Editing Patrick Hillery

{{Short description|President of Ireland from 1976 to 1990}}
{{Use Hiberno-English|date=October 2021}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2019}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| image         = Patrick Hillery (cropped).jpg
| alt           = Hillery, 63, in a monochrome photograph
| caption       = Hillery in 1986
| office        = [[President of Ireland]]
| taoiseach     = {{plainlist|
* [[Liam Cosgrave]]
* [[Jack Lynch]]
* [[Charles Haughey]]
* [[Garret FitzGerald]]}}
| term_start    = 3 December 1976
| term_end      = 2 December 1990
| predecessor   = [[Cearbhall Ó Dálaigh]]
| successor     = [[Mary Robinson]]
| office1       = [[Vice-President of the European Commission]]
| president1    = [[François-Xavier Ortoli]]
| term_start1   = 6 January 1973
| term_end1     = 5 January 1977
| predecessor1  = [[Wilhelm Haferkamp]]
| successor1    = Wilhelm Haferkamp
| office2       = [[European Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion|European Commissioner for Social Affairs]]
| president2    = François-Xavier Ortoli
| term_start2   = 6 January 1973
| term_end2     = 2 December 1976
| predecessor2  = [[Albert Coppé]]
| successor2    = [[Henk Vredeling]]
| office3       = [[Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade|Minister for External Affairs]]
| taoiseach3    = Jack Lynch
| term_start3   = 2 July 1969
| term_end3     = 3 January 1973
| predecessor3  = [[Frank Aiken]]
| successor3    = [[Brian Lenihan Snr|Brian Lenihan]]
| office4       = [[Minister for Labour (Ireland)|Minister for Labour]]
| taoiseach4    = {{Ubl|[[Seán Lemass]]|Jack Lynch}}
| term_start4   = 13 July 1966
| term_end4     = 2 July 1969
| predecessor4  = ''New office''
| successor4    = [[Joseph Brennan (Fianna Fáil politician)|Joseph Brennan]]
| office5       = [[Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment|Minister for Industry and Commerce]]
| taoiseach5    = Seán Lemass
| term_start5   = 21 April 1965
| term_end5     = 13 July 1966
| predecessor5  = Jack Lynch
| successor5    = [[George Colley]]
| office6       = [[Minister for Education (Ireland)|Minister for Education]]
| taoiseach6    = Seán Lemass
| term_start6   = 23 June 1959
| term_end6     = 21 April 1965
| predecessor6  = Jack Lynch
| successor6    = George Colley
| office7       = [[Teachta Dála]]
| term_start7   = [[1951 Irish general election|May 1951]]
| term_end7     = 6 January 1973
| constituency7 = [[Clare (Dáil constituency)|Clare]]
| birth_date    = {{birth date|1923|5|2|df=y}}
| birth_place   = [[Spanish Point, County Clare|Spanish Point]], County Clare, Ireland
| death_date    = {{death date and age|2008|4|12|1923|5|2|df=y}}
| death_place   = [[Glasnevin]], Dublin, Ireland
| resting_place = [[St. Fintan's Cemetery, Sutton]]
| party         = [[Fianna Fáil]]
| spouse        = {{marriage|[[Maeve Hillery|Maeve Finnegan]]|1955<!--|2008-->}}
| children      = 2
| alma_mater    = {{Plainlist|
* [[University College Dublin]]
* [[Royal College of Surgeons]]}}
| profession    = {{Flatlist|
* [[Medical doctor]]
* politician
* diplomat}}
| signature     = 
|}}
'''Patrick John Hillery''' ({{langx|ga|Pádraig J. Ó hIrghile}};<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.president.ie/index.php?section=32&lang=ire|work=president.ie|title=Pádraig J. Ó hIrghile|access-date=29 October 2011|archive-date=4 November 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111104081551/http://president.ie/index.php?section=32&lang=ire|url-status=live}}</ref> 2 May 1923 – 12 April 2008) was an Irish [[Fianna Fáil]] politician who served as the sixth [[president of Ireland]] from December 1976 to December 1990. He also served as [[vice-president of the European Commission]] and [[European Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion|European Commissioner for Social Affairs]] from 1973 to 1976, [[Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade|Minister for External Affairs]] from 1969 to 1973, [[Minister for Labour (Ireland)|Minister for Labour]] from 1966 to 1969, [[Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment|Minister for Industry and Commerce]] from 1965 to 1969 and [[Minister for Education (Ireland)|Minister for Education]] from 1959 to 1965. He served as a [[Teachta Dála]] (TD) for the [[Clare (Dáil constituency)|Clare]] constituency from 1951 to 1973.<ref name=oireachtas_db>{{cite web|url=https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/members/member/Patrick-John-Hillery.D.1951-06-13/|title=Patrick John Hillery|work=Oireachtas Members Database|date=5 December 1972|access-date=25 August 2012|archive-date=19 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190719221146/https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/members/member/Patrick-John-Hillery.D.1951-06-13/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="hilleryp">{{cite news|url=http://www.rte.ie/news/2008/0412/hilleryp.html|title=A look at Patrick Hillery's career in politics|date=12 April 2008|publisher=[[RTÉ News]]|access-date=12 April 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080414145427/http://www.rte.ie/news/2008/0412/hilleryp.html|archive-date = 14 April 2008}}</ref>

