Since the foundation of the state, Ireland has had a total of nine Irish presidents who have all played an important role in shaping the nation.
Irish presidents have always played an important role in Irish society as they have acted as not only the head of state but also ambassadors for Ireland.
From helping to shape the nation through their stances on social and moral issues to signing laws into the constitution, Irish presidents have always been seen as being important figures.
In this article, we will look at all of the Irish presidents that have held office in Ireland since 1937.
Douglas Hyde (1938 to 1945) – the first president of Ireland
In 1938, Douglas Hyde became the first-ever president of Ireland.
Besides being the president, Hyde was also a co-founder of Conradh na Gaeilge (The Gaelic League) as well as being a playwright, poet, and professor of Irish at UCD.
Sean T. O’Ceallaigh (1945 to 1959) – the second president of Ireland
The second president of Ireland was Sean T O Ceallaigh, who served two terms and was a founder of the Irish political party Sinn Féin.
He was also one of the soldiers who took part in the Easter Rising of 1916.
Éamon de Valera (1959 to 1973) – the third president of Ireland
Ireland’s third president was the hugely important and divisive political figure Éamon de Valera. De Valera proved to be one of the most influential Irish politicians of the 20th-century.
Besides being one of the leaders of the 1916 Rising, he also fought in the Civil War on the anti-treaty side.
He founded the political party Fianna Fáil and was Taoiseach on three occasions before becoming president at 76 years old. He went on to serve two terms.
Erskine Childers (1973 to 1974) – the fourth president of Ireland
Ireland’s fourth president was Erskine Childers, who had a strong political career during which he served in five governments before his election as president in 1973.
Sadly, his time in presidential office was tragically brief as he died suddenly after just one year and five months in office.
Cearbhall O’Dálaigh (1974 to 1976) – the fifth president of Ireland
Ireland’s fifth president Cearbhall O’Dálaigh held the important roles of President of the Supreme Court and Judge in the European Court of Justice before becoming president of Ireland.
His tenure as an Irish president, however, was quite short.
After just two years, he resigned when criticised by a government minister for his part in referring a bill to the Supreme Court before he then went on to sign it into law.
Patrick J Hillery (1976 to 1990) – the sixth president of Ireland
Number six on our list of Irish presidents is Patrick J Hillery. He ran for two successive presidential terms from 1976 to 1990.
Before he became president, he was the Minister for Foreign Affairs who successfully negotiated Ireland’s entry into the European Union in 1973.
He also had the honour of becoming Ireland’s first European Commissioner.
Mary Robinson (1990 to 1997) – the seventh president of Ireland
Ireland’s seventh president and first female president was Mary Robinson. She served one term as Irish president before becoming the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.
Besides being the first female president of Ireland, she was also the youngest at just 46.
Her time in office was seen as quite successful; she is often credited with changing how the Office of the President was perceived by the Irish people.
During her time, she took a more active and visible role than her predecessors on social issues.
Mary McAleese (1997 to 2011) – the eighth president of Ireland
The eighth president of Ireland and second female president of Ireland was Mary McAleese. She, similar to her predecessor, was also a barrister.
Mary McAleese held the role of Professor of Criminal Law at Trinity College Dublin.
She used her time and influence as president to lend her aid and support to the burgeoning peace process in Northern Ireland at the time.
Michael D Higgins (2011 to present) – the ninth president of Ireland
The most recent addition to our list of Irish presidents is the still current president Michael D Higgins. Besides being a politician, Higgins is also famous for being a broadcaster, poet, and sociologist.
He enjoyed a long and successful political career as a TD for the Galway West constituency from 1981 to 1982 and 1987 to 2011 before taking the presidential office.
Michael D Higgins is currently in his second term as president after being re-elected in 2018. So far in his presidency, he has proven to be a very popular figure and a great ambassador for the country.
That concludes our article looking at the Irish presidents that have held office since the foundation of the Irish state. Which president was your favourite?
