Patrick Hillery

Patrick Hillery

Patrick John Hillery ( Irish : Pádraig Seán Ó hIrighile , born May 2, 1923 in Spanish Point near Milltown Malbay , County Clare ; † April 12, 2008 in Dublin ) was an Irish politician and from 1976 to 1990 the sixth President of Ireland (Irish : Uachtarán na hÉireann ).

biography

"Paddy" Hillery studied medicine and then, like his father before, was a doctor in his hometown. At the same time he was politically active in the conservative Fianna Fáil party . In 1951 he was elected together with Éamon de Valera as Teachta Dála and represented County Clare in the Dáil Éireann for the next 20 years . During this period he was Minister of Education from 1959 to 1965, Minister of Industry and Trade from 1965 to 1969 (also Minister of Labor from 1966) and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ireland from 1969 to 1973 .

Hillery was one of the negotiators in the preparations for Ireland's accession to the European Economic Community and in 1973 became the first Irish Commissioner for the EEC, responsible for labor and social affairs. After the surprising resignation of Irish President Cearbhall Ó Dálaigh , Hillery was appointed his successor in 1976.

Hillery served two full terms as President of Ireland until his successor took office in 1990 . In 2002 the retired politician campaigned for the referendum on the Treaty of Nice .

Patrick Hillery passed away after a short, serious illness.

Honors

• 1986: Collane of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic
• 1989: Collane of the Papal Order of Pius

Individual evidence

1. ^ Former President Hillery dies at 84 (RTÉ News, April 12, 2008)
2. ↑ AAS 82 (1990), n. 4, p. 408

Web links

• Kurzbiografie (English)
• Literature by and about Patrick Hillery in the catalog of the German National Library