In 1973, he was appointed Ireland's first [[European Commissioner]], upon [[Treaty of Accession 1972|Ireland's accession to the European Economic Community]], serving until 1976, when he became President of Ireland. He served two terms in the presidency. Though seen as a somewhat lacklustre president, he was credited with bringing stability and dignity to the office, and won widespread admiration when it emerged that he had withstood political pressure from his own Fianna Fáil party during a political crisis in 1982.

==Early and private life==
[[File:Colorful shops in Main Street Milltown Malbay.jpg|thumb|upright|left|Hillery's Pub on Main Street, Milltown Malbay]]
Patrick John Hillery, more popularly known as Paddy Hillery, was born in [[Spanish Point, County Clare|Spanish Point]], [[County Clare]], in 1923. The son of Michael Joseph Hillery, a local doctor, and Ellen McMahon, a district nurse, he was educated locally at [[Milltown Malbay]] [[National school (Ireland)|National School]], before later attending [[Rockwell College]]. At the third level, Hillery attended [[University College Dublin]], where he qualified with a degree in medicine. Upon his conferral in 1947, he returned to his native town where he followed in his father's footsteps as a doctor. Hillery's medical career in the 1950s, saw him serve as a member of the National Health Council and as Medical Officer for the Milltown Malbay Dispensary District. He also spent a year working as [[coroner]] for West Clare.

Hillery married [[Maeve Hillery|Maeve Finnegan]], on 27 October 1955. Together they had a son, John, and a daughter, Vivienne, who died after a long illness in 1987,<ref name="Brian Cowen">{{cite news|url=http://www.rte.ie/news/2008/0416/hilleryoration.html|title=Brian Cowen's graveside oration|date=17 April 2008|publisher=[[RTÉ News]]|access-date=17 April 2008|archive-date=20 April 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080420223107/http://www.rte.ie/news/2008/0416/hilleryoration.html|url-status=live}}</ref> shortly before her eighteenth birthday.

==Domestic political career==
Hillery, though not himself political, agreed under pressure from Clare's senior [[Fianna Fáil]] TD, party leader and former [[Taoiseach]], [[Éamon de Valera]], to become his running mate at the [[1951 Irish general election|1951 general election]].<ref name=elecs_irl>{{cite web|url=http://electionsireland.org/candidate.cfm?ID=2387|title=Dr Paddy Hillery|work=ElectionsIreland.org|access-date=25 August 2012|archive-date=23 September 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120923080420/http://electionsireland.org/candidate.cfm?id=2387|url-status=live}}</ref> Hillery received enough transfers from de Valera to be elected.

