Brigid Hogan-O'Higgins
Encyclopedia
Brigid Hogan-O'Higgins is a retired Irish
Fine Gael
politician, who served for twenty years as a member of Dáil Éireann
for constituencies in County Galway
.
First elected as a Teachta Dála
(TD) at the 1957 general election
, to the 16th Dáil for Galway South
, she was returned to the 17th Dáil for the Galway East constituency at the 1961 general election
and re-elected at the 1965 general election
. After boundary changes, she was elected to the 19th Dáil at the 1969 general election
for Clare–Galway South, where she was returned for a fifth and final term in the 19th Dáil at the 1973 general election
.
Hogan-O'Higgins' years as a deputy were mostly spent in opposition: Fianna Fáil
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 defeated at the 1977 general election
, when Jack Lynch
led Fianna Fáil's return to government with a large majority.
Her father, Patrick Hogan
was a TD for Galway
from 1921
until his death in 1936.
Her husband, Michael O'Higgins
, was also a TD, as were his father, uncle and brother. She married Michael O'Higgins in 1958, one year after her election. They had nine children. They were the first married couple ever to sit in the same Dáil.
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
Fine Gael
Fine Gael
Fine Gael is a centre-right to centrist political party in the Republic of Ireland. It is the single largest party in Ireland in the Oireachtas, in local government, and in terms of Members of the European Parliament. The party has a membership of over 35,000...
politician, who served for twenty years as a member of Dáil Éireann
Dáil Éireann
Dáil Éireann is the lower house, but principal chamber, of the Oireachtas , which also includes the President of Ireland and Seanad Éireann . It is directly elected at least once in every five years under the system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote...
for constituencies in County Galway
County Galway
County Galway is a county in Ireland. It is located in the West Region and is also part of the province of Connacht. It is named after the city of Galway. Galway County Council is the local authority for the county. There are several strongly Irish-speaking areas in the west of the county...
.
First elected as a Teachta Dála
Teachta Dála
A Teachta Dála , usually abbreviated as TD in English, is a member of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas . It is the equivalent of terms such as "Member of Parliament" or "deputy" used in other states. The official translation of the term is "Deputy to the Dáil", though a more literal...
(TD) at the 1957 general election
Irish general election, 1957
The Irish general election of 1957 was held on 5 March 1957, just over three weeks after the dissolution of the Dáil on 4 February. The newly elected members of the 16th Dáil assembled at Leinster House on 20 March when the new Taoiseach and government were appointed.The general election took place...
, to the 16th Dáil for Galway South
Galway South (Dáil Éireann constituency)
Galway South was a parliamentary constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas from 1948 to 1961...
, she was returned to the 17th Dáil for the Galway East constituency at the 1961 general election
Irish general election, 1961
The Irish general election of 1961 was held on 4 October 1961, just over three weeks after the dissolution of the Dáil on 8 September. The newly elected members of the 17th Dáil assembled at Leinster House on 11 October when the new Taoiseach and government were appointed.The general election took...
and re-elected at the 1965 general election
Irish general election, 1965
The Irish general election of 1965 was held on 7 April 1965. The newly elected members of the 18th Dáil assembled at Leinster House on 21 April when the new Taoiseach and government were appointed....
. After boundary changes, she was elected to the 19th Dáil at the 1969 general election
Irish general election, 1969
The Irish general election of 1969 was held on 18 June 1969. The newly elected members of the 19th Dáil assembled at Leinster House on 2 July when the new Taoiseach and government were appointed...
for Clare–Galway South, where she was returned for a fifth and final term in the 19th Dáil at the 1973 general election
Irish general election, 1973
The Irish general election of 1973 was held on 28 February 1973. The newly elected 144 members of the 20th Dáil assembled at Leinster House on 4 March when the new Taoiseach and government were appointed....
.
Hogan-O'Higgins' years as a deputy were mostly spent in opposition: Fianna Fáil
Fianna Fáil
Fianna Fáil – The Republican Party , more commonly known as Fianna Fáil is a centrist political party in the Republic of Ireland, founded on 23 March 1926. Fianna Fáil's name is traditionally translated into English as Soldiers of Destiny, although a more accurate rendition would be Warriors of Fál...
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 defeated at the 1977 general election
Irish general election, 1977
The Irish general election of 1977 was held on 16 June 1977 and is regarded as a pivotal point in twentieth century Irish politics. The general election took place in 42 parliamentary constituencies throughout Ireland for 148 seats in the lower house of parliament, Dáil Éireann. The number of...
, when Jack Lynch
Jack Lynch
John Mary "Jack" Lynch was the Taoiseach of Ireland, serving two terms in office; from 1966 to 1973 and 1977 to 1979....
led Fianna Fáil's return to government with a large majority.
Her father, Patrick Hogan
Patrick Hogan (Cumann na nGaedheal)
Patrick Hogan was a Irish politician.He was first elected to Dáil Éireann at the 1921 general election as a Sinn Féin candidate for the Galway constituency...
was a TD for Galway
Galway (Dáil Éireann constituency)
Galway was a parliamentary constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas from 1921 to 1937. The method of election was the single transferable vote form of proportional representation .- History :...
from 1921
Irish elections, 1921
Two elections in Ireland took place in 1921, as a result of the Government of Ireland Act 1920 to establish the House of Commons of Northern Ireland and the House of Commons of Southern Ireland. The election was used by Irish Republicans as the basis of membership of the Second Dáil...
until his death in 1936.
Her husband, Michael O'Higgins
Michael O'Higgins
Michael Joseph O'Higgins was an Irish Fine Gael politician who served as a member of the Oireachtas for nearly thirty years....
, was also a TD, as were his father, uncle and brother. She married Michael O'Higgins in 1958, one year after her election. They had nine children. They were the first married couple ever to sit in the same Dáil.