O'Higgins Clan - Clann Uí hUigínn

Please visit our Clan Gatherings section for information on recent and upcoming gatherings.

O'Higgins War Heroes to be Remembered at Ohio Ceremonies - July 2010

There will be two SAR ceremonies held in Ohio on 31st July to honour Col. Robert Higgins and Pvt. William Higgins. The first ceremony in honour of Col. Robert Higgins will be held at 09.30am at Higginsport Cemetery, Higginsport, Ohio. The village of Higginsport was founded by Colonel Robert Higgins, a Revolutionary War Officer who received 1,000 acres of land for his services to the country. Colonel Higgins, who was born in Virginia, left his large plantation on the South Branch of the Potomac River, and emigrated with his family to Kentucky in 1798 - across the river from his survey in Lewis Township, OH. Col. Higgins and his family crossed the Ohio River in spring of 1799, and occupied a crude cabin in what is now the village of Higginsport. Mrs. Mary Higgins (nee Joliffe), who died in 1806, was the first person buried in the Higginsport Cemetery. Subsequently, Col. Higgins donated the land for a public cemetery to the village of Higginsport. The second SAR ceremony in honour of Pvt. William Higgins will also be held on 31 July at 14.30pm at the gravesite of Pvt. William Higgins, Prospect Cemetery, Hillsboro, Ohio. Pvt. Higgins is the 6th great grandfather of our clan poet James F. Higgins of Nebraska. Those wishing to attend either of these ceremonies are asked to inform John F. Higgins of Nebraska in advance at thehiggins6@earthlink.net 

O'Higgins Elected Chair of Bar Council of Ireland - July 2010

Paul O'Higgins SC has been elected as Chair of the Council of the Bar of Ireland, one of the most senior legal positions in Ireland. Mr O’Higgins graduated in history from UCD, qualified as a barrister and was called to the Bar in 1977. He was called to the Bar of England and Wales in 1982 and became a senior counsel in 1992. He has practised in wide areas of the law including criminal, media, administrative law and judicial review, planning and constitutional law. He appeared in the litigation leading to the deregulation of taxi licences and represented Seán Mulligan in his challenge to the slopping-out system in Portlaoise prison where judgment was given earlier this week.

Clans of Ireland AGM - April 2010

The Annual General Meeting of Finte na hÉireann ~ Clans of Ireland will take placeon Saturday 17th April at 2.00pm in the Mansion House, Dawson Street, Dublin 2. Clans of Ireland is the independent authority established in 1989 to support the re-formation of Irish Clans and to maintain the Register of Irish Clans of which O'Higgins is a member. The AGM will begin with the Procession of Chiefs and will include a lecture by Brian O'Donovan of Eneclann entitled "Survival Through Assimilation 1691-1800: Evidence for the People of Ireland". If you wish to attend please contact the Registrar of Clans of Ireland Maura O'Gara-O'Riordan at mogor@clansofireland.ie

DNA Conference in Dublin - April 2010

The O'Byrne Clan are holding a DNA information seminar on the 18th April from 11.00-16.30hrs in the Unites Arts Club, 3 Fitzwilliam Square, Dublin 2. While the seminar will focus on the O'Byrne Clan it will be of interest to those wishing to learn more about DNA testing and it's contribution to genealogy. Anyone interested in attending should contact Paul Burns at pabloburns@comcast.net

Higgins in Spain 2010

Greetings are sent from Tony Higgins in Spain who celebrated St. Patrick's Day there this year with his wife and family. Tony runs a holiday home in Murcia but has the time to write about Irish connections with Spain. He recently publishean article about celebating St. Patrick's Day in Spain and another about the Irish contribution to the Spanish Civil War. We hope you enjoy reading them.

Higgins' Film for Irish  Screens

Congratulations to Michelle Higgins of CNGM Pictures in the USA who has had her movie "Darren and Abbey" accepted for the International Irish Film Festival which takes place in Clonmel from 4-11th September 2010. Further details can be obtained at http://amritsa.com/eire/list10.htm Michelle is among a number of Higgins in the film industry.

Chief Appoints new Clan Poet - November 2009

On the recommendation of the Clan Council Chief Thomas has signed the certificate appointing James F. Higgins of Nebraska to the position of Aosdána or Clan Poet. James is well known within the clan and his poems have been published in a book by Publish America (2007). His writings will be available on this website. From now on as Clan Poet he will have the right to be heard wherever and whenever the clan gathers.