De Valera was elected as [[president of Ireland]] in 1959, and was succeeded as Taoiseach by [[Seán Lemass]]. Under Lemass, many party elders such as [[James Ryan (Irish politician)|James Ryan]], [[Seán MacEntee]] and [[Patrick Smith (politician)|Paddy Smith]], retired and a new generation of politicians were introduced to government, such as [[Brian Lenihan Snr|Brian Lenihan]], [[Donogh O'Malley]], [[Charles Haughey]] and [[Neil Blaney]]. Key among this new breed of politician was Hillery, who was given his first position in cabinet as [[Minister for Education (Ireland)|Minister for Education]] in 1959, succeeding Jack Lynch in that post.

===Government minister 1959–1973===
As Minister for Education, Hillery was responsible for much innovative thinking in a department which would become very important under Lemass's leadership. In 1963, he made a major policy speech in which he outlined many of the educational reforms that were to be introduced over the next decade. These included increased educational opportunities for many, the establishment of [[comprehensive school]]s and [[Regional Technical Colleges]]. He also proposed access by students to all public examinations.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Bonel-Elliott |first=Imelda |title=Lessons from the Sixties: Reviewing Dr. Hillery's Educational Reform |journal=Irish Educational Studies |volume=13 |date=Spring 1994 |pages=32–45}}</ref> As Minister for Education, Hillery laid the groundwork for successive Ministers to advance the reforms and initiatives he had begun. While Donogh O'Malley, has received much of the credit for introducing free education, it was in fact Hillery who laid much of the groundwork before this landmark announcement.

In 1965, Hillery succeeded Lynch again by taking over as Minister for Industry and Commerce. This department was considered one of the most important in kick-starting Ireland's economy. Hillery only remained in this position for just over a year, becoming the country's first [[Minister for Labour (Ireland)|Minister for Labour]] in 1966, as industrial disputes began to take their toll. This new department had been an ambition of Lemass's for several years.

Lemass resigned as [[Taoiseach]] and [[leader of Fianna Fáil]] in November 1966, a shock to many of his political friends. Hillery was invited by Lemass to allow his name to go forward for the leadership of the party, however, he declined explaining that he had no interest. Jack Lynch succeeded Lemass after a leadership contest with George Colley. Hillery retained his post as Minister for Labour in Lynch's cabinet, serving until 1969.

Following a further victory for Fianna Fáil at the [[1969 Irish general election|1969 general election]], Hillery was appointed [[Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade|Minister for External Affairs]] (renamed Foreign Affairs in 1971), one of the most prestigious of cabinet posts. He earned an international profile when, in the aftermath of the killing of fourteen unarmed civilians in [[Derry]], by British paratroopers (known as [[Bloody Sunday (1972)|Bloody Sunday]]), he travelled to the [[United Nations]] to demand UN involvement in peace-keeping on the streets of [[Northern Ireland]]. The trip to the UN achieved very little, other than to draw the attention of the world to the worsening situation in Northern Ireland. During the whole period, Hillery remained one of Jack Lynch's staunchest allies in pursuing peaceful means with regard to the possibility of a civil war breaking out. Although considered a mild-mannered politician, Hillery showed his mettle at the 1971 Fianna Fáil [[Ard Fheis]] when [[Kevin Boland]], an opponent of Lynch's Northern policy, stormed a nearby podium and launched a very public and vocal attack on the Fianna Fáil leadership. While some of his supporters started chanting "We want Boland", Hillery, who by this stage had grabbed the nearest microphone, shouted down the Boland faction with the line "Ye can have Boland but ye can't have Fianna Fáil."

As well as affairs in Northern Ireland, as Minister for Foreign Affairs, Hillery also negotiated Irish membership of the [[European Economic Community]] (EEC), a process that was completed in 1973.

