Elizabeth Hickey
Encyclopedia
Elizabeth Hickey was a well-known Meath historian and author who lived at Skryne Castle near Tara
. The doyenne and best known of Meath historians, she wrote on a variety of topics. According to the Irish Times, she typified the immense contribution of local historians to Irish history, "through her long and rewarding passion for the rich history of Co Meath, producing valuable books, articles and insights."
in 1917 as Elizabeth Agnes Malet-Warden very much as a scion of the twilight years of the British Empire. Her mother, Agnes Helen née Pennycuick, was the daughter of a civil servant in Ceylon
, and the granddaughter of Brigadier-General John Pennycuick, and her father, Edward C Malet-Warden, was an Engineer-Captain in the Royal Navy
, with a particular enthusiasm for naval history, while her brother, John Hamish, was later killed in the RAF
while on a bombing raid over Cologne
in 1941. She was educated at the Nairn
Academy, near Inverness
in Scotland, and later she qualified with a degree in English and History from Trinity College, Dublin
. She then went on to do dress design and later worked for a year in that capacity at the Gate Theatre
in Dublin.
In 1941 she married Noel Sydney Falkiner Hickey, the younger son of R. S. Hickey of Hyde Park, Killucan
, and had five children (Robin, Peter, Eoin - of Lucan, the former proprietor of Finnstown House Hotel -, Netta and Caroline) although they later separated with Noel living in London and her staying in the castle at Skryne
Co. Meath. It was when she went to live in that old castle overlooking Tara
that she really started to take a great interest in archaeology and local history. As part of this she did two years studying archaeology with Professor Sean P O'Riordan at University College Dublin
.
At first she wrote for The Irish Times
and the Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland
but it was with the founding of the Meath Historical and Archaeological Society in the late '50s that she found a ready outlet for her research. She was also very interested in literature and tried her hand at fiction, writing I send my love along the Boyne in 1966. In later years, along with so many Meath historians, she tried to preserve the heritage of Co Meath
from the ravages of the Irish government. She was successful though in preserving the bridge at Kilcarn, an ancient stone bridge across the Boyne located a few miles the Dublin side of Navan., although she became quite disillusioned in after years with the lack of interest in matters historical and in the problems of getting Irish history works published.
Probably the most famous of her works was The Green Cockatrice in which she traced the career of William Nugent
, one time Baron of Skryne
. She felt that he was a good candidate for the authorship of Shakespeare's works, a view that she never relented from in subsequent years. She even corresponded with Enoch Powell
on the subject, another person who was sceptical of the Stratford story.
Her book 'Skryne and the Early Normans' also reflects her love of the area. She researched in detail the 'Monument to Sir Thomas Cusack' (see de Cusack).
She died on the 12 January 1999 aged 81 years, and was cremated after her funeral in Navan.
Guide Book to Tara (1954)
I send my love along the Boyne (Dublin, 1966)
The legend of Tara (Dundalk, 1976)
The Green Cockatrice (Tara, 1978)
Skryne and the Early Normans (Tara, 1994)
The Irish Life of St Finian of Clonard (Meath, 1996)
Clonard: the story of an early Irish monastery (Leixlip, 1999)
articles:
St Mary's Abbey and the church at Skryne, Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland vol 82 pt2 1952.
The Cursing of Tara, Irish Times 5 Nov 1952.
Some observations on the usage of the word 'mote' in mediaeval times Ríocht na Midhe vol 2 pt2 1960 p. 37-39.
The House of Cleitech. Ríocht na Midhe vol 3 pt3 1965 p. 181-185.
The Cusacks of Portraine and Rathaldron, Co. Meath, Ríocht na Midhe vol 4 pt4 1970 p. 58-61.
Monument to Sir Thomas Cusack, Ríocht na Midhe vol 5 pt1 1971 p. 75-91.
A description of the Marward stone at Skryne and a discussion on John Cusack who sculptured it, Ríocht na Midhe vol 5 pt3 1973 p. 49-55.
The Wakelys of Navan And Ballyburly, a discussion of a 16th-century family, Ríocht na Midhe vol 5 pt4 1974 p. 3-19.
A medieval stone at Saint John's Cemetery, Kells, same vol as above p. 3-19.
The Bishop and the stone, Ríocht na Midhe vol 6 pt1 1975 p. 59-64.
Some Notes on Kilbixy, Tristernagh and Templecross, and the family of Piers who lived in the Abbey of Tristernagh in Westmeath, Ríocht na Midhe vol 7 pt1 1980-81 p. 52-75.
Epitaph on Edmund Malone in the Malone Mausoleum at Kilbixy church, Westmeath, Ríocht na Midhe vol 7 pt2 1982-83 p. 119-121.
