Michael Joseph O'Higgins (1 November 1917 – 9 March 2005) was an Irish

Fine Gael Fine Gael (, ; English: "Family (or Tribe) of the Irish") is a liberal-conservative and Christian-democratic political party in Ireland. Fine Gael is currently the third-largest party in the Republic of Ireland in terms of members of Dáil � ...

politician who served as

Leader of the Seanad The Leader of the Seanad (referred to within the Seanad as Leader of the House ga, Treoraí an Tí) is a member of Seanad Éireann appointed by the Taoiseach to direct government business. Since December 2022, the incumbent is Lisa Chambers of ...

from 1973 to 1977. He served as a

Teachta Dála A Teachta Dála ( , ; plural ), abbreviated as TD (plural ''TDanna'' in Irish, TDs in English), is a member of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas (the Irish Parliament). It is the equivalent of terms such as ''Member of Parli ...

(TD) from 1948 to 1951 and 1954 to 1969. He also served as a

Senator A senate is a deliberative assembly, often the upper house or chamber of a bicameral legislature. The name comes from the ancient Roman Senate (Latin: ''Senatus''), so-called as an assembly of the senior (Latin: ''senex'' meaning "the el ...

from 1951 to 1954 and 1973 to 1977. The son of prominent Fine Gael politician

Thomas F. O'Higgins Thomas Francis O'Higgins (20 November 1890 – 1 November 1953) was an Irish Fine Gael politician and medical practitioner who served as Minister for Defence from 1948 to 1951, Minister for Industry and Commerce from March 1951 to June 1951 an ...

, Michael and his brother Tom both entered the Dáil in 1948 and served there for a number of decades. While Tom built a reputation as a liberal, Michael mirrored their father and was considered a conservative.

Biography

Early life

O'Higgins was born in

Straffan Straffan (variously ''Teach Srafáin'', ''Strafáin'' or ''An Cluanini'' in Irish) is a village in County Kildare, Ireland, situated on the banks of the River Liffey, 25 km upstream of the Irish capital Dublin. As of the 2016 census, the vi ...

County Kildare County Kildare ( ga, Contae Chill Dara) is a county in Ireland. It is in the province of Leinster and is part of the Eastern and Midland Region. It is named after the town of Kildare. Kildare County Council is the local authority for the county, ...

, in 1917. O'Higgins came from an Irish political family. His father was

, a former leader of the

Blueshirts The Army Comrades Association (ACA), later the National Guard, then Young Ireland and finally League of Youth, but best known by the nickname the Blueshirts ( ga, Na Léinte Gorma), was a paramilitary organisation in the Irish Free State, founded ...

and cabinet minister. His uncle was

Kevin O'Higgins Kevin Christopher O'Higgins ( ga, Caoimhghín Críostóir Ó hUigín; 7 June 1892 – 10 July 1927) was an Irish politician who served as Vice-President of the Executive Council and Minister for Justice from 1922 to 1927, Minister for External ...

, the assassinated cabinet minister from the 1920s. O'Higgins's brother was

Tom O'Higgins Thomas Francis O'Higgins (23 July 1916 – 25 February 2003) was an Irish Fine Gael politician, barrister and judge who served as Chief Justice of Ireland from 1974 to 1985, a Judge of the European Court of Justice from 1985 to 1991, a Judge of ...

, a fellow TD, Minister, presidential candidate (in 1966 and 1973) and later

Chief Justice of Ireland The Chief Justice of Ireland ( ga, Príomh-Bhreitheamh na hÉireann) is the president of the Supreme Court of Ireland. The chief justice is the highest judicial office and most senior judge in Ireland. The role includes constitutional and admini ...

. As a teenager, O'Higgins was a member of the

, the radical right-wing paramilitary that emerged in the early 1930s in Ireland in opposition to the

Irish Republican Army The Irish Republican Army (IRA) is a name used by various paramilitary organisations in Ireland throughout the 20th and 21st centuries. Organisations by this name have been dedicated to irredentism through Irish republicanism, the belief tha ...

. Speaking at a Fine Gael convention in Monaghan in 1956, O'Higgins defended his time in the organisation, stating "if it should be necessary to wear it again, I would be proud and glad to wear it. Those who wore the blue shirts did not do so to cause disturbance or strife but in order to bring the various sections of the people together". He was educated at

St Mary's College, Dublin Saint Mary's College C.S.Sp. (Congregatio Sancti Spiritus) is a voluntary boys' primary and secondary school run by the Congregation of the Holy Spirit and located in Rathmines, Dublin, Ireland. The school was founded in 1890, closed in 1916, an ...

