DOUGLAS HYDE 1st President of Ireland In order: 1st Term of office: 25 June 1938 - 24 June 1945 Number of terms: 1 Predecessor: None (first to occupy post) Successor: Sean T. O'Kelly Date of birth: 17 January 1860 Place of birth: Roscommon, Ireland Date of death: 12 July 1949 Place of death: Dublin, Ireland Spouse: Lucy (died six months into his term) Profession: UCD professor; Irish language activist Nominated by: Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael jointly Other candidates: None

Douglas Hyde (Irish name Dubhghlas de hÍde) (17 January 1860 - 12 July 1949) was an Irish language scholar who served as the first President of Ireland from 1938 to 1945. cropping of very old picture - original photographer unknown, current owner gave permission for usage The copyright status of this work is difficult or impossible to determine. ... June 25 is the 176th day of the year (177th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 189 days remaining. ... 1938 (MCMXXXVIII) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will take you to calendar). ... June 24 is the 175th day of the year (176th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 190 days remaining. ... 1945 was a common year starting on Monday (link will take you to calendar). ... Sean Thomas OKelly (Irish name: Seán Tomás Ó Ceallaigh, pronounced ) (August 25, 1882 - November 23, 1966) was the second President of Ireland (1945-1959). ... January 17 is the 17th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1860 is the leap year starting on Sunday. ... County Roscommon (Ros Comáin in Irish) is a county located in central Ireland. ... July 12 is the 193rd day (194th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 172 days remaining. ... 1949 is a common year starting on Saturday. ... This article is about the city in Ireland. ... University College Dublin - National University of Ireland, Dublin - more commonly University College Dublin (UCD) - is Irelands largest university, with over 20,000 students. ... Irish (Gaeilge), a Goidelic language spoken in the Republic of Ireland, the United Kingdom and the USA, is constitutionally recognised as the first official language of the Republic of Ireland. ... A formal Irish Gaelic name consists of a given name and a surname, as in English. ... January 17 is the 17th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1860 is the leap year starting on Sunday. ... July 12 is the 193rd day (194th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 172 days remaining. ... 1949 is a common year starting on Saturday. ... Irish (Gaeilge), a Goidelic language spoken in the Republic of Ireland, the United Kingdom and the USA, is constitutionally recognised as the first official language of the Republic of Ireland. ... The President of Ireland (Irish: Uachtarán na hÉireann) is the head of state of the Republic of Ireland. ... 1938 (MCMXXXVIII) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will take you to calendar). ... 1945 was a common year starting on Monday (link will take you to calendar). ...

Background

Hyde was born in Frenchpark in County Roscommon, where his father, Arthur Hyde, was the local Church of Ireland rector. While a young man he became fascinated with hearing the old people in the locality speak the Irish language, a language looked down on at the time by many and seen as backward and old-fashioned. Rejecting family pressure that like past generations of Hydes he follow a career in the Church, Hyde instead became an academic. He entered Trinity College, Dublin where he became fluent in French, Latin, German, Greek and Hebrew. His passion for Irish, already a language in severe decline, led him to found the Gaelic League, or in Irish, Conradh na Gaeilge, in the hope of saving it from extinction. Frenchpark (Irish Dún Gar) is a village in County Roscommon, Ireland. ... County Roscommon (Ros Comáin in Irish) is a county located in central Ireland. ... The Church of Ireland is an autonomous province of the Anglican Communion, operating seamlessly across the border between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. ... The word rector (ruler, from the Latin regere) has a number of different meanings. ... Irish (Gaeilge), a Goidelic language spoken in the Republic of Ireland, the United Kingdom and the USA, is constitutionally recognised as the first official language of the Republic of Ireland. ... The College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity of Queen Elizabeth near Dublin or more commonly Trinity College, Dublin was founded in 1592 by Queen Elizabeth I, and is the only constituent college of the University of Dublin, Irelands oldest university. ... Latin is an Indo-European language originally spoken in the region around Rome called Latium. ... Hebrew is a Semitic language of the Afro-Asiatic language family spoken by 6 million people mainly in Israel, parts of the Palestinian territories, the United States and by Jewish communities around the world. ... Conradh na Gaeilge (The Gaelic League) is an organization for the purpose of keeping the Irish language spoken in Ireland. ...

