The year 2008 was one which concentrated our minds. Our twin brothers had both died quite suddenly leaving, out of a family of five siblings – Caroline, the youngest and the present writers Eoin and Netta. Robin and Peter the eldest, were twins and always very close to each other. They slept together as youngsters, stayed together through early school, boarding school, hostel life and apartment living as young men. They spent all their adult lives in close proximity in or around Dublin and were probably in touch on most days. It was devastating that they both should die within three months of each other, Robin in August and Peter in November, aged sixty four.

Thoughts of our own mortality prompted us to delve in again to the archive of family material in our possession. Material such as letters, pedigrees and photographs mostly passed on to us from our parents and in turn from their parents and grandparents before. In doing this work we are writing specifically to you, the grandchildren of us five siblings.

Elizabeth Hickey - The Early Years

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