Hillery, Patrick John

▪ 2009

      Irish politician

born May 2, 1923, Milltown Malbay, County Clare, Ire.

died April 12, 2008, Dublin, Ire.

served (1976–90) as the sixth president of Ireland. Hillery attended University College, Dublin, studying science and medicine. His practice of medicine yielded to politics in 1951 when, as a member of the Fianna Fáil party, he won election to Parliament. He later headed four government ministries: Education (1959–65), Industry and Commerce (1965–66), Labour (1966–69), and Foreign Affairs (1969–72). In 1973 he became Ireland's first representative on the Commission of the European Economic Community (precursor of the European Union) and achieved the post of vice president of the Commission. He succeeded to the Irish presidency in 1976 upon the abrupt resignation of Cearbhall O Dalaigh. When Hillery's term of office ended in September 1983, he indicated that he did not intend to seek a second term but changed his mind when all three political parties pleaded with him to reconsider. He was returned for a further seven years without an electoral contest. After leaving office in 1990, Hillery retired from politics.

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