Ireland

President Michael D Higgins and wife Sabina celebrate 50th wedding anniversary

The couple shared pictures from their wedding day to mark the occasion

President and Mrs Higgins on their wedding Day.
President and Mrs Higgins on their wedding Day in July 1974.

President Michael D Higgins and his wife Sabina are celebrating their golden wedding anniversary.

The couple were married 50 years ago on July 8 1974.

They met at a party thrown by journalist and founder of the Irish Women’s Liberation Movement Mary Kenny.

Mr Higgins, a member of Fianna Fáil at the time before later switching to Labour, proposed to the then Sabina Coyne over Christmas 1973.



President and Mrs Higgins, an actress originally from Cloonrane in Co Galway, have four children.

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Alice-Mary Higgins is an Independent politician who has been a member of Seanad Éireann since 2016.

The couple also share their beloved Bernese Mountain dog, Misneach, ever present when visitors are being received at Áras an Uachtaráin.

They shared pictures from their wedding day as well as more recent photos on social media.

Uachtarán na hÉireann Michael D Higgins and his wife, Sabina, are celebrating their golden wedding anniversary. 
The couple were married fifty years ago today, July 8, 1974.
Uachtarán na hÉireann Michael D Higgins and his wife, Sabina, are celebrating their golden wedding anniversary. The couple were married fifty years ago today, July 8, 1974.

Social media users flocked to the comments to extend well wishes to the pair.

Uachtarán na hÉireann Michael D Higgins and his wife, Sabina.
Uachtarán na hÉireann Michael D Higgins and his wife, Sabina.

President Higgins is best remembered as the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht, who lifted the Republic’s Section 31 broadcasting ban on Sinn Féin in January 1994.