What are Michael Healy-Rae's chances?

St._Andalou

Are there any views on what Michael Healy-Rae's chances are? I'm not from Kerry South, but I'm curious for two reasons: (a) I detest the Healy-Rae "dynasty" and (b) I think this election is our best opportunity to move beyond parochial politics, as displayed herein, and for me the Healy-Raes are symbolic of that:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6kpk3S0vUlY

This article claims he has a good chance, in spite of some controversial expense claims.

I can't resist posting this video, but the thread isn't just an excuse for some Healy-Rae bashing, which is way too easy anyway. I'm genuinely curious.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iVRYzqvRtww

michael999999

fcuk em,he should be no where near the dail.

Problem is there are some pretty thick people out there that will keep voting for them, no matter what!

St._Andalou

There's a "Healy-Rae Organization" with 280 members and two of Jackie's sons -- Michael and Danny -- are councillors, so unfortunately they seem to have the local manpower, backing, and funds to pull it off.

Jeboa Safari

I detest him aswell, I hope he doesn't get in, but I don't think this election will be about getting over parochial politics, it will probably be more about it than ever. I can see there being a high number of independents elected, unfortunately.

Jimbo

You would hope the people of Kerry South would punish them for supporting the government. At least the power of these parish pump independents should be diminished next time round as they won't be required for a majority.

michael999999

They cant be classified as independent when they have been propping up fianna failure the last few years!

ejmaztec

Of course Prince Michael will be crowned elected. He's been in training for the job on one of the local councils, with another brother training on another local council, the latter having been bred specifically for spare-parts.

However, I don't think that the family businesses (politics to name but one) will do anywhere near as well as they did during the FF wonder years.

lugha

They won't have anything like the same influence. It doesn't look like independents will play a part, unless FG get perhaps 75-80 seats and can dispense with Labour.
Even then, I expect they would be loath to deal with these boys.

Biggins

I hope to heavens that clod capped country bumpkin doesn't get elected.
His father was/is an embarrassment to our hopes and prospects towards modern politics.
The sons are just a chip off the old block and equally embarrassing.

Min

It is upto the people of South Kerry to decide who they want, there are people on the left who I wouldn't like to see elected but it is upto the people to decide who they want.

ejmaztec

Min wrote: »

It is upto the people of South Kerry to decide who they want, there are people on the left who I wouldn't like to see elected but it is upto the people to decide who they want.

We all know that it's up to the people of South Kerry, and I for one wish they would see reason. Ireland needs quality TDs of all political persuasions to get this country out of the mess, and not someone who thinks his constituency is the centre of the universe.

St._Andalou

Min wrote: »

It is upto the people of South Kerry to decide who they want, there are people on the left who I wouldn't like to see elected but it is upto the people to decide who they want.

Yes but if an independent holds the ruling party to ransom with ridiculous demands like Healy-Rae has done on many occasions (example: when the country was in meltdown, one of his demands was no increase in the price of alcohol because he's a publican) then it becomes an issue for the entire country, which is why I've singled him out.

johnmcdnl

michael999999 wrote: »

fcuk em,he should be no where near the dail.

Problem is there are some pretty thick people out there that will keep voting for them, no matter what!

once again it comes down to - he'll do a good job for the people of his constituency - he mightn't be great for the rest of the country but he'll help the people that vote for him if he gets his seat - the system works like this and until there's a major overhaul in the entire system it's going to continue to work like this

the people aren't think that vote for him - he's doing good work for them so why wouldn't they vote for him???

r3nu4l

johnmcdnl wrote: »

the people aren't think that vote for him - he's doing good work for them so why wouldn't they vote for him???

This comes down to the selfishness of the few. These are probably the very same people who would give out about bankers keeping everything for themselves yet can't make the connection that by voting in another Healy-Rae they themselves are doing a very similar thing, i.e. looking after their own interests rather than that of the country as a whole.

