Dialann De hÍde (1891)
Dubhghlas de hÍde, written in Fredericton, New Brunswick
In the frosty winter of 1891, far from the rolling hills of Ireland, Douglas Hyde, the future founder of Conradh na Gaeilge and champion of the Irish language, found himself in the quiet halls of the University of New Brunswick, nestled in the quaint town of Fredericton. In his daily diary, Hyde documented his experiences in a unique blend of English and Irish. The hidden nature of the Irish language at the time is evident in his use of Irish for privaate and personal communication. Further concealed by medieval scribal contractions lies the tale of Hyde's romantic entanglement with Helena Wark, daughter of the local senator. Using Irish as his secret language in Fredericton, Hyde was unaware of the fact that communities of Canadian-born native speakers were within a days’ horseride.(1) Yet the language was even closer to Hyde than that, as Dr. Peter Toner noted that Hyde spent much of his time at the officer’s mess, a short walk from “where one of my uncles was raising his kids speaking the Irish Language.”(2) Hyde did not expect to find his language and culture continuing to exist as a living language in Canada, and did not actively look for it in the area, losing the chance to record the Irish oral culture that remained.
Hyde's sojourn in New Brunswick went beyond the academic, and he immersed himself in the frigid wilderness of New Brunswick, partaking in winter caribou hunting expeditions with the Wolastoqiyik People. Through these encounters, Hyde witnessed the resilient spirit of Indigenous communities, preserving their cultural identity through the thread of language. Hyde’s experiences in the diaspora and the profound encounters with the Wolastoqiyik People left an indelible mark on him, and his return to Ireland was marked by a profound sense of purpose, leading to the crafting of his influential manifesto, "The Necessity of De-Anglicizing Ireland." This pivotal document laid the groundwork for the modern Irish-language revival. Douglas Hyde played a pivotal role in resurrecting the Irish language and rekindling a cultural flame that would burn brightly for generations to come and was honoured for his work by becoming Ireland's first President in 1938.
This diary is presented for historical consideration, but must be understood within its dated context, including the misogynistic language he uses concerning his relationships. Hyde identifies his Indigenous guides as being Wolastoqiyik, or community members with mixed heritage, and this is used in square brackets to replace the outdated terms in the original text.
Meán Fómhair 1890
Mí Sceite na bhFothannán (The Month of the Scattering of the Thistles)
In consequence of an arrangement with Willie Stockley, d’iarr bean óg do phósadh i bhFredericton do dhiúlaigh é, ⁊ nár mhian leis bheith ann i láthair níos faide (he asked a young woman to marry in Fredericton who rejected him, & he doesn’t wish to be there any longer), I sailed for Liverpool, spent a day there and embarked on the Polynesian, Allen Line, for Montreal. Had a very stormy passage the hatches having sometimes to be battened down, ach ní raibh mé tinn (but I wasn’t ill).
Sighted icebergs and whales and porpoises. Casadh dá bhean óg Ede ⁊ Nicholls ar an loing ⁊ rinneas carthanas mór leo, ⁊ creidim gur thit an céad cheann acu i ngrá liom. Chuir sí a pictiúr cugam cúpla mí níos moille, ó Vancouver an áit a d’imigh sí ⁊ rinne mise an rud céanna léi-se, ach mar nár mhaith liom an carthanas sin do choinneáil suas, d’éirigh mé as gan scríobh chuici níos mó! Bhí fear eile ann Bond plenipotentiary of Newfoundland… (I met two young women Ede & Nicholls on the ship & made great friends with them, & I believe that the first one of them fell in love with me. She sent her picture to me a couple of months later, from Vancouver the place where she departed & I did the same thing with her, but because I didn’t want to keep that friendship up, I ceased without writing to her anymore! There was another man there Bond plenipotentiary of Newfoundland…)
…We spent our time playing quoits reading smoking and playing cards, we also had a concert, n’áit a dtugas amhrán Gaeilge dóibh! (the place where I gave a song in Irish to them!) We all got to Québec on the 21st and to Montreal at midday on the 22d… spent the rest of the evening in celebrating our arrival agus ag ól na dí fíorbhréagaigh ach fíormhaith sin .i. coctail (and drinking those deceptive but truly good drinks ie. coctails). Left Montreal on 23d at 2:30 pm and got to Fredericton 430 miles away at 2 pm next day…
…Ghním féin mo chéadphroinn ⁊ mo luinnse ⁊ glacaim dinnéar ag an 6:30 ag teach 10 muiméid ón gcoláiste. Ghlac an praepositus Harrison go han-chineálta cuige féin mé… (I had my breakfast & my lunch & I took dinner at 6:30 at a house 10 minutes from the college. The prepositus Harrison received me very kindly…)
…3 leictiúir gach lá ó 9 ar maidin go 12 nó 1, i bhFrainci Gearmáinis ⁊ Béarla. Níor chuir sin aon trioblóid mhór orm (3 lectures each day from 9 in the morning until 12 or 1, in French, German & English. That didn’t cause me any great trouble).
Is iad na nithe is éifeachtaí do casadh orm an bhliain seo (these are the most affecting things that happened to me this year), the honour of an MRIA [Member of the Royal Irish Academy] to be conferred on me, buíochas le Macsuell Clós d’íoc é féin an costas £26 nó níos mó! (thanks to Maxwell Close [RIA treasurer], he himself paid the cost of £26 or more!) The publication in the “Nation” of my Dánta na mBard Connachtach, and my Journey to Canada and acceptance of Stockley’s professorship. Gan trácht ar leictiúr do rinne mé ann san gcoláiste ar an nua-litríocht do bhí clóbhuailte ‘gus páipéaraibh (without mentioning my lecture that I did at the college on contemporary literature and newspapers that have been printed).
