Prof. Michael Hayes (1 December 1889 – 11 July 1976), was a senior Irish politician. He was elected as a Pro-Treaty TD in 1921 and at each election until 1933. He has served as Minister for Education during 1922. He was also Ceann Comhairle of Dáil Éireann between 1922 and 1932 and served in Seanad Éireann between 1938 and 1965.

Michael Hayes was born on 1 December 1889 in Dublin. He was educated at the Synge Street CBS and at University College Dublin (UCD). He later became a lecturer in French at the University. In 1913 he joined the Irish Volunteers and fought in Jacob's Factory during the Easter Rising in 1916. He escaped capture but was arrested in 1920 and interned at Ballykinlar. In 1921 he was elected to Dáil Éireann, becoming Minister for Education the following year.

He supported the Anglo-Irish Treaty during the crucial debates in 1922. That same year he was elected Ceann Comhairle of the first Dáil of the Irish Free State. He held that post for ten years until 1932. The following year Hayes lost his Dáil seat in the General Election, but was elected to Seanad Éireann in 1938. He remained a Senator until 1965, acting as leader of government and opposition there. Hayes became Professor of Irish at UCD in 1951.

Political career