THE HICKEYS OF LOUGH GUR

Sunset at Lough Gur

Thomas and Ellen Hickey and their family lived in a small stone house with a thatched roof by Lough Gur, the Enchanted Lake, in County Limerick. The house had 2-4 rooms with two windows in the front. They also had a stable. The family leased Lot 11a, which was about 6 acres from the Count de Salis. Thomas was a small farmer with this quantity of land.

  

 

Knockainy was a large parish. The following Hickey families were found in Knockainy parish during the early 1800s: 

Ballinvrana: This Hickeys in Ballinvrana were associated with the Carroll family, who were often witnesses or sponsors. 

Patrick Hickey, farmer of Ballinvrana married Sally Carroll 1 February 1815 in Knockainy, and had these children, all baptised in Knockainy parish:
Margaret, christened 29 June 1816
Mary, christened 26 August 1818
Catherine, christened 29 March 1820
Bridget, christened 26 January 1822
John, christened December 1823
Michael, christened 5 March 1826
Patrick, christened 4 April 1828
Edmond, christened 24 March 1830
James, christened 4 February 1832 (possible twin)
Edmond, christened 4 February 1832 (possible twin)
Edmond, christened 24 June 1833 (sponsor: Margaret Hickey)
James, christened 7 June 1835 (sponsor: Mary Hickey)
Daniel, christened 19 February 1837
Catherine, christened 27 August 1838 (sponsor: Ellen Hickey) 

Michael Hickey was a witness at the marriages of James Kelly and Mary O'Brien in 1810, of Patrick Vaughn and Brigid Carroll of Ballinvrana in 1810, and of John Riordan of Dromin and Mary Shehan in 1811
.

Pat Hickey was a witness at the marriage of Mathew Garritt of Hospital and Mary Hickey of Kilballyowen in 1814.


John Hickey of Patrickswell and Anne Donovan had these children baptised in Knockainy parish:
Mary, christened 11 August 1821
Bridget, christened 26 November 1825

John Hickey and Mary Slattery had a child baptised in Knockainy parish:
Patrick, christened 22 February 1817
 

John Hickey and Anne McCarthy had a child baptised in Knockainy parish:
Anne, christened January 1824


Maurice Hickey married Ellen Sherwin 27 November 1823 in Dromin and Athlacca parish (a neighboring parish), and had these children baptised in Knockainy parish:
Mary, christened 6 December 1824
Thomas, christened 29 September 1827
William, christened 1 January 1830  (sponsor: Mary Hickey)

 

Matthew Hickey and Eliza Cherry had a child baptised in Knockainy parish:
Mary, christened 7 August 1830
 

Bridget Hickey of Knockroe townland married John McGrath 27 May 1816 in Knockainy. This is most certainly Thomas' sister, as she is the right age, and the McGraths are found living next to the Hickeys in the land records. The others listed above may be brothers, or even a father for Thomas.

John Hickey was mentioned in a newspaper article in the Saunder's Newsletter on February 23, 1836:“John Hickie, from Loughgur, was waylaid on Tuesday night last, and received a very severe fracture.” 

The Limerick Chronicle newspaper in 1838 mentions the Hickeys of Lough Gur:

"Limerick Chronicle 10/03/1838, report, John Hickey struck on the head with a stone by William Hawe, found guilty of manslaughter

County Crown Court – Thursday.

Mr. Sergeant Greene took his seat this morning at 9 o’clock, and was engaged until eleven fiating the presentments. The prisoners were then arraigned , for the first time since the opening of the Commission, and the Long Panel called over, from which the following Jury were sworn – Thomas Travers Adams, John Peppard, Hugh Finch, John Barry, Thomas Bennett, James Barry, Henry Bouchier, Paul Erson, James Ievers, Myles J. Mason.

William Hawe was indicted for that he, on the 16th February, in the 6th of his late Majesty, at Loughgur, did assault John Hickey, giving him a stroke of a stone on the right side of the head, of which he died.

