Michael D. Higgins
Michael D. Higgins | |
|---|---|
Higgins in 2022 | |
| President of Ireland | |
| In office 11 November 2011 – 10 November 2025 | |
| Taoiseach | |
| Preceded by | Mary McAleese |
| Succeeded by | Catherine Connolly |
| 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 18 April 1941 Limerick, Ireland |
| Party | Independent (since 2011) |
| Other political affiliations |
|
| Spouse | |
| Children | 4, including Alice-Mary |
| Alma mater | |
| Signature | |
| Website | Personal website |
Michael Daniel Higgins (Irish: Mícheál Dónal Ó hUigínn; born 18 April 1941) is an Irish politician, poet and broadcaster who served as the president of Ireland from November 2011 to November 2025. Entering national politics through the Labour Party, he served as a senator from 1973 to 1977 and a Teachta Dála (TD) from 1981 to 1982, returning to the Seanad from 1983 to 1987 and the Dáil from 1987 to 2011. He served as minister for arts, culture and the Gaeltacht from 1993 to 1997 and as mayor of Galway from 1981 to 1982 and 1990 to 1991.
Higgins was elected president of Ireland in 2011 after being nominated by the Labour Party. He ran for a second term in 2018 and was re-elected in a landslide victory, with his 822,566 first-preference votes being the largest personal mandate in the history of the Republic of Ireland until Catherine Connolly's election as president in 2025. His second presidential inauguration took place on 11 November 2018.
Higgins used his presidency to address issues concerning justice, social equality, social inclusion, anti-sectarianism, anti-racism, and reconciliation. He made the first state visit by an Irish president to the United Kingdom in April 2014.