Douglas Hyde
Douglas Hyde was a prominent Irish scholar, writer, and political figure, born on January 17, 1860, in Frenchpark, County Roscommon, Ireland. He was initially inclined toward an academic career, excelling in various languages at Trinity College, including Gaelic, which fueled his passion for preserving Irish culture and traditions. Hyde co-founded the Gaelic League, an organization aimed at promoting the Irish language, and became a significant advocate for the revival of Irish identity. While he was not directly involved in the Irish Independence Movement, his advocacy for Irish culture garnered widespread support among intellectuals and activists, particularly following his influential pamphlet, "The Necessity for De-Anglicizing Ireland."
Hyde also played a crucial role in the establishment of the Irish Literary Theatre, which later evolved into the iconic Abbey Theatre, collaborating with notable figures such as William Butler Yeats and Lady Gregory. His contributions to theatre included writing the first play performed entirely in Gaelic, titled "The Twisting of the Rope." In 1938, he became the first president of Ireland, although his term was marked by personal tragedy with the passing of his wife just months into his presidency. Despite facing health challenges later in life, Hyde remained an intellectual figure until his resignation in 1945, passing away on July 12, 1949. His legacy is intertwined with the cultural revival of Ireland and the promotion of its national identity.
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Douglas Hyde
President
- Born: January 17, 1860
- Birthplace: Frenchpark, County Roscommon, Ireland
- Died: July 12, 1949
- Place of death: Dublin, Ireland
Biography
Douglas Hyde was born January 17, 1860, in Frenchpark, County Roscommon, Ireland. His father, Arthur, was rector of the local Church of Ireland parish. Rather than following the family tradition of a career in the church, Hyde decided to become an academic. At Trinity College, he excelled in French, Latin, Greek, German, and Hebrew. He also studied Gaelic because of his interest in preserving all things Irish—the language, culture, literature, and traditions—and he created the Gaelic League (Conradh na nGaelige) for that purpose.
Hyde’s organization attracted a large following of both intellectuals and activists, especially after the distribution of his pamphlet, The Necessity for De-Anglicizing Ireland. Never associated with Sinn Féin or the Independence Movement, Hyde was forced from an appointed seat in the Irish Senate because of his more temperate approach to Irish politics. He then became professor of Irish at University College, Dublin, where his major focus was to keep the Irish in Irish culture.
Hyde’s Gaelic League cofounder, poet and playwright William Butler Yeats, shared many of Hyde’s ideals, and wanted to form a literary movement based on the Irish language and the Irish literary traditions of legends and mythology. The two of them also formed the Irish Literary Theatre along with Lady Augusta Persse Gregory. In time, the organization came to be known as the Irish National Theatre Society and, eventually, garnered even more fame as the Abbey Theatre. By 1905, Hyde left the governing board to be replaced by more artistic members for the purpose of obtaining grants and aid. He was also considered to have political overtones not in the best interests of the theater.
However, Oct. 21, 1901, saw Hyde’s play, The Twisting of the Rope, performed. It was the first play written entirely in Gaelic ever to be performed. On April 3, 1907, Hyde collaborated with Lady Gregory on a play called The Poorhouse. Lady Gregory concocted the plot and Hyde worked on the dialogue. The play was somewhat confused, so Lady Gregory reworked the script and on April 20, 1908, it was presented under the title of The Workhouse Ward. Hyde publicly offered all credit for the script to Lady Gregory.
In June of 1938, Hyde was inaugurated as the first president of Ireland. Sadly, his wife, Lucy, died six months into his term. Hyde, himself, suffered a physically debilitating stroke in 1940. Although severely physically limited, Hyde retained his intellectual faculties and didn’t resign until June 24, 1945. He died on July 12, 1949.