Michael O'Higgins
Encyclopedia
Michael Joseph O'Higgins (1 November 1917 – 9 March 2005) was an Irish
Fine Gael
politician who served as a member of the Oireachtas
for nearly thirty years.
O'Higgins was born in 1917 in Kildare
and educated in St. Mary’s College, Rathmines
, Clongowes Wood College
and the Incorporated Law Society of Ireland. He was first elected to Dáil Éireann
at the 1948 general election
as a Fine Gael
Teachta Dála
for the constituency of Dublin South West
. He lost his seat in the 1951 general election
but regained it again at the 1954 election
. O'Higgins retained his seat, representing Wicklow
from the 1961 election
onwards, until losing the 1969 general election
. He was a member of Dublin City Council
and a member of Seanad Éireann
from 1951 to 1954 and from 1969 to 1977 when he retired from politics. He served as leader of the Seanad from 1973 to 1977.
O'Higgins came from a famed Irish political dynasty. His father was Thomas F. O'Higgins
, a former leader of the Blueshirts and Cabinet Minister. His uncle was Kevin O'Higgins
, the assassinated Cabinet Minister from the 1920s. O'Higgins's brother was Tom O'Higgins
, a fellow Teachta Dála
and Presidential candidate in 1966 and 1973. O'Higgins, his father, and his brother hold the distinction of all being elected members of the 13th Dáil
in 1948.
He was married to Brigid Hogan-O'Higgins
, also a TD. He married Brigid Hogan in 1958, one year after her election. They were the first married couple ever to be elected to the same Dáil. They had nine children.
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
Fine Gael
Fine Gael
Fine Gael is a centre-right to centrist political party in the Republic of Ireland. It is the single largest party in Ireland in the Oireachtas, in local government, and in terms of Members of the European Parliament. The party has a membership of over 35,000...
politician who served as a member of the Oireachtas
Oireachtas
The Oireachtas , sometimes referred to as Oireachtas Éireann, is the "national parliament" or legislature of Ireland. The Oireachtas consists of:*The President of Ireland*The two Houses of the Oireachtas :**Dáil Éireann...
for nearly thirty years.
O'Higgins was born in 1917 in Kildare
Kildare
-External links:*******...
and educated in St. Mary’s College, Rathmines
Rathmines
Rathmines is a suburb on the southside of Dublin, about 3 kilometres south of the city centre. It effectively begins at the south side of the Grand Canal and stretches along the Rathmines Road as far as Rathgar to the south, Ranelagh to the east and Harold's Cross to the west.Rathmines has...
, Clongowes Wood College
Clongowes Wood College
Clongowes Wood College is a voluntary secondary boarding school for boys, located near Clane in County Kildare, Ireland. Founded by the Society of Jesus in 1814, it is one of Ireland's oldest Catholic schools, and featured prominently in James Joyce's semi-autobiographical novel A Portrait of the...
and the Incorporated Law Society of Ireland. He was first elected to Dáil Éireann
Dáil Éireann
Dáil Éireann is the lower house, but principal chamber, of the Oireachtas , which also includes the President of Ireland and Seanad Éireann . It is directly elected at least once in every five years under the system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote...
at the 1948 general election
Irish general election, 1948
The Irish general election of 1948 was held on 4 February 1948. The 147 newly elected members of the 13th Dáil assembled on 18 February when the First Inter-Party government in the history of the Irish state was appointed....
as a Fine Gael
Fine Gael
Fine Gael is a centre-right to centrist political party in the Republic of Ireland. It is the single largest party in Ireland in the Oireachtas, in local government, and in terms of Members of the European Parliament. The party has a membership of over 35,000...
Teachta Dála
Teachta Dála
A Teachta Dála , usually abbreviated as TD in English, is a member of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas . It is the equivalent of terms such as "Member of Parliament" or "deputy" used in other states. The official translation of the term is "Deputy to the Dáil", though a more literal...
for the constituency of Dublin South West
Dublin South West (Dáil Éireann constituency)
Dublin South–West is a parliamentary constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas. The constituency elects 4 deputies...
