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Investigates Investigates Money Diaries The Journal TV Climate Crisis Cost of Living Road Safety Newsletters Temperature Check Inside the Newsroom The Journal Investigates Daft.ie Property Allianz Home The 42 Sport TG4 Entertainment The Explainer A deep dive into one big news story Sport meets news, current affairs, society & pop culture have your say Or create a free account to join the discussion Advertisement More Stories Michael D Higgins is at the end of his second term as presidentPA a look back The highs and lows of Michael D Higgins’ 14-year presidency In his 14 years in the Áras, Michael D Higgins has become as known for his Bernese Mountain dogs as for political views. 9.31pm, 26 Oct 2025 Share options WHEN POET, PROFESSOR and ex-TD and minister Michael D Higgins was inaugurated as Ireland’s ninth president on 11 November 2011 he declared his would be a “presidency of transformation”. After 14 years in the role, he has remained enormously popular across the country, with many commentators saying his outspoken ways have changed how Irish people view the presidency. He and wife Sabina have appeared as a duo at many events, and he has previously described her as his “rock”. Michael D Higgins and his wife Sabinaattend the official opening of the Fleadh Cheoil na hEireann in Mullingar, Co Westmeath in 2022PA Also supporting his official engagements from the president’s official residence, Aras an Uachtarain, Higgins has had three Bernese Mountain dogs Misneach, Bród and Síoda, who captured the nation’s hearts. When Bród died in 2023 it triggered what Higgins described as an “outpouring of support”. His gentle public image inspired ‘Michael Tea Higgins’ tea cosies and children’s books, providing a sharp contrast to many global leaders in an era of increasing political adversity. Michael D Higgins with his dogs Bród and Misnaech greet French President Emmanuel MacronPA Higgins was elected during a turbulent period in recent Irish history, and the economic crisis dominated the start of his presidency. He took on the role in 2011, the first year of the EU-IMF economic bailout programme and when Ireland was experiencing high levels of unemployment fuelling emigration. In one of his first acts as president, he voluntarily waived almost a quarter of his salary, following a similar pay cut taken by predecessor Mary McAleese after the recession hit Ireland. The country’s financial crash forced him to cut short a 2013 state visit to Italy. He returned in order to sign emergency legislation to liquidate the Irish Bank Resolution Company (IBRC) – the entity formed when Anglo Irish Bank and Irish Nationwide merged. Austerity measures brought in to mitigate the crash included new water charges, which were ferociously opposed. Higgins bore the brunt of demonstrators during a visit to a school in Finglas, Dublin in early 2015, where some of the protesters were filmed shouting abuse at him. His first term also saw some milestones in Anglo-Irish relations, and in April 2014 he became the first President of Ireland to make a state visit to the United Kingdom, during which he delivered an historic address at Westminster. Later that day, in his toast during a state banquet hosted by the UK’s Queen Elizabeth at Windsor Castle he described the trip as “a very visible sign of the warmth and maturity of the relationship between our two countries”. The late Queen Elizabeth accompanies Higgins as he is shown Irish-related items from the Royal Collection at Windsor Castle during the first state visit to the UK by an Irish presidentPA However, during the celebrations marking 100 years since the 1916 rising, Higgins pulled out of a civic dinner in Belfast, where he was due to be guest of honour, because of a lack of cross-party support for the occasion. His spokesperson claimed the decision was made because “he does not want to become embroiled in matters of political controversy”. During his presidency Higgins became known for speaking his mind. Advertisement Castro tribute He faced criticism in late 2016 for describing Fidel Castro as a “giant among global leaders” in a statement marking the death of the former Cuban president. Higgins rejected claims he ignored human rights concerns and a statement issued by his spokesperson described the criticism as “unsustainable and unwarranted”. In 2018, he welcomed Pope Francis to Aras an Uachtarain during the first papal visit to Ireland in 40 years. Higgins told the pontiff of the anger felt by those in Ireland who were abused as children by Catholic clerics. As his first term came to an end in 2018, he announced he would seek a second despite previously saying he would not run again. The Higgins cast their votes in the presidential election for his successorNiall Carson / PA Niall Carson / PA / PA Higgins ran as an independent candidate but was backed by Fine Gael, Fianna Fail and Labour, who agreed not to field their own candidates. He instead faced a Sinn Fein candidate and four independents but won with 55% of the vote. Pandemic president On RTE’s Late Late Show during the Covid-19 pandemic he described the word ‘cocooning’, used to describe a measure to protect the over-70s, as “infantilising”. In 2021, he wrote to the Oireachtas, raising concerns about the large volume of complex legislation sent to his office which needed to be signed quickly. It sparked an emergency meeting of Oireachtas committees, and the Taoiseach described the concerns as “legitimate”, claiming the problem had partially been caused by the pandemic. Later that year, the Government defended the President’s decision not to attend a cross-community service to mark the centenary of the formation of Northern Ireland. British and Irish political leaders attended the event at St Patrick’s Church of Ireland Cathedral in Armagh, but Higgins declined his invitation because he believed it was not politically neutral. Housing crisis our ‘great failure’ He was championed by the opposition in June 2022 when he described housing in Ireland as “our great, great failure”. The statement was referenced by Sinn Fein, Labour and People Before Profit during leaders’ questions. A vocal critic of the war in Gaza, Higgins was criticised several times by Israel’s ambassador to Ireland. Last year, he accused the Israeli embassy in Dublin of leaking a letter in which he sent his “best wishes” to the new president of Iran. The embassy rejected the claim and called the remarks “highly inflammatory and potentially slanderous”. After being treated for a stroke last year Higgins used two walking sticksPA While remaining vocally forceful, Higgins has become visibly more frail. In February last year when he was 82, he spent over a week in hospital for what was later revealed to be a mild stroke. He cut back on public appearances for a number of weeks and was later seen in public using two walking sticks. Press Association View 14 comments Send Tip or Correction Embed this post To embed this post, copy the code below on your site Email “The highs and lows of Michael D Higgins’ 14-year presidency”. 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Access to the comments facility has been disabled for this user View our policy ⚠️ Duplicate comment Post Comment have your say Or create a free account to join the discussion a look back Michael D Higgins michael tea higgins News in 60 seconds How much do you know about Irish movies? 22 mins ago Inside Áras an Uachtaráin: Here's a look at where Catherine Connolly will soon call home Witness appeal Gardaí appeal for information on serious attack in Dublin earlier this week Here's What Happened Today: Sunday spending and saving Money Diaries: A PR manager on €44K living in Co Cork Man (20s) in serious condition after being found unresponsive in Kildare search operation Coast Guard recovers body from shoreline in north Clare current husband Who is Brian McEnery, the man set to be Ireland's next 'first husband'? spoiled votes Taoiseach suggests referendum on changing 'restrictive' process for getting on presidential ballot What part of the country gave the most votes to Jim Gavin? 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