Garrett Punch sworn – Knew John Hickey; he is dead; was returning from a funeral the day Hickey was beat; there were several returning along with him; saw a row on the road between the deceased and a party of men who were with the prisoner; saw the deceased struck, but cannot say the prisoner struck him; he was among the party that were beating the deceased.

Cross-examined – Drank no whiskey that day; did not want it; there was a race after the funeral, but did not wait to see it; there is a public-house near the place where the deceased was beat; did not see a man of the name of Connell strike deceased.

Maurice Hickey sworn – The deceased was brother to witness; knows the prisoner Hawe; saw the prisoner and a man named John Connell strike his brother; the prisoner struck him with a stone which knocked him down; the prisoner struck deceased in the head when down; Connell also struck him; his brother was brought to his sister-in-law’s by neighbours that found him on the road; he was afterwards taken to the house of Doctor Fitzgerald, who said his head was fractured, and directed that he should be taken to Hospital, which was done.

This witness’s evidence was given in Irish through the interpreter, and previous to being examined, he was asked by Mr. Freeman if he could speak English, in which language he replied “I could not”.

Dr. Twaites sworn – The deceased was admitted in the County Infirmary, on the 17th February, 1836; he had an extensive fracture on the right side, of the back of his head; the bones were broken and the brains came out; he died of the wound on the 7th March.

Owen Rourke, policeman, sworn – Is stationed in Bruff; when he received orders to arrest the prisoner, he searched for him, but to no effect.

Constable Chas. Hickson proved to having arrested the prisoner at Rahee, on the 26th last December; when conveying him to prison, he said, without being asked about anything – “If I am transported for this, I’ll have revenge for it.” The prisoner was found lying under some straw, naked.

Doctor Gerald FitzGerald sworn – The witness examined in the Irish language was for some time in his employ; often heard him speak some sentences in English.

James Raleight, John Dwyer, and Daniel Dwyer were sworn for the defence, with a view to shew that the prisoner was not present when the deceased was struck. Guilty of manslaughter. To be imprisoned six months at hard labor."

Another article discusses the trial of John Connell for killing John Hickey:

Limerick Chronicle – July 16, 1836

John Connell for the murder of John Hickey, at Loughgur, in this county.

Maurice Hickey, an Irish witness – Is brother to deceased; was standing on the road in Loughgut the day his brother was assaulted; was near his brother; one Howe first struck him with a stone and knocked him down, and on attempting to rise, the prisoner (Connell( struck him with another stone on the head; when the wound was dressed the brain, he was told, protruded through the wound; he died 21 days after in Hospital; Howe is on his keeping; his brother was not drunk.

Cross-examined – Has no call to the fighting parties of either Loughgur or Grange; when he heard people were watching his brother, he went out to his assistance; witness doesn’t know if his brother was wheeling, but wasn’t wheeling himself; on his oath neither he nor his brother wheeled; it was at the funeral his brother was; swears he knows nothing about the races, nor does he know whether it was the funeral people or those of the races who were assembled; he was stripped when going for the police after his brother was killed; cannot swear whether he had stones or not in his hands, as he didn’t know what he was doing when his brother was killed; he took off his coat when Connell’s friends wouldn’t allow him to go for the police; he was never engaged in a fight, nor in gaol, nor was information ever lodged against him.

Patrick Punch – Knows prisoner; knew John Hickey; was at the funeral; knows John Connell, who hit himself on the mouth with a stone and softened two of his teeth.

Garrett Punch – Knows prisoner; knew deceased (Hickey); was by when Howe struck him; knows no more, as he retired; saw the party after hurrooing; saw stones thrown, after Howe struck deceased; they were wheeling before deceased was struck.

Michael Hayes – Is no relation to the prisoner; recollects the affair at Loughgur. Knows prisoner and Maurice Hickey, saw Maurice Hickey after his brother was killed, and told him of it. Hickey asked witness in a frightened manner who killed him; Maurice Hickey had his coat on then; he then wheeled, and a chap, a cousin of his, told him the man who struck him is in Jack Bayly’s house.

