Sadly, today May 2nd 2021, the death has been announced of Actor Mr Tom (Thomas) Hickey, South Circular Road, Dublin and late of Co. Kildare.
Mr Hickey appeared on stage and screen in a career that began in the early 1960s. Alas, in more recent years he had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.
Mr Hickey was one of the founding members of Dublin’s Focus Theatre and went on to work with many of Ireland’s leading playwrights and directors. However, he will possibly be best remembered for his television role as ‘Benjy Riordan’ in the rural Ireland Telefís Éireann series, ‘The Riordans’.
In the early to mid 1970s, I had the great honour of working with Mr Hickey on several occasions, as a member of Irish Actors Equity, and while working as a ‘film extra’ during the making of several outside broadcast episodes of the same Irish television drama, while on location in Dunboyne, Co. Meath.
Mr Hickey, passed away peacefully while in the care of staff at Orwell Private Nursing Home, Rathgar, Co. Dublin, surrounded by his loving family.
His passing is most deeply regretted by his son Lee, brothers Kieran, Tim and John B, sisters Philomena and Annemarie, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, extended relatives, former colleagues in the theatre community and a wide circle of friends.
Funeral arrangements will be announced later.
In ár gcroíthe go deo.
Oh my gosh, so sorry to hear of the passing of Benjy. As a young person in the 1960s I ‘grew up’ with The Riordans (the best soap ever!).
I will include Tom in my prayers tonight. I am sorry to respond so late, but I only read of his passing in May of this year this evening.
May the Lord have mercy on his soul. R.I.P.
Rainer John Moriarty