Eanair 1891
Fredericton, NB
Spent the last three months mar dúras thuas go fíor pléisiúrtha (As I said above, truly pleasurably). The best things were the shooting, the skating and the parties. I shot 11 woodcock one day to my own fun, and went on many expeditions with a Mr Iverton, Sacsan do bhí ‘na bhancaire ⁊ atá ‘na oifigeach anois. Fear deas maith is gan mórán litríocht is an-the ar an seilg. (an Englishman who was a banker & is an officer now. A good, nice man and not much literature and very taken with hunting.) The officers made me a member of their men in aon áit amháin ann i dtig liom deoch uisce beatha fháil fén ([so that] in any place I can get a drink of whiskey under) the Scott Act prohibiting the sale of drink is vigorously enforced here.
The river froze on Nov 25 and gave us a week’s capital skating before the snow fell. The depth of the snow varies from 1 to 2 feet…
On St. Stephen’s Day I started for a hunting expedition with dá ógánach as an mbaile seo darb ainm Chesnutt ⁊ Randolph, ceannaithe saibhir ⁊ an dá fear acu dul a’ pósadh iníne an Phremier (two youths from this town called Chesnutt & Randolph, rich merchants & the two of them going to the Premier’s daughter’s wedding), and three [Wolastoqiyik or those of mixed heritage] for a place called Gaspereaux between forty and 50 miles from Fredericton where there were said to be lots of caribou.
We brought with us a tent and lots of provisions and toboggans. We drove with a team of horses on a big sleigh 42 miles and though we started at 5 in the morning we only got to the last house in the settlement at midnight. Tháinig an fear an tí, D’arcy nó Uilliam Ó Dorchuidh, sean-Éireannach as chontae Chill Chainnigh amach ⁊ é lom nocht gan scríd air (The man of the house, D’arcy or Uilliam Ó Dorchuidh, an old Irishman from county Kilkenny, came out and him naked without a strip on him).(3)
We invaded the house, invited the daughters who were sleeping in the kitchen round the stove, and passed the night there. Next day we started in a snow storm for a point some miles further… pitched our tent. We left a couple of inches of snow on the floor of the tent and covered this thick with spruce branches, spread our blankets, coats, skins, etc. over this and heating the tent with a light stove we slept comfortably. Unfortunately there was such a crust upon the snow that the noise of our snowshoes could be heard for half a mile, and during the 12 days I remained in camp there never came a fall of snow to cover the crust and deaden the sound. The consequence was that though I put up a fine herd of caribou from behind a thicket I was unable to creep on them to get a shot. I walked 25 or 30 miles on snowshoes on this occasion. Ní déanaimid mórán nuair bhímíd insan gcampa ach ag ithe an iomarca (We don’t do much when we are in the camp except for eating too much)...
…We used to spend the evenings smoking and telling stories. I got many stories from the [Indigenous guides] and told them many, and learned a couple of hundred [Wolastoqey] words, but did not get far enough to reduce the language to any kind of grammar, or even learn the conjugation of verbs: D’íoc mé dollar ⁊ ceathrú don Indianach do bhí liom gach lá ⁊ chosain an turas uile $45 dom nó mar sin (I paid a dollar & a quarter to the Indigenous guide that was with me each day & the entire trip cost me $45 or about that).
I left them there behind me and came home for the opening of the college on Jan 8.
14 Ean. Dance and card party at the Jacks, an-phléisiúrtha. (very pleasurable.)
16 Ean. Went to another dance at the Tabons (ní raibh mé ariamh ansin riamh) (I was never ever there before)
19 Ean. Went to a card party and semi-dance at the Akerleys. Is deas ⁊ is fíor dheas an cailín Miss Akerley. (The girl Miss Akerley is pretty and truly nice.)
27 Ean. …Oíche an-phléisiúrtha. D’ól mé cuid mhaith ⁊ dhamhsaigh mé mo sháith mar an gcaserna. Ag gabháil amhrán is filleadh abhaile dúinn. (…A very pleasurable night. I drank a good portion & I dance my fill at the Caserna. Singing songs and returning home for us.)
28 Ean. …Rinneas cuid mhaith damhsa ach ní raibh aon deoch agam le fáil. Níor rinceas chomh maith ⁊ inné. Abhaile leis na Beckwiths, agus ón seo leabaidh ag an 4 a chlog, an-tsáraithe. (…I did a good bit of dancing but there wasn’t any drink available for me. I didn’t dance as well as yesterday. Home with the Beckwiths, and from here to bed at 4 o’clock, very exhausted.)
29 Ean. Honour examinations, an-tuirseach d’fhan mé san [staile?] ⁊ chodail mé chuid den lá. (very tired, I stayed in the [?] & I slept a part of the day.)
31 Ean. Thíos is maidin ceann an Caserna le Dubh. Tennis leis an Coirnéal ach níor imreas-sa [innse?] le Mrs Randolph. Chaith mé trí nó 4 uaire ansin le Fräulein Wark… (Down at the top of the morning to the Caserna with Duff. Tennis with the colonel but I didn’t play [?] with Mrs. Randolph. I spent three or 4 hours then with Fräulein Wark…)
Feabhra 1891
1 Feabh. Dé Domhnaigh. Sneachta. Ní dheachas chun an teampaill. D’fhanas sa mbaile ag scríobh naoi litreach. (Sunday. Snow. I didn’t go to the church. I stayed home writing nine letters.)
