Douglas Hyde quotes

Douglas Hyde quote. It is a most disgraceful shame the way in which Irishmen are brought up. They are ashamed of their language, institutions, and of everything Irish. Image copyright Ireland Calling

Douglas Hyde became Ireland’s first president in 1937, having already founded the Gaelic League in an attempt to unite the country.

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Founder of the Gaelic League

His was fiercely proud of Irish tradition and determined not to let it fade away. His intelligence and wit helped him achieve great success both personally, and for the country as a whole. Here is a selection of some of his best quotes.
Douglas Hyde quote. Every crag and gnarled tree and lonely valley has its own strange and graceful legend attached to it. Image copyright Ireland Calling

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I do not share the wish to see my language dead and decently buried.

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In order to de-Anglicize ourselves, we must at once arrest the decay of the language. We must teach ourselves not to be ashamed of ourselves.

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Douglas Hyde quote. The Gaelic League is founded not upon hatred of England, but upon love of Ireland. Image copyright Ireland calling

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We are above and beyond all politics, all parties and all factions; offending nobody – except the anti-Irishman.

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Douglas Hyde, For the first time in Ireland within my recollection, Catholic and Protestant, Unionist and Nationalist, landlord and tenant, priest and parson, all work hand in hand in the interest of Ireland's life. Image copyright Ireland Calling

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What we want in Ireland is a National University which will bring students together and educate them upon national lines.

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Douglas Hyde quote. It is a most disgraceful shame the way in which Irishmen are brought up. They are ashamed of their language, institutions, and of everything Irish. Image copyright Ireland Calling

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The literary activity of even the eighteenth century among the Gaels was very great. What we want in Ireland is a National University which will bring students together and educate them upon national lines.

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Douglas Hyde quote. We are told that the keeping alive a language spoken by so small a number of the community is a barrier to progress. Image copyright Ireland Calling

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Now if we allow our living language to die out, it is almost a certainty that we condemn our literary records to remain in obscurity.

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We must put pressure upon our politicians not to snuff out (our living language) by their tacit discouragement merely because they do not happen to understand it.

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Douglas Hyde quote. As our language wanes and dies, the golden legends of the far-off centuries fade and pass away. No one sees their influence upon culture; no one sees their educational power. Image copyright Ireland Calling
More on Douglas Hyde
Founder of the Gaelic League
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