Conradh na Gaeilge

Hyde's Irish language movement, initially seen as eccentric, gained a mass following throughout the island. He published a pamphlet called The Necessity for De-Anglicising Ireland, arguing that Ireland should follow her own traditions in language, literature and even in dress. (Hyde began wearing knee-length breeches rather than trousers, in the mistaken belief that they were a traditional Irish outfit.) Many of the new generation of Irish leaders who played a central role in the fight for Irish independence in the early twentieth century, including Patrick Pearse, Eamon de Valera (who married his Irish teacher Sinead Flanagan), Michael Collins, and Ernest Blythe first became politicised and passionate about Irish independence through their involvement in Conradh na Gaeilge (Gaelic League). Hyde himself however felt uncomfortable at the growing politicisation of his movement and resigned the presidency in 1915. Patrick Pearse Patrick Henry Pearse (known as Pádraig Pearse or by his Irish name Pádraig Anraí Mac Piarais) (November 10, 1879 – May 3, 1916) was a teacher, poet, writer and political activist who led the Irish Easter Rising in 1916 and was declared president of the Irish Republic... Eamon de Valera (born Edward George de Valera, sometimes Gaelicised Éamonn de Bhailéara; October 14, 1882 – August 29, 1975), was an Irish politician, best known as a leader of Irelands struggle for independence from the United Kingdom in the early 20th Century, and the Republican anti-Treaty opposition... Sinéad de Valera and her husband Sinéad de Valera, also known as Sinéad Bean de Valera1 (pronounced: shin-aid ban deh-vuh-lair-ruh), (June 3, 1878 - January 7, 1975), was the wife of the Irish republican leader and third President of Ireland, Éamon de Valera. ... Michael Collins (Irish name Micheál Ó Coileáin; October 16, 1890 – August 22, 1922), an Irish revolutionary leader, served as Minister for Finance in the Irish Republic, as Director of Intelligence for the IRA, as a member of the Irish delegation during the Anglo-Irish Treaty negotiations, as Chairman of... Ernest Blythe (Ir: Earnán de Blaghd) (April 13, 1889–February 23, 1975), Irish politician. ... Conradh na Gaeilge (The Gaelic League) is an organization for the purpose of keeping the Irish language spoken in Ireland. ... 1915 was a common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ...

Senator, then hounded from politics by extremists

Hyde had no association with Sinn Féin and the Independence movement. He did however accept appointment to Seanad Éireann, the upper house of the Irish Free State's Oireachtas (parliament) from his friend, the President of the Executive Council W.T. Cosgrave, after the creation of the new state. However his tenure was shortlived. In November 1925 the house moved from being an appointed to an elected body. Hyde contested the election, which was based on one state-wide constituency, but a smear by a far right-wing organisation, the Catholic Truth Society, based on his supposed support for divorce (in fact he was anti-divorce) and his Protestantism, and promoted by the CTS secretary in the letters column of the Irish Independent, fatally damaged his chances and he lost his seat. He returned to academia, as Professor of Irish at University College Dublin, where one of his students was future Attorney-General and President of Ireland Cearbhall Ó Dálaigh. The name Sinn Féin (pronounced in English, in Irish), which means ourselves or we ourselves (not as sometimes incorrectly translated, ourselves alone or we alone) has been applied to a series of political movements since 1905 in Ireland, each of which claims or claimed sole descent from the original... Seanad Éireann (English: Senate of Ireland), the Irish Senate, is the upper house of the Oireachtas: the parliament of the Republic of Ireland1. ... The Irish Free State (Irish: Saorstát Éireann) was (1922–1937) the name of the state comprising the 26 of Irelands 32 counties which were separated from the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland under the Irish Free State Agreement (or Anglo-Irish Treaty) signed by British and... The Oireachtas is the National Parliament of the Republic of Ireland. ... The President of the Executive Council (Irish: Uachtaráin na hArd-Chomhairle) was the head of government or prime minister of the 1922-1937 Irish Free State, and the leader of the Executive Council (cabinet). ... William Thomas Cosgrave, (June 6, 1880 - November 16, 1965) served as the first President of the Executive Council of the Irish Free State from 1922 to 1932. ... Protestantism is a movement within Christianity, representing a split from within the Roman Catholic Church during the mid-to-late Renaissance in Europe —a period known as the Protestant Reformation. ... The Irish Independents header consists of its name and a green harp The Irish Independent is Irelands best-selling broadsheet newspaper. ... University College Dublin - National University of Ireland, Dublin - more commonly University College Dublin (UCD) - is Irelands largest university, with over 20,000 students. ... The President of Ireland (Irish: Uachtarán na hÉireann) is the head of state of the Republic of Ireland. ... Cearbhall Ó Dálaigh (12 February 1911 - 21 March 1978) (pronounced karol o dawl-ie. In English his name translated as Carroll ODaly, but he was invariably called by his Irish name in both Irish and English. ...