. He lost his seat in the 1951 general election
Irish general election, 1951
The Irish general election of 1951 was held on 30 May 1951. The newly elected members of the 14th Dáil assembled at Leinster House on 13 June when the new Taoiseach and government were appointed....
but regained it again at the 1954 election
Irish general election, 1954
The Irish general election of 1954 was held on 18 May 1954. The newly elected members of the 15th Dáil assembled at Leinster House on 2 June when the new Taoiseach and government were appointed....
. O'Higgins retained his seat, representing Wicklow
Wicklow (Dáil Éireann constituency)
Wicklow is a parliamentary constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas. The constituency elects 5 deputies...
from the 1961 election
Irish general election, 1961
The Irish general election of 1961 was held on 4 October 1961, just over three weeks after the dissolution of the Dáil on 8 September. The newly elected members of the 17th Dáil assembled at Leinster House on 11 October when the new Taoiseach and government were appointed.The general election took...
onwards, until losing the 1969 general election
Irish general election, 1969
The Irish general election of 1969 was held on 18 June 1969. The newly elected members of the 19th Dáil assembled at Leinster House on 2 July when the new Taoiseach and government were appointed...
. He was a member of Dublin City Council
Dublin City Council
Dublin City Council is the local authority for the city of Dublin in Ireland. It has 52 members and is the largest local authority in Ireland. Until 2001, it was known as Dublin Corporation.-Legal status:...
and a member of Seanad Éireann
Seanad Éireann
Seanad Éireann is the upper house of the Oireachtas , which also comprises the President of Ireland and Dáil Éireann . It is commonly called the Seanad or Senate and its members Senators or Seanadóirí . Unlike Dáil Éireann, it is not directly elected but consists of a mixture of members chosen by...
from 1951 to 1954 and from 1969 to 1977 when he retired from politics. He served as leader of the Seanad from 1973 to 1977.
O'Higgins came from a famed Irish political dynasty. His father was Thomas F. O'Higgins
Thomas F. O'Higgins
Thomas F. O'Higgins was an Irish politician. He grew up in Stradbally, County Laois, one of sixteen children of Dr. Thomas Higgins and Anne Sullivan. He was first elected to Dáil Éireann in a 14 March 1929 by-election for Dublin North as a Cumann na nGaedheal Teachta Dála , and in the 1932 general...
, a former leader of the Blueshirts and Cabinet Minister. His uncle was Kevin O'Higgins
Kevin O'Higgins
Kevin Christopher O'Higgins was an Irish politician who served as Vice-President of the Executive Council and Minister for Justice. He was part of early nationalist Sinn Féin, before going on to become a prominent member of Cumann na nGaedheal. O'Higgins initiated the An Garda Síochána police force...
, the assassinated Cabinet Minister from the 1920s. O'Higgins's brother was Tom O'Higgins
Tom O'Higgins
Thomas Francis O'Higgins was an Irish Fine Gael politician, a barrister and a judge.Tom O'Higgins was born in Cork in 1916. He was the son of Thomas F. O'Higgins and the nephew of Kevin O'Higgins...
, a fellow Teachta Dála
Teachta Dála
A Teachta Dála , usually abbreviated as TD in English, is a member of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas . It is the equivalent of terms such as "Member of Parliament" or "deputy" used in other states. The official translation of the term is "Deputy to the Dáil", though a more literal...
and Presidential candidate in 1966 and 1973. O'Higgins, his father, and his brother hold the distinction of all being elected members of the 13th Dáil
Members of the 13th Dáil
This is a list of the members who were elected to the 13th Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas of Ireland. These TDs were elected at the 1948 general election on 4 February 1948 and met on 18 February 1948. The 13th Dáil was dissolved by President Seán T. O'Kelly, at the request of...
in 1948.
He was married to Brigid Hogan-O'Higgins
Brigid Hogan-O'Higgins
Brigid Hogan-O'Higgins is a retired Irish Fine Gael politician, who served for twenty years as a member of Dáil Éireann for constituencies in County Galway....
, also a TD. He married Brigid Hogan in 1958, one year after her election. They were the first married couple ever to be elected to the same Dáil. They had nine children.