06/06/2026
“I was fortunate to grow up on ‘The Hill’. The Hill is where my mom grew up, and where seven or more generations of our family have lived before us. It is such a central concept to our family life, that it does not need a more detailed geographic name. The Hill deserves its definitive title.
Despite being around three miles from Tralee town, The Hill is firmly rooted in the countryside. It is full of countryside life; the rabbits, the foxes, the cows, the dogs, the cats and the neighbours who have an eternal bond forged through generations of living together.
The Hill is where I and my six siblings grew up, next door to our grandparents, aunt, uncle and cousins. It is where I, my siblings and cousins played endless games of Gaelic Football, Soccer and ‘Tip The Can’. It’s where we went for walks ‘back the bohereen’, on summer nights that never seemed to end.
The Hill played its part in shaping us as its residents. My deep environmentalism was forged on walks up The Hill, from where you can see Tralee Bay and as far as Ballyheigue. It showed me the beauty of nature, and the vital importance of preservation. For every ditch alive with Wildthorn blossom and wildlife buzz that I associate with those endless Summer nights, I feel an urge to make sure the next seven generations of my family similarly benefit from that same wilder bond.
As I have grown up, and live in London now, I still crave that feeling of a 10pm walk back the road where you hear birds singing, see bats flying, and where you contemplate life and how best to spend your Summer days.”
Danny Sheehy man in continues his long support (since schooldays, a voice for the environment as a member of the Child/Youth Voice Team) of the with his story for supported by
Read Danny’s:
🌱https://museumofchildhood.ie/that-wilder-bond-danny-sheehy/
And all stories in the series here:
🌳https://museumofchildhood.ie/that-wilder-bond/
An Taisce The National Trust for Ireland Love Tralee Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment Department of Children, Disability and Equality Department of Culture, Communications and Sport Radio Kerry Irish Environmental Network