Three stone heads from Macetown, Ríocht na Midhe vol 7 pt3 1984 p. 112-113.
Royal heraldry and some Irish arms at Trim, County Meath, Ríocht na Midhe vol 8 pt2 1988-89 p. 129-140.
The monastery of eremite friars of Saint Augustine at Skryne, Co. Meath, Ríocht na Midhe vol 8 pt3 1990-91 p. 145-150.
Hill of Tara
The Hill of Tara , located near the River Boyne, is an archaeological complex that runs between Navan and Dunshaughlin in County Meath, Leinster, Ireland...
. The doyenne and best known of Meath historians, she wrote on a variety of topics. According to the Irish Times, she typified the immense contribution of local historians to Irish history, "through her long and rewarding passion for the rich history of Co Meath, producing valuable books, articles and insights."
Life
She was born in EdinburghEdinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
in 1917 as Elizabeth Agnes Malet-Warden very much as a scion of the twilight years of the British Empire. Her mother, Agnes Helen née Pennycuick, was the daughter of a civil servant in Ceylon
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
, and the granddaughter of Brigadier-General John Pennycuick, and her father, Edward C Malet-Warden, was an Engineer-Captain in the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
, with a particular enthusiasm for naval history, while her brother, John Hamish, was later killed in the RAF
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
while on a bombing raid over Cologne
Cologne
Cologne is Germany's fourth-largest city , and is the largest city both in the Germany Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia and within the Rhine-Ruhr Metropolitan Area, one of the major European metropolitan areas with more than ten million inhabitants.Cologne is located on both sides of the...
in 1941. She was educated at the Nairn
Nairn
Nairn is a town and former burgh in the Highland council area of Scotland. It is an ancient fishing port and market town around east of Inverness...
Academy, near Inverness
Inverness
Inverness is a city in the Scottish Highlands. It is the administrative centre for the Highland council area, and is regarded as the capital of the Highlands of Scotland...
in Scotland, and later she qualified with a degree in English and History from Trinity College, Dublin
Trinity College, Dublin
Trinity College, Dublin , formally known as the College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity of Queen Elizabeth near Dublin, was founded in 1592 by letters patent from Queen Elizabeth I as the "mother of a university", Extracts from Letters Patent of Elizabeth I, 1592: "...we...found and...
. She then went on to do dress design and later worked for a year in that capacity at the Gate Theatre
Gate Theatre
The Gate Theatre, in Dublin, was founded in 1928 by Hilton Edwards and Micheál Mac Liammóir, initially using the Abbey Theatre's Peacock studio theatre space to stage important works by European and American dramatists...
in Dublin.
In 1941 she married Noel Sydney Falkiner Hickey, the younger son of R. S. Hickey of Hyde Park, Killucan
Killucan and Rathwire
The villages of Killucan and Rathwire nestle closely together in gentle, rolling countryside in the east of the Irish County Westmeath. They have a combined population of 1,248 according to the 2006 census...
, and had five children (Robin, Peter, Eoin - of Lucan, the former proprietor of Finnstown House Hotel -, Netta and Caroline) although they later separated with Noel living in London and her staying in the castle at Skryne
Skryne
Skryne, officially Skreen , is a village with apopulation of 1403 , situated on and around a hill between the N2 and N3 national primary roads in County Meath, Ireland. It is situated on the far side of the Gabhra valley from the Hill of Tara. This valley is sometimes referred to as the Tara-Skryne...
Co. Meath. It was when she went to live in that old castle overlooking Tara
Hill of Tara
The Hill of Tara , located near the River Boyne, is an archaeological complex that runs between Navan and Dunshaughlin in County Meath, Leinster, Ireland...
that she really started to take a great interest in archaeology and local history. As part of this she did two years studying archaeology with Professor Sean P O'Riordan at University College Dublin
University College Dublin
University College Dublin ) - formally known as University College Dublin - National University of Ireland, Dublin is the Republic of Ireland's largest, and Ireland's second largest, university, with over 1,300 faculty and 17,000 students...
.
