Author’s new trilogy of books

Strong Tipp links and themes

Author Edward Forde Hickey might have spent the majority of his life amid the frenzied streets and concrete edifices of inner-city London, where he worked for almost 40 years as a head teacher, but his connection to rural Co Tipperary has never waned, not even for a second. World War II was just beginning to unfold when a young Edward was uprooted from his London home and sent to live with his grandmother in Dolla, Silvermines. The experience was formative, shaping and indeed inspiring much of the writing he does today.

His latest work, ‘Images in Green’, consists of an eclectic short story collection which details the lives and escapades of a variety of people living in rural Tipperary, and is described by Edward as “a historical, cultural and social reflection of rural Irish life”. The book is the first part of a trilogy of publications released this summer, which also includes ‘Cameos in Green’ and ‘Shadows in Green’. Each publication explores various facets of country life and contains a multitude of “rustic tales that offer a memorable tapestry of colourful characters, all part of Ireland’s rich cultural heritage”. There is a beautiful note of nostalgia to Edward’s writing. The stories he tells are conveyed so vividly and emotively that his words paint a precise picture of an Ireland that, in certain respects, no longer exists, although fragments remain. As well as being a social commentary, the books provide an indispensable historical record and contain a dash of humour and creativity. Having attained a degree in the Classics from London University, you will not be surprised to hear that Edward is a brilliantly colourful and evocative writer, surely a rival to Homer and Plato and Herodotus.

He is also a prolific writer, having published reams of books down the years, many of which revolve around rural Tipperary and Dolla in particular. Written during Covid, ‘Tales from Tipperary’ recounts elements of the social history of the Silvermines area from the post-famine period to the 1930s, while ‘A New Day Dawning’ portrays a rural hillside community in Tipperary in the late 1940s.

Post-war London

However, Edward has also delved into his personal experience of post-war London. His ‘Gaslight Days’ series offers an extraordinary insight into what was then a broken, exhausted city, ravaged by years of war and hardship. And yet, as Edward remarks in his introduction, “life was never dull”. Activity was constant and the city was moving forward, irrepressibly. There is a natural juxtaposition between a city like London and a rural location such as Dolla, and the fact that Edward has been able to bring both to life through his writing is a testament to his skill as a storyteller.

In terms of style, editors have lauded the London-born author for his “wonderfully personable narration” and “endlessly charming characterisation” and have described his stories as “intriguing, endearing and evocative”. Journalist and author Noel Dundon identified Edward as “a prolific writer who has endeavoured to fill a void in what has become a real niche in the literary world”. It seems that Edward has very much filled that void, fusing memory with history and expressing it in the form of story.

Book details

All three books in Edward’s most recent trilogy, and indeed all of his past publications, are available on Amazon.