Chief of Clan Celebrates Chile Day with Ambassador - September 2009

 

On Thursday September 17th Ambassador Cecilia MacKenna hosted a reception at the Mansion House in Dublin to celebrate Chile Day which falls on the 18th of September. The Chief of the O'Higgins Clan and Madam O'Higgins were among 200 guests who attended the reception. Chief Thomas presented Ambassador MacKenna with a photograph of a Copihue flower which is the national flower of Chile. The Chief also briefly discussed plans for the O'Higgins gathering in Santiago in 2010 to mark the bicentenary of Chile.

Gabriel the Marine Coming to End of US Tour - August 2009

Dylan Higgins Ebrahimian is a member of "Gabriel the Marine", a Long Island Indie band that incorporates unique classical violin and jazzy vocals. Dylan is son of Coleen Higgins and is descended from the Summerhill family, in Co. Meath. In six months, the band has released their first demo, been featured frequently on KRock (92.3 FM), landed a spot on the 2009 Bamboozle Festival, and was featured in Spin Magazine's Top ൗ Bands You Must-Hear Bands" at the Bamboozle Festival. They have recently recorded a record with Mike Watts and VuDu Studios (As Tall As Lions, The Almost, Self Against City, As Cities Burn) and have been touring nonstop in support of it. Check them out on their webpage and try to catch them before their tour finishes on August 27th.

Chile Bicentennial 2010

The Chieftain of the O'Higgins has announced a special gathering of the Clan to be held in Chile in 2010 to celebrate the countries bicentennial.  At this stage it looks like the event will take place in late September and early October 2010. Chief Thomas and the planning committee are working closely with Ambassador MacKenna in Dublin and as soon as a draft itinerary is ready it will be released to the Clan. In the meantime, if you are interested in being part of the gathering in Chile next year please email Sarah Higgins at shiggins@algoodbody.ie  to register your interest. For further information please visit our Clan Gatherings section.

President of Chile Unveils New O'Higgins Monument - JUne 2009

On the 23rd of June members of the O'Higgins Clan in the USA gathered at the Chilean Embassy in Washington DC to see the President of Chile unveil a new bust of Bernardo O'Higgins. In her speach President Bachelet acknowledged the presence of the O'Higgins group led by Clan Ollamh Vincent Higgins of New Jersey and reminded people of the important contribution of Bernardo O'Higgins as Chile's first Head of State.

Clan Gathering in Washington DC - June 2009

The O'Higgins Clan held its first USA based Clan gathering at the Army & Navy Club in Washington DC from the 4-7th June 2009. The itinerary included a visit to the Chilean Navy Tall Ship "Esmeralda" as well as clan members being special guests at the Evening Parade at Marine Barracks Washington DC. There were also seminars on the history of the clan and individuals of the name who have excelled in their fields. Further details on the event can be found at 2009 USA Clan Gathering

Lectures on O'Higgins Poets and their Patrons - May 2009

There was a lecture entitled O'Higgins Poets and their Patrons by Dr. Katherine Simms of Trinity College, Dublin on Saturday 9th May in the Clarion Hotel, Sligo. The lecture was part of an innaugural conference entitled Scholars, Scribes and Poets of Gaelic Sligo an it was organised by the Sligo Field Club. There was also a lecture entitled In Search of Tadhg Dall Ó hUigínn  by Prof. Pádraig Ó Macháin from the School of Celtic Studies in the Dublin Institute of Advanced Studies.

St. Patrick's Festival - March 2009

The Annual St. Patrick's Day celebrations will take place in Ireland and around the world on March 17th and the O'Higgins Clan will be represented at the festivities in Dublin as well as in other cities in Ireland and around the world.

New Arrival in Spain - December 2008

 

The O'Higgins Clan are pleased to announce the birth of Chiara Musante Bibolini who through her mother Rosa Bibolini is descended from Bernardo O'Higgins of the Ballynary line of O'Higgins. Chiara was born on the 18th of December in Spain and as you can see from the photograph her Irish roots can be seen in those big blue eyes. Incidentally, tradition has it that the many Irish Clans are descended from the sons of King Míl of Spain, so Chiara is bringing the clan back home in many ways!  