2 Feabh. …Rinne mé a lán rincí (I did a lot of dancing). The cold was intense driving home ach go raibh mo chrúiscín liom do bhí mé scuabtha. Is annamh bhí mé ag damhsa ba ghreannúla liom (but only that I had my flask with me or I would have been ruined. It’s rare that I was dancing more enjoyably). Home at 4:30.
3 Feabh. …Got home gan bheith ar meisce in am maith. An-tuirseach (at a good time without being drunk. Very tired). Spent the afternoon with Fräulein Wark. Ghnímse mo thoil léi anois (I do as I wish with her now).
4 Feabh. An-tuirseach, do chodlaigh mé san lá… (Very tired, I slept in the day)
5 Feabh. …deoch san caserna ⁊ abhaile ‘san tráthnóna (a drink in the caserna & home in the evening)
7 Feabh. Played tennis in the drill shed, the Colonel & I against Duff & Carpenter. Bhíomar buailte. A lecture ar dhiaidh ⁊ lucht na mission san tráthnóna. Shuigh mé ag ól puinse go dtí a 1 san oíche le Duff ⁊ ag caint leis ar Harrison ⁊ Bridgefi ag tuigsint an mí-éad ⁊ drochrúin tá ag lucht na háite seo (We were beaten. A lecture after & the mission people in the afternoon. I sat drinking punch until 1 in the morning with Duff & talking with Harrison & Bridgefi understanding the bad jealousy & dark secrets of the people of this place).
8 Feabh. Dé Domhnaigh. Teampall (Sunday. Church). Afternoon tea with the Fräulein Wark. An carthanach léi (Very friendly with her).
9 Feabh. …The students got up the whole thing themselves ⁊ bhí an coláiste breá le giúis ⁊ lampaí ⁊ uile shórt ach b’éigin domhsa mo $5 thabhairt dóibh… Bhí Miss Gregori i mo sheomracha ⁊ mise ag déanadh grinn léi. Ghoid sí m’fhóto uaim. Bhí am maith agam (& the college was fine with pine & lamps & all sorts but I had to give my $5 to them… Miss Gregori was in my rooms & I was making merry with her. She stole my photo from me. I had a good time).
10 Feabh. …Puinse ⁊ leaba (Punch & bed).
11 Feabh. Lá saor (A free day). Tennis with the Colonel Duff & Carpenter in the drill shed. Spent the evening with the Fräulein. Ghním mo rogha ruid léi anois (I do my choice of things with her now). Bad cold.
14 Feabh. Played tennis with the Colonel Duff & Carpenter all morning. Ar cuairt go Miss Wark san tráthnóna. Ghlac mé tae leo ansin. Chaith mé an tráthnóna léi go dtí a 11. Léamar an Novelle Paul Hinse. Tig liom mo rogha ruid dhéanamh léi anois ach amháin go bhfuil faitíos orm go dtabhfadh sí a grá dhom, rud nach maith liom à présent. Nach sop bradach mé. Is ró-bhuíoch ba chóir dhom bheith, [buaidh 22?] ar mhaighdean chneasta shaibhir ⁊ go réasúnta sciamhaí mar í. Dá bhfaighfainn mo shean-ghrá .i. an punct[?] do bhualas as mo cheann, b’fhéidir go ndéanfainn gnóthach léi seo. Muna raibh a hanál chomh mí-mhilis ⁊ tá sé 7 dá mbeadh a cosa níos lú b’fhearr liom í (On a visit to Miss Wark in the afternoon. I took tea with them there. I spent the evening with her until 11. We read the Novelle Paul Hinse. I can do my choice of things with her now but only that I am worried that she will give me her love, a thing I don’t like à présent. Aren’t I a theiving wisp of a man. And too thankful I should be, [22 competed?] over a kind, rich, and reasonably beautiful maiden like her. If I could get my old love ie. the punct that I struck from my mind, maybe I would make busy with her here. If her breath wasn’t as sickly sweet as it is & if her legs were smaller I would prefer her). Punch with Duff till 12.
18 Feabh. D’éirigh mé go moch. Chuaigh mé go Fräulein san tráthnóna ⁊ léigh sí Novelle don Frau v. Hillern dom. Rinneadh léi mar ba mhian liom á fáscadh i mo rítheacha ⁊ ag cuimilt a pluc. Abhaile 11:15, puinse (I got up early. I went to Fräulein in the afternoon & she read Novelle of Frau v. Hillern to me. I did with her as I desired to squeeze her in my arms & to rub her cheek. Home 11:15, punch).
19 Feabh. Slaighdeán ⁊ pian im’ cheann. Ag léamh R. Randson[?] (A cold & pain in my head. Reading R. Randson[?]).
20 Feabh. Went to a snow shoe party at Mrs. George Beckwiths. Four or five couples of us went out, I with Miss Firhen[?]. D’fháisc mé a lámh ⁊ a méara ⁊ rinneas greann go leor léi (I squeezed her hand & her fingers & I made plenty of fun with her). Came in from snow shoeing in the woods at 11:16. Had supper & began dancing. Home at 2. An-tsáraithe. Bhí páirtí ag Duff ach ní raibh mise in ann (Very exhausted. Duff had a party but I wasn’t able).
