Michael D Higgins

Michael D. HigginsMichael D. Higgins

99thth PRESIDENT OF IRELAND PRESIDENT OF IRELAND

On 11 November 2011, Michael D. On 11 November 2011, Michael D. Higgins was appointed as the ninth Higgins was appointed as the ninth

President of IrelandPresident of Ireland

Michael D. Higgins is married to Sabina Michael D. Higgins is married to Sabina Higgins, and they have four children.Higgins, and they have four children.

Áras an UachtarainÁras an Uachtarain

Michael D. Higgins and his wife, Sabina Michael D. Higgins and his wife, Sabina Higgins live in their house in the phoenix Higgins live in their house in the phoenix park (Áras an Uachtarain). Áras an park (Áras an Uachtarain). Áras an Uachtarain means President’s House.Uachtarain means President’s House.

Áras an UachtarainÁras an Uachtarain

Michael D. Higgins was born on 18 April Michael D. Higgins was born on 18 April 1941 in Limerick city and was raised in 1941 in Limerick city and was raised in

County Clare.County Clare.

Michael D. Higgins went to school in Michael D. Higgins went to school in Ballycar national school in ClareBallycar national school in Clare..

After Ballycar, he moved to After Ballycar, he moved to St. Flannan’s boarding schoolSt. Flannan’s boarding school

Then he went on to study sociology and Then he went on to study sociology and politics at University College Galwaypolitics at University College Galway

He did a lot of debating in the debating He did a lot of debating in the debating society there, becoming auditor (main society there, becoming auditor (main

person).person).

He was head of the He was head of the Students Union there.Students Union there.

Michael D. Higgins helped create some work Michael D. Higgins helped create some work in The Burren, Co. Clare.in The Burren, Co. Clare.

He drove theHe drove the revitalisation revitalisation of Ireland’s of Ireland’s canal network, resulting in over 1,000canal network, resulting in over 1,000 kilometreskilometres of navigable waterways, of navigable waterways, supporting thousands of jobs, and supporting thousands of jobs, and creating wealth in many rural and poor creating wealth in many rural and poor areas of the country.areas of the country.

In 1992, Michael D. Higgins was the first In 1992, Michael D. Higgins was the first recipient of the Seán MacBride Peace recipient of the Seán MacBride Peace Prize from the International Peace Prize from the International Peace Bureau in Helsinki, in recognition of his Bureau in Helsinki, in recognition of his work for peace and justice in many parts work for peace and justice in many parts of the world.of the world.

Michael D. Higgins is also a writer and Michael D. Higgins is also a writer and poet, contributing to many books poet, contributing to many books

covering diverse aspects of Irish politics, covering diverse aspects of Irish politics, sociology, history and culture. He has sociology, history and culture. He has published two collections of essays — published two collections of essays — ‘Causes for Concern — Irish Politics, ‘Causes for Concern — Irish Politics,

Culture and Society’Culture and Society’ and and ‘Renewing the ‘Renewing the Republic’Republic’. He has also published four . He has also published four

collections of poetry collections of poetry — The Betrayal; The — The Betrayal; The Season of Fire; An Arid Season Season of Fire; An Arid Season and and New New

and Selected Poems.and Selected Poems.

Among the other appointments Among the other appointments Michael D. Higgins has held are:Michael D. Higgins has held are:

Member of Dáil Éireann for 25 years;Member of Dáil Éireann for 25 years;

Member of Seanad Éireann Member of Seanad Éireann (the Irish Senate) for 9 years;(the Irish Senate) for 9 years;

Ireland's first Cabinet Minister for Arts, Ireland's first Cabinet Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht 1993-97;Culture and the Gaeltacht 1993-97;

As Minister, he had direct responsibility As Minister, he had direct responsibility for the economic and social development for the economic and social development promotion of the Irish language and for promotion of the Irish language and for

the Irish-speaking areas in the State;the Irish-speaking areas in the State;

Labour Party Spokesperson for Foreign Labour Party Spokesperson for Foreign Affairs in the Irish Parliament and Affairs in the Irish Parliament and

founder member of the Joint Oireachtas founder member of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs;Committee on Foreign Affairs;

Lord Mayor of Galway – twice;Lord Mayor of Galway – twice;

Honorary Adjunct Professor at the Irish Honorary Adjunct Professor at the Irish Centre for Human Rights at the National Centre for Human Rights at the National

University of Ireland, Galway;University of Ireland, Galway;

Regular columnist for the popular ‘Hot Regular columnist for the popular ‘Hot Press’ magazine over the period 1982—Press’ magazine over the period 1982—1992, during which he engaged a young 1992, during which he engaged a young audience in the social issues of the day.audience in the social issues of the day.

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