University Archives

Biographical History

Born in Coleraine, County Derry and educated at St Columb’s College, Derry, Clongowes Wood, University College Dublin and King’s Inns, he was called to the Bar in 1921. He failed to win the Derry seat for Sinn Féin in 1918 but was elected TD for the National University at the 1923 general election and became Minister for Industry and Commerce after Joe McGrath’s resignation, his achievements including the establishment of the Electricity Supply Board and the implementation of the Shannon Scheme. He also became Minister for External Affairs after Kevin O’Higgin’s assassination and led the Irish delegation to the Imperial Conference, 1930 which produced the Statute of Westminster.

He was appointed Professor of Constitutional Law, International Law, Criminal Law, and Procedure at University College Dublin in 1934 and Senior Counsel in 1946. He served as Minister for Finance in the First Inter-Party Government, 1948–51, and introduced the first Keynesian budgets; and as Attorney-General in the Second Inter-Party Government, 1954–57.

McGilligan retired from the Dáil in 1965 having served for over 40 years.

He died in Dublin on 15 November 1979.

Archival History

This collection and the other tranches of Patrick McGilligan's papers, P35a, P35b, P35c and P35d, were deposited in UCD Archives in 1977-78.

Scope and Content

Private Secretary to the Minister for Home Affairs (1922–3), Secretary to the Irish High Commissioner in London (1923), Minister for Industry and Commerce (1924–32) and for External Affairs (1927–32), Minister for Finance (1948–51), Attorney General (1954–7): private office correspondence and memoranda including material relating to the constitutional status of the Irish Free State, relations with Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the boundary question, Imperial Conferences and the League of Nations (1921–32); taxation and currency (1921–2); the Shannon hydro-electrical scheme (1919–32); trade and industry and commerce matters (1948–51, 1954–7); repeal of the External Relations Act (1948); budgets (1948–52); and Marshall Aid (1954–7).

Cumann Na nGaedheal and Fine Gael: party political material (1921–71).

Professor of Constitutional Law, University College Dublin: material relating to College affairs including finances, the transfer of the College to the Stillorgan site, and the proposed merger with Trinity College Dublin (1954–68).

System of arrangement

The papers have been arranged into five groups, each with a separate descriptive list. Apart from the second group which consists exclusively of material relating to financial issues and budgets, each group contains material relating to all aspects of McGilligan’s career.

• Access: Available by appointment to holders of a UCD Archives reader's ticket. Produced for consultation in microform. 
• Language: English
• Finding aid: Descriptive catalogue

1. P35 Patrick McGilligan Papers
2. P35a Patrick McGilligan Additional Papers
3. P35c Patrick McGilligan Additional Papers