This entry is still under construction, and will be completed shortly.

Born at Stradbally, Co. Laois, he was a brother of Thomas F. O'Higgins who was elected a TD in 1929. His nephews Thomas and Michael were also elected TD's in later years.

Educated at Clongowes Wood College, St. Patrick's College, Maynooth, and University College Dublin.
He joined Sinn Fein when he was a student, and was imprisoned in 1918 for making a seditious anti-conscription speech. While still in prison, he was elected M.P. for his native Queen's County [Laois]. In 1922 he was elected TD for South Dublin.
In 1922, he was appointed Minister for Economic Affairs, subsequently Minister for Justice and External Affairs. In 1927 he succeeded Ernest Blythe as Vice-President of the Executive Council.
When the Irish Civil War broke out following the acceptance of the Anglo-Irish Treaty, he was Minister for Justice. He took a "hard line" position on the authority of the State and took all necessary measures to restore law and order, including the execution of 77 republicans in the period 1922-24. As a reprisal, Republicans raided his father's house in February 1923, and shot him dead.
As Minister for External Affairs, he believed in a free an undivided Ireland within the British Commonwealth. At the Imperial Conference in 1926, he took a leading role in establishing the principle of equality between the members, which superceded the previous concept of Empire and Dominions

He was Minister for Justice in the Cumann na nGaedhael led Government of Ireland, when he was assassinated on Sunday 10th July 1927, at Cross Avenue, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, when he was on his way to Mass in Booterstown Church. No one was ever prosecuted for his killing.

Teachta Dala
[TD, member of the Irish Parliament]
Queen's County, 1918-21.
Leix-Offaly, 1921-23.
Dublin County, 1923-27.

See his entry in Wikipedia Kevin O'Higgins

Kevin O'Higgins was assassinated by William "Bill" Gannon who is buried in Mount Jerome Cemetery, Dublin.

See the entry for Gannon in Wikipedia
Bill Gannon


Kevin O'Higgins was a brother of
Thomas Francis O'Higgins
whose grave is immediately in front of his.
also of
Lieutenant Michael Aloysius Higgins
who joined the Leinster Regiment, and died in WW1 in Northern France.