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| Douglas Hyde Back to Ireland Main Download this eBook |
DOUGLAS HYDE: FIRST PRESIDENT OF IRELAND
========================================
Douglas Hyde was born in Frenchpark in County Roscommon in 1860. His father
was a local Church of Ireland Rector. He quickly became fascinated with the
Irish language and entered Trinity College where he studied other languages
including French, German, Greek, Latin and Hebrew. He was determined to
prevent the continuing decline of the native language however, and in 1893
he founded the Gaelic League.
The Irish language had been in decline since the seventeenth century but this
decline accelerated in the years after the famine. The 'Black Death' of 1845 to
1849 resulted in over a million deaths from starvation and a further million
people were lost to emigration in the decade following the famine. The effect
of the famine on the Irish language was devastating.
The increased awareness in national identity that culminated in the Easter
Rising in 1916 and the subsequent War of Independence and eventual
declaration of an Irish Republic can be traced to events in the second half of
the nineteenth century. The formation of the Gaelic League by Douglas Hyde
was crucial in the promotion of the idea of an independent Irish nation. Many
of the iconic Irish nationalist leaders that were later to shape the course of
Irish history formed their nationalistic philosophies during their membership of
the Gaelic League. Pearse, DeValera and Collins were all members. Hyde later
became discontent with the increasing political bent that the League was
displaying and resigned the presidency of the organisation he had founded in
1915. He had no political affiliation either with the Home Rule movement or
Sinn Fein.
He accepted a position in Seanad Eireann (the appointed Senate) but later
lost the post when an election was held. It is believed that the fact that he
was a Protestant counted against him, although false allegations that he
supported divorce must also have damaged his chances. He returned to
academic studies and became Professor of Irish at UCD.
Despite having retired some years earlier Eamon DeValera appointed Douglas
Hyde once more to Seanad Eireann. His stay in the Senate was again
short-lived but this time it was because greater office beckoned. DeValera
and the opposition leader W.T. Cosgrove agreed that Hyde should become
the first President of Ireland. Both of these leaders wanted to prove that the
'new' Ireland could be inclusive and the appointment of a Protestant would
certainly demonstrate this. Recognition for the years of service Hyde had
given to the Irish people through his tenure as president of the Gaelic League
was also a factor. In 1938 he became the first President of Ireland and settled
into Aras an Uachtarain in the Phoenix Park, which has remained the home of
all Irish Presidents ever since.
Hyde was a popular President with the US President Roosevelt calling him 'a
fine and scholarly old gentleman'. He suffered a massive stroke in 1940 and it
appeared his demise was near. He recovered however and, although
wheelchair bound, continued his presidential duties for another 5 years.
He left office in 1945 but continued to live in the Phoenix Park until his death in
1949. He was granted a state funeral and was buried in his native Roscommon.
His contribution to the cause of the Irish language, history, music and literature
cannot be overstated with W. B. Yeats proclaiming him as the source of the
Irish literary renaissance which continues to this day.
========================================
Douglas Hyde was born in Frenchpark in County Roscommon in 1860. His father
was a local Church of Ireland Rector. He quickly became fascinated with the
Irish language and entered Trinity College where he studied other languages
including French, German, Greek, Latin and Hebrew. He was determined to
prevent the continuing decline of the native language however, and in 1893
he founded the Gaelic League.
The Irish language had been in decline since the seventeenth century but this
decline accelerated in the years after the famine. The 'Black Death' of 1845 to
1849 resulted in over a million deaths from starvation and a further million
people were lost to emigration in the decade following the famine. The effect
of the famine on the Irish language was devastating.
The increased awareness in national identity that culminated in the Easter
Rising in 1916 and the subsequent War of Independence and eventual
declaration of an Irish Republic can be traced to events in the second half of
the nineteenth century. The formation of the Gaelic League by Douglas Hyde
was crucial in the promotion of the idea of an independent Irish nation. Many
of the iconic Irish nationalist leaders that were later to shape the course of
Irish history formed their nationalistic philosophies during their membership of
the Gaelic League. Pearse, DeValera and Collins were all members. Hyde later
became discontent with the increasing political bent that the League was
displaying and resigned the presidency of the organisation he had founded in
1915. He had no political affiliation either with the Home Rule movement or
Sinn Fein.
He accepted a position in Seanad Eireann (the appointed Senate) but later
lost the post when an election was held. It is believed that the fact that he
was a Protestant counted against him, although false allegations that he
supported divorce must also have damaged his chances. He returned to
academic studies and became Professor of Irish at UCD.
Despite having retired some years earlier Eamon DeValera appointed Douglas
Hyde once more to Seanad Eireann. His stay in the Senate was again
short-lived but this time it was because greater office beckoned. DeValera
and the opposition leader W.T. Cosgrove agreed that Hyde should become
the first President of Ireland. Both of these leaders wanted to prove that the
'new' Ireland could be inclusive and the appointment of a Protestant would
certainly demonstrate this. Recognition for the years of service Hyde had
given to the Irish people through his tenure as president of the Gaelic League
was also a factor. In 1938 he became the first President of Ireland and settled
into Aras an Uachtarain in the Phoenix Park, which has remained the home of
all Irish Presidents ever since.
Hyde was a popular President with the US President Roosevelt calling him 'a
fine and scholarly old gentleman'. He suffered a massive stroke in 1940 and it
appeared his demise was near. He recovered however and, although
wheelchair bound, continued his presidential duties for another 5 years.
He left office in 1945 but continued to live in the Phoenix Park until his death in
1949. He was granted a state funeral and was buried in his native Roscommon.
His contribution to the cause of the Irish language, history, music and literature
cannot be overstated with W. B. Yeats proclaiming him as the source of the
Irish literary renaissance which continues to this day.
St Pat's Directory:
Educational Printables
Lesson Plans
Arts & Crafts
Irish Music & Poems, Lyrics &
Mid Files
The Legend of St Patrick
Irish Recipes
Gaelic Tales & Folk Lore
St Patrick's Day Cards for little
ones to print and make
St Patrick's Day Activities
St Patrick's Day/Irish Blessings
St Patrick's Day Clipart
St Patrick's Day/Irish
Downloads, WPP's,
Screensavers etc
St Patrick's Day Colour Sheets
St Patrick's Day / Irish Music
Poems, Songs & Activities for
the little ones
The Irish National Anthem -
Music & Lyrics in Gaelic &
English
Free Full eBooks : Ireland
St Patrick's Day Portal -
hundreds of links to arts, crafts,
festivities and more
Send an e-Card
Educational Printables
Lesson Plans
Arts & Crafts
Irish Music & Poems, Lyrics &
Mid Files
The Legend of St Patrick
Irish Recipes
Gaelic Tales & Folk Lore
St Patrick's Day Cards for little
ones to print and make
St Patrick's Day Activities
St Patrick's Day/Irish Blessings
St Patrick's Day Clipart
St Patrick's Day/Irish
Downloads, WPP's,
Screensavers etc
St Patrick's Day Colour Sheets
St Patrick's Day / Irish Music
Poems, Songs & Activities for
the little ones
The Irish National Anthem -
Music & Lyrics in Gaelic &
English
Free Full eBooks : Ireland
St Patrick's Day Portal -
hundreds of links to arts, crafts,
festivities and more
Send an e-Card
| An article provided by The Information about Ireland Site. Used with Permission : (C) Copyright http://www.ireland-information.com |
