Michael D. Higgins - Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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His Excellency Michael D. Higgins
Michael D. Higgins in April 2015
9th President of Ireland
Incumbent
Assumed office 11 November 2011
Taoiseach	Enda Kenny Leo Varadkar Micheál Martin Leo Varadkar Simon Harris
Preceded by	Mary McAleese
Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht
In office 15 December 1994 – 26 June 1997
Preceded by	Bertie Ahern
Succeeded by	Síle de Valera
In office 12 January 1993 – 17 November 1994
Preceded by	John Wilson
Succeeded by	Bertie Ahern
Teachta Dála
In office 17 February 1987 – 25 February 2011
Preceded by	Fintan Coogan
Succeeded by	Derek Nolan
In office 11 June 1981 – 24 November 1982
Preceded by	Seat established
Succeeded by	Fintan Coogan
Constituency	Galway West
Senator
In office 23 February 1983 – 3 April 1987
Constituency	National University of Ireland
In office 1 June 1973 – 26 May 1977
Constituency	Taoiseach's nominee
Personal details
Born	Michael Daniel Higgins (1941-04-18) 18 April 1941 (age 82) Limerick, Ireland
Political party	Independent, Labour Party (1968–2011)
Spouse(s)	Sabina Coyne (m. 1974) [1]
Children	4
Alma mater	University College, Galway Indiana University, Bloomington University of Manchester

Michael Daniel Higgins (born 18 April 1941) is the ninth and current President of Ireland. He took office on 11 November 2011.^[2] Higgins is an Irish politician, poet, sociologist, author and broadcaster.^[3]

Higgins was a Teachta Dála (TD) and represented the Galway West constituency. He also was the Minister for Arts, Culture and Gaeltacht from 1993 to 1997. Higgins was the President of the Labour Party from 2003 until his election to the presidency in 2011.

Higgins is known because he was the first president to make a state visit to the United Kingdom.^[4]

Early life[change | change source]

Higgins was born on the 18 April 1941. His father's name was John and he was from Ballycar, County Clare. His father was a member of the militant group, the Irish Republican Army. His fathers rank was a 2nd Lieutenant. He served alongside his brother Peter and Michael.

In the 1970s and some of the 1980s, Michael was involved in University and College positions, but later moved to politics in 1987.

On 11 November 2011, Michael D. Higgins became the 9th President of Ireland, after Mary McAleese. It was the first time the President of Ireland has been a male since Patrick Hillery left in 1990.

Personal life[change | change source]

Higgins studied at University College, Galway, at Indiana University, Bloomington, and at the University of Manchester. Higgins has been married to Sabina Coyne since 1974. They have four children.

Related pages[change | change source]

• List of sociologists from Europe

References[change | change source]

Other websites[change | change source]

Media related to Michael D. Higgins at Wikimedia Commons Works written by or about Michael D. Higgins at Wikisource

• Biography at Áras an Uachtaráin website
• Documentary about Michael D. Higgins (family, career, and presidential campaign) on YouTube, TG4, 2011.
• Presidential election acceptance speech (RTÉ video in Irish and English)
• Presidential inauguration speech (Text)
• Audio recording of speech^{[permanent dead link]} opening the G. B. Shaw: Back in Town conference, Dublin 2012
• Henry, William (2002). Role of Honour: The Mayors of Galway City 1485–2001. Galway: Galway City Council.

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