Mary
Help of Christians G.N.S.,
Navan Road,
Dublin 7
The First President
of Ireland Douglas Hyde was born in Roscommon. He was educated in Trinity
College Dublin. He spoke many languages such as French and German but his
favourite language was Irish. Hyde was a writer and a poet. We learned a poem
in school by Douglas Hyde "An Damhán Alla agus an Mhíoltóg". His pen-name
was "An Craoibhín Aoibhinn". Douglas brought back to life the Irish language
and was also one of the co-founders of the Gaelic League. He married Lucy
Kurtz and had two daughters. When the office of President was established
all political parties voted for Douglas. He became the first President of
Ireland on June 1938 until June 1945. He planted a tree as a symbol of the
new era the house was about to experience. Sadly Lucy died in 1939. 1940 was
another bad year for Douglas as he suffered from a stroke but luckily remained
in his office until 1945. He died on the 12th of July 1949.
Did
You Know ?
Douglas Hyde's image can now be found on the £50 note.