Dr. Thwaites, examined – Was sent to Hospital with a back fracture on the back of the head, the wound was given on 16th February and he died on the 9th March.

Thomas Casey – Is not relative to the prisoner. Knows Maurice Hickey, did not see him; deceased was wheeling, and witness said he’d complain the whole of them to the Priest; he took deceased by the breast to bring him in, and deceased desired him to go about his business.

Timothy Daly – Saw deceased struck; by virtue of his oath the prisoner did not strike deceased, he was struck with two stones, was standing by looking on; does not know who struck deceased; saw prisoner then; saw the prisoner wheeling for Dooly.

Gerald Fitz-Gerald, M.D. – Is not acquainted with prisoner. Knows his family; prisoner has the character of a very orderly peaceable quiet man; if he heard of his wheeling it would not change his opinion of him, as the same may be said of every one of his class in the county.

John Carney – Saw deceased after being struck; did not see prisoner strike him, nor did he see him at all.

Daniel Dwyer – Knows prisoner; on his oath prisoner did not strike deceased; saw who struck him; it was a man passing with a rock which he had under his coat; did not know him.

Verdict – Guilt of Manslaughter.

Note: Wheeling was a ritualized form of taunting and challenge used in faction fights.  

Thomas Hickey appeared in the Tithe Applotment of 1833 in Knockrough townland. John McGrath was listed in the next lot.
 
 

Tithe Applotment, Knockrough, Knockaney parish, 1833

The occupants of Knockrough townland at that time were:

John Ahern

The Hickeys were listed in the Famine Relief Papers in 1844-7 in a list of the tenants of the Loughgur Estate: "These records consist of letters and other documents received by the Commission primary between November 1845 and May 1847. These came from members of local relief committees, lieutenants of counties, clergy, and other citizens, and touch on a broad spectrum of issues."  The document is titled Continuation of Loughgur Estate. The Hickeys listed in the same townland are most likely Thomas Hickey, his sons Patrick and Thomas, and his brother Maurice. Thomas and Maurice would be in their forties. Patrick and Thomas would be in their late teens.



The Hickeys of Lough Gur were mentioned in a newspaper article in the Limerick Leader on 7 March 1845, when Maurice was a witness at a murder trial:




"Maurice Hickey sworn and examined by Mr. Plunkett - Lives near the Gorey's; knew the deceased, with whom he walked towards the cross in company with his mother; on getting to the cross he saw a number of people there doing nothing; saw Punch, Healy, and Molony, wheeling; saw Molony strike the deceased. (Here he identified the Punche's, Molony, and Healy.)"  (Limerick Leader, 7 March 1845) Wheeling was a ritualized form of taunting and challenge used in faction fights.

The House Books created in 1848 in preparation for Griffiths Valuation show Thomas Hickey in Lough Gur, with Bridget McGrath next door.
 
 

House Book, Loughgur, Knockaney parish

Thomas Hickey had a house that was 28.4 feet long by 16 feet wide, and 6.9 feet high. The house was rated 3B-. That means it is a thatched house of stone walls with mud mortar, or mud walls of the best kind. The condition is medium - deteriorated by age, and not in perfect repair. He also had a turf house that was 17.6 feet long by 13 feet wide, and 5.6 feet high. The property included a house, outbuildings, and land.

Ordinance Survey map showing the Hickey property in Lot 11.
This map was created in preparation for Griffiths Valuation in 1851.
The detail shows the location of houses and outbuildings.

The Tenure Book created at the same time, on 16 November 1848, showed that Thomas Hickey leased the house and land from the Count de Salis. The lease was created in 1809, and was for the longer of 31 years or three lives. Since the time period of 31 years had passed in 1840, and Thomas Hickey must have been a small boy of about nine years old when the lease was created, he must have been listed as one of the lives by his father or perhaps grandfather. This type of lease had been very common in Ireland in the 1700s, but was becoming rare in the 1800s, as landlords sought short-term leases.

