The Children of Lir. The Second of the “Three Sorrows, or Pities, of Story-telling”. Dublin: Talbot Press, 1940. First Edition. Pictorial grey wrappers. The Children of Tuireann. The Third of the “Three sorrows, or Pities, of Story-telling”. Dublin: Talbot Press, 1941. First Edition. Pictorial green wrappers. Songs of St. Columcille. Cover design by Una Hyde (Mrs. Sealy). Dublin: Talbot Press, 1942. First Edition. Pictorial brown paper wrappers, lettered in black. All in good condition. Housed in collector’s solander box.

Each volume Inscribed & Dated by Douglas Hyde as President of Ireland, on front free endpaper.

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).