Michael O'Hickey was born in Carrickbeg, County Waterford, Ireland.

[1] He was an active member and vice president of the Gaelic League and studied under the noted Irish scholar Sean Plemion.

[2] He received support from many Irish Nationalists (including Patrick Pearse whom he earlier had disagreements with), Irish language activists, and some of his colleagues including Maynooth's Theology Professor, Walter McDonald.

Sometimes his name appears as Michael Hickey rather than Micheal O'Hickey, or even in Irish as An tAthair Micheál Ó hIcí.

He died in Portlaw in 1916 and is buried in the Hickey family plot in the Friary Cemetery in Carrick Beg, County Waterford.