Thomas Higgins JP MP Ryehill Monivea
Thomas Higgins was an Irish nationalist politician, auctioneer, and farmer. He was born in Moylough, and later lived at Ryehill, Monivea, where his wife was principal teacher at Ryehill National School.
He was chairman of Tuam Board of Guardians, a Justice of the Peace, and a member of Galway County Council. He was devoted to and active in campaigning on behalf of small tenant farmers in their efforts to have lands redistributed from graziers and landlords.
In 1898 the United Irish league was founded to support small tenant farmers, and to condemn land grabbing. Their aim was to have land redistributed from graziers and landlords. A branch of the UIL was formed in Monivea on November 10th, 1898.
In September 1899, the North Galway branch of the UIL was formed in Tuam with delegates from several local areas including Monivea, Ryehill and Abbeyknockmoy in attendance. Thomas Higgins was elected president of the North Galway branch.
By 1901 there were estimated to be 1,000 branches of the UIL with up to 100,000 members throughout the country. Meetings and agitation to futher the aims of the UIL continued apace with some of the largest gatherings taking place in Killererin and Barnadearg, Co Galway.
Thomas Higgins was selected as the Irish Parliamentary Party candidate by the United Irish League (UIL) convention on 5 January 1906 to contest the general election on January 25th1906.
Higgins was widely expected to top the poll. However, on the night of the election he was taken ill, and he died as the result of a heart attack in Guy’s Hotel, Tuam, at 1.30am the following morning (26 January 1906). His death certificate states that his sister Winifred Nohilly was present at his death.
Counting of votes took place on the day of his death and as was expected, Higgins topped the poll, beating the incumbent MP, John Philip Nolan, who had stood as an Independent Nationalist. Higgins had received 2,685 votes (Nolan took 1,064). He was posthumously declared elected by the county sheriff, the returning officer, thereby creating an immediate vacancy. A by-election was held in North Galway on 28 February 1906 to fill the seat left vacant by his death.
Mrs Maria Maxwell Higgins wife of the late Thomas Higgins MP was principal of Ryehill NS. until 1926. Thomas and Maria Higgins had 3 children, Joe, Anthony, and Annie Kate.
Joe and Annie Kate became teachers also and taught at Ryehill national school. Thomas Higgins MP was grandfather of Mona Higgins-Lally and the Lally family continue to live in Ryehill, Monivea.
Thomas Higgins is buried in the old cemetery in Killererin. The UIL erected a commemorative cross in his memory in 1908, it was unveiled by Mr Hazleton MP for North Galway.
Monument to Thomas Higgins in Killererin Cemetery
Death Certificate for Thomas Higgins MP
Newspaper clippings relating to the death of Thomas Higgins MP and his widow Maria J Higgins
Newspaper articles courtesy of Tony Higgins.
Photograph of Thomas Higgins Courtesy John Lally.
Photographs of the monument in Killererin old Cemetery courtesy Bridie Keary
References Br Conal Thomas, The Land for the People. Killererin a parish history: Killererin Heritage Group.