Edward Gwynn

Edward John Gwynn (County Donegal 1 April 1868 – 10 February 1941 Dublin) was an Irish scholar of Old Irish and Celtic literature, Provost of Trinity College Dublin from 1927 to 1937 and President of the Royal Irish Academy from 1934 to 1937. Biography Edward John Gwynn (1868–1941), the second son of the Very Reverend Dr John Gwynn D.D. and Lucy Josephine O'Brien, was born at Aughnagaddy in Ramelton, County Donegal while his father was Rector of Tullyaughnish (or Ramelton). As a teenager he attended St Columba's College, Rathfarnham, where his father had earlier been headmaster. In 1885, after completing his secondary education, Edward went up to Trinity College Dublin. His father was then Lecturer in Divinity at the college. In 1888 he won a scholarship in classics. Edward graduated with distinction, winning the large gold medal for classics as well as a gold medal for ethics and logic. In 1893 he was elected a Fellow of Trinity. From Latin and Greek Edward then turned his attention to Early Irish. His father had worked for years on the Book of Armagh, an Irish text written in Latin; Edward made ancient texts in Irish his special field. At that time Irish studies did not form part of the range of subjects which were taught at Trinity College. However, Edward was able to commence his researches under the aegis of the Royal Irish Academy, of which he was elected a member in 1896. Two years later he became its Professor of Celtic Languages. As an efficient administrator as well as a serious scholar he was to remain a key figure in the affairs of the Academy for the rest of his working life. He served as President of the Academy for the period 1934 to 1937.