==European Commissioner 1973–1976==
[[Image:Patrick Hillery, 1973 (cropped).tif|thumb|200px|left|Hillery in 1973]]
Following Ireland's successful entry into the European Economic Community (ECC), Hillery was rewarded by becoming the first Irish politician to serve on the [[European Commission]]. He was appointed Vice-President of the European Commission and European Commissioner for Social Affairs. While Europe had gained one of Ireland's most capable and respected politicians, [[Jack Lynch]] had lost one of his allies, and someone who may have been in line to take over the leadership following Lynch's retirement. As Social Affairs Commissioner, Hillery's most famous policy initiative was to force EEC member states to give equal pay to women. However, in 1976, the then-Irish government, the [[Fine Gael]]–[[Labour Party (Ireland)|Labour Party]] National Coalition, under Taoiseach [[Liam Cosgrave]], informed him that he was not being re-appointed to the Commission. He considered returning to medicine, perhaps moving with his wife, [[Maeve Hillery|Maeve]] (also a doctor) to [[Africa]]. However, fate took a turn, when the then Minister for Defence, [[Paddy Donegan]], launched a ferocious verbal attack on the then president, [[Cearbhall Ó Dálaigh]], calling him "a thundering disgrace" for referring anti-terrorist legislation to the [[Supreme Court of Ireland]] to test its constitutionality.<ref>[https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/how-thundering-disgrace-led-to-president-resigning-26353001.html How 'thundering disgrace' led to President resigning] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190827173110/https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/how-thundering-disgrace-led-to-president-resigning-26353001.html |date=27 August 2019 }}, ''[[Irish Independent]]'', December 29, 2006</ref> When Ó Dálaigh resigned, a deeply reluctant Hillery agreed to become the Fianna Fáil candidate for the presidency. Fine Gael and Labour decided it was unwise to nominate a candidate, in light of the row over Ó Dálaigh's resignation and the part the government played in the affair. As a result, Hillery was [[1976 Irish presidential election|elected unopposed]], becoming President of Ireland on 3 December 1976.

==President of Ireland==

===The fake "sex scandal" during the papal visit===
Though once voted the world's sexiest head of state by readers of the German ''[[Der Spiegel]]'' magazine,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.oireachtas.ie/ga/debates/debate/seanad/2008-04-15/2/ |title=Seanad Éireann díospóireacht – Tuesday, 15 Apr 2008 |author=[[Déirdre de Búrca]] |date= |website=Oireachtas.ie |publisher= |access-date=15 December 2022 |quote=[[Déirdre de Búrca]]: On a lighter note, the former President Hillery was once voted the world's sexiest Head of State by readers of the German magazine, Der Spiegel. I believe it is important to remember this also.}}</ref> few expected Hillery to become embroiled in a [[sex scandal]] as president.<ref>{{cite news |last= |first= |date=23 May 2007 |title=Hillery knows who was behind sex tales |url=https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/hillery-knows-who-was-behind-sex-tales-26292489.html |work=[[The Irish Independent]] |location= |access-date=15 December 2022}}</ref> Yet, one occurred in September 1979, when the international press corps, travelling to Ireland for the visit of [[Pope John Paul II]], told their Irish colleagues that Europe was "awash" with rumours that Hillery had a mistress living with him in [[Áras an Uachtaráin]] (the presidential residence), that he and his wife were divorcing and he was considering resigning from the presidency.<ref name="DIB">{{cite web |url=https://www.dib.ie/biography/hillery-patrick-john-a9635 |title=Hillery, Patrick John |last=Maume |first=Patrick |date=June 2014 |website=[[Dictionary of Irish Biography]] |publisher= |access-date=15 December 2022 |quote=}}</ref><ref name="Haughey behind smear Indo"/> However, the story was untrue. Once the Pope had left, Hillery held a press conference where he told a shocked nation that there was no mistress, no divorce and no resignation.<ref name="Haughey behind smear Indo"/><ref name="hilleryp"/> In reality, few people had even heard of the rumours. Critics questioned why he chose to comment on a rumour that few outside media and political circles had heard. Hillery, however, defended his action by saying that it was important to kill off the story for the good of the presidency, rather than allow the rumour to circulate and be accepted as fact in the absence of a denial. In that, he was supported by the then Taoiseach, Jack Lynch, whom he consulted before making the decision, he also got the support of [[Leader of the Opposition (Ireland)|Leader of the Opposition]], [[Garret FitzGerald]], of Fine Gael and [[Frank Cluskey]], of the Labour Party. In 2008, Historian John Walsh claimed that within Irish political circles, the source of the rumours about Hillery was widely believed to have been planted by the leader of Fianna Fáil [[Charles Haughey]], who was attempting to force Hillery to resign from office.<ref name="Haughey behind smear Indo">{{cite news |last= |first= |date=13 December 2008 |title=Haughey blamed for sex smear against Hillery |url=https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/haughey-blamed-for-sex-smear-against-hillery-26499151.html |work=[[The Irish Independent]] |location= |access-date=15 December 2022}}</ref>

