Tony lived life to the full and was loved by many
IT is not every day that you meet someone unusual or special, we sometimes read about these people or hear about them on the telly. We are told about how unique that character was.
Tony Hickey was one of those unusual special people.
At the tender age of 14, Tony went on his summer holidays to Arklow to his Aunt Sadie’s, Aunt Sadie got Tony a job in Condron’s Pub.
Tony’s first job involved filling bottles of stout. It was the 1960s and in those days every pub bottled their own stout. Tony missed his family but there wasn’t much transport between Arklow and Tinahely so he could only visit home every two or three months. After a year or so, he saved up enough money and bought a bicycle, now he could come home once a fortnight or sometimes once a week to visit. You see Tony had left his family in Tinahely, his grandfather, his mother and his brothers Joe (eight) Kevin (six) and sister Eilish (five). Tony made sure that Santy delivered presents every Christmas.
Tony had a keen interest in fitness and joined St Benedict’s running club in Arklow. In 1980, Dublin City hosted its first marathon and Tony completed that marathon. It proved to be a very important decision as he met his good friend Bob, who has kept him in a constant supply of Opel Astras ever since. He went on to complete every Dublin City marathon every year since, raising thousands for charities. He wore the same shirt and shorts in every marathon.
After his diagnosis, it looked like Tony would not run again but he completed his last marathon in a wheelchair, helped by the members of St Benedict’s club.
Mary Nolan Hickey with the help of Tony’s partner Jill secured a running wheelchair which meant that Tony could be pushed around the course to complete his final marathon. He confided in me afterwards that he would not do another marathon as he said ‘it doesn’t look like I am going to win it now’.
He had a keen interest in photography and collected old cameras, he has a huge collection of cameras and photographs in his home in Arklow. He was a very accomplished photographer and was honoured a few years ago when he was invited to be a judge for the photographic competition for the annual county show in Tinahely. I was working in the show in the car park, as I do every year, when next thing I see Hickey. Jill was driving him, of course, and he dressed like Senator David Norris and wearing a big rosette with the word ‘Judge’ written on it. Jill lets down the window and he shouts ‘excuse me, where’s my car parking space please? I’m a judge you know’.
When asked to sing, Tony would say ‘I’m no singer’. He joined the Arklow Revival Gospel Choir and was a very respected member of the group. The choir performed in St Kevin’s Church, Tinahely, as part of the restoration fund and people that heard Tony’s solo piece described it as simply spine tingling .
A very big part of Tony’s life was his love of drama and he loved being on stage.
He made his first appearance on stage with Masquerade in Arklow and he joined Tinahely Variety Group in 2007 for their festival play ‘The Chastitute’. Since then, he performed with Agusanocht Theatre Productions, Kilrush Drama Group and Craanford Drama Group. He won numerous acting awards, competed in one-act All-Ireland finals and in fact he was in the cast of the Kilrush Drama Group when they won the full length confined All-Ireland final.
He told me afterwards that Mick Byrne had been trying to win that All-Ireland for over 50 years and it was when he joined they won. Did I mention that he was modest?
He worked in many of the pubs in Arklow; he worked in Quality Ceramics, Artimage Shanks, Byrne’s Sawmills, Nypro in Bray and, in recent years, he worked in The Ashdown Park and The Amber Springs Hotel Group in Gorey as a groundsman and general maintenance, also looking after their impressive pet farm.
He was always happiest working with his hands.
How do you say a few words about Tony Hickey? I sat down with a pen and paper and this is what I wrote: bartender, gardener, labourer, painter, handyman, craftsman, photographer, runner, comedian, entertainer, singer, actor, balladeer, storyteller, poet, passionate, compassionate, generous, charitable, kind, considerate, husband, lover, brother, uncle, father, son, friend.
Tony Hickey was born on April 27, 1951, in Rathdrum Hospital and he died on June 18, 2018, in Rathdrum Hospital, aged 67.
Tony loved all of his family unconditionally and spoke about them all with such pride. He was very proud of where he came from.
I can just hear Tony speaking to St Peter now. St Peter says: ‘Come in Tony, you are very welcome’, and there is this most beautiful singing all around, ‘Listen to the choir of Angels’. And Hickey says ‘ah yeah, they’re good alright but did you ever hear the Arklow Revival Gospel choir, oh and did I tell you that I sing with them?’
Tony, I am blessed to have known you. It is an honour to be your friend and always a privilege to be in your company.
Tony is missed by all who knew him, especially his son Tony. Thanks have been extended to all the friends and neighbours who sympathised with Tony’s family on his death. May he rest in peace.
KIERAN TYRRELL