Forgotten Patriot

By Brian Murphy

It had been a busy few days for Adolf Hitler, but Douglas Hyde had not slipped his mind … On 25 June 1938, Douglas Hyde became the first President of Ireland. His values stood in stark contrast to those of the continental dictator. As a Protestant nationalist and a leading figure in the language revival, he made the office an inclusive one and determined to be a president for all the people of Ireland. He also played a highly significant, but previously unheralded, role in the state’s policy of neutrality during the Second World War. Hitler’s fleeting fixation with Hyde was that the new presidency significantly diluted Ireland’s bonds with the British Empire. The accepted wisdom is that Hyde’s transition to the presidency was a seamless process, but new research shows it only came about on foot of a late political compromise. He may have been a compromise candidate, but with his non-partisan background, he was also an inspired choice. Forgotten Patriot shows Hyde’s considerable impact on the development and perception of the office of President of Ireland.

• Language: English
• Publisher: The Collins Press
• Release date: Sep 1, 2016
• ISBN: 9781848895911

Brian Murphy

Dr Brian Murphy has worked as a soil scientist for 30 years with a strong focus on applied science. He graduated in Agricultural Science from the University of Sydney, from where he also gained his Masters and his PhD for his work on soil structure in cropping systems. His interests lie in the application of soil science to environmental management, hydrology, salinity and urban land use. His work involves providing day-to-day advice on the management of soils for a range of natural resource issues. He is also an experienced researcher and has published numerous scientific papers, and is an editor of the widely used textbook Soils: Their Properties and Management. He is a former President of the NSW Branch of Soil Science Australia.

Reviews for Forgotten Patriot

[thegeneral_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This book is an excellent read; giving the first real insight into Hyde's tenure in the Aras. As the author makes clear he did not sleep through his tenure and was an active President despite his physical infirmity. He did try and engage in bridge-building across the Civil War divide in respect of his Council of State appointments. He was not afraid to refer bills to this Council to test their constitutionality and thus exert his powers. He did set the office up on a firm foundation and should not be overlooked from history.