Hillery also hit the headlines when, on the advice of then Taoiseach, Charles Haughey, he declined [[Queen Elizabeth II]]'s invitation to attend the wedding of [[Prince Charles]] and [[Lady Diana Spencer]] in 1981.

===Phone calls to Áras an Uachtaráin===
{{More citations needed section|date=July 2024}}
It was in 1982 that Hillery's reputation as President was arguably made. In January 1982, the Fine Gael-Labour Party coalition government of Taoiseach [[Garret FitzGerald]] lost a budget vote in [[Dáil Éireann]]. Since this was a [[loss of supply]], FitzGerald travelled to [[Áras an Uachtaráin]], to ask for a dissolution of the Dáil. Under Article 13.2.2°,{{efn|Under Article 28.10 of the Irish Constitution, a Taoiseach who has "ceased to retain the support of a majority in Dáil Éireann" (e.g., defeat in a budget or loss of confidence) must either (i) resign, or (ii) seek a parliamentary dissolution. Under Article 13.2.2°, where a Taoiseach in such circumstances requests a parliamentary dissolution, the President may "in his absolute discretion" refuse that request, forcing the Taoiseach back to the only other option, resignation. The president of Ireland {{em|cannot}} ask someone to form a government; a Taoiseach is nominated by a vote of Dáil Éireann and only thereafter appointed by the president, so had Hillery refused FitzGerald a dissolution, he could not have asked Haughey to form a government. Haughey would have had to have been nominated by Dáil Éireann.}} If Hillery refused FitzGerald's request for a dissolution, FitzGerald would have had to resign. Had this happened, Haughey, as Leader of the Opposition, would have been the next contender to form a government. While Hillery was considering FitzGerald's request, a series of phone calls (some published reports claim seven, others eight) was made by senior opposition figures urging Hillery to refuse the dissolution, allowing Haughey a chance to form a government.

Hillery regarded such pressure as gross misconduct, and ordered one of his aides de camp, Captain Anthony Barber, not to pass on any telephone calls from opposition figures. He might also have been motivated by a conflict between the English and Irish versions of the Constitution. While the English version vests the President with certain powers that he uses "in his absolute discretion," the Irish version states that these powers are used {{lang|ga|as a chomhairle féin}}, which usually translates to "under his own counsel". While "absolute discretion" implies that presidents have some latitude in whether to initiate contact with the opposition under these circumstances, "under his own counsel" has been understood to mean that no contact whatsoever can take place with the opposition. Whenever there is a conflict between the Irish and English versions, the Irish one takes precedence. In the end, Hillery granted the dissolution. (No Irish president to date has ever refused such a request.)

