Background
Hourigan was born in Limerick, Ireland, and migrated to Australia with his family in 1859.
Councillor politician president
Hourigan was born in Limerick, Ireland, and migrated to Australia with his family in 1859.
They lived at North Adelaide for a period before settling at Hindmarsh. A tanner by trade, he was the first president of the Tanners and Curriers" Union for eighteen months from September 1889, and served in that role during their six-week 1890 strike for an eight-hour day. He was subsequently appointed by the union to serve as their advocate when the matter went to arbitration, which was resolved in the workers" favour.
He served as president of the United Trades and Labour Council of South Australia and the Working Men"s Association at North Adelaide, and was a councillor for the Hindmarsh Corporation for four years.
He was elected to the House of Assembly at the 1893 election as a Labor member, and was re-elected in 1896 and 1899. He died in office in December 1901 from a hemorrhage of the stomach at the age of only 49, and was buried in the Catholic section of the West Terrace Cemetery.
The Southern Cross referred to him upon his death as "one of the most popular members of the House", "one of the ablest debaters in the House", and a member "greatly respected for his unfailing courtesy and suavity of manner".