It's the 'Dublin gets everything' persecution mentality that makes these people vote for the likes of Healy-Rae.

4gun

why does Healey-Rae consistatly get re elected... Is it because the people of South Kerry are mindlless idiots who do what they are told... Or is it because he fullfills his election promises to his electorate..Just because he does not fit into the Yaw Yaw image for an Modern Irish politician, he is an embarassment ? :rolleyes:
brian cowen isn't ":rolleyes:
our greens aren't :rolleyes: (Talk about fiddling while Rome burns)
bertie who despite warnings allowed the economy to overheat
no wonder our country is screwed ..when so many fail to seee what is beneath the gloss and vote for an image

johnmcdnl

r3nu4l wrote: »

This comes down to the selfishness of the few. These are probably the very same people who would give out about bankers keeping everything for themselves yet can't make the connection that by voting in another Healy-Rae they themselves are doing a very similar thing, i.e. looking after their own interests rather than that of the country as a whole.

It's the 'Dublin gets everything' persecution mentality that makes these people vote for the likes of Healy-Rae.

are you implying that the politicians elected in dublin or basically anywhere outside south kerry are going to help the people of south kerry anywhere as much as healy-rae will...

the Dublin gets everything mentality is there for a reason - metro north/terminal 2 etc etc - when even a fraction of the money starts to go towards south kerry without healy-rae's help then maybe they'll not get voted in anymore...

put yourself in the shoes of a typical person from south kerry - you can vote for healy rae who'll help your area as much as he can
or you can vote for that other lad who's in the "national" politican with the country's needs in mind...

national politician isn't going to help south kerry people half as much is he when he starts talking about how metro north is going to be great for the business needs of those in dublin - that doesn't affect anyone in south kerry and probably won't ever affect anyone in south kerry...

dublin may have 25% of the population and all that so they get more money - but healy-rae is the man who's trying to get as much as possible for this area - and why should the people in south kerry put the "national problems" ahead of their own problems especially when the national problems are sorted the local issues in south kerry will be ignored because there's only a tiny number of people in south kerry proportional to the population of dublin which will once again continue to get the most of the investment...

dilallio

Paddy Power has him favourite to get in

Michael Healey-Rae (Ind) 1/7

Tom Sheahan (FG) 1/6

Marie Moloney (Lab) 1/3

John O'Donoghue (FF) 11/10

Tom Fleming (Ind) 2/1

Brendan Griffin (FG) 4/1

Michael Gleeson (SKIA) 8/1

ejmaztec

4gun wrote: »

why does Healey-Rae consistatly get re elected... Is it because the people of South Kerry are mindlless idiots who do what they are told... Or is it because he fullfills his election promises to his electorate..Just because he does not fit into the Yaw Yaw image for an Modern Irish politician, he is an embarassment ? :rolleyes:
brian cowen isn't ":rolleyes:
our greens aren't :rolleyes: (Talk about fiddling while Rome burns)
bertie who despite warnings allowed the economy to overheat
no wonder our country is screwed ..when so many fail to seee what is beneath the gloss and vote for an image

And Healy-Rae supported them, every step of the way. :rolleyes:

Bucklesman

From what I've heard from relatives in Kerry South he's in no way guaranteed a seat. No need to jump to conclusions about gombeenism.

Biggins

Bucklesman wrote: »

From what I've heard from relatives in Kerry South he's in no way guaranteed a seat. No need to jump to conclusions about gombeenism.

Well here's hoping that he voted with them every way possible - even to turn down funding for Irelands national Crumlin Childrens Hospital - a national centre/hospital for many kinds of cancer/leukaemia/scoliosis/etc ailments many young lives are stuck down by.
(After that voting - a week later he voted with Fianna Fail and the useless Greens, to give the same amount of money that was needed to keep wards open (actually one million more than what the hospital was needing!), to fund building a small INNER-Dublin cycle track for the Greens to keep them sweet and on side with the FF mob - who were afraid at that time, in an upcoming vote in the RDS, the Greens were going to split from them then!