The other piece of property leased by a Thomas Hickey is also found in the House Books. It was a house only, with no land. The house was 23.9 feet long by 12 feet wide, and 5.6 feet high. It was rated 3C-. That means it was a thatched house of stone walls with mud mortar, or mud walls of the best kind. The condition was old and dilapidated, scarcely habitable. The house was leased from Patrick Gourey, at will. This was a lease for the house only, with no land. Patrick rented the house, offices and land from the Count de Salis.

Tenure book - Thomas Hickey rented the house at will, not on a long-term lease.

Ordinance Survey map showing the Hickey property in Lot 35b.
This map was created in preparation for Griffiths Valuation in 1851.
The detail shows the location of the house on the lot.

The fact that Thomas Hickey leased two houses in 1848 leads to the possibility that the Thomas Hickey  listed in the Tithe Applotment in 1833 was really Thomas Hickey's father, with the same name, and that Thomas Senior and Thomas Junior each occupied a house in 1848. The smaller house with no land may have been occupied by the elder Thomas Hickey, and the house and farm occupied by the younger Thomas Hickey and his family. In considering the naming patterns for the family, our Thomas' first son was Patrick, and his second son was Thomas. His first daughter was named Mary. Bridget, his sister, had a first son named Thomas and a first daughter named Mary. His possible brother, Maurice, had a first son named Thomas and a daughter named Mary. Another potential brother, John, had his first daughter named Mary. It is worth considering the possibility that our Thomas' parents may be Thomas and Mary. The three lives lease created in 1809 would provide information that may resolve the question if it can be found in estate records.

The landlord, Count de Salis has been described as a kind and lenient landlord: "The Lough Gur estate fell into the hands of the Count de Salis and he proved himself a kind and just landlord to his tenants. He was well known for his leniency to his tenants. He built many houses in his estates and the tenants afterwards became the possession of those houses when the estate was divided." (The Landlord: Count del Salis; www.duchas.ie)
 

House Book, Loughgur, Knockaney parish

In Griffiths Valuation of 1851, the Hickeys were found on two pieces of property, in lot 11a and lot 35a. In lot 11a, Thomas was renting a house, office and just over six acres of land from the Count de Salis. Bridget McGrath was show in Lot 10a. In lot 35a, Thomas was renting a small house only (worth eight shillings) with no land, from Patrick Gourey. This is the old, dilapidated property shown in the House Books.

 

Griffiths Valuation, Loughgur, Knockaney parish, 1851
Their neighbors were the Dalys, the O'Donnells, and McGraths. The Dalys and the McGraths were sponsors at the baptisms of the Hickey children. Another neighbor was Edmund English, who leased a small lot from Thomas Hickey.

 

The land valuations continued, and in 1862, Ellen Hickey was shown renting the house, offices and land. Thomas must have died between 1851 and 1862, and left Ellen as head of household. The smaller house was still shown as being rented by Thomas Hickey. This cannot be Thomas's son, Thomas, as he emigrated to America in 1857, had children in Chicago, and died in Chicago in 1865. Patrick Hickey's son, Thomas, who later inherited the farm was still too young to be the Thomas Hickey listed, as he was only about seven years old. Possibly this was Maurice's son Thomas.
 
 

Valuation List, Loughgur, Knockaney parish, 1864

Thomas and Ellen's son Maurice (age 20) and daughter Ellen (age 12) emigrated to America together in September 1857, and settled in Chicago. Their son Thomas had also emigrated to Chicago that year. Daughter Catherine was married and living in Ballybrickeen. Bridget emigrated to Chicago by 1861. Son John also emigrated to Chicago, but the date is unknown.Son Patrick was married and had four young children.

Two interesting cases were filed in Petty Court in 1858. The complainant was Ellen Hickey of Knockroe, and the defendant was Patrick Hickey of Knockroe.

