Brigid Hogan-O'Higgins

Brigid Hogan-O'Higgins (born 10 March 1932) is a retired Irish politician from the Fine Gael party, who served for twenty years as a member of Dáil Éireann for constituencies in County Galway.

First elected in the 1957 general election, to the 16th Dáil for Galway South, she was returned to the 17th Dáil for the Galway East constituency in the 1961 general election and re-elected in the 1965 election. After boundary changes, she was elected to the 19th Dáil in the 1969 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 in 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 eight children. They were the first married couple ever to sit in the same Dáil.

ee also

*Families in the Oireachtas