...So much for looking after his own constituents when in fact I'm sure many of them suffer from the same ailments - some of whom I've met in Dublin while they were up for treatments.

Monty Burnz

I kind of hope he gets in, is a total irrelevance in the new Dáil, and South Kerry gets screwed over for the next X years to make up for them screwing over the rest of the country in the past.

r3nu4l

johnmcdnl wrote: »

are you implying that the politicians elected in dublin or basically anywhere outside south kerry are going to help the people of south kerry anywhere as much as healy-rae will...

No I'm not, that's what you are inferring from what I said and the rest of your rant is invalidated by the fact that it's not what I said.

To clarify for you:

Almost all politicians in Ireland are far too concerned with getting as much for their constituents as possible than they are with the overall National Interest.

That goes for politicians in Dublin as much as in South Kerry. It's pathetic but unfortunately, unless the system changes that's always how it's going to be.

Perhaps (though I doubt it) people will now have learned that voting for the man who ensures the potholes are filled in in your town, is not always the best thing to do, especially if he's the sort who will prop up the Government who are destroying the country economically while he's at it. In the long run, having a road with no potholes will be no use if you have to sell your car because you lost your job and have to keep up on the mortgage payments just because the guy you voted in supported the guys destroying the entire country economically.

The sooner people realise this the better.

4gun

ejmaztec wrote: »

And Healy-Rae supported them, every step of the way. :rolleyes:

...You've not heard the phrase "one hand washes the other" then..He got his local hospital some other one got his casino in the midland or someplace...these are good for the local economies and for their own voters isn't that what a local politician is supposed to do...My point in all this is that people were taking exception to his appearance and his personal ..They were embarrased by how we are seen as a nation when he gets international media coverage...One thing about him is that what you see is what you get he does not pretent to be anythigh other that what he is...

kennypowers

Hi ,
A long time forum lurker here.As a voter in the south kerry area,I can understand peoples amazement as to how these gombeens get elected.One of the main reasons is the quality of candidate available to chose from as an alternative ,its a choice between useless and incompetent.
People assume we have a fantastic infrastructure and booming economy down here, as a result of having a healy sugar daddy.The reality is quite the opposite ,with a road network similar to Afghanistan and immigration a constant even during the economic boom time.
But what they do best is take credit for any form of public services in the area.An example would be the recent snow.All the council trucks were out gritting and did an admirable job,of course who had the council sub contracted the work to and whos name was emblazoned on every lorry and excavator.This was then followed up by phone calls and letters reminding people not to forget their stellar work.
When his father first got elected it was seen by many down here as two fingers to the establishment and as a novelty ,this feeling whilst not as strong still exists especially among older voters.
There will also be a strong vote for Michael among the young and first time voters due to his semi celeb status.Whatever way one feels about him, on a person to person basis he is funny and charasmatic.The height of his political ambition should be co councilor,but sadly what we have is another self serving parish pump showman destined for the Dail .

Biggins

4gun wrote: »

...One thing about him is that what you see is what you get he does not pretend to be anything other that what he is...

Yes, an embarrassment!

4gun

Biggins wrote: »

Yes, an embarrassment!

Again Why? why him over any other politician...just because of the way he looks and becauce he has a strong IRISH accent...Thats bigotry

elguapo

Will Michael Healy-Rae get elected? Yes, handily. I don't like the way the Healy Raes operate, but the system that is in place rewards parochial behaviour with a seat on the national stage. Luckily, he won't have anywhere near the amount of influence his father had, because he has no hope of being in government.

The power of perception is huge in politics, and the Healy-Rae's are perceived by many as having fought hard to get a hospital built and roads improved. That's the kind of behaviour rewarded by the Irish electorate, and always has been. The electoral system needs reforming, but until that happens, the likes of Healy Rae and Lowry will be seated in the Dail trying to secure money to get potholes fixed.