By 1990, Hillery's term seemed to be reaching a quiet end, until the events of 1982 resurfaced. Three candidates had been nominated in the [[1990 Irish presidential election|1990 presidential election]]: the then [[Tánaiste]], [[Brian Lenihan Snr|Brian Lenihan]] from Fianna Fáil (heavily tipped as the certain winner), [[Austin Currie]] from Fine Gael and [[Mary Robinson]] from the Labour Party. In May 1990, in an ''[[Journalism sourcing#.22On the record.22|on the record]]'' interview with [[Jim Duffy (author)|Jim Duffy]], a post-graduate student researching the Irish presidency, Lenihan had confirmed that he had been one of those phoning President Hillery in January 1982. He confirmed that Haughey too had made phone calls. [[Jim Duffy (author)|Jim Duffy]] mentioned the information in a newspaper article on the history of the Irish presidency on 28 September 1990 in ''[[The Irish Times]]''. In October 1990, Lenihan changed his story, claiming (even though he had said the opposite for eight years) that he had played "no hand, act or part" in pressurising President Hillery that night. He made these denials in an interview in ''[[The Irish Press]]'' (a Fianna Fáil–leaning newspaper) and on ''[[Questions and Answers (TV programme)|Questions and Answers]]'', an [[RTÉ 1]] political show,.

When it was realised that he had said the opposite in an on-the-record interview in May 1990, his campaign panicked and tried to pressurise Duffy into not revealing the information. Their pressure backfired, particularly when his campaign manager, [[Bertie Ahern]], named Duffy as the person to whom he had given the interview in a radio broadcast, prompting Duffy to release the relevant segment of his interview with Lenihan. In the aftermath, the minority partner in the coalition government, the [[Progressive Democrats]], indicated that unless Lenihan resigned or was dismissed from cabinet, they would pull out of the coalition and support an opposition [[motion of no confidence]] in Dáil Éireann, bringing down the government and forcing a general election. Publicly, Haughey insisted that it was entirely a matter for Lenihan, his "friend of thirty years" and that he was putting no pressure on him. In reality, under pressure from the PDs, Haughey gave Lenihan a letter of resignation to sign. When Lenihan refused, Haughey formally advised President Hillery to sack Lenihan from the cabinet. As required by Article 13.1.3 of the Constitution,<ref>{{cite web|title=Constitution of Ireland|url=https://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/cons/en/html#article13|website=[[Irish Statute Book]]|publisher=[[Attorney General of Ireland]]|access-date=24 January 2023}}</ref> Hillery did so. Lenihan's campaign never recovered, and he became the first candidate from Fianna Fáil to lose a presidential election, having begun the campaign as the favourite. Instead, Labour's Mary Robinson became the first elected President of Ireland from outside Fianna Fáil, and the first woman to hold the office.

The revelations, and the discovery that Hillery had stood up to pressure in 1982 from former cabinet colleagues, including his close friend Brian Lenihan, substantially increased Hillery's standing. From a low-key, modest presidency that had been seen as mediocre, his presidency came to be seen as embodying the highest standards of integrity. His reputation rose further when opposition leaders under parliamentary privilege alleged that Haughey, who in January 1982, had been Leader of the Opposition, had not merely rung the President's Office but threatened to end the career of the army officer who took the call and who, on Hillery's explicit instructions, had refused to put through the call to the president. Haughey angrily denied the charge, though Lenihan, in his subsequently published account of the affair, noted that Haughey had denied "insulting" the officer, whereas the allegation was that he had "threatened" him. Hillery, it was revealed, had called in the Irish Army's Chief of Staff the following day and as Commander-in-Chief of the Army had ordered the Chief of Staff to ensure that no politician ever interfered with the career of the young army officer. About ten years after the incident, RTÉ attempted to interview the young officer with regard to the allegations but as a serving officer, he was unable to comment.

