- Born
- Birth nameMichael Daniel Higgins
- Nickname
- Michael D.
- Height5′ 4″ (1.63 m)
- Michael D. Higgins was born on April 18, 1941 in Limerick, Ireland. He is an actor and writer, known for The Book That Wrote Itself (1999), Review of the Day (1952) and Don't Feed the Gondolas (1997). He has been married to Sabina Coyne since 1974. They have four children.
- SpouseSabina Coyne(1974 - present) (4 children)
- He was elected as the ninth President of Ireland on October 27, 2011.
- A member of the Oireachtas, the Irish Parliament, from 1973 to 1977, 1981 to 1982 and 1987 to 2011, he served as Minister for the Gaeltacht from January 12, 1993 to November 17, 1994 in the Fianna Fáil-Labour coalition government and as Minister for the Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht from December 15, 1994 to June 26, 1997 in the Fine Gael-Labour-Democratic coalition government, known as the Rainbow Coalition.
- Was a long time personal friend of actor Peter O'Toole.
- I want to say a very sincere thank you for this welcome home - it is a wonderful welcome home. It is the place to where I return and where I will always return because it is of Galway that I am.
- I hope that at the end of the seven years, people will say that I have been of some inspirational value to them at home in terms of inclusiveness and abroad, I look forward to representing Ireland.
- We need to discuss the basis of a new form of trust built on a meaningful form of citizenship appropriate for a republic.
- I think the important thing now is to have a celebration and then with determination move into our common, shared, different future.
- I'm happy with the vote and the support. I'm very glad that it is so decisive. It will enable me to be a president for all of the people.
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