Songs of St. Columcille. Cover Design by Una Hyde (Mrs. Sealy). Dublin: Talbot Press, 1942. First Edition. Pp, 28. Pictorial brown paper wrappers, lettered in black. A nice bright copy.

Presentation, Inscribed by the Author on the half-title: Nodlaig 1942, Ó Dubhghlas de hÍde, President of Ireland’

Douglas Hyde (1860-1949), pseudonym An Craoibhín Aoibhinn distinguished Gaelic scholar and writer and first president of the Republic of Ireland. He was the outstanding figure in the struggle for the preservation and extension of the Irish language from 1893, when he founded the Gaelic League. After teaching modern Irish for many years (1909-32), Hyde became, in 1938, the president of Ireland. He held the office until 1945.

Known by his Gaelic name, An Craoibhin Aoibhinn, he was the author of many works, including a Literary History of Ireland (1899) and Love Songs of Connacht (1894).