Brigid Hogan-O'Higgins (; 10 March 1932 – 2 November 2022) was an Irish

Fine Gael Fine Gael ( ; ; ) is a centre-right, liberal-conservative, 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 Éireann. The party had a member ...

politician who served as a

Teachta Dála A Teachta Dála ( ; ; plural ), abbreviated as TD (plural ''TDanna'' in Irish language, Irish, TDs in English), is a member of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas, the parliament of Republic of Ireland, Ireland. The official Engli ...

(TD) from 1957 to 1977. She was the first woman to represent

County Galway County Galway ( ; ) is a Counties of Ireland, county in Republic of Ireland, Ireland. It is in the Northern and Western Region, taking up the south of the Provinces of Ireland, province of Connacht. The county population was 276,451 at the 20 ...

Dáil Éireann Dáil Éireann ( ; , ) is the lower house and principal chamber of the Oireachtas, which also includes the president of Ireland and a senate called Seanad Éireann.Article 15.1.2° of the Constitution of Ireland reads: "The Oireachtas shall co ...

Biography

Brigid Hogan was the daughter of Patrick Hogan, who died when she was 4 years old. He had been the

Minister for Agriculture An agriculture ministry (also called an agriculture department, agriculture board, agriculture council, or agriculture agency, or ministry of rural development) is a ministry charged with agriculture. The ministry is often headed by a minister f ...

from 1922 to 1932. At the age of 24, she was elected as a Fine Gael TD for the Galway South constituency at the 1957 general election. In doing so, she became the first woman to represent Galway in the Dáil. One year later she married fellow TD

Michael O'Higgins Michael Joseph O'Higgins (1 November 1917 – 9 March 2005) was an Irish Fine Gael politician who served as Leader of the Seanad from 1973 to 1977. He served as a Teachta Dála (TD) from 1948 to 1951 and 1954 to 1969. He also served as a Senat ...

and in doing so together they became the first married couple to serve in the Dáil together simultaneously. Hogan-O'Higgins was re-elected at the 1961 general election for the Galway East constituency and again at the 1965 general election. After boundary changes, she was elected at the 1969 general election for Clare–South Galway, where she was returned for a fifth and final term at the 1973 general election. Hogan-O'Higgins' years as a deputy were mostly spent in opposition:

Fianna Fáil Fianna Fáil ( ; ; meaning "Soldiers of Destiny" or "Warriors of Fál"), officially Fianna Fáil – The Republican Party (), is a centre to centre-right political party in Ireland. Founded as a republican party in 1926 by Éamon de ...

was in power continuously from 1957 to 1973, and it was only in her last term (in the 20th Dáil) that Fine Gael formed a government. She was the Fine Gael spokeswoman on Posts and Telegraphs from 1969 to 1972. She was defeated at the 1977 general election, when

Jack Lynch John Mary Lynch (15 August 1917 – 20 October 1999) was an Irish Fianna Fáil politician who served as Taoiseach from 1966 to 1973 and 1977 to 1979. He was Leader of Fianna Fáil from 1966 to 1979, Leader of the Opposition from 1973 to 1977, ...

led Fianna Fáil's return to government with a large majority. Hogan-O'Higgins' husband,

, was also a TD, as were his father, uncle, and brother. Brigid and Michael had nine children. She was the last surviving member of the 16th Dáil. Hogan-O'Higgins died in Galway on 2 November 2022, at the age of 90. Commenting on her death, the President of Ireland

Michael D. Higgins Michael Daniel Higgins (; born 18 April 1941) is an Irish politician, poet, broadcaster, and sociologist who has been serving as the president of Ireland since 2011. Entering national politics through the Labour Party, he served as a senator ...

stated she had made a "significant contribution to Irish politics" and recalled that "Both Brigid and er husbandMichael were always courteous in respecting the views of others, while themselves offering their views with sincerity and consideration."

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hogan-OHiggins, Brigid 1932 births 2022 deaths Fine Gael TDs Members of the 16th Dáil Members of the 17th Dáil Members of the 18th Dáil Members of the 19th Dáil Members of the 20th Dáil 20th-century women Teachtaí Dála Politicians from County Galway Spouses of Irish politicians

Biography

See also

References