Tomás Ó hÍcí facts for kids

Tomás Ó hÍcí, also known as Tomás Ó Iceadha and Thomas Hickey (born 1775, died 1856), was an important Irish scribe. A scribe is someone who copies documents, especially books, by hand. Tomás Ó hÍcí spent his life dedicated to the Irish language, writing and teaching it to many people.

Early Life and Love for Irish

Tomás Ó hÍcí was born in 1775 in a place called Baile an Ghraeigh, which is in Killenaule (Cill Náile), County Tipperary. He was the oldest child of Seán Ó hIcí and Máire Ní Bhraonáin.

For the first 42 years of his life, Tomás worked as a farmer. During this time, he also worked hard to learn how to read and write in the Irish language. He loved the language so much that he decided to only read in Irish, even during church services. He felt he could pray better and more deeply in Irish than in English. This shows how much he cared about his native language.

Life in Waterford

Later in his life, Tomás Ó hÍcí moved to Waterford. Here, he became very busy teaching the Irish language and continuing his work as a scribe. He lived in Waterford until he passed away in 1856. Some of the important handwritten books he created are now kept safe at Mount Melleray.

A Talented Irish Scholar

Many people recognized Tomás Ó hÍcí's great skill and knowledge of the Irish language. In 1821, a priest named Father Síomón Breathnach wrote a letter to James Hardiman, who was collecting Irish songs and stories. Father Breathnach said that Tomás Hickey was one of the best Irish scholars he had ever met. He mentioned that Tomás had read and written more in Irish than almost anyone else. Tomás was also known for collecting and writing a special book called the Leabhar Dubh, which means 'Black Book'.

Teaching at St. John's College

Tomás Ó hÍcí was a professor of Irish at St John’s College, Waterford for over twenty years. During his time there, he was highly respected by both the teachers and the students. Many priests who studied in the diocese of Waterford and Lismore learned the Irish language directly from him.

Tomás also translated many important books into Irish. These included parts of the Roman Missal (a book used in Catholic church services), a book called The Glories of Mary, and a large part of the Bible. This work helped make these important texts available to more people who spoke Irish.

Dedication to His Work

Tomás Ó hÍcí was very dedicated to his work and his chosen way of life. He once said that his living situation was his own choice. He even said he would not change his condition for a job at the best university in England or anywhere else, as long as his mentor, Dr. O’Brien, was happy to keep him. This shows his deep commitment to his studies and his work with the Irish language.