Michael D. Higgins was born on 18 April 1941 in Limerick city and grew up in County Clare, where he lived from the age of five with his aunt and uncle.

He is renowned as a passionate political voice, a poet and a writer, academic and statesman, human rights advocate, promoter of inclusive citizenship and champion of creativity within Irish society.

On 11 November 2011, Michael D. Higgins was inaugurated as the ninth President of Ireland following an election by popular vote. On 11 November 2018, following a historically successful re-election, he was inaugurated for a second term.

As President, he has had a remarkable connection with the Irish people. In the 2018 re-election, he secured the largest number of votes in Irish Presidential Election history and topped the poll in every constituency in the country.

Over the course of his 14 years as President, he has led the commemorations to mark the centenary of Ireland’s independence, ensuring recognition for groups such as women and trade unionists excluded from previous narratives, and placed a strong emphasis on the importance of dignity and respect for all, working tirelessly for greater solidary both at home and across the world.

His work in support of global food security, informed by the experience of both the Irish Famine and the suffering which he has seen first-hand across the world, including during the Somalian famine, has been recognised internationally by the United Nations.

Throughout his life, Michael D. Higgins has campaigned for human rights and for the promotion of peace and democracy, from Nicaragua and Chile to Cambodia, Iraq and Somalia. In 1992, he 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.

Like many in Ireland, he has 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.

Michael D. Higgins previously served at almost every level of public life in Ireland, including as Ireland’s first Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht from 1993 to 1997. As Minister, he had direct responsibility for the promotion of the Irish language and for the economic and social development of Irish-speaking areas in the State.

His achievements as Minister included the reinvigoration of the Irish film industry and the establishment of Ireland’s Irish language television broadcaster Teilifís na Gaeilge (now known as TG4). He also established a rich network of local arts and cultural venues which brought a crucial access to citizens across Ireland.

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, the University of Manchester and Indiana University.

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 travelled extensively across the West of Ireland to provide accessible evening classes for interested citizens.

He was a regular columnist for the popular ‘Hot Press’ magazine over the period 1982—1992, during which he engaged a young audience in the social issues of the day.

He has to date published four collections of poetry – The Betrayal; The Season of Fire; An Arid Season; and New and Selected Poems. In September 2025, he released a spoken- word album of his poetry with Claddagh Records, in collaboration with musician Myles O’Reilly, titled Against All Certainty, which topped the charts in Ireland.

He has also published a wide number of books and essays covering diverse aspects of Irish politics, sociology, history and culture.

Michael D. Higgins is married to Sabina Higgins, and they have four children and two grandchildren. Sabina Higgins attended the Dublin Stanislavski Acting Studio and was a founding member of the Focus Theatre.