New Arrival in Co. Meath - July 2008

The O'Higgins Clan warmly welcomes the arrival of Hannah Louise O'Reilly Jackson who was born in July in Dublin. She is the daughter of Siobhán (O'Higgins) O'Reilly and Andrew Jackson of Ashbourne, Co. Meath and a grandaughter of Carmel O'Higgins and Terry O'Reilly. Through her mother Siobhán, Hannah Louise is descended in the Ballynary line of the O'Higgins. 

O'Higgins Appointed to European Court of Justice - August 2008

The Government of Ireland at its meeting on 1 July, 2008 nominated Judge Kevin O’Higgins for appointment as a judge of the European Court of First Instance. Judge O’Higgins term of office will run for a period of six years. The European Court of First Instance was set up by the Single European Act and is attached to the European Court of Justice. Judge O'Higgins was born in 1946 and was educated at Crescent College, Limerick; Clongowes Wood College; and UCD. Judge O’Higgins is related to the first Irish Minister for Justice also Kevin O'Higgins and former Presidential Candidate Tom O'Higgins. He is descended from the O'Higgins family of Woodstown near Stradbally in Co. Laois.   He is one of the longest serving Judges in the Ireland.

Bernardo O'Higgins Commemoration - July 2008

August 2008 marks the 230th anniversary of the birth of Bernardo O'Higgins who was an independence leader and first Head of State of Chile. He was descended from the O'Higgins family of Ballynary and later of Summerhill, Co.Meath.  During his time as President, Bernardo succeeded in establishing the first Chilean constitution, a national navy, and continued his goal to free Latin America by invading Peru.  A commemoration ceremony was held in Merrion Square Dublin on the 27th July at 3pm. More details can be found at 2008 Dublin Clan Gathering .

New Arrival in USA - May 2008

The O'Higgins Clan is delighted to announce the birth of Jack Marley Higgins who is the first child born to Brendan Higgins and Suzanne Bass. Through his father Jack is descended from the Ballynary line of the O'Higgins family who were later located in Summerhill Co. Meath from about 1720 until his ancestor Laurence Higgins left Ireland for the USA in the 1861. 

New Arrivals in Lancashire - February 2008

Congratualtions to Melissa O'Higgins-Norman and her partner Matt Derbyshire on the birth of their twin boys Callum and Breidín who were born on February 27th last at Blackburn Royal Hospital. Melissa and Matt live in Lancashire where Matt is a striker for Blackburn Rovers FC. The identical twins received a warm welcome into the family and as they grow they will be under the watchful eye of their great uncle Clan Chief Thomas O'Higgins who lives in nearby Cheshire.

Chief's Son Takes a Tumble for Charity - December 2007

Karl O'Higgins, steering his Driller Killers soapbox, was catapulted from his ride on the very first run during this years annual Hoar Cross Downhill Race. Karl who is the Clan Chief's second son was knocked out of the annual race in Staffordshire, England but refused to go to hospital until after the race had finished. The event broke its own records as it was attended by 7000 people and raised in excess of ��,000 for the Acorns Childrens Hospice.

Flight of the Earls 1607-2007

On the 13th and 14th September 2007  a number of events will take place to commemorate the Flight of the Earls in 1607. The Flight of the Earls marked the informal end to the Gaelic Order in Ireland due to the fact that the Chiefs who left to raise an army in Spain never returned to flight against the English occupation of their lands. It was in this context that the O'Higgins lost their position as nobles and poets in several Chiefly houses including O'Conor, McDermott, McDonagh and O'Doherty. Full details of the commemoration in Rathmullen, Co. Donegal are available at Flight of the Earls 400

Summerhill O'Higgins Gather for First Time since 1846 - August 2007

The O'Higgins Clan was delighted to welcome home to Ireland members of the Summerhill Higgins family who visited Ireland in August. Coleen Higgins and her children Tara and Dylon are direct descendents of Laurence Higgins who left Clondoogan, Summerhill in 1866 to live in New York. Coleen, Tara and Dylon were accompanied on the trip by their friends Hilary, Lucas and Lilly who joined them for a tour of a number of locations associated with the family. The Higgins of New York were welcomed by their cousins in Summerhill and at a reception on Friday 24th August in Dublin.

Top of Page