21 Feabh. …Ní chuimhním (I don’t remember).
22 Feabh. Dé Domhnaigh…Tráthnóna leis an Fräulein… (Sunday…Evening with the Fräulein…)
23 Feabh. Ní chuimhním (I don’t remember).
25 Feabh. Ní chuimhním (I don’t remember).
Máirt 1891
1 Máir. Sneachta. D’fhanas san mbaile. Tráthnóna le Fräulein. D’fhéadfainn mo thoil féin dhéanamh dhi to [kink?] with her… (Snow. I stayed home. Evening with Fräulein. I could do my will to her to [kink?] with her…)
4 Máir. Chaith mé an tráthnóna leis an Fräulein ⁊ ní dhéan mé mórán léi, ach ag léamh dí. Sneachta (I spent the afternoon with the Fräulein & I didn’t do much with her, but reading to her. Snow).
5 Máir. …Sneachta trom (…Heavy snow).
6 Máir. Ní raibh mé go ró-mhaith inniú. D’fhanas sa mbaile ag léamh Peregrin Picel (I wasn’t too well today. I stayed home reading [The Adventures of] Peregrine Pickle).
8 Máir. Dé Domhnaigh. Ní dheacas chun an teampaill… (Sunday. I didn’t go to the church…)
10 Máir. Spent the evening with the Fräulein. Read. Rinneas mo thoil faoin ⁊ tuilleadh dá mba mhian é léi. Abhaile (I did my will & more if I desired with her. Home).
11 Máir. Tinn le slaighdeán ⁊ pian cinn (Sick with a cold & headache).
12 Máir. An-tinn le pian cinn ⁊ píobán nimhneach (Very sick with headache & sore throat).
13 Máir. Níos fearr ach go dona fós. Shiúlas go dtí teach an choirnéal ach níor imreas leis (Better but still unwell. I walked to the colonel’s house but I didn’t play with him).
14 Máir. Dé Domhnaigh. Teampall. Go teach an Fräulein ⁊ tae leo. Abhaile go moch (Sunday. Church. To the Fräulein’s house & tea with them. Home early).
15 Máir. D’fhanas san mbaile (I stayed home).
16 Máir. Páirtí ag teach Bhailey ach ní dheacas. Sioc (Party at the Bailey’s house but I didn’t go. Frost).
17 Máir. D’fhanas san mbaile. Sioc (I stayed home. Frost).
18 Máir. Go teach an Fräulein. D’fhanas ansin le cúpla uair san tráthnóna ⁊ bhíomar ag léamh (To the Fräulein’s house. I stayed there for a couple of hours in the evening & we were reading).
19 Máir. Go han-dona le píobán. Bhí lá fuar [againn?] Dé Céadaoin ⁊ chuamar ag sciorradh ar an leac oighre - an lá deireadh den sciorradh san mbliain seo, creidim (Very unwell with sore throat. We [had?] a cold day Wednesday and we went sliding on the ice - the last day of sliding this year, I believe)
20 Máir. Sioc. Tae leis na Gregories. An-dona fós. Níor fhéadas slogadh ná labhairt (Frost. Tea with the Gregories. Very unwell still. I couldn’t swallow or speak).
22 Máir. Dé Domhnaigh. D’fhanas san mbaile. Bhí cuireadh agam óna Warks ⁊ ó Harrison mar dhinéar do ghlacadh leo ach ní dheachas… Leá (Sunday. I stayed home. I had an invitation from the Warks & from Harrison to take dinner with them but I didn’t go… Melting).
23 Máir. Lá dorcha. Leá. Go dona (A dark day. Melting. Unwell).
24 Máir. Leá arís. Go dona (Melting again. Unwell).
25 Máir. Sioc beag arís (A little frost again).
26 Máir. Amach ar an leac oighre ag bróg-sciorradh. Chaith mé an tráthnóna ⁊ ghlac mé tae leis an Fräulein. Abhaile 11 (Out on the ice shoe-skating. I spent the afternoon & I took tea with the Fräulein. Home 11).
27 Máir. Went skating. Good Friday… Gaoth mhór. Greann léi. Throscas (A great wind. Fun with her. Fasting).
28 Máir. Tennis with Duff. D’innleas é (I arranged it). [Ag ceathach rud sa mbarlc?]
29 Máir. Domhnach Cháisc. Teampall. Comaoin. Dinnéar leis na Gregories. Miss Mac Crae ann. Caint. Abhaile 10 (Easter Sunday. Church. Favour. Dinner with the Gregories. Miss Mac Crae was there. Talking. Home 10).
30 Máir. D’fhanas ag léamh ‘s ag scríobh. Dined… 12 dheoch nó trí. Abhaile 12 (I stayed reading and writing. Dined… 12 drinks or thirteen. Home 12).
