Descendant of Douglas Hyde, 1st President

[Quick shifty, all clear, OOD (Pinky) has given the nod, side-ropes manned, bos’n with call at the ready]
“Welcome aboard Sir”

Douglas Hyde was from a cadet branch (Sligo). I don’t envy you tracing the genealogy of the cadet branches, I once did a little work on a Hyde who married into a family I was researching and it was not easy, too many Arthurs! He was Frederick Hyde, born about 1800, a son of Rev. Arthur, Vicar of Killarney. Frederick had so many interconnected relationships through the intermarriage of cousins/nieces/nephews/uncles that it would have been easy to think he was not only his own first cousin but also his own uncle! A couple of his sons emigrated to Australia and to the US – I’ve not followed them up to see if they had issue. Douglas had two daughters, no sons.

The first of the Hydes in Ireland received several thousand acres of Desmond land from QE1 for his duty at the time of the Armada. Castle Hyde is quite recent, built c1800 on the site of an earlier smaller house. The Hydes also owned Craig (or Creg) Castle in Co. Cork, a more historic home.

The senior Hyde branch fell on hard times, Castlehyde was sold by the Encumbered Estates Court in c1850 against a debt of £150k – it made £1000k. (approx.) and they moved back into Creg Castle. It was bought by one of the Tipperary Sadliers, who later sold it to one of the Bechers of Cork, whose family owned it into the 20th century. AFAIK Flately still owns the place, it failed to sell despite a price drop and it may now be off the market.

I have my notes filed, can check a few details if required, most relate to the Kerry branch and the earlier generations. Kenealy was a fascinating character, ‘maverick’ is somewhat of an understatement!