Michael D. Higgins was born in Limerick on 18 April 1941 and reared in Newmarket-on-Fergus, Co. Clare. He studied at University College, Galway, Indiana University and Manchester University and has for many years lectured in Political Science and Sociology at University College, Galway. In 1992 he became the first recipient of the Seán McBride International Peace Medal of the Internatinal Peace Bureau for his work for human rights. Michael D. Higgins is a Labour TD for Galway West and has twice been Mayor of Galway. From 1993 to 1997 he was Minister for Arts, Cultures & the Gaeltacht. He is currently Spokesperson on Foreign Affairs for The Labour Party. His two previous collections were The Betrayal, published by Salmon, and The Season of Fire, published by Brandon, with drawings by Mick Mulcahy. Michael D. Higgins’ poetry has appeared in a number of anthologies and journals including The Great Book of Ireland, The Leopardi Anthology, The Limerick Anthology, Fathers and Sons, Sons and Mothers, The Ogham Stone, The Wexford Anthology, The Irish Review, Céide and anthologies published by the Dun Laoghaire Poetry Festival , UNICEF, Amnesty and Energy Action. He has read his poems on a number of radio and television programmes in Ireland and abroad.