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Michael Hilliard

Michael Leo Hilliard (11 March 1903 – 3 August 1982) was an Irish revolutionary and later Fianna Fáil politician.^[1]

He was born 11 March 1903 in Navan, County Meath, fifth child of James Hilliard, a farmer and cattle dealer, and Mary Hilliard (née O'Brien). He was educated at St Finian's College, Mullingar, he left in 1920 to take part in the IRA's independence campaign. As Company Captain of Navan Company, 4 Battalion, 2 Meath Brigade, in 1920 he was involved in enforcing the Belfast boycott, arms raids, blocking roads and burning of Robinstown Royal Irish Constabulary Barracks. In February 1921, Hilliard claims to have taken part in the execution of a suspected spy named “Chandeler” (sic) in Navan who was masquerading as a Michael O’Brien from Silvermines trying to join the IRA.^[2] In April 1921 was promoted to brigade intelligence officer^[3] and later Brigade Commandant. Hillard fought on the side of the Anti-Treaty IRA during the Irish Civil War.^[3]

He was arrested on 15 July 1922 but managed to escape soon after from Dundalk Jail with over 100 other IRA men. Hilliard took part in attacks on National forces until recapture in January 1923. During imprisonment, he went on hunger strike for 35 days. He recalled the experience as "a tremendous experience to have. Your mind gets crystal clear and you [are] in a sort in an ecstasy after about 21 days. You have day dreams and night dreams, you have such beautiful dreams. I can’t really explain it, but you can recall it as if you were looking at a film as to what happened to you from the very early days of your life".^[4] Hilliard was released in July 1924 and remained active in the IRA until about 1932, when he left to join Fianna Fáil. Hilliard later applied to the Irish government for a service pension under the Military Service Pensions Act, 1934 and was awarded 5 and 1/6 years service in 1941 at Grade C for his service with the IRA between 1 April 1920 and 30 September 1923.^[5]

From 1934 he represented the party on Navan Urban District Council. He was first elected to Dáil Éireann as a Fianna Fáil Teachta Dála (TD) for the Meath–Westmeath constituency at the 1943 general election.^[6] During his career he served in the governments of Seán Lemass and Jack Lynch. During his tenure as Minister for Posts and Telegraphs Hilliard oversaw the introduction of a television service in Ireland, RTÉ. He served as Minister for Defence from 1965 to 1969.

He retained his Dáil seat at eight further general elections, switching to the Meath constituency after constituencies were revised for the 1948 general election. However, at the 1973 general election, he lost his seat to his party colleague Brendan Crinion. He did not contest any further Dáil elections.

While a TD in 1973, Hilliard was appointed a Member of the European Parliament as part of Ireland's short-lived first delegation.

His son Colm Hilliard was Fianna Fáil TD for Meath from 1982 to 1997.