Looking down the list of candidates in the betting list there, it is a seriously depressing sight, most of those people deserve no more than a seat on the county council, at best.

The guy I'd have most time for is Mick Gleeson.He's a County Councillor; very ethical, honest and seems to take an interest in the wider world (personal opinion, not campaigning for him!). It'll be hard for him to compete with the likes of Healy Rae though.

Biggins

4gun wrote: »

Again Why? why him over any other politician...just because of the way he looks and because he has a strong IRISH accent...Thats bigotry

No - because I've seen him in action up close in the Dail. I couldn't give a rats backside what language he speaks - just how he behaves and votes.
I've seen him shake FF hands, pat FF backs and smile like a Cheshire cat when he had just turned down with the mob, the funding for Crumlins hospital - and by god did he relish in the fact that they had just defeated the motion!

(see this post: http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=60857305&postcount=413)

The man is a disgrace. He's been bought hook line and sinker by FF and its this type of politics that has us partly in the place where we are.
He has supported FF too many, many times and like the Greens, he and all linked to him should be sent packing off into the sunset, never to be seen again!

He is an embarrassment - and by being associated with and being one of our national representatives, he and his clod capped sons are continuing to further that embarrassment upon all our heads for the rest of the world to see!

ejmaztec

The gravy-train has been derailed.

http://www.radiokerry.ie/news/

24 Jan 2011
Healy-Rae’s support for Government hangs by thread as passing of Dingle legislation in doubt

Jackie Healy-Rae's support for Government hangs by thread as the passing of the Dingle legislation lies in doubt.
Last week, the South Kerry independent TD says his support remains as the Government still has to deliver on a number of promises they made to him, as part of a deal with Fianna Fáil after the last general election.
The legislation to legally change Dingle's name from the Irish An Daingean to the bilingual Dingle Daingean Uí Chuis is tied up with the Dublin Mayoral Bill.
This was due to come before the Dáil tomorrow, however now that the Greens have withdrawn from Government the future of the Dublin Mayoral Bill among other bills is cast in doubt.
Yesterday, in a joint statement, Deputy Healy-Rae and his independent colleague Michael Lowry said their support for the Financial Bill was no longer guaranteed.
The statement added both Deputies would formally declare their position in following the outcome of today's discussions between the opposition and Minister Lenihan.

elguapo

ejmaztec wrote: »

The gravy-train has been derailed.

http://www.radiokerry.ie/news/

I knew the Irish language would bring down the country eventually.

wonderfulname

...his support remains as the Government still has to deliver on a number of promises they made to him...

Not too bright is he?

4gun

to start with he never was really independant was always FF party member untill he lost his nomination a few elections agothey came crawling back to him when he was elected and they needed his vote to make bertie Taoiseach..
with Our political system do you not support party lines in they way things get done in the Dail..
I not saying he is a saint rather a throw back to the charlie era, but did he single handly scupper the Crumlin Hospital funding,
Its the national media that callled him an embarassment because he was seen out side the Dail while there was some street Theatre group staging some sort of drama while international media were present, given his attire and demeanor they were afraid how this senario would be portrayed by european news media ( the sterotypical paddy)

Snakeblood

johnmcdnl wrote: »

once again it comes down to - he'll do a good job for the people of his constituency - he mightn't be great for the rest of the country but he'll help the people that vote for him if he gets his seat - the system works like this and until there's a major overhaul in the entire system it's going to continue to work like this

the people aren't think that vote for him - he's doing good work for them so why wouldn't they vote for him???

THey are thick because they're too blind to see that if you send the country spiralling down to save your miserable patch of turf, eventually the country won't have anything left, and your miserable patch of turf will suffer worse than if everyone acted altruistically.