31 Máir. Went to dentist. A good one. Níor iarr sé ach $2 dá dollar ⁊ líon sé 8 fiacail. Deoch san gcaserna. Fräulein san tráthnóna ⁊ tae ansin. D’fhanas go dtí a 11 léi. Chríochnaíomar úrscéal beag [Clin Einforman?]. Rinneas léi beagnach mar ba mhian liom féin, ach ghlacas ar a mhaith gan á pógadh cé go raibh sise toilteanach go leor ⁊ gur thit sí ar ais im’ rítheacha. B’fhéidir go nglacfainn í ach amháin nach bhfuil a hanál milis, cé go bhfuil sé dul ar feabhas gach lá. Ní holc dí aithne do bheith aici ormsa, óir ní ghoidfí a grá, cé go ghníom-sa go han-saor léi. Níor thugas aon tsúil di: ach ní maith an obair seo di-se ná domhsa dá leanfainnse dhó ró-fhada. Nuair cuirimse dinglis ina cois suas go dtí a dá ghlúin ⁊ níos faide á cuimilt ⁊c. [?] is iomarca é. Ach ní thig liom leanúint dó ró-fhada anois cár fágfaí an áit. Lagaíonn sé mé féin mar an gcéanna. Táim níos dána léi ná do bhíos leis an bpunct ariamh. Níl ‘fhios agam an bhfuil mórán airgid aici, dar siad go bhfuil (He didn’t ask but $2 & he filled 8 teeth. A drink in the caserna. Fräulein in the evening & tea there. I stayed until 11 with her. We finished a small novel of [Clin Einforman?]. I did with her almost as I desired, but I accepted that it would be best not to kiss her although she was plenty willing & that she fell back into my arms. Maybe I would accept her except that her breath isn’t sweet, although it is getting better every day. It’s no evil for her to know me, since her love will not be stolen, even though I make very free with her. I never gave her any expectation: but she doesn’t like this work nor would I if I continue too long. When I tickle her legs up to her two knees & further rubbing it etc. [?] that’s too much. But I can’t continue too long now if I would leave the place It weakens me all the same. I’m more bold with her than I ever was with the [punct?]. I don’t know if she has much money, they say she does)
Aibreán 1891
1 Aib. Tinn go leor tar éis mo scornach léi inné. Went to play tennis ach níor fhéadas…ró tinn le dul ann (Plenty ill after my throat with her yesterday. Went to play tennis but I couldn’t…too sick to go there).
2 Aib. [?]éantha saoire thart tosaigh an téarma arís. Níor mhair ár laetha saora ach amháin [?]. Níor fhéadas ach 2 leictiúr thabhairt. Bhí mé ró-dona (? holiday around the start of the term again. Our holidays didn’t last but only [?] I couldn’t give but 2 lectures. I was too unwell).
3 Aib. An-dona arís. Ag fulaing óm’ cheann ⁊ óm’ droim. Chuir mé plástar maith mustard orm. Stoirm sneachta áibhéil. Níor itheas mórán (Very unwell again. Suffering from my head & from my back. I put a good plaster of mustard on. An immense snowstorm. I didn’t eat much).
4 Aib. Rud beag níor fearr. Chuas amach le scathadh chomh fada leis an bhFräulein ⁊ abhaile. An-dona (A little but better. I went out with a sunshade as far as the Fräulein & home. Very unwell).
5 Aib. Dé Domhnaigh. Dona go fóill. D’fhanas sa tigh, ag cócaireacht dom ach amhlaidh dob fhearr d’fhéadas (Sunday. Still unwell. I stayed in the house, cooking but it would have been better if I had been able).
6 Aib. Dona go leor fós (Still plenty unwell)
7 Aib. Damhsa mór ag na Blairs. Chuas ann ⁊ rinne mé a lán rince, is bhí mé lag tuirseach nuair tháinig mé abhaile ag a 3 san oíche (A big dance at the Blairs. I went there & I did a lot of dancing, and I was very tired when I came home at 3 in the morning)
8 Aib. Go dona fós. Ag léamh (still unwell. Reading)
9 Aib. Damhsa mór ag na Streets is ní dheacas, bhí mé go ró-dhona (A big dance at the Streets but I didn’t go, I was too unwell)
10 Aib. Dona fós. Ghlacas dinnéar ag an teach ósta (Still unwell. I took dinner at the hotel).
11 Aib. Chuas amach ag siúl le cúpla míle nó trí ar an mbóthar iarainn ach bhí mé chomh lag sin ar éigin tháinig mé ar ais. Dinnéar san gcaserna ⁊ d’ólas cuid mhaith (I went out walking for two or three miles on the railway line but I was so weak that I had to come back. Dinner in the caserna & I drank a good bit).
12 Aib. Dé Domhnaigh. D’fhanas sa mbaile. Bhí mé an-tinn. D’ith mé trí fataí ⁊ rinne siad an-tinn mé ar fad. D’ól mé deoch home-bound[?] thug an doirseoir dom ⁊ chuir mé allas ‘na dhiaidh. Chuir mé fios ar doctúir Coburn ⁊ thug sé drug ansin dom (Sunday. I stayed home. I was very ill. I ate three potatoes & they made me very sick indeed. I drank a drink of [home-bound?] that the doorman gave to me & I was sweating afterwards. I let the doctor Coburn know & he gave me a drug then)
13 Aib. Biseach beag orm innu (a little improvement on my health today).
14 Aib. D’ólas sa gcaserna cuid mhaith (I drank a good bit in the caserna).
15 Aib. Thug Miss Bailey a pictiúr féin dom. D’ól mé a lán ⁊ [b’fhearr mé?] (Miss Bailey gave me a picture of herself. I drank a lot & ?).
16 Aib. Ar cuairt ag an bhFräulein le tae is níor fhanas (On a visit to the Fräulein for tea and I didn’t stay).
17 Aib. Biseach orm innu… Lá breá te (Improvement on my health today… A fine warm day).
18 Aib. Biseach orm, is lag ⁊ an-tuirseach (Improvement on my health, and weak & very tired).
19 Aib. Dé Domhnaigh. D’fhanas sa mbaile ach bhí faitíos orm an teach d’fhágáil. Chuas don bhFräulein san tráthnóna ⁊ ghlacas tae léi ⁊ rinneas cleas na glúine léi mar roimhe. Abhaile ag an ocht (Sunday. I stayed at home as I was worried to leave the house. I went to the Fräulein in the afternoon & I took tea with her & I did the ‘trick of the knee’ with her as before. Home at eight).
