EIRE PRESIDENCY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23020, 23 April 1938, Page 13

EIRE PRESIDENCY

PENDING ELECTION CANDIDATE SELECTED l RIVAL PARTIES AGREE (Received April 22, 10.45 p.m.) LONDON, April 22 Representatives of the Fianna Fail (Government) and the Fine Gael (Opposition) parties have agreed to invite Dr. Douglas Hyde to accept nomination for the Presidency of Eire. Nominations will close on May 4. Alderman Alfred Byrne, Lord Mayor of Dublin, .declines to say whether he will withdraw his nomination.

Dr. Hyde's election is a virtual certaiuty, says the Dublin correspondent of the Daily Telegraph. The Dublin correspondent of the Daily Mail reports that political circles believe the domination of a Protestant is a "unity" gesture to Northern Ireland.

Dr. Hyde is a Protestant. He is an Irish poet and writer of folk lore, known as "An Craobhin Aoibhinn," and was professor of modern Irish language and literature art the University College of Dublin, 1909-32, and dean of the Celtic Faculty, 1925. Ho has also been a member of the Senate.

The candidate for the Presidency approved by the rival political parties in Eire, Dr. Douglas Hyde, is a noted historian as well as a poet. The son of a clergyman, he was educated at Trinity College, Dublin. He is a doctor » of literature. From 1894-95 he was president of the Irish National Literary Society, and he was president of the Gaelic League from 1893 to 1915. He received the honorary freedom of the cities of Dublin, Cork and Kilkenny in 1906 on returning from the United States with £II,OOO for the Gaelic League. His term in • the Irish 1 ree State Senate was in 1925. Mr. Alfred Byrne, in addition to being Lord Mayor of Dublin—a position he has filled since 1930 —represents the northern division of the city in thetDail. He is said to be very popular, even with his opponents. Mr. Byrne has been in politics for more than 34 years. Prior to that he was. the owner of a small public house.