Ellen was still shown on the same property in 1864, 1865, 1870 and 1873. The smaller house was still rented by Thomas Hickey. In 1870, Thomas Hickey was lined out on the valuation, and the house was shown as down.
 
 

Valuation List, Loughgur, Knockaney parish, 1865-1873

In 1889 Ellen Hickey was crossed out, and the land passed to Thomas Hickey. This Thomas (born 1855) was the oldest son of Patrick Hickey, Thomas and Ellen's oldest son. Patrick had died of bronchitis in 1867. Ellen probably died in about 1889. Her son Maurice's daughter remembered that her father returned to Ireland once. It may have been to see his mother or for her funeral.
   

Valuation List, Loughgur, Knockaney parish, about 1889

Lot 11a passed from Thomas Hickey to Ellen Hickey, his widow, to Thomas Hickey, their grandson. It then passed to Thomas' widow, Mary, and then to Michael Hickey. The land still belongs to the Hickey family. It is currently owned by Thomas Hickey, a great-great grandson of our Thomas Hickey. He and his family live in the house, which he says is about 200 years old. The walls are of thick stone, and a beam with hooks for hanging hams is high above the fireplace. On the hill near the house, under a berry bush, is the foundation of the old house, which Mr. Hickey says is probably 400 years old or more. The Hickey family is considered to be one of the oldest names in the town, and has been there as long as anyone can remember.
   

Land Valuation list of 1933-1940, showing Lot 11 passing from Thomas Hickey to Mary Hickey and then Michael Hickey

Lough Gur is a flat, silvery lake of about four miles in circumference. It has two beautiful islands. The ruins of a castle, Bourchier's Castle can be found in a farmyard next to the lake. A description of Lough Gur is given in the book "The Farm by Lough Gur" by Mary Carberry. This autobiographical book describes the life of a young girl, born in 1858, who grew up by Lough Gur. Her father was John O'Brien, a close neighbor of the Hickeys. Tom Hickey, Thomas and Ellen's son was the head man on the O'Brien's farm. She describes Lough Gur in this way: "When I think of home I see first Lough Gur, lying in summer sunshine like a bright mirror, in which are reflected blue sky, bare hills, precipitous grey rocks and green pastures dotted with cattle and sheep; then a small white house, half-hiding the farm buildings behind it. Lough Gur with its ruined castles; Knockadoon and Knockfennel with their caves ancient forts; the stone-circles, the cromlechs and gowlauns were enchanting places to play in. The green hills were covered with sheets of ragweed and willow herb, loosestrife and furze, tiny pansies in the short turf, and bog cotton. Lough Gur dominates the scene. It was to us a personality loved, but also feared. Every seven years, so it is said, Gur demands the heart of a human being. Drownings were not infrequent and, as the bodies of the drowned were sometimes not recovered, Gur was said by some to be a bottomless lough. In the lake is Knockadoon hill, joined to the land by a causeway built on the isthmus, once guarded by two fortresses where now only one, the ruined Black Castle, remains. Sometimes we children climbed by a steep and stony way to the summit of Knockadoon, where, when father was a boy, eagles made their nest and flew about the hills searching for leverets and newborn lambs to feed their young. From the top of Knockadoon we could see Garret Island, interesting for its prehistoric remains which were visited from time to time by antiquaries who gave my mother curious implements of the stone age in return for her hospitality."
 
