Michael D. Higgins

**Michael Daniel Higgins** (born 18 April 1941) is an Irish politician who was the 9th President of Ireland. He took office on 11 November 2011. Higgins is an Irish politician, poet, sociologist, author and broadcaster.

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.

## Early life

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

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

- List of sociologists from Europe

## Other websites

- 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 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.

## Infobox (officeholder)

- **honorific-prefix**: Excellency, His Excellency
- **birthname**: Michael Daniel Higgins
- **image**: File:2022 Michael D. Higgins (51988246304) (cropped).jpg
- **caption**: Higgins in 2022
- **office**: 9th President of Ireland
- [[Taoiseach]]
- **term start**: 11 November 2011
- **term end**: 10 November 2025
- **taoiseach**: Enda Kenny
 Leo Varadkar
 Micheál Martin
 Leo Varadkar
 Simon Harris
 Micheál Martin
- **predecessor**: Mary McAleese
- **successor**: Catherine Connolly
- **office1**: Department of Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs, Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht
- **term start1**: 15 December 1994
- **term end1**: 26 June 1997
- **predecessor1**: Bertie Ahern
- **successor1**: Síle de Valera
- **term start2**: 12 January 1993
- **term end2**: 17 November 1994
- **predecessor2**: John P. Wilson, John Wilson
- **successor2**: Bertie Ahern
- **office3**: Teachta Dála
- **term start3**: 17 February 1987
- **term end3**: 25 February 2011
- **predecessor3**: Fintan Coogan, Jnr, Fintan Coogan
- **successor3**: Derek Nolan
- **term start4**: 11 June 1981
- **term end4**: 24 November 1982
- **predecessor4**: Seat established
- **successor4**: Fintan Coogan, Jnr, Fintan Coogan
- **constituency4**: Galway West (Dáil Éireann constituency), Galway West
- **office5**: Seanad Éireann, Senator
- **term start5**: 23 February 1983
- **term end5**: 3 April 1987
- **constituency5**: National University of Ireland (constituency), National University of Ireland
- **term start6**: 1 June 1973
- **term end6**: 26 May 1977
- **constituency6**: Nominated members of Seanad Éireann, Taoiseach's nominee
- **birth place**: Limerick, Republic of Ireland, Ireland
- **party**: Independent,
Labour Party (Ireland), Labour Party (1968–2011)
- **children**: 4
- **alma mater**: National University of Ireland, Galway, University College, Galway
Indiana University Bloomington, Indiana University, Bloomington
University of Manchester