President of Ireland

In April 1938, by now retired from academia, Douglas was plucked from retirement by Taoiseach Éamon de Valera and again appointed to Seanad Éireann. Again his tenure proved short, even shorter than before. But this time it was because, on the suggestion of Fine Gael in inter-party negotiations to choose a first President of Ireland, Hyde had been chosen to take on the office. He was selected for a number of reasons. The Taoiseach (plural: Taoisigh) or, more formally, An Taoiseach, is the head of government of the Republic of Ireland and the leader of the Irish cabinet1. ... Eamon de Valera[1] (born Edward George de Valera, Irish name Éamonn de Bhailéara (October 14, 1882 – August 29, 1975), was an Irish politician, best known as a leader of Irelands struggle for independence from Britain in the early 20th Century, and the Republican anti-Treaty opposition in... Fine Gael (IPA in English and in Irish, approximate English translation: Family of the Irish) is the second largest political party in both the Republic of Ireland and Ireland as a whole. ... The President of Ireland (Irish: Uachtarán na hÉireann) is the head of state of the Republic of Ireland. ...

• Both the Taoiseach, Éamon de Valera and the Leader of the Opposition, W.T. Cosgrave were admirers of his;

• Both wanted to purge the humiliation that had occurred when he had lost his Senate seat in 1925;

• Both wanted a president who would prove that there was no danger that the new president would become an authoritarian dictator in Ireland, a widespread fear when the new constitution was being discussed in 1937;

• Both wanted to pay tribute to Hyde's Conradh na nGaeilge role in achieving Irish independence.

• Both wanted to choose a non-Catholic to disprove the assertion that the State was a "confessional state".¹

Hyde was inaugurated as the first President of Ireland in June 1938 and moved into the long vacant Viceregal Lodge. Ironically, Hyde's recitation of the Presidential Declaration of Office in his native Roscommon Irish dialect, remains one of the few recordings of a dialect that has long disappeared and of which Hyde himself was one of the last users. Eamon de Valera[1] (born Edward George de Valera, Irish name Éamonn de Bhailéara (October 14, 1882 – August 29, 1975), was an Irish politician, best known as a leader of Irelands struggle for independence from Britain in the early 20th Century, and the Republican anti-Treaty opposition in... William Thomas Cosgrave, (June 6, 1880 - November 16, 1965) served as the first President of the Executive Council of the Irish Free State from 1922 to 1932. ... Áras an Uachtaráin (formerly the Viceregal Lodge) is the official residence of the President of Ireland, located in the Phoenix Park on the Northside of Dublin1. ...

'Fine and scholarly old gentleman,' says Roosevelt

Hyde, with his handlebar moustache and warm personality was a popular president. United States President Franklin D. Roosevelt called President Hyde a "fine and scholarly old gentleman", while President Hyde and King George VI (who according to English law was still King of Ireland and would remain so until 1 April 1949) corresponded about stamp collecting. However in April 1940 he suffered a massive stroke. Plans were made for his lying-in-state and state funeral, but to the surprise of everyone he survived, albeit paralysed and having to use a wheelchair. Franklin Delano Roosevelt (January 30, 1882 – April 12, 1945), 32nd President of the United States (1933-1945), the longest-serving holder of the office and the only person to be elected President more than twice (he was elected four times, and served just over 12 years), was one of the... George VI (Albert Frederick Arthur George Windsor) (14 December 1895–6 February 1952) was the third British monarch of the House of Windsor, reigning from 11 December 1936 until his death. ... April 1 is the 91st day of the year (92nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 274 days remaining. ... 1949 is a common year starting on Saturday. ...

Senility rumours

Although he remained mentally alert and capable during his remaining five years in office, he retired from public gaze. Rumours spread suggesting that Hyde was now senile, and that, he had developed an eye for the ladies, including the household staff and specifically his young nurse (whom he was said to have asked him to marry him, his wife having died early in his term). Though untrue, the rumours reached such a level that Myles Na Gopaleen, the famed satirist, wrote an obscene limerick about the President's rumoured condition: Myles na gCopaleen (or Myles na Gopaleen) was the pseudonym used for his journalism by Brian ONolan, who also wrote novels under the name Flann OBrien. ...

There once was a man called an t-Uachtaráin²
who lived in Áras an Uachtaráin,
He was fond of his nookie,
he had a go at the cookie,
And there is the couch that he f-uchtaráin. (pronounced 'fucked her on.')

Though not one of Na nGopaleen's best limericks, it gained widespread currency, adding to rumours about the mental and physical state of the elderly, wheelchair-bound president. In fact all the documentary evidence in the archives suggests that Hyde was not senile (and, confined to a wheelchair, was hardly likely, even if he wanted to, to be engaging in sexual activity with staff). Hyde was sufficiently capable to deal with a crisis in 1944 when de Valera's government unexpectedly collapsed in a vote on the Transport Bill and the President had to decide whether or not to grant an election to de Valera.³ (He granted the election.)

