Douglas Hyde | Dubhghlas de hÍde (17 January 1860, Castlerea – 12 July 1949, Dublin) was a Gaelic scholar, author, and founder of the Gaelic League who served as the first president of Ireland. He learnt Irish from the community in Co. Roscommon during his childhood and adolescence and collected local folklore. In Erskine’s magazines, he was credited with his usual pseudonym, ‘An Craoibhín Aoibhinn’ [the pleasant little branch], which he was also using when publishing in Irish periodicals. Erskine refers to Hyde, his activities and opinions, in a number of other articles, including ‘The Gaelic Movement and the “Anglo-Celtic School,”’ Guth na Bliadhna (Winter 1912).
Publications in Erskine’s Periodicals
- ‘A Connaght Love-Song’ (Da mbeith ‘aitreabh agam fein) [song, IR; with English translation], Vol. I, Issue 1 (Winter 1904)
- ‘Mallachd’ [folklore material, IR], Vol. I., Issue 2 (Spring 1904)
- ‘Dàin Naomha Eireannaich’ [poetry, IR] Vol. II, Issue 2 (Spring 1905) [attributed to Douglas Hyde in the opening editorial note]
- ‘Comhairle an Athar Ceannt‘ [essay, IR], Vol. VIII, Issue 1 (Winter 1911)
- ‘A Mhuire nan Gras’ (do sgriobh sios o bheal buacalla in Arainn) [folklore material, IR], Vol. XIII, Issue 3 (Autumn 1916)
Resources
- Patrick Maume, ‘Hyde, Douglas (de hÍde, Dubhghlas),’ Dictionary of Irish Biography (October 2009)
- Diarmuid Breathnach & Máire Ní Mhurchú, ‘DE HÍDE, Dubhghlas (1860–1949),’ Ainm.ie