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.

Early Life

Patrick John Hillery, commonly referred to as Paddy Hillery, was born in Miltown Malbay, County Clare in the then Irish Free State, now the Republic of Ireland in 1923. Educated locally and at Rockwell College and University College Dublin he qualified with a degree in medicine. He returned to his own native county where he worked as a doctor and County Coroner. Though not himself political he agreed under pressure from Clare's senior Fianna Fáil TD, party leader and former Taoiseach, Eamon de Valera, to become his running mate in the 1951 General Election. The election resulted in a return to power for Fianna Fáil and Hillery was successful on his first attempt to get elected. Hillery remained on the backbenches until 1959 when de Valera retired as Taoiseach to become President of Ireland.

Related Topics:
County Clare - Irish Free State - Republic of Ireland - 1923 - Rockwell College - University College Dublin - Fianna Fáil - Taoiseach - Eamon de Valera - 1951 General Election - 1959 - President of Ireland

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