Sabina Coyne
| Sabina Higgins | |
|---|---|
First Lady Sabina Coyne (left)
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| First Lady of Ireland | |
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Assumed office 11 November 2011 |
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| President | Michael D. Higgins |
| Preceded by | Martin McAleese (First Gentleman) |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Sabina Mary Coyne 7 May 1944 Ballindine, Mayo, Ireland |
| Nationality | Irish |
| Political party | Labour Party |
| Spouse(s) | Michael D. Higgins |
| Children |
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| Residence | Áras an Uachtaráin |
| Alma mater | National University of Ireland, Galway |
| Religion | Roman Catholicism |
| Website | president |
Sabina Mary Coyne is an Irish actress, political activist and the First Lady of Ireland, as the wife of the current President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins.
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.
She met Higgins in 1969 at a party in the family home of journalist Mary Kenny. 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. When the twins were born Coyne was photographed by the press wearing a nightdress in her hospital bed.
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."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.
She publicly expressed opposition to the Iraq War. In January 2014, she famously visited the jailed anti-war activist Margaretta D'Arcy in Limerick Prison. This resulted in her husband being questioned as to the appropriateness of his wife's conduct. Other politicians also commented on the incident.
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.
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