Retirement and death

Hyde left office on 24 June 1945. Due to his ill-health he did not return to his Roscommon home Ratra, which had lain empty since the death of his wife early in his term. Instead he was moved into the former Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant's residence in the grounds of Áras an Uachtaráin, which he renamed Little Ratra and where he lived out the remaining four years of his life. He died quietly at 10pm on 12 July 1949. June 24 is the 175th day of the year (176th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 190 days remaining. ... 1945 was a common year starting on Monday (link will take you to calendar). ... July 12 is the 193rd day (194th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 172 days remaining. ...

State funeral

As a former President of Ireland he was accorded a state funeral. One protocol problem arose; as an Anglican his funeral service took place in Dublin's Church of Ireland St. Patrick's Cathedral. However contemporary religious rules prohibited Roman Catholics from attending services in Protestant churches. As a result all but one member of the Catholic cabinet (Dr. Noel Browne) remained outside the cathedral while Hyde's funeral took place. They then joined the cortège when his coffin left the cathedral. Eamon de Valera, by now Leader of the Opposition, was represented by a senior Fianna Fáil figure who was a member of the Church of Ireland, Erskine Childers, a future President of Ireland himself. The word protocol derives from a Greek phrase meaning first leaf, referring to the first draft of a treaty. ... St. ... Noel Browne (December 20, 1915-May 21, 1997) was an Irish politician and physician. ... Fianna Fáil - The Republican Party (IPA ; English translation: Soldiers of Destiny) is the largest political party in Ireland. ... Erskine Hamilton Childers (November 11, 1905 - November 17, 1974), the son of Robert Erskine Childers (the author of The Riddle of the Sands), served as the fourth President of Ireland from 1973 until his death in 1974. ...

Hyde Museum in Roscommon

Hyde was buried in his native Roscommon. His father's old church is now a museum dedicated to showing memorabilia about Douglas Hyde, the Anglican squire who took up the cause of the Irish language and when ended up as the first President of Ireland.

Footnotes

¹ Critics accused de Valera of introducing a "Catholic constitution" that discriminated against non-Catholics. In fact his constitution gave Catholicism a legally meaningless "special position" while recognising the Church of Ireland, the Presbyterian Church, the Methodist Church and others including — most controversially for the mid 1930s — the Jewish community. This recognition and the failure of de Valera to make Catholicism in Ireland the "established church" (akin to the Church of England in England) infuriated right-wing Catholic groups, specifically those who had hounded Hyde in 1925. Even de Valera's controversial ban on divorce was publicly applauded by the Church of Ireland hierarchy. The Presbyterian Church in Ireland has a membership of 300,000 people in 650 congregations across both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. ... Jews in Ireland, although tiny in numbers (1,790 according to the Republic of Ireland census of 2002), have a long history. ... The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and acts as the mother and senior branch of the worldwide Anglican Communion as well as a founding member of the Porvoo Communion. ...

² An tUachtarán means simply "The President" in Irish.

³ Under the 1937 constitution the President of Ireland may grant or refuse a dissolution to a Taoiseach who has "ceased to retain the support of a majority in Dáil Éireann". If a dissolution is granted, a general election is proclaimed to fill the seats now vacated by the dissolution. However this means that for four to six weeks, until the new Dáil assembles, there is no Dáil in existence. Fearing that this gap might facilitate a German invasion during World War II (called The Emergency in Ireland), as they would have known that no parliament could be called to deal with the invasion, de Valera passed an emergency extra-constitutional measure which allowed an election to be called separate from a dissolution, with the Dáil only being dissolved just before new Dáil would assemble, so ensuring the gap between Dála (plural of Dáil) would be too short to facilitate an invasion. Under the Emergency Powers Act the President could "refuse to proclaim a general election on the advice of a Taoiseach who had ceased to retain the support of a majority in Dáil Éireann". Hyde had that option, but after considering it with his senior advisor, Michael McDunphy, he opted to grant de Valera his election request. The Taoiseach (plural: Taoisigh) or, more formally, An Taoiseach, is the head of government of the Republic of Ireland and the leader of the Irish cabinet1. ... The Dáil Chamber Dáil Éireann is the lower house of the Oireachtas (parliament) of the Republic of Ireland. ... Dáil Éireann[1] is the lower house of the Oireachtas (parliament) of the Republic of Ireland. ... World War II was a truly global conflict with many facets: immense human suffering, fierce indoctrinations, and the use of new, extremely devastating weapons like the atom bomb World War II, also known as the Second World War, was a mid-20th-century conflict that engulfed much of the globe... For information about the 1975-1977 Emergency in India under Indira Gandhi, please see Indian Emergency. ...