Fás an Chraoibhín

Abstract

Do bhi Dubhghlas de hIde mar chuid de mhionlach in Eirinn agus e ag fas anios mar fhear og Protastunach. Ach shocraigh se dul leis an nGaeilge, teanga a bhain go traidisiunta go priomha le Caitlicigh na hEireann agus leis an isealaicme. Nior togadh le Gaeilge e ach lean se air ag ple lei agus ag cur chun cinn na teangan ach cen fath? Is tri shuil a chaitheamh ar a chin lae on luaththreimhse seo ina shaol speisiuil is feidir tuiscint a fhail ar na cuiseanna gur thug se fe seo. Rugadh de hIde in 1860 agus chuaigh se i mbun pinn in 1874 agus e 14 bliain d’aois. Is i an treimhse sin ina shaol nuair a bhi se ina chonai sa bhaile i nDun Gar i gContae Ros Comain a bheidh fe chaibidil san alt seo - an treimhse reamhChraoibhineach, d’fheadfa a ra. An rud ata i gceist leis an dteideal na an t-ainm cleite a thug se air fein ‘An Craoibhin Aoibhinn’ agus imeartas focal maidir leis an mbri ata leis an ainm ud. ### Dubhghlas de hIde was part of the Protestant minority in Ireland during his youth. Despite this he decided to master Irish, a language typically associated with Irish Catholics of the lower classes. He was not brought up with Irish but went on to spend his life promoting the language – what led him to this? Through analysis of his diaries in the earlier part of his life an understanding can be gained of the reasons for this. De hIde was born in 1860 and he began writing his diary in 1874, aged 14. The article will discuss this early period of his life which he spent in Frenchpark in County Roscommon – the pre-‘Craoibhin’ period you could call it! The title refers to his self-appointed pen-name ‘An Craoibhin Aoibhinn’ (The Delightful Little Branch) and contains a pun on the meaning of this name.