20 Aib. Lag go fóill. Níor chorraíos áit ar bith (Still weak. I didn’t move position at all).
21 Aib. Lag fós. Chuas ag spaisteoireacht le Dubh go taoibh eile an droichid. Lá aoibhinn. Dinnéar leis san teach ósta ⁊ caint fada le Eduard Jack. Deoch san gcaserna ansin. Abhaile ag an 9 (Still weak. I went strolling with Duff to the other side of the bridge. A beautiful day. Dinner with him at the hotel & a long talk with Eduard Jack. A drink in the caserna then. Home at 9).
22 Aib. Ag loscadh piléir. Mhairbh mé spideog rua chomh mór le céirseach. [?] slat uaim ⁊ ceann eile ar bharr crainn. Chríochnaíos Hawthorne’s Scarlet Letter (Firing bullets. I killed a red robin as big as a hen blackbird. [?] yards from me and another one on top of a tree. I finished Hawthorne’s Scarlet Letter).
23 Aib. Sneachta trom ar an talamh ar feadh an lae arís. Níor chorraíos amach (Heavy snow on the ground through the day again. I didn’t go out).
24 Aib. Ag spaisteoireacht beagán (a little strolling)
25 Aib. Chuaigh mé don bhFräulein ar maidin is amach ag spaisteoireacht ar an mbóthar iarainn léi chomh fada leis an muileann is níos faide. Bhí an gunna liom is mhairbh mé éan-pioctha na gcrann leis. Ar ais ⁊ dinnéar leo ach níor fhanas le tae ach tháinig mé abhaile (I went to the Fräulein in the morning and out strolling on the railway line with her as far as the mill and further. I had the gun with me and I killed a woodpecker with it. Back & dinner with them but I didn’t stay for tea but I came home).
26 Aib. Dé Domhnaigh. Teampall. Dinnéar breá le Captaen Hemming is a bhean. Go Fred Bliss ansin ⁊ leisean chun na nGregories ‘n áit ⁊ d’fhanas go dtí a 12 san oíche ag insint scéal ar phúcaí, taibhsí ⁊rl, ⁊ ag ól brandaí ⁊ ag [caitheamh?]. Thug Gregori a phictiúr dom (Sunday. Church. A fine dinner with Captain Hemming and his wife. To Fred Bliss then & with him to the Gregories, the place where we stayed until 12 in the night telling stories about monsters, and ghosts etc., & drinking brandy & [smoking?]. Gregori gave me his picture).
27 Aib. Níor chorraíos, lá gránna (I didn’t stir, an awful day)
28 Aib. Dinnéar mall ag an teach ósta le Dubh. Cheannaíos leabhracha ⁊rl. san mbaile (A slow dinner at the hotel with Duff. I bought books etc. in the town).
29 Aib. Ní chuimhním (I don’t remember)
30 Aib. Bhí mé ag imirt tennis le Bliss ⁊ an dá Gregories san ndrill shed. Imirt maith. Dinnéar san Queen (I was playing tennis with Bliss & the two Gregories in the drill shed. Good playing. Dinner in the Queen).
Bealtaine 1891
1 Beal. Tae leis an bhFräulein. Ní chuimhním, ag spaisteoireacht leis an bhFräulein. Lá fíor aoibhinn (Tea with the Fräulein. I don’t remember, strolling with the Fräulein. A truly beautiful day).
2 Beal. Ag imirt tennis leis na Gregories ⁊ le Duff. Tae campa na nIndianach leo (Playing tennis with the Gregories & with Duff. Indigenous camp tea with them).
3 Beal. Dé Domhnaigh. Teampall. Lá breá. Tháinig Bliss ⁊ Graham suas chugam ⁊ d’fhan Bliss go dtí an tráthnóna ag ól is ag caint. Chun an Fräulein ansin ⁊ tae léi. Abhaile ag an 9:30 (Sunday. Church. A fine day. Bliss & Gragam came up to me & Bliss stayed until the afternoon drinking and talking. To the Fräulein then & tea with her. Home at 9:30).
4 Beal. Lá fuar. Chuaigh mé isteach san mess. Obair mhór ag déanamh páipéar le haghaidh na n-examina (A cold day. I went into the mess. Much work doing papers for the exams).
5 Beal. Lá fuar arís. Ag loscadh piléir beagán (A cold day again. Firing bullets a little bit).
6 Beal. Lá scor. Chun an Fräulein, ag suí le chéile faoi chrann agus scathán os ár gcionn ⁊ é ag cur fearthainne. Do thug sí beagán biotáille dhom nuair thánamar isteach. D’fhan léi go dtí a 10, ag caint ⁊ ag insint rún dá chéile. D’inis sí mórán i dtaoibh a hathair dhom. Is gránna léi é. Bhain an tráthnóna seo ualach dem’ [chroí ?] óir thaispeán mé di go soiléir nach raibh ionamsa ach fear na gcaoithe (A free day. To the Fräulein, sitting together under a tree and shade over our head & it raining. She gave me a little strong drink when we came in. I stayed with her until 10, talking & telling secrets together. She told much about her father to me. She hates him. This evening lifted a weight from my [heart?] because I showed her clearly that I was nothing but a man of manners).
