Michael D. Higgins

Michael D. Higgins (April 18, 1941), known in Irish as Micheál D. Ó hUigínn, or informally as Michael D. , is an Irish Labour Party politician. He is currently a Teachta Dála (TD) for Galway West and Labour Party Spokesperson for Foreign Affairs and a former Minister for Arts, Culture & the Gaeltacht.

Related Topics:
April 18 - 1941 - Labour Party - Teachta Dála (TD) - Galway West - Foreign Affairs - Minister for Arts, Culture & the Gaeltacht

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Michael D. Higgins was born in Limerick, however, he and his family moved to County Clare when he was 5 years old. He was educated at Ballycar National School, Co. Clare, St. Flannan's College, Ennis, University College Galway, Indiana University and Manchester University. Before entering politics he worked as Statutory Lecturer in Political Science and Sociology at University College, Galway, and Visiting Professor at the University of Southern Illinois. In 1973 Higgins was appointed to Seanad Éireann by the then Taoiseach, Liam Cosgrave. He was first elected to Dáil Éireann in 1981 as a Labour Party TD. He lost his seat at the next election in 1982 but returned to the Seanad. He served as Mayor of Galway on two occasions, 1982-1983 and 1991-1992.

Related Topics:
Limerick - County Clare - University College Galway - 1973 - Seanad Éireann - Taoiseach - Liam Cosgrave - Dáil Éireann - 1981 - TD - 1982 - Galway

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Higgins returned to the Dáil in 1987 and has held his seat ever since. In 1993 he joined the Cabinet as Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht. During his period as Minister he scrapped the controversial Section 31 of the Broadcasting Act, re-established the Irish Film Board and set up the Irish language television station, Teilifís na Gaeilge (subsequently renamed TG4). In 2000 he received his current position on the Labour Party front bench. In 2002 Higgins succeeded Proinsias De Rossa in the largely symbolic role of Labour party president, while also acting as party spokesman on foreign affairs.

Related Topics:
1987 - 1993 - Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht - Teilifís na Gaeilge (subsequently renamed TG4) - 2000 - 2002 - Proinsias De Rossa

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With a Presidential Election looming in 2004 Higgins indicated his willingness to run as a Labour candidate. However, the party decided on September 16 2004 against running a candidate in the election, much to the disappointment of Higgins and much of the Labour Party.

Related Topics:
2004 - September 16

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Higgins has campaigned for human rights and written of conflict in many parts of the world, including such areas as Turkey, Western Sahara, East Timor, Nicaragua, Chile, the West Bank and Gaza, Peru, El Salvador, Iraq and Somalia. In recognition of his work for peace with justice in many parts of the world, he became the first recipient of the Seán MacBride Peace Prize of the International Peace Bureau in Helsinki in 1992.

Related Topics:
Turkey - Western Sahara - East Timor - Nicaragua - Chile - West Bank and Gaza - Peru - El Salvador - Iraq - Somalia - Seán MacBride - 1992

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As well as having a successful political career Michael D. Higgins has also had a career as a poet, author and broadcaster. He has contributed widely to political and philosophical journals on many subjects including Ideology, The Sociology of Literature, Clientism in Politics, Regionalism and The Politics of the Media.

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He wrote and presented a television film on Monsterrat, entitled "The Other Emerald Isle" for Channel 4 and his documentary on the life of Dr. Noel Browne, for RTÉ, has also been screened. Higgins has had poems published in a number of periodicals, including, "The Betrayal", in 1990, and his second book of poems "The Season of Fire" was published in 1993. His third collection of poems "An Arid Season" was published in 2004.

Related Topics:
Channel 4 - Dr. Noel Browne - RTÉ - 1990 - 1993 - 2004

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The Saw Doctors wrote the song "Michael D. Rocking In The Dáil" as a tribute when he was appointed Minister for the Arts.

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