Thomas A. Hickey: The ‘Uncrowned King’ and Irish Masculinity on Two Continents

Abstract

This chapter explores the diasporic dimensions of Irish masculinities through the case study of Thomas A. Hickey, an Irish immigrant to the United States who became a leading figure of left-wing politics in twentieth century Texas. Hickey’s life story demonstrates the complex and often contradictory representations of masculinity, as Hickey often found himself caught between idealised representations of the self and the more realistic lived experiences of an Irish male migrant. Using Hickey’s biography as a microcosm for Irishmen in America, Peter Buckingham demonstrates that the dominant vision of Texas cowboys is only one aspect of Texan masculinities.