Patrick McGilligan (Irish nationalist politician)

Patrick McGilligan (1889 – 1966) was an Irish Cumann na nGaedheal and later Fine Gael politician, barrister, and academic. He served as a Teachta Dála (TD) from 1918 to 1927, and again from 1932 to 1943.

McGilligan was born in Coleraine, County Londonderry. He was educated at Clongowes Wood College and University College Dublin, where he qualified as a barrister. He was involved in the Irish Volunteers and Sinn Féin.

He was first elected to Dáil Éireann as a Sinn Féin member for the National University of Ireland constituency at the 1918 general election. He supported the Anglo-Irish Treaty and subsequently joined Cumann na nGaedheal.

McGilligan served as Minister for External Affairs (1927-1932) during which time he played a prominent role in the League of Nations and worked to establish Ireland's independence on the international stage. Prior to this, he held the portfolios of Minister for Industry and Commerce (1924-1927) and Attorney General (1922-1924).

In 1933, Cumann na nGaedheal merged with other groups to form Fine Gael, and McGilligan continued his political career as a Fine Gael TD. He lost his seat in the 1943 general election.

Outside of politics, McGilligan was a Professor of Constitutional and International Law at University College Dublin. He remained a prominent legal figure until his death in 1966.