The Farrelly Files #5: Ain’t No Hill High Enough

Emma Hill. Or thereabouts.

e’ve searched and searched, but we just can’t find a pic of this week’s subject at the centre of The Farrelly Files.

The bould Alec Hill

Ms Emma Hill lived high up on Blackberry Lane, one of the few residents on this old hillbilly hideaway back in the 1970s, long before it became the new Dalkey.

As luck would have it, GG grew up in the old cottage opposite the Hills’ equally elderly cottage (mud-built, over 300 years ago), and was therefore able to call upon old ma Byrne to supply me with the artist’s impression of Ms Hill. From memory.

Pretty impressive, considering ma only had three crayons. And two of those were the same blue.

By the time GG hit those terrifying teens, there was just Emma’s brother, Alec, left living in that old cottage, and there was many a time he’d insist on giving us a lift home on his donkey and trap. Thus turning a 10-minute walk into a three-hour Lord Of The Rings trek. That ass was always getting flats.

The Hill’s cottage is long gone, and so is the mighty Alec, but the family name lives on, with one – or is it two? – of Alec’s nephews currently running the garage on Hillside Road. 

You can explore more Farrelly Files here.