Legendary Kildare actor Tom Hickey still performing one man shows during Parkinson's disease battle

Tom Hickey has long been a hugely recognisable face for many Kildare people. His role as Benjy in the RTÉ series The Riordans will always ensure that he holds a special place in the heart of many around the country, while many will remember him for his skill on the football field as an intercounty footballer for Kildare and a devout Naas clubman. Hickey is now in the midst of a battle with Parkinson's disease however, but having been diagnosed with the chronic condition two years ago, the actor has not let it slow him down. Despite being 71, Hickey is still on tour performing a one-man play called The Gallant John Joe. "For anyone out there suffering from Parkinson's disease, or who has a loved-one suffering from it, tell them there's a man in his seventies here having a right go at beating it," he is quoted as saying in the Mail on Sunday. The renowned actor was once a very talented footballer, playing for Kildare during the 1960's, and he looks back on his intercounty debut against Kerry as a source of inspiration in his battle against Parkinson's. "I am probably a battler by nature, I played gaelic football in my youth and made my inter-county debut for Kildare in Tralee against a Kerry side that had players like Mick O'Connell, Johnny Culloty and Mick O'Dwyer on it, and who had just won the All-Ireland," he said. "Jerome O'Shea was my direct opponent and that didn't phase me, thank God. I ended up scoring 1-1 even though we lost, I have always tried to stand my ground in a battle and this current situation is no different." "I am vulnerable though, with all the frailties of the mind and spirit that entails, and yes of course I have had the odd inclination of my own mortality, but never once have I questioned the man above as to why he picked me." "Honestly, the way I see it is I could be a lot worse off, there are far worse things happen people, none of us is immune, we are all prey to it, especially as we get older." Hickey will be performing his show The Gallant John Joe in the Riverbank Arts Centre in Newbridge on Friday July 19 and Saturday July 20.