Patrick Hillery

Dr. Patrick John Hillery (born May 2, 1923) was an Irish Fianna Fáil politician and the sixth President of Ireland from 1976 until 1990. First elected at the 1951 General Election as a Fianna Fáil TD for Clare, he remained in Dáil Éireann until 1973. During this time he served as Minister for Education (1959-1965), Minister for Industry & Commerce (1965-1966), Minister for Labour (1966-1969) and Minister for External Affairs (1969-1973). In 1973 he was appointed Ireland's first European Commissioner, serving until 1976 when he was appointed President. He shares the distinction, with Eamon de Valera and Seán T. Ó Ceallaigh, of serving two full terms as President of Ireland, and is the only President who never faced an election.

Cabinet Minister 1959-1973

The new Taoiseach, Seán F. Lemass, began the process of retiring de Valera's ministers, many of whom had first become ministers way back in the de Valera cabinet of 1932. Under Lemass party elders such as James Ryan, Seán MacEntee and Paddy Smith retired and a new generation of politicians were introduced to government such as Jack Lynch (who actually begun his ministerial career in the last de Valera governments of the 1950s), Brian Lenihan, Donagh O'Malley, Charles J. Haughey, Neil Blaney. Key among this new breed of politician was Hillery who became Minister for Education in 1959, succeeding Jack Lynch in that post.

Related Topics:
Seán F. Lemass - 1932 - James Ryan - Seán MacEntee - Paddy Smith - Jack Lynch - Brian Lenihan - Donagh O'Malley - Charles J. Haughey - Neil Blaney - 1959

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As Minister for Education Hillery was responsible for much innovative thinking in a Department which would become very important under Lemass's leadership. In 1963 Hillery made a major policy speech in which he outlined many of the educational reforms that were to be introduced over the next decade. These included increased educational opportunities for many, the establishment of comprehensive schools and Regional Technical Colleges and access by students to all public examinations. As Minister for Education, Hillery laid the groundwork for other Ministers to advance the reforms and initiatives he had begun. He was succeeded by George Colley, Donagh O'Malley, perhaps the most famous Minister for Education, and Brian Lenihan, who all continued the process of reform.

Related Topics:
1963 - Comprehensive school - Regional Technical Colleges - George Colley - Donagh O'Malley - Brian Lenihan

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In 1965 he succeeded Lynch again by taking over as Minister for Industry & Commerce. This Department was considered one of the most important in kick-starting Ireland's economy. Hillery only remained in this position for just over a year, becoming the country's first Minister for Labour in 1966. This new Department had been a dream of Lemass's for several years and Hillery had the honour of taking over. Lemass resigned as Taoiseach and leader of Fianna Fáil in November 1966, a shock to many of his political friends. Hillery was invited by Lemass to allow his name go forward for the leadership of the party, however, he declined explaining that he had no interest. Many historians have suggested that Hillery was Lemass's first choice to succeed him, however others have said that the Lemass pecking order went as follows: Jack Lynch, Hillery and George Colley. In the end Lynch succeeded Lemass after a leadership contest with Colley. Hillery retained his post as Minister for Labour follwoing Lynch's reshuffle of the Cabinet, serving until 1969.

Related Topics:
1965 - 1966 - Taoiseach - Fianna Fáil - Jack Lynch - George Colley - 1969

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Following yet another victory for Fianna Fáilat the 1969 General Election, Hillery became Minister for External Affairs (renamed Foreign Affairs in 1972), one of the most prestigious of cabinet posts. He earned a high international profile when, in the aftermath of the killing of thirteen unarmed civilians in Derry by British Paratroopers (known as "Bloody Sunday"), he travelled to the United Nations in New York to demand UN involvement in peace-keeping on the streets of Northern Ireland. The trip to the UN achieved very little, other than to draw the attention of the world to the worsening situation in the North of Ireland. During the whole period Hillery remained one of Jack Lynch's staunchest allies in pursuing peaceful means with regard to the possibility of a civil war breaking out. Hillery's tenure at the Department of Foreign Affairs wasn't consumed by affairs in Northern Ireland. In 1972, he negotiated Irish membership of the European Economic Community (EEC), a process that was completed in 1973.

Related Topics:
Fianna Fáil - 1969 General Election - 1972 - Derry - Bloody Sunday - United Nations - New York - Northern Ireland - Jack Lynch - European Economic Community

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