Michael Richard Heffernan (3 April 1885 – 21 November 1970) was an Irish politician, sportsperson and soldier.

While working as a bank clerk in Skibbereen, County Cork, Heffernan played rugby for Cork Constitution in the 1900s and by 1911 had risen to the level of playing for the Ireland national rugby union team, earning 4 caps including one against England and one against France.

Following the war he returned to Ireland and began farming on the family holding at Kilmurray Lodge, Ballyneally, near Carrick-on-Suir, County Tipperary in 1920.

He led the party into coalition with Cumann na nGaedheal and for this he was appointed as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs Ernest Blythe from 1927 to 1932.

[citation needed] He was manager of the Arklow Pottery plant in County Wicklow from 1934 until his retirement.