===Later period as President===
Having been re-elected unopposed in 1983, Hillery (until then) shared the distinction with [[Seán T. O'Kelly]] and [[Éamon de Valera]] of serving two full terms as President of Ireland. He was one of three holders of the office of President who did not face a popular election for the office, the others being [[Douglas Hyde]] and [[Cearbhall Ó Dálaigh]]. Hillery left office in 1990, serving the maximum two terms, widely applauded for his integrity, honesty and devotion to duty. The previous image of Hillery, as low-key, dull and unexciting (except for the bizarre sex rumours), had been somewhat undermined. President Hillery retired from public life.

He re-entered public life in 2002, during the [[Twenty-sixth Amendment of the Constitution of Ireland|second referendum]] on the [[Nice Treaty]], when he urged a ''yes'' vote.

==Foreign assessment==
In 2002, [[state papers]] released by the British [[Public Record Office]] under the [[thirty-year rule]],{{efn|Irish and British state papers are generally released after a delay of thirty years with the exception of papers that are deemed to 'damage the country's image or foreign relations' if they were to be released. In January 2003, the papers from 1972, were released. Irish and British newspapers give extensive coverage to the new releases from the National Archives in Dublin and London, and the Public Record Office in Belfast, at the start of every year.}} published in the Irish media, revealed how Hillery was viewed. A briefing paper – prepared for the [[Foreign Secretary (United Kingdom)|Foreign Secretary]], [[Sir Alec Douglas-Home]], and the [[Secretary of State for Northern Ireland]], [[William Whitelaw]] – observed about Hillery, then [[Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade|Minister for Foreign Affairs]]:

{{blockquote|
Dr Hillery is regarded as a powerhouse for ideas, one of the few members of Fianna Fáil who has new policies and is eager to implement them.
The greatest example of this has been in his present job, where he has perforce concentrated on [[Anglo-Irish relations]] and, in particular, the North. Policy in this field is determined primarily between him and the Taoiseach; and it is likely that the Fianna Fáil new line on the North owes much to Dr Hillery.<ref>{{cite news |last=Carroll |first=Joe |url=http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2003/0103/1040226951325.html |title=British were impressed by Hillery's manner and intellectual capacity |newspaper=The Irish Times |date=3 January 2003 |access-date=2021-01-17 |archive-date=11 October 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121011061717/http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2003/0103/1040226951325.html |url-status=live }}</ref>}}

