Presidents
EAMON DE VALERA
He was born in New York on 14 October, 1882, and was brought to Ireland at the age of two
and a half years. In 1910 he married Sinéad Ní Fhlannagáin. A teacher and university lecturer,
he joined the Irish Volunteers when they were founded in 1913. As a Commandant he took
part in the 1916 Irish National Uprising. He was sentenced to death, the sentence being
commuted to penal servitude for life. He was released on General Amnesty in 1917 He was
elected Sinn Féin M.P. for East Clare in 1917 and re-elected as parliamentary representative
for Clare at subsequent General Elections until his election as President in 1959. He founded
the Fianna Fáil Party in 1926 and from 1932 - 37 he was President of the Executive Council
of the Irish Free State and Minister for External Affairs. He was President of Council of the
League of Nations at its 68th and Special Sessions, September and October 1932 and
President of the Assembly of the League of Nations, 1938.
Following enactment by the people of the Constitution, Eamon De Valera became Taoiseach
(Prime Minister) and Minister for External Affairs from 1937 - 48. He was Taoiseach again
from 1951 - 54, 1957 - 59. On 25 June, 1959 he was inaugurated as President of Ireland.
He died on 29 August 1975.
ERSKINE CHILDERS
He was born in London on 11 December, 1905. After living in England and France he came
to Dublin in 1931 to become Advertisement Manager of the newly launched Irish Press
newspaper. From 1936 - 44 he was Secretary of the Federation of Irish Manufacturers. He
was elected to Dáil Éireann in 1938. From 1944 - 48 he served as a Junior Minister and from
1951 - 54 and 1957 - 73 he held successive ministerial appointments in a number of
government departments. He also served as Tánaiste (Deputy Prime Minister) 1969 - 73.
Erskine Childers married Ruth Dow in 1925. After her death he was married in 1952 to Rita
Dudley. On 25 June, 1973 he was inaugurated as the fourth President of Ireland. He died in
office on 17 November, 1974.
CEARBHALL O DALEIGH
Born on 12 February, 1911, he was a barrister by profession. He was Attorney General of
Ireland from 1946 - 48 and from 1951 - 53. In 1953 he was appointed a Judge of the
Supreme Court. He served as Chief Justice and President of the Supreme Court from 1961
- 73 before being appointed a Judge of the Court of Justice of the European Communities in
1973. He became President of Ireland on 19 December, 1974 and resigned from office on
22 October 1976. He died on 21 March, 1978.
PATRICK J HILLERY
He was born on 2 May, 1923, in Miltown Malbay, Co. Clare and qualified as a medical
doctor. He married Mary Beatrice Finnegan in 1955. In 1951 Dr. Hillery was elected to
Dáil Éireann for the constituency of Clare and he received his first Government appointment
as Minister for Education in 1959. He subsequently served in a number of ministerial posts
(Industry and Commerce, Labour and Foreign Affairs) prior to his appointment in 1973 as
Vice President of the then Commission of the European Communities, with special
responsibility for Social Affairs. He served as Commissioner until 1976, when he was
inaugurated as President of Ireland on 3 December, 1976.
SEAN T O CEALLAIGH
Born in 1882, he was one of the founders of Sinn Féin and launched and edited the "Nation",
a weekly review. From 1906 - 24 he was an Alderman of Dublin Corporation. In 1918 he
was elected to Dáil Éireann and continued to be elected until 1945. He was the Speaker of
the First Dáil Éireann, 1919-21. He was Vice President of the Executive Council (the
Government) of the Irish Free State from 1932-38; Minister for Local Government and
Public Health 1932-1939; Tánaiste (Deputy Head of Government) 1938-1945 and Minister for Finance 1939-1945.
He became the second President of Ireland on 25 June, 1945
He died on 23 November, 1966.
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