Politics

Micheál Martin's teaching career was brief because he soon became a full-time politician. In 1985, he was elected to the Cork Corporation, which is the local council for Cork city. This was his first step into public service.

In 1987, he tried to become a TD in the national parliament but was not elected that time. However, he continued to work hard in politics. In 1988, he became a member of Fianna Fáil's national executive committee.

In 1989, a new general election was called. Micheál Martin ran again for the Cork South-Central area. This time, he was successfully elected to Dáil Éireann, the Irish parliament. He has been re-elected in every election since then.

During his first years as a TD, he worked on various parliamentary committees. These committees dealt with important topics like crime, money matters, and the Irish language. In 1992, he served as the Lord Mayor of Cork, a significant local leadership role.

In 1995, when Fianna Fáil was not in government, Micheál Martin became the party's spokesperson for Education and the Gaeltacht (Irish-speaking areas).

Serving in Government (1997–2011)

Minister for Education and Science

After the 1997 general election, Fianna Fáil returned to power. Micheál Martin was appointed Minister for Education and Science. He was 36 years old, making him the youngest member of the government at that time.

As Minister, he focused on increasing funding for all levels of education. He also started new projects, such as reviewing the primary school curriculum and introducing special needs assistants to help students.

Minister for Health and Children

In January 2000, Micheál Martin became the Minister for Health and Children. This job is known for being very challenging.

One of his most famous achievements was introducing a ban on tobacco smoking in all workplaces across Ireland. This included pubs and restaurants. The ban came into effect on 29 March 2004, making Ireland the first country in the world to have such a widespread ban. He also made changes to the health system, creating the Health Service Executive (HSE).

Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment

In September 2004, he took on the role of Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment. In this position, he worked on matters related to business and jobs. He also removed a law that prevented shops from selling groceries below cost price.

Martin with US Secretary of Commerce Carlos Gutierrez in 2005

Minister for Foreign Affairs

In May 2008, Micheál Martin became the Minister for Foreign Affairs. In this role, he represented Ireland on the world stage and dealt with other countries.

One of his first big tasks was the vote on the Treaty of Lisbon. Even though most political parties supported it, the Irish public voted against it in a referendum. He also traveled to many countries, including Mexico, Cuba, Sudan, China, Uganda, and Ethiopia, to strengthen Ireland's relationships. He met with important leaders like US President Barack Obama.

Leading Fianna Fáil (2011–Present)

In January 2011, Micheál Martin announced he would seek to become the leader of the Fianna Fáil party. On 26 January 2011, he was elected as the eighth leader of Fianna Fáil.

He led the party into the 2011 general election. In this election, Fianna Fáil lost many seats, which was a very difficult time for the party. However, Micheál Martin promised to rebuild and renew the party.

At the 2016 general election, Fianna Fáil saw a small recovery, winning more seats. He was also the party's spokesperson for Northern Ireland.

Taoiseach (2020–2022)

On 27 June 2020, Micheál Martin was elected as Taoiseach for the first time. This was a historic moment because his party, Fianna Fáil, formed a government with their long-time rivals, Fine Gael, and the Green Party.

Martin with Finnish prime minister Sanna Marin in Helsinki, Finland in April 2022

As part of the agreement, Leo Varadkar became Tánaiste (Deputy Prime Minister) in Martin's government. They agreed to swap roles halfway through the five-year term.

Martin with U.S. President Joe Biden virtually on St Patrick's Day in 2022

In July 2022, he met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv.

In March 2022, Micheál Martin tested positive for COVID-19 while in Washington, D.C., for St. Patrick's Day events. This meant he had to meet US President Joe Biden virtually instead of in person.

As planned, Micheál Martin resigned as Taoiseach on 17 December 2022. This allowed Leo Varadkar to become Taoiseach, continuing the same three-party government.

Tánaiste, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Defence (2022–2025)

On 17 December 2022, Micheál Martin was appointed Tánaiste (Deputy Prime Minister). He also took on the roles of Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Defence.

Martin meets with U.S. President Joe Biden at Carlingford Castle in April 2023

Taoiseach (2025–Present)

In the 2024 general election, Micheál Martin was re-elected as a TD. For his work and the election results, he was named "Politician of the Year" by The Journal.

On 23 January 2025, he was elected as Taoiseach again. This happened after Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, and some independent TDs agreed to form a new government together.

Personal Life

Micheál Martin met his wife, Mary O'Shea, at university. They married in 1990 and have five children. Sadly, two of their children passed away at a young age. Their other three children are Cillian, Aoibhe, and Micheál Aodh, who is a Gaelic football goalkeeper.

See also

In Spanish: Micheál Martin para niños