==Death==
Patrick Hillery died on 12 April 2008, in his [[Dublin]] home, following a short illness.<ref name="hilleryp"/> His family agreed to a full [[List of Irish state funerals|state funeral]] for the former president.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.rte.ie/news/2008/0412/hillery1.html|title=Tributes, State Funeral for Hillery|date=12 April 2008|access-date=12 April 2008|publisher=[[RTÉ News]]|archive-date=11 October 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121011195022/http://www.rte.ie/news/2008/0412/hillery1.html|url-status=live}}</ref> He was buried at [[St. Fintan's Cemetery, Sutton]], Dublin.<ref>[https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ex-president-hillery-laid-to-rest-in-dublin-1.821306 Ex-president Hillery laid to rest in Dublin], ''[[The Irish Times]]'', April 16, 2008</ref> 
In tributes, President [[Mary McAleese]] said "He was involved in every facet of policy-making that paved the way to a new, modern Ireland. Today, we detect his foresight and pioneering agenda everywhere – a free education system, a dynamic, well-educated people, a successful economy and a thriving membership of the European Union, one of the single most transformative events for this country."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/7344293.stm|title=Irish ex-president Hillery dies|date=13 April 2008|access-date=15 April 2008|publisher=BBC|archive-date=14 April 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080414221718/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/7344293.stm|url-status=live}}</ref> Taoiseach [[Bertie Ahern]] said he "was a man of great integrity, decency and intelligence, who contributed massively to the progress of our country and he is assured of an honoured place in Ireland's history".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sbpost.ie/post/pages/p/story.aspx-qqqt=IRELAND-qqqm=news-qqqid=32052-qqqx=1.asp |title=Hillery praised for modernising role |date=13 April 2008 |access-date=15 April 2008 |work=[[Sunday Business Post]] }}{{dead link|date=June 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>
In the [[Dáil]] and [[Seanad]], he was praised by all political leaders and parties during expressions of sympathy on 15 April 2008.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://debates.oireachtas.ie/DDebate.aspx?F=DAL20080415.xml&Node=H3#H3|title=Expressions of Sympathy in Dáil Éireann|publisher=Dáil Éireann Official Report|date=15 April 2008|access-date=17 April 2008|archive-date=21 April 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080421235208/http://debates.oireachtas.ie/DDebate.aspx?F=DAL20080415.xml&Node=H3#H3|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://debates.oireachtas.ie/DDebate.aspx?F=SEN20080415.xml&Node=H2#H2|title=Expressions of Sympathy in Seanad Éireann|publisher=Seanad Éireann Official|date=15 April 2008|access-date=17 April 2008|archive-date=21 April 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080421235214/http://debates.oireachtas.ie/DDebate.aspx?F=SEN20080415.xml&Node=H2#H2|url-status=live}}</ref>
In the graveside oration, [[Tánaiste]] [[Brian Cowen]] said Hillery was "A humble man of simple tastes, he has been variously described as honourable, decent, intelligent, courteous, warm and engaging. He was all of those things and more."<ref name="Brian Cowen"/>

In April 2023 a stamp to mark the 100th anniversary of his birth was issued.

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
* Collins, Stephen (2000) – ''The Power Game: Ireland Under Fianna Fáil'' (Dublin: O'Brien Press)
* Walsh, John (2008) – "Patrick Hillery: The Official Biography" (Dublin: New Island) {{ISBN|978-1-84840-009-2}}.

==External links==
*[http://www.president.ie/past_presidents/patrick-j-hillery/ Biography at Áras an Uachtaráin website]
*[http://www.clarelibrary.ie/eolas/claremuseum/projects/hillery_exhibition/1_hillery.htm Profile of Patrick Hillery]

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{{S-bef|before = [[Jack Lynch]]|rows = 2}}
{{S-ttl|title  = [[Minister for Education (Ireland)|Minister for Education]]
       |years  = 1959–1965}}
{{S-aft|after  = [[George Colley]]|rows = 2}}
{{S-ttl|title  = [[Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment|Minister for Industry and Commerce]]
       |years  = 1965–1966}}
{{S-new|office}}
{{S-ttl|title  = [[Minister for Labour (Ireland)|Minister for Labour]]
       |years  = 1966–1969}}
{{S-aft|after  = [[Joseph Brennan (Fianna Fáil politician)|Joseph Brennan]]}}
{{S-bef|before = [[Frank Aiken]]}}
{{S-ttl|title  = [[Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade|Minister for Foreign Affairs]]
       |years  = 1969–1973}}
{{S-aft|after  = [[Brian Lenihan Snr|Brian Lenihan]]}}
{{S-new|office|reason = Ireland joins the EEC}}
{{S-ttl|title  = [[Irish European Commissioner]]
       |years  = 1973–1976}}
{{S-aft|after  = [[Richard Burke (Irish politician)|Richard Burke]]}}
{{S-bef|before = [[Albert Coppé]]}}
{{S-ttl|title  = {{nowrap|[[European Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion|European Commissioner for Social Affairs]]}}
       |years  = 1973–1976}}
{{S-aft|after  = [[Henk Vredeling]]}}
{{S-bef|before = [[Cearbhall Ó Dálaigh]]}}
{{S-ttl|title  = [[President of Ireland]]
       |years  = 1976–1990}}
{{S-aft|after  = [[Mary Robinson]]}}
{{s-end}}
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