Elizabeth Hickey facts for kids

Elizabeth Hickey (1917–1999) was an important historian and writer from Meath, Ireland. She lived in a place called Skryne Castle, which was close to the famous Tara. Many people thought she was one of the most important and well-known historians from Meath. The Irish Times newspaper said she showed how much local historians help us understand Irish history. She had a long and deep love for the rich history of County Meath, and she wrote many valuable books and articles.

Life

Elizabeth was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, in 1917. Her full name was Elizabeth Agnes Malet-Warden. Her mother's father was a civil servant in Ceylon. Her own father was an engineer in the Royal Navy and loved naval history. Her brother, John Hamish, sadly died in 1941 while flying for the RAF.

Elizabeth went to school at Nairn Academy in Scotland. Later, she studied at Trinity College, Dublin, where she earned a degree in English and History. After that, she learned about dress design and worked for a year at the Gate Theatre in Dublin.

In 1941, she married Noel Sydney Falkiner Hickey. They had five children: Robin, Peter, Eoin, Netta, and Caroline. Later, Elizabeth and Noel lived separately. Elizabeth stayed at the old Skryne Castle in County Meath. This castle overlooked the Hill of Tara. Living there made her very interested in old buildings and local history. She even studied archaeology for two years at University College Dublin.

At first, Elizabeth wrote for The Irish Times newspaper and a history journal. But when the Meath Historical and Archaeological Society started in the late 1950s, she had a great way to share her research. She also loved literature and wrote a novel called I send my love along the Boyne in 1966.

In her later years, Elizabeth, like many other historians in Meath, worked hard to protect the history and old places of Co Meath. She successfully helped save the old stone bridge at Kilcarn, which crosses the Boyne River. However, she later felt a bit sad because not many people seemed interested in history, and it was hard to publish books about Irish history.

One of her most famous books was The Green Cockatrice. She first published it using the pen name "Basil Iske." In this book, she wrote about William Nugent, a Baron from Skryne. Elizabeth believed that William Nugent might have written Shakespeare's plays. She never changed her mind about this idea. She even wrote letters to Enoch Powell, who also doubted the usual story about Shakespeare.

Her book Skryne and the Early Normans also shows how much she loved the area. She did a lot of research on the monument to Sir Thomas Cusack.

Elizabeth Hickey passed away on January 12, 1999, at the age of 81. Her funeral was in Navan, and she was cremated.

Works

Books

• Guide Book to Tara (1954)
• I send my love along the Boyne (Dublin, 1966), with pictures by Nano Reid.
• 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.

See also

• Ó hÍceadha

Sources

• Irish Times 13 January 1999
• Irish Times 17 Feb 2001
• Irish Times 15 Jan 1955
• Meath Journals