7 Beal. Examina ó dóracha ar feadh an lae. Tuirseach (Exams from dark throughout the day. Tired).
8 Beal. Ag léamh insa bpáipéir. Ag imirt tennis san tráthnóna le Duff ⁊ an dá Gregories. Imirt breá inniú. Dinnéar ag an teach ósta. Ar ais go teach na nGregories ⁊ caint ⁊ mhúin mé a lán Fraincís do Miss Gertrúd ina seomra féin, ⁊ lámh i mo láimhse á fáscadh ⁊ á gcinn le céile os cionn an leabhair cheachtanna, ag baint le chéile. Ba ghreannúil é. Go Bliss ansin ag an 11 san oíche ach bhí sé tinn ‘na leaba (Reading in the papers. Playing tennis in the afternoon with Duff & the two Gregories. Fine playing today. Dinner at the hotel. Back to the house of the Gregories & talking & I taught a lot of French to Miss Gertrud in her own room, & pressing her hand in my hands & our heads together over top of the lesson book, bothering each other. It was fun. To Bliss then at 11 in the evening but he was sick in his bed).
9 Beal. Ag imirt tennis le Dubh ar maidin. Fuair mise 18 cluiche in aghaidh a naoi-sean. Lá fíor aoibhinn. Miss Gregori ag dul isteach le haghaidh onóir. Bhí mé druidte suas léi san leabharlann ó 3 go dtí a sé san tráthnóna (Playing tennis with Dubh in the morning. I got 18 games against his 9. A truly beautiful day. Miss Gregori going in for honours. I was closed up with her in the library from 3 until 6 in the evening).
10 Beal. Dé Domhnaigh. Teampall. Chuaigh mé do na Warks le dinnéar ag an mbuille cloig, ag spaisteoireacht leis an Fräulein [Nachker?] (Sunday. Church. I went to the Warks for dinner at the clock strike, strolling with the Fräulein [?]).
Nearly burnt the woods down. Scanraíodh mé go háibhéil mór. Rinneas mór mó ná aon ní dá ndéarnas fós léi-se, ruda nár cóir dom ar aon chor mar atá mo lámh do leagain ar a ioscad leis leath-throighe os cionn na glúine. Bhí brón ⁊ aithreachas orm ‘na dhiaidh, óir thuigeas gur gráigh sí mé, rud nár mhaith liom (I was awfully scared. I did much more than anything I had done yet with her, a thing that isn’t proper for me at all is my hand to lay on the hallow at the back of her knee to a half-foot above the knee. I was sad and regretful after, since I understood that she loved me, a thing I didn’t like).
11 Beal. Leictiúred arís. Cuideacht litríocht san tráthnóna i dteach Tibbits. Léigh mé (Lectured again. Literary society in the afternoon in Tibbits’ house. I read)
12 Beal. Chaith mé an lá ag imirt tennis le Duff. Dinnéar ag an teach ósta. Chun na Gregories ansin, ag iompú boird leo go [hádhúil?]. Chun Bliss ansin. Ceithre cluiche fichille leis. Bhuail mé 3 uaire é. Abhaile ag an 3 ar maidin ⁊ mé lán (I spent the day playing tennis with Duff. Dinner at the hotel. To the Gregories then, changing table with them [merrily?]. To Bliss then. Four games of chess with him. I beat him 3 times. Home at 3 in the morning & me full).
13 Beal. Ag imirt san drill shed le Duff, Uilleam ⁊ an Coirnéal. Chun an Fräulein le Dubh. Tae ansin leo. Níor fhanas ach abhaile ag an 9 (Playing in the drill shed with Duff, Uilleam & the Colonel. To the Fräulein with Dubh. Tea there with them. I didn’t stay but home at 9).
14 Beal. Rinne mé mo leictiúr deireanach dom scoláirí inniú ⁊ bhuail siad a mbosa le céile ag déanamh iolach mór nuair dúirt mé slán leo. Chuaigh mé go Miss Albert Gregori ansin. Caint léi. Luinnse ag an gcaserna. Caint leis an gcoirnéal. Tennis ó 3 go 6 leis na Gregoris ar a dtalamh féin. Caint le Harrison san tráthnóna. Tuirseach ⁊ lag spriod beag (I did my last lecture for my students today & they clapped making a big shout when I said farewell to them. I went to Miss Albert Gregori then. Talk with her. Lunch at the caserna. Talk with the colonel. Tennis from 3 to 6 with the Gregories on their own ground. Talk with Harrison in the evening. Tired and slightly despirited)
15 Beal. Met the two Westmore girls but could not play in the drill shed so brought them to the Gregoris & played there till 1. Dinnéar ansin ag an teach ósta. Go Bliss ansin… Abhaile fliuch ⁊ tuirseach (Dinner then at the hotel. To Bliss then… Home wet & tired).
16 Beal. Dé Domhnaigh. Lá an-fhliuch. D’fhanas san mbaile ach chuas ar cuairt chun an Fräulein san tráthnóna ⁊ ghlacas tae léi, ach ní dhéanas aon drochrud léi an tan seo. Abhaile ag an 8:30 (Sunday. A very wet day. I stayed home but I went on a visit to the Fräulein in the evening & I took tea with her, but I didn’t do anything bad this time. Home at 8:30).
17-18-19-20-21-22 Beal. Ní chuimhním go maith ach do bhí mé an-ghnóthach gach lá leis na hexamina. Chuaigh mé ag imirt tennis chun na nGregories cúpla uair ⁊ ghlacas tae leo ⁊ chun an Fräulein mar an gcéanna (I don’t remember well but I was very busy every day with the exams. I went playing tennis at the Gregories a couple of times & I took tea with them & to the Fräulein just the same).
