Sabina Coyne

Sabina Higgins
Coyne with Michael D. Higgins, 2012
Born Sabina Mary Coyne
(1944-05-07) 7 May 1944
Ballindine, County Mayo, Ireland
Nationality Irish
Alma mater National University of Ireland, Galway
Spouse(s)
Children

Sabina Mary Coyne (born 7 May 1944) is an Irish actress, political activist and the wife of the current President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins.

Biography

Coyne grew up on a small farm near Ballindine, County Mayo. Her mother would tell stories from Charles Dickens while milking the cows, an influence on her later decision to take up acting, in which she trained using Stanislavski's system. She was a bridesmaid at the wedding of singer Luke Kelly to Deirdre O'Connell, who trained her in this.[1]

She met Higgins in 1969 at a party in the family home of journalist Mary Kenny.[1][2] Higgins proposed over Christmas 1973 and they were married the year after. They have four children: Alice Mary, twins John and Michael Jr., and Daniel.[1] When the twins were born Coyne was photographed by the press wearing a nightdress in her hospital bed.[1]

Friends have spoken of her affection for the President and noted that she "has always been out campaigning with him, and she has a public presence."[1] The Irish Times said she was "a subtle, careful and essential background presence during the presidential campaign". In 2010, before Higgins received the presidential nomination, the couple gave a radio interview together in which Higgins said Coyne was "his rock". Presenter Miriam O'Callaghan said they had held hands all the way through.[1]

She publicly expressed opposition to the Iraq War.[1] In January 2014, she famously visited the jailed anti-war activist Margaretta D'Arcy in Limerick Prison.[3] This resulted in her husband being questioned as to the appropriateness of his wife's conduct.[4][5] Other politicians also commented on the incident.[5][6]

During the Centenary of the Easter Rising, she gave a key speech in Glasnevin Cemetery at the graveside of Constance Markievicz. In it she warned Irish people against "empires of greed" and "a new form of capitalism [which is] even more powerful and less visible and less accountable" than that of 1916.[7]

She also has views on abortion and fatal-foetal abnormalities. At a 2016 event organised by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland in Trinity College, she made reference to 'the whole thing of the choice in abortion and health' and said that cases where the 'person or persons' were 'made carry' were 'really outrages against women and outrages against the world and nature'.[8]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Boland, Rosita (5 November 2011). "New lady of the Áras". The Irish Times. Retrieved 5 November 2011.
  2. ↑ Kenny, Mary (31 October 2011). "I have earned my footnote in history". Irish Independent. Retrieved 31 October 2011.
  3. ↑ Sabina Higgins visits jailed anti-war activist
  4. ↑ President Michael D Higgins defends Sabina's jail visit, Fergal O'Brien of Today FM.
  5. 1 2 President defends Sabina prison visit as "private and personal"
  6. ↑ Gilmore: No problem with Sabina Higgins prison visit to Margaretta D'Arcy
  7. ↑ Sabina Higgins tells Irish people: beware of 'new form of capitalism' and the 'empires of greed'
  8. ↑ ALISON O'CONNOR: I agree with what Sabina Higgins said, but she shouldn’t have said it
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