His Excellency Mr. Michael Daniel Higgins
President of Ireland

On 11 November 2011, Michael D. Higgins was inaugurated as the ninth President of Ireland and re-elected on 11 November 2018 to serve a second term in office. A passionate political voice, a poet and writer, academic and statesman, human rights advocate, promoter of inclusive citizenship and champion of creativity within Irish society, Michael D. Higgins has previously served at every level of public life in Ireland, including as Ireland's first Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht (the Gaeltacht is those areas of Ireland where the Irish language is spoken as the first language). Michael D. Higgins was born on 18 April 1941 in Limerick city and was raised in County Clare. He was a factory worker and a clerk before becoming the first in his family to access higher education. He studied at the University College Galway, Indiana University, and the University of Manchester Michael D. Higgins is married to Sabina Higgins, they have four children and two grandchildren. Sabina Higgins was a founding member of the Focus Theatre and the Stanislavsky Studio in Dublin. As a lecturer in political science and sociology in National University of Ireland, Galway, and in the United States, Michael D. Higgins was a passionate proponent for the extension of access to third level education beyond the walls of established Universities. He was centrally involved in the development of extra-mural studies at National University of Ireland, Galway, and he travelled extensively across the West of Ireland to provide accessible evening classes for interested citizens. A desire to work more directly for equality and justice led Michael D. Higgins to enter public life and he went on to serve as a public representative at many levels from Councillor and Mayor of Galway City to 9 years in the Seanad and 25 in Dáil Éireann, the National Parliament. As Ireland’s first Minister for the Arts from 1993 to 1997, Michael D. Higgins’s achievements include the reinvigoration of the Irish film industry, the establishment of Teilifís na Gaeilge (Ireland’s dedicated Irish language television station), now TG4, and the repeal of censorship under Section 31 of the Broadcasting Acts. He also established a rich network of local arts and cultural venues which brought crucial access to citizens across Ireland to these facilities. Moreover, he drove the revitalisation of Ireland’s canal network, resulting in
over 1,000 kilometres of navigable waterways, supporting thousands of jobs, and creating wealth in many rural and economically-deprived
areas of the State. Michael D. Higgins has, like many in Ireland, seen generations of his family emigrate. He has a strong interest and solidarity with the Irish abroad and has been a regular visitor to Irish Centres in Britain. Throughout his life, Michael D. Higgins has campaigned for human rights and for the promotion of peace and democracy in Ireland and in many other parts of the world, from Nicaragua and Chile to Cambodia, Iraq and Somalia. In 1992, Michael D. Higgins was the first recipient of the Seán MacBride Peace Prize from the International Peace Bureau in Helsinki, in recognition of his work for peace and justice in many parts of the world. Michael D. Higgins is also a writer and poet, contributing to many books covering diverse aspects of Irish politics, sociology, history and culture. He has published a number of collections of essays — ‘Causes for Concern — Irish Politics, Culture and Society’, ‘Renewing the Republic’, ‘When Ideas Matter: Speeches for an Ethical Republic’, ‘1916 Centenary Commemorations and Celebrations: Speeches by President Michael D. Higgins’, ‘Reclaiming the European Street – Speeches on Europe and the European Union, 2016-20’ and Machnamh 100 – Centenary Reflections, Volume 1 and Volume 2. He has also published four collections of poetry — ‘The Betrayal’; ‘The Season of Fire’; ‘An Arid Season’, and ‘New and Selected Poems’. Many colleges and universities around the world have awarded President Higgins honorary degrees, including, Doctorate of Laws from the National University of Ireland; Honorary Degree of Doctor in Laws, Trinity College, Dublin; Honorary Doctorate from Middlesex University, London; Honour of ‘Amigo de la UCA’, Universidad Centroamérica (La UCA); Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, USA; Honorary Degree of Doctor of Laws, University of Liverpool; Honorary Degree of Doctor of Laws from the University of Edinburgh; Honorary Degree of Doctor of Laws from the University of Western Australia, Perth; Honorary Doctorate of Laws from the University of Melbourne, Australia; and Honorary Degree, Doctor of Letters, Manchester University, England. He is a Member of the Royal Irish Academy, Honorary Life Membership of The Irish Writers’ Union, Honorary Life Membership Award, Law Society, National University of Ireland, Galway. He was also conferred with the Honorary Fellowship of several institutions, including Trinity College, Dublin, Galway Mayo Institute of Technology (GMIT), Royal College of Surgeons of Ireland, the Institute of Engineers of Ireland - FIEI (Hon) and the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland. President Higgins has been honored in various other ways within and outside Ireland. He was decorated with the Orden Nacional Jose Matias Delgado en Grado de Gran Cruz Placa de Oro, presented by President Funes, El Salvador; Order of Merit 5th November 1811 “Heroes of Homeland Independence”, Legislative Assembly, El Salvador; Freedom of Limerick City and County; Freedom of Cork City; the Lifetime Achievement Award for outstanding contribution to the Arts, University College Dublin (UCD) Arts Society; Distinguished Alumni Service Award, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, USA. He was also conferred with The Gran Collar del Orden del Sol, Lima, Peru; The Tundish Award from Centre Culturel Irlandais, Paris; and The Agricola Medal of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), Rome, Italy.
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President Higgins’ speech: Diary | President Delivers The 2024 Kofi Annan Lecture | President of Ireland

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