24 Beal. Dé Domhnaigh. Teampall na Methodists ar maidin (Sunday. Methodist Church in the morning).
25 Beal. Went over to the [Wolastoqiyik] village afterwards. Lá aoibhinn breá te. Taoide = 7 míle san uair. Beagán lena linn ach gan aon uisce beatha (A fine warm beautiful day. Tide = 7 miles an hour. A little with us but no whiskey).
26 Beal. Ag léamh páipéar go dtí an oíche (Reading papers until the night).
27 Beal. Ag léamh páipéar fós (Reading papers still).
28 Beal. Tharraing mé deora, chuala mé, ó na cailíní óga! (I caused tears, I heard, from the young girls!) Dinnéar at the Academic Society… An-tsáraithe ar fad (Entirely exhausted).
30 Beal. Ag críochnú m’oibre. Ní chuimhním (Finishing my work. I don’t remember).
31 Beal. Dé Domhnaigh. Teampall. Go Bliss. Thug a dheartháir paddle Indianach dom ⁊ Bliss féin phóto… Chuas don teampall san tráthnóna ⁊ chuaigh mise suas na sráide le Méibil ⁊ is ansin bhí an obair ag iarraidh a phóto uithi. Ba bheag nár ghol sí. Rug mé ar a dá láimh ⁊ bhíomar ag ciaráil ceann in aghaidh cinn fada go leor… Ghoid sí a phóto uaim arís ach fuaireas uaithi sar’ n-imeacht dom. Chuaigh mé le Bliss go dtí an Caserna ansin. Bhí fear úr, major Buchan ann. Thosaíomar ag ól ‘s ag caint ⁊ diabhail a leithéide éinne mé ariamh Ar ndul abhaile dom tar éis Bliss (do bhí níos measa ná mé féin d’fhágáil) chuas amuigh san gcoill, ⁊ thit mé is cuimhin liom 200 uair sul chuaigh mé i mo leaba, ‘n áit ar luíos gan mo chóta do bhaint díom ná aon rud eile. Is blianta é ó bhí mé chomh dona sin (Sunday. Church. To Bliss. His brother game me an Indigenous paddle & Bliss himself a photo… I sent to the church in the afternoon & I went up the street with Méibil & then the work was to get his photo from her. She almost cried. I caught her two hands & we were tussling head-to-head for a long while… She stole his photo from me again but I got it from her before I departed. I went with Bliss to the Caserna then. There was a new man there, Major Buchan. We began drinking and talking & I have never met his like. On going homewards after Bliss (worse than me were leaving) I went out into the woods, & I fell I think 200 times before I got into my bed, the place I lay without removing my coat or anything else. It’s years since I was so bad as that).
Meitheamh 1891
1 Meith. D’éirigh mé chomh beoga le cricéad. Chuas le Duff ag inspectáil an Normal School. Ó 9 go dtí a 11 (I arose as lively as a cricket. I went with Duff inspecting the Normal School. From 9 to 11). Magnifique! Literary meeting at Bridge’s in the evening, was too tired to read or speak at it. Finished all my work faoi dheireadh (finally).
2 Meith. Chuaigh mé ag cuairtiú ⁊ ag fágáil sláin le muintir na háite. Ba bheag nach bhfuair mé bás féin le tinneas croí. San mess, d’ólas beagán nó cuid mhaith féin ann. Chodlaigh mé san mBainrioghan, ⁊ ag meán oíche tháinig Bliss ⁊ Dristowe isteach ⁊ iad ar meisce ⁊ thugadar orm tuilleadh ól ⁊ rinneadar ball d’ord Chonfucius dhíom! (I went visiting & bidding farewell to the people of the place. I almost died of heartache. In the mess, I drank a little or a good amount. I slept in the Queen, & at midnight Bliss and Dristowe came in and they were drunk & they brought more drink & they made me a member of the Order of Confucius!)
3 Meith. Left Fredericton at 7:45 ar maidin (in the morning).
For citation, please use: De hÍde, Dubhghlas. 1891. “Dialann De hÍde.” Ó Dubhghaill, Dónall. 2024. Na Gaeil san Áit Ró-Fhuar. Gaeltacht an Oileáin Úir: www.gaeilge.ca
Adapted from: Hyde, Douglas. Diary of Douglas Hyde. 1891. See the original here.
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Gaunce, Bradford. 2012. “Gagetown: a Mini Gaeltacht in New Brunswick?.” 19th Atlantic Studies Conference. University of New Brunswick. Saint John. 5 May. Lecture.
Toner, Peter. 2012. “Dialann De hÍde.” Message to Daniel Doyle. 29 Aug.
Hyde later wrote: “Last year I was in Canada and out hunting with some [Wolastoqiyik companions], and we spent a night in the last white man’s house in the last settlement on the brink of the primeval forest; and judging from a peculiarly Hibernian physiognomy that the man was Irish, I addressed him in Gaelic, and to the intense astonishment both of whites and [Indigenous companions] we entered into a conversation which none of them understood; and it turned out that he was from within three miles of Kilkenny, and had been forty years in that country without forgetting the language he had spoken as a child, and I, although from the centre of Connacht, understood him perfectly.” Hyde, Douglas. 1892. “The Necessity for De-Anglicising Ireland.” National Literary Society. 1894. The Revival of Irish Literature. Fisher Unwin: London.
