Richard Hitchcock, a distinguished antiquarian hailing from Co Kerry, came into this world two centuries ago on the 6th of April. Sadly, his name seems to have been consigned to the annals of history, remembered by very few. Within a mere two decades post his demise, it appears he had been largely forgotten. Richard Brash, an esteemed author of the book The Ogham-Inscribed Monuments of the Gael in the British Islands, lamented this oversight in 1879. He remarked that Hitchcock’s memory had dimmed and stated that he considered it necessary to offer this concise commemoration of the lesser-known but crucial contributions made by him to Irish archaeology.
The Dictionary of Irish Biography cites Marc Caball’s documentation of Hitchcock’s life. Caball posits that the early passing of Hitchcock at merely 32 years of age, his humble beginnings in the provinces, and the absence of formal academic background might be the factors leading to the eclipsing of his academic accomplishments.
Born in the townland of Annagh, near Blennerville in Tralee, Co Kerry, Hitchcock was one among the three offspring of Rodney Hitchcock, a native of Co Cork. The Hitchcock family seemed to have once tasted affluence, but later found themselves struggling amid unclear circumstances, and subsisted on a petite farm at the foot of Sliabh Mis, providing a vista of the Tralee Bay. Richard’s knowledge primarily came from his own readings, with the exception of his formative years which were spent at an Erasmus Smith school in Blennerville.
Richard Hitchcock was an intelligent lad who received support and encouragement from Arthur Blennerhassett Rowan, a local Church of Ireland pastor who too was an antiquarian and archaeologist. Rowan gave Richard access to his library where he eagerly devoured books on Irish history and archaeology. Hitchcock also received lessons in drawing from an engineer who was part of the construction crew for the Tralee Ship Canal. This sparked in him the ability to create precise architectural sketches.
In his early twenties, his temporary clerkship in famine-relief efforts brought him to Dingle from 1846-48, an important step in his development as an antiquary, as Marc Caball noted. Hitchcock later recounted his experiences in distant Corca Dhuibhne, particularly his fascination with the well-preserved Ogham inscriptions found in the Corkaguiny barony there.
Edward Clibborn, assistant librarian at the Royal Irish Academy (RIA), began communicating with Hitchcock regarding the interpretation of Ogham figures. This presented Hitchcock with the opportunity to meet Dr Charles Graves, a top-ranking antiquary and Ogham researcher at the time. Graves assigned Hitchcock with the task of collecting Ogham engravings from the Dingle peninsula and nearby areas; as Marc Caball recognised, Hitchcock soon established his authority on west Kerry’s abundant archaeological heritage.
Hitchcock garnered a role as a library clerk in Dublin’s Trinity College library thanks to Graves’s connection to the head librarian there. Hitchcock moved to Dublin in 1848, where he had access to library resources and scholarly advice unavailable in Kerry. Besides this, he also secured a role as an assistant at the Geological Society of Ireland. Through his active involvement in the burgeoning Kilkenny Archaeological Society, led by Rev James Graves, Hitchcock provided invaluable contributions towards the origination of its Transactions, and corresponded routinely with antiquaries across the UK.
Hitchcock was later assigned by Charles Graves to compile an exhaustive directory of the Ogham engravings found in southern Ireland. This major undertaking was hailed by Marc Caball as his “most significant accomplishment”. Alas, despite presenting the record for publication in 1850, it never made it to book format (the manuscript is in the RIA library). Unfortunately, as Caball pointed out, Hitchcock recognised that his lack of knowledge in Irish considerably limited his capacity as an Ogham expert.
In an 1856 issue of Kerry Magazine, a clandestine homage was paid to him, presumably penned by Blennerhassett Rowan. It painted a portrait of a man who, albeit quirky, personified natural decency and had a significant sense of the worth inherent in self-education. Richard Hitchcock was recognised for his lofty morals, unselfish sentiments, and fervent joy in assisting those who had shown him kindness. Marc Caball characterised him and highlighted his self-assured beliefs, including his steadfast commitment to vegetarianism. Above all, he was a zealous admirer of archaeology, with an emphasis on the history of his homeland, Kerry.
Richard Hitchcock chose Mary Fuller from Ventry, Co Kerry, as his life partner. The couple did not parent any offspring and Mary outlived him by four decades. Hitchcock’s life was tragically cut short at 32 due to tuberculosis at his residence in Roundtown (present-day Terenure), Dublin on 3rd December 1856. His kin in Kerry, a brother and sister, had succumbed to the same illness earlier that year.
Following his demise, Hitchcock was interred in Mount Jerome Cemetery. A memorial was erected in his honour by the crew at Trinity College Dublin.