Michael Daniel Higgins (born 18 April 1941) is the ninth and current President of Ireland. He took office on 11 November 2011. Higgins is an Irish politician, poet, sociologist, author and broadcaster.
Higgins was a Teachta Dála (TD) and represented the Galway West constituency. He also was the Minister for Arts, Culture and Gaeltacht from 1993 to 1997. Higgins was the President of the Labour Party from 2003 until his election to the presidency in 2011.
Higgins is known because he was the first president to make a state visit to the United Kingdom.