At first she wrote for The Irish Times
The Irish Times
The Irish Times is an Irish daily broadsheet newspaper launched on 29 March 1859. The editor is Kevin O'Sullivan who succeeded Geraldine Kennedy in 2011; the deputy editor is Paul O'Neill. The Irish Times is considered to be Ireland's newspaper of record, and is published every day except Sundays...
and the Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland
Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland
The Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland is a learned society based in Ireland, whose aims are 'to preserve, examine and illustrate all ancient monuments and memorials of the arts, manners and customs of the past, as connected with the antiquities, language, literature and history of Ireland'. ...
but it was with the founding of the Meath Historical and Archaeological Society in the late '50s that she found a ready outlet for her research. She was also very interested in literature and tried her hand at fiction, writing I send my love along the Boyne in 1966. In later years, along with so many Meath historians, she tried to preserve the heritage of Co Meath
County Meath
County Meath is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Mid-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the ancient Kingdom of Mide . Meath County Council is the local authority for the county...
from the ravages of the Irish government. She was successful though in preserving the bridge at Kilcarn, an ancient stone bridge across the Boyne located a few miles the Dublin side of Navan., although she became quite disillusioned in after years with the lack of interest in matters historical and in the problems of getting Irish history works published.
Probably the most famous of her works was The Green Cockatrice in which she traced the career of William Nugent
William Nugent
William Nugent was an Irish rebel, brother of Christopher, fourteenth baron of Delvin , and the younger son of Richard Nugent, thirteenth baron Delvin, from whom he inherited the manor and castle of Ross in County Meath.-Life and politics:He first acquired notoriety in December 1573 by his...
, one time Baron of Skryne
Skryne
Skryne, officially Skreen , is a village with apopulation of 1403 , situated on and around a hill between the N2 and N3 national primary roads in County Meath, Ireland. It is situated on the far side of the Gabhra valley from the Hill of Tara. This valley is sometimes referred to as the Tara-Skryne...
. She felt that he was a good candidate for the authorship of Shakespeare's works, a view that she never relented from in subsequent years. She even corresponded with Enoch Powell
Enoch Powell
John Enoch Powell, MBE was a British politician, classical scholar, poet, writer, and soldier. He served as a Conservative Party MP and Minister of Health . He attained most prominence in 1968, when he made the controversial Rivers of Blood speech in opposition to mass immigration from...
on the subject, another person who was sceptical of the Stratford story.
Her book 'Skryne and the Early Normans' also reflects her love of the area. She researched in detail the 'Monument to Sir Thomas Cusack' (see de Cusack).
She died on the 12 January 1999 aged 81 years, and was cremated after her funeral in Navan.
Works
books:Guide Book to Tara (1954)
I send my love along the Boyne (Dublin, 1966)
The legend of Tara (Dundalk, 1976)
The Green Cockatrice (Tara, 1978)
Skryne and the Early Normans (Tara, 1994)
The Irish Life of St Finian of Clonard (Meath, 1996)
Clonard: the story of an early Irish monastery (Leixlip, 1999)
articles:
St Mary's Abbey and the church at Skryne, Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland vol 82 pt2 1952.
The Cursing of Tara, Irish Times 5 Nov 1952.
Some observations on the usage of the word 'mote' in mediaeval times Ríocht na Midhe vol 2 pt2 1960 p. 37-39.
The House of Cleitech. Ríocht na Midhe vol 3 pt3 1965 p. 181-185.
The Cusacks of Portraine and Rathaldron, Co. Meath, Ríocht na Midhe vol 4 pt4 1970 p. 58-61.
Monument to Sir Thomas Cusack, Ríocht na Midhe vol 5 pt1 1971 p. 75-91.
A description of the Marward stone at Skryne and a discussion on John Cusack who sculptured it, Ríocht na Midhe vol 5 pt3 1973 p. 49-55.
The Wakelys of Navan And Ballyburly, a discussion of a 16th-century family, Ríocht na Midhe vol 5 pt4 1974 p. 3-19.
A medieval stone at Saint John's Cemetery, Kells, same vol as above p. 3-19.
The Bishop and the stone, Ríocht na Midhe vol 6 pt1 1975 p. 59-64.
Some Notes on Kilbixy, Tristernagh and Templecross, and the family of Piers who lived in the Abbey of Tristernagh in Westmeath, Ríocht na Midhe vol 7 pt1 1980-81 p. 52-75.
Epitaph on Edmund Malone in the Malone Mausoleum at Kilbixy church, Westmeath, Ríocht na Midhe vol 7 pt2 1982-83 p. 119-121.
Three stone heads from Macetown, Ríocht na Midhe vol 7 pt3 1984 p. 112-113.
Royal heraldry and some Irish arms at Trim, County Meath, Ríocht na Midhe vol 8 pt2 1988-89 p. 129-140.
The monastery of eremite friars of Saint Augustine at Skryne, Co. Meath, Ríocht na Midhe vol 8 pt3 1990-91 p. 145-150.
Sources
- Irish Times 13 January 1999
- Irish Times 17 Feb 2001
- Irish Times 15 Jan 1955
- http://www.pgil-eirdata.org/html/pgil_datasets/authors/h/Hickey,E/life.htm
- http://www.xs4all.nl/~tbreen/Journals/Meath.html