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THE REVD. MICHAEL P. O'HICKEY, D.D.
Born at Barrickbeg, Barrick on 8 March 1861. Died at Portlaw Co Waterford 19th November 1916. ordained priest in Waterford 1884 appointed Professor of Irish Maynooth
A GREAT GAELIC SCHOLAR
Clonmill Nationalist November 1916
DEATH OF THE VERY REV. DR.
Born 12th March 1861
Died 19th November 1916
Within the present year death has removed from us two very notable and distinguished Co. Waterford priests—two men who were towers of strength to the Irish language movement, and amongst the foremost Irish scholars and men of culture of their day. Last March Ireland mourned the untimely death of the Rev. Dr. Henebry—to-day she uas to mourn the death of his life-long friend and fellow worker in a great cause, the Very Rev. Michael P. O'Hickey, D.D., who died on Sunday evening at Portlaw, Co. Waterford, after a few days' illness. It is a singular coincidence that Dr. Henebry and Dr. O'Hickey should both have died at Portlaw and at about the same age. The late Rev. Dr. O'Hickey was born 55 years ago at Carrickbeg. He came of a stock in which sterling Irish patriotism had stood many a test in days gone by. In his early years he became a devoted and enthusiastic student of the Irish language, and at the time of his ordination to the priesthood in Waterford, thirty-two years ago, he was an accomplishe Irish scholar. He had as one of his early instructors in the Irish language the great John Fleming, of Rathgormack. After his ordination Dr. O'Hickey served for some years on the Mission in Scotland, and in 1894 he was recalled to his native diocese. After a short time as C.C. of Kill Parish he was appointed by the late Most Rev. Dr. Sheehan Diocesan Examiner of Christian Doctrine in the schools, his being the first appointment to that office. In recognition of his great worth as a priest and a scholar, the late Dr. Sheehan, about the same time, had conferred upon Dr. O'Hickey, through Rome, the degree of D.D. When the late Father O'Growney resigned the Chair of Irish at Maynooth College through ill-health, about twenty years ago, Dr. O'Hickey was appointed in his place. His fourteen years in the Irish chair at Maynooth were years of strenuous toil for Ireland's language, and untiring efforts to instil into the students who came under him a high ideal of Irish patriotism, and a thorough appreciation of the National value
Ireland he gave his services and ... is purse to the language cause. His stirring lectures and pamphlets won thousands of adherents to the movement, and many a Gaelic Leaguer can trace his first enthusiasm for the study of the Irish language to the reading of Dr. O'Hickey's historic address, "The True National Ideal," which was published in pamphlet form about sixteen years ago by ... Gaelic League. His writings on the need for the nationalisation of Irish education and the saving of Irish in the Irish-speaking districts attracted great attention and accomplished much good. He was appointed Vice-President of the Gaelic League, which owed its wonderful success in those early years of its existence mainly to his great power as a writer and lecturer and his forceful and earnest character.
The fight for compulsory Irish in the National University in 1907-8 again brought him into the arena of the Irish Language Movement. It is now admitted on all hands that his writings during those two years on the question of Irish in the University did more than any other agency to win the fight. What he suffered for his unfinching fearlessness in that fight is well known.
In private life he was the kindest, gentlest, and most humble of men, and a most devoted friend. He ... been visiting with his brother at Portlaw since his return from Rome a few months ago, and was soon to have taken up parochial work in the diocese. All who met him since his return from Rome were delighted to see how well he looked. His illness, which lasted only six days, took a serious turn on Saturday night, and in spite of all that medical skill could do he passed away on Sunday evening to take his place among the long line of martyrs who have worked for the imperishable cause of Irish nationhood, and whose chief reward has been the reverence and gratitude of ... of their fellow-countrymen who can appreciate their patriotism and their self sacrifice.
The remains were conveyed on Monday Church at Carrickbeg, where Office and High Mass took place on Tuesday in presence of a very large congregation. The attendance of priests was extremely large, and included many of Dr. O'Hickey's former students at Maynooth and a large number of Professors of the College.
Born at Carrickbeg Parish on Sunday 12th March 1861
Died at Portlaw 19th November 1916