Clongowes Wood College Clongowes Wood College SJ is a voluntary boarding school for boys near Clane, County Kildare, Ireland, founded by the Jesuits in 1814, which features prominently in James Joyce's semi-autobiographical novel ''A Portrait of the Artist as a Yo ...

University College Dublin University College Dublin (commonly referred to as UCD) ( ga, Coláiste na hOllscoile, Baile Átha Cliath) is a public research university in Dublin, Ireland, and a collegiate university, member institution of the National University of Ireland ...

and the Incorporated

Law Society of Ireland The Law Society of Ireland ( ga, Dlí-Chumann na hÉireann) is a professional body established on 24 June 1830 and is the educational, representative and regulatory body of the solicitors' profession in Ireland. As of 2020, the Law Society had ...

Political career

O'Higgins was first elected to

Dáil Éireann Dáil Éireann ( , ; ) is the lower house, and principal chamber, of the Oireachtas (Irish legislature), which also includes the President of Ireland and Seanad Éireann (the upper house).Article 15.1.2º of the Constitution of Ireland read ...

as a

TD for the Dublin South-West constituency at the 1948 general election. O'Higgins, his father, and his brother hold the distinction of all being elected

members of the 13th Dáil The 13th Dáil was elected at the 1948 general election on 4 February 1948 and first met on 18 February 1948. The members of Dáil Éireann, the house of representatives of the Oireachtas (legislature), of Ireland are known as TDs. The 13th D� ...

in 1948. He lost his seat at the 1951 general election, but regained it again at the 1954 election. O'Higgins retained his seat, representing the

Wicklow Wicklow ( ; ga, Cill Mhantáin , meaning 'church of the toothless one'; non, Víkingaló) is the county town of County Wicklow in Ireland. It is located south of Dublin on the east coast of the island. According to the 2016 census, it has ...

constituency from the 1961 general election onwards, until losing it at the 1969 general election. He was a member of

Dublin City Council Dublin City Council ( ga, Comhairle Cathrach Bhaile Átha Cliath) is the authority responsible for local government in the city of Dublin in Ireland. As a city council, it is governed by the Local Government Act 2001. Until 2001, the council wa ...

from 1945 to 1955, and a member of

Seanad Éireann Seanad Éireann (, ; "Senate of Ireland") is the upper house of the Oireachtas (the Irish legislature), which also comprises the President of Ireland and Dáil Éireann (the lower house). It is commonly called the Seanad or Senate and its memb ...

from 1951 to 1954 and from 1969 to 1977, until he retired from politics. He served as

from 1973 to 1977. In 1965, when the Leader of Fine Gael James Dillon stepped down, O'Higgins moved immediately to nominate

Liam Cosgrave Liam Cosgrave (13 April 1920 – 4 October 2017) was an Irish Fine Gael politician who served as Taoiseach from 1973 to 1977, Leader of Fine Gael from 1965 to 1977, Leader of the Opposition from 1965 to 1973, Minister for External Affairs from ...

as the new leader in order to prevent the left-wing of the party, centring around the upstart

Declan Costello Declan Costello (1 August 1926 – 6 June 2011) was an Irish judge, barrister and Fine Gael politician who served as President of the High Court from 1995 to 1998, a Judge of the High Court from 1977 to 1998 and Attorney General of Ireland fro ...

, any time to organise their own campaign for the position. During the 1970s O'Higgins opposed any attempts to legalise the sale of

contraceptives Birth control, also known as contraception, anticonception, and fertility control, is the use of methods or devices to prevent unwanted pregnancy. Birth control has been used since ancient times, but effective and safe methods of birth contr ...

(birth control) in Ireland.

Personal life

He was married to

Brigid Hogan-O'Higgins Brigid Hogan-O'Higgins (; 10 March 1932 – 2 November 2022) was an Irish Fine Gael politician who served as a Teachta Dála (TD) from 1957 to 1977. She was the first woman to represent County Galway in Dáil Eireann. Biography Brigid Hogan ...

, also a Fine Gael 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. He died in 2005.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ohiggins, Michael 1917 births 2005 deaths Fine Gael TDs Fine Gael senators Members of the 12th Seanad Members of the 13th Dáil Members of the 13th Seanad Members of the 15th Dáil Members of the 16th Dáil Members of the 17th Dáil Members of the 18th Dáil Members of the 7th Seanad Members of the Blueshirts Nominated members of Seanad Éireann People educated at Clongowes Wood College Politicians from County Kildare Spouses of Irish politicians Alumni of University College Dublin People educated at St Mary's College, Dublin

Biography

Early life

Political career

Personal life

See also

References