Michael D’s date with destiny

Michael D’s date with destiny


The field for the Presidential election is taking shape and one of the current favourites, Michael D Higgins, who visited Ballinrobe last week, is bracing himself for an arduous campaign.

Trevor Quinn

HE is one of the most recognisable faces in Irish politics after a long and distinguished career but from talking at length with Michael D Higgins, it is easy to believe there is life in the old dog yet.
“I’m a lot younger up here that my years suggest,” said the 70-year-old while pointing at his distinctive head after being questioned on whether his age will be a concern as he embarks on the a campaign which he hopes will see him in the Aras come next November.
The Galway man was in Ballinrobe last week to open the new Ballinrobe Community Garden where he congratulated the local organising committee for the floral splendour of the novel garden.
Michael D has a soft spot for Mayo. His wife Sabina Coyne is a native of Ballindine and he has been a regular visitor to the county for many year
“I enjoy coming to Mayo as I have spent a lot of time here. I’m hopeful that there will be some support for me here,” said Michael D, who earlier had meandered gracefully between Ballinrobe’s committee members and public onlookers, speaking warmly and candidly to all present.

Challenging childhood
Born in Limerick on April 18, 1941 Michael D is frank when talking about his upbringing. He had a happy but challenging childhood. When he was just five years-old both he and his brother John (4) were sent to live with their unmarried uncle and aunt in Newmarket-On-Fergus, Co Clare.
His father’s ill health and complexities which his mother was having in caring for the young children brought about this life-changing decision.
Michael D’s older twin sisters remained with their mother in Limerick and while his uncle and aunt were supportive and loving, it is evident in his poetry and writings that his mother’s absence has had a lasting effect on him. 
However, he did not let this absence obstruct his ambition to have a third level education. He moved to Galway initially after working for the ESB, harbouring thought of perhaps one day going on to third level education.
“The reality for me was that I was someone who could only really dream of going to third level but in the end I got a loan from a kind gentleman when I moved to Galway to work with the ESB and only that allowed me to enrol at UCG.”
His time in third level saw him begin to dabble in politics, first joining Fianna FΡil before quickly switching his allegiance to Labour.
His father fought in the War of Independence but the uncle who raised him had opted to fight on the Free State side.
This brought about significant division in the Higgins family of ten siblings.
“My family were divided during the Irish Civil War and as a result I had a sense of Irishness that had never been created.”
Having enjoyed success and failure in equal measure during his early political career, it was not until the 1987 election that Higgins began to make a real impact, and he held his seat in Galway West for 24 years, until stepping down ahead of this year’s General Election.
He is still perhaps best remembered for his term as Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht from 1993 to 1997, as is many of his initatives then are still bearing fruit.
He stressed the importance of the creative space and he enthusiastically set about as transferring the huge creative industries potential in Ireland in areas such as film, music and publishing to drive economic wealth and employment. 
“During that period the value of the creative industries in employment terms was greater than that of the Banking Sector or the IT Sector. I saw the potential and the value and I tried my best to maximise that potential.”
Michael D was responsible for introducing tax incentives which attracted many multi-million pounds film productions to Ireland. One of the most notable was Braveheart in 1995. The film which was directed by actor Mel Gibson was experiencing production issues in Scotland and the Minister for Culture says he played a part in securing the Hollywood blockbuster.
“I was aware there were problems with regard to filming in Scotland and I knew it would be worth a lot of money if we could get it. I was directly involved in the negotiations with Mel Gibson to ensure it came to Ireland.”
Higgins adds that being the husband of an experienced actress and having over a decade’s experience as chairman of the Regional Arts Committee was a huge advantage as he attempted to invigorate the ailing film and theatre industry.
“I knew the issues. I knew the unemployed film community. I knew what needed to be done so I was able to move very quickly.” 

Trying times
The decision to vote against the IMF-EU bailout package is one area of contention which the patriotic Michael D believes contradicts all that the Republic stands for.
“The Republic has in a sense been stolen from the Irish people and I think that the conservative institutions continue at a great price. One of my last significant acts in politics as a TD was to vote on the bailout. The vote was 124-18 and I was one of the 18 so I have no regrets about that.”
Despite the difficulties which Ireland is obviously experiencing at the moment, Higgins is confident that as President of Ireland he can inspire confidence in the Irish at home and the large Irish diaspora abroad.
“I’m convinced of the amount of creativity we have in this country. Ireland is full of geniuses. When you go up to villages and towns in places like Cavan and you see the world class painters we have and the talents we have, that is reflected all over the country. The great pity is that the albatrosses of our generation is now the guarantee.”
Michael D believes himself to be ‘a humanitarian of the left without a doubt’.
“One of the reasons I question things all of the time is that nobody can ever be certain of the way the world is going. I always question inevitabilities.”
The poet and writer is a big advocate for the third-world and his campaigning for human rights in impoverished and war-torn countries such as Gaza, Nicaragua, Turkey, Iraq and Somalia has gained many plaudits.
In 1992, Michael D was internationally recognised for his remarkable efforts to promote peace and justice when he became the first recipient of the SeΡn MacBride Peace Prize at the International Peace Bureau in Helsinki.
“I have visited places like Africa, Nicaragua and Turkey and while there I witnessed the huge loss of life and the loss of possibilities. I often felt a great moral challenge because when you come in to an area where you observe a massacre what do you do? Do you pretend you didn’t see it or do you see it and try to change it forever. For me there is only one answer.”
The powers of the President of Ireland are restricted but Michael D Higgins feels, in the role, he can make a difference and try to inject a new confidence into the Irish people. He knows he faces a tough battle from people like Gay Mitchell, David Norris, Mary Davis and Sean Gallagher but it’s a battle he is very much looking forward to - and ready for.