 

Lough Gur is the site of a major archeological find. A Neolithic (about 3000 B.C.) settlement site was found in the light limestone soils around Lough Gur. In Lough Gur, farmers from Neolithic into Bronze Age times, and herdsmen, lived on the same sites in dwellings of stone and sticks. Other Lough Gur finds include Bronze Age pottery, and Irish ritual circles, and pillarstones. In Lough Gur townland is a National Monument, a wedge-shaped gallery grave, in which were buried more than twelve individuals. Mary Carberry recounts local beliefs about ancient peoples: "Lough Gur has been called the Enchanted Lake; some say that in ancient days there was a city where the lake is now, before an earthquake threw up the hills and filled the hollow with water so that the city was submerged. The hills round Gur are bare of trees, but once they were covered with forest. Great giants, who were among Ireland's first people, hunted in the woods. On Baile-na-Cailleach one of these giants lies buried in a stone coffin with a long gold sword beside him. Old people who lived on the shore believed that the giants built the stone circles which stand near the lake, for who but giants could move such great stones?"
 
 

Lough Gur townland is in the parish of Knockainy. Knockainy (or Aney) is a parish in Smallcountry Barony, in County Limerick. In 1837, Knockainy had a population of 4542 inhabitants. Knockainy takes its name from Cnoc Aine, which means the hill of Aine. In Irish mythology, Cnoc Aine is the Otherworld seat of the sun-goddess, Aine. Until 1879, men used to bring flaming cliara (bunches of hay and straw on poles) to the summit of Cnoc Aine. Then they would visit villages, fields, and herds to bring good luck. The cemetery sits atop the hill overlooking the ruined castle of the Ormonds.
 
 

Lough Gur had its own legend. Gerald the Rhymer, Earl of Desmond, who disappeared in 1398, is said to sleep beneath its waters. Every seventh year he emerges to ride the moonlit ripples of the lake, on a horse with silver shoes.
 
 

There were also many local beliefs and superstitions associated with holidays. May-Eve was supposedly a night when evil powers were most powerful. Mary Carberry recounts the stories she heard on a May-Eve from Tom Hickey (Thomas and Ellen's grandson):
 
"Tis not the Good People I'd be in dread of in the dark of night," Tom told them, "but to hear the cry of the Ould Kings. There's them that thinks they'll be on the move once more. The last time was in '48. My father was on the top of Knockfennel, tending the Bel-fire with a score of the neighbors when the cry of the Ould Kings struck upon them. It came rolling like thunder over the mountains from south to north, from east to west it rolled, from sea to sea! And the ground heaved and broke, and rising from the clay came the army of the dead. Ould warriors were there with their ould war-horses; foot soldiers and trumpeteers and drummers and all, waiting for the word of command! Up the Shannon it came, along the rally and over Lough Gur, loud as judgement-day, so everyone, living and dead, must hear the cry of the Ould Kings. Then the army gave an answering shout, clashing their shields and rattling their swords, and letting out the ould war-cries of the people." "Whatever for?", asked Bridgie, who was rather matter-of-fact. "There's but the one thing," Tom answered, "and that's Ireland! 'Twas to encourage the living to fight for her like them ould warriors fought."
 
 

On Halloween night chairs were set out for deceased family members to return to their old homes in comfort. Mary Carberry remembers, "Father read the litany for the Dead. We made the responses in hushed voices as if we were listening for the rustling of home-faring souls. Father prayed for his own dead and for mother's by name. He prayed for Tom Hickey's father:
 
 

Eternal rest grant to them, O Lord
And may perpetual light shine upon them."

The Hickey family gravestone in New Church, Lough Gur
The first person on the stone is Thomas Hickey, born about 1853, died 1931.
This is most likely where the other Hickey family members are buried.
(http://historicgraves.com/new-church-lough-gur/li-lgtn-0035/grave) 

The O'Hickeys were formerly Chiefs of a district in the vicinity of Killaloe, County Clare, also a cantred in the barony of Upper Connello, County Limerick. They were hereditary physicians to the O'Briens, Kings of Thomond, to the MacNamaras, lords of Hy-Caisin, and to the O'Kennedys of Ormond. Several of them are said to have compiled and translated valuable medical works, including a Latin Medical work, "The Rose". The O'Hickeys possessed a copy of "The Rose", a celebrated medical work compiled in 1344. The Hickeys are one of the Milesian families of Ireland, and it is said that a banshee attends the death of a member of the family.