Biggins

4gun wrote: »

to start with he never was really independant was always FF party member untill he lost his nomination a few elections agothey came crawling back to him when he was elected and they needed his vote to make bertie Taoiseach..
with Our political system do you not support party lines in they way things get done in the Dail..
I not saying he is a saint rather a throw back to the charlie era, but did he single handly scupper the Crumlin Hospital funding,
Its the national media that callled him an embarassment because he was seen out side the Dail while there was some street Theatre group staging some sort of drama while international media were present, given his attire and demeanor they were afraid how this senario would be portrayed by european news media ( the sterotypical paddy)

Firstly he just voted along with them in regards to the hospital - but lets not get get away from the fact that he then - as before and after - continued to tow the FF line and give them his full support.
Such was the price he might have gotten for his soul - and vote!
(I'm quite sure he's not the first person to be bought - sorry... persuaded - to vote a certain way but that alone indicates a person of questionable character on those that are meant to be in the Dail for the national interest, not just to serve parish pump politics - which at national level, they should be above!)

As for something about a theatre group, I don't know of the incident you mention myself, I can only go on what I've seen him doing, voting and whom from day one, he has equally shared in propping up the gang of questionable characters that is still our present government.

Its said "the apple doesn't fall far from the tree" so I seriously don't hold out much hope for his sons whom I'm sure will be of the same ideology and party thinking.

4gun

Snakeblood wrote: »

THey are thick because they're too blind to see that if you send the country spiralling down to save your miserable patch of turf, eventually the country won't have anything left, and your miserable patch of turf will suffer worse than if everyone acted altruistically.

can be said of the whole Godamn country FF had a majority in the last election because the threw money and Tax cuts at the electorate...now the same people are bitchin about them the old saying "give a beggar a horse and he'll ride to hell" springs to mind

Snakeblood

4gun wrote: »

can be said of the whole Godamn country FF had a majority in the last election because the threw money and Tax cuts at the electorate...now the same people are bitchin about them the old saying "give a beggar a horse and he'll ride to hell" springs to mind

Yep. And now there's no money and no tax cuts, it's the fault of the government of the last ten years.

Just because people want something doesn't mean you shoudl give it to them. It's government not a free candy story.

ejmaztec

I thought that he withdrew his support just after mentioning that the government hadn't signed off on a multi-million Euro project for Kenmare Hospital. He must have un-withdrawn his support

Howjoe1

plenty of gombeens down that neck of the woods to vote for him i'm afraid.

4gun

Biggins wrote: »

Firstly he just voted along with them in regards to the hospital - but lets not get get away from the fact that he then - as before and after - continued to tow the FF line and give them his full support.
Such was the price he might have gotten for his soul - and vote!
(I'm quite sure he's not the first person to be bought - sorry... persuaded - to vote a certain way but that alone indicates a person of questionable character on those that are meant to be in the Dail for the national interest, not just to serve parish pump politics - which at national level, they should be above!)

As for something about a theatre group, I don't know of the incident you mention myself, I can only go on what I've seen him doing, voting and whom from day one, he has equally shared in propping up the gang of questionable characters that is still our present government.

Its said "the apple doesn't fall far from the tree" so I seriously don't hold out much hope for his sons whom I'm sure will be of the same ideology and party thinking.

then every T.D that was in government deserves to loose their seat. How many politicians will actually stand up against their party when it comes in conflict with their own personal beliefs...what will it cost them if they do a nomination in the next election, alienation from the group, A T.Ds' loyalty should be frist to his constituency...i.e to the people that put their trust in the T.D to represent them in the Dail
if the people of S. Kerry believe this to be true of Healy Rae then he will be elected, our opinion that we post here is the only say we'll get in the matter..posters that call them thick...well, thats the pot calling Kettle black

Podge_irl

4gun wrote: »

...You've not heard the phrase "one hand washes the other" then..He got his local hospital some other one got his casino in the midland or someplace...these are good for the local economies and for their own voters isn't that what a local politician is supposed to do....

Yes, except he's not a local politician - he's a member of the national legislature. A concept he seems to fail spectacularly to grasp.

Biggins

4gun wrote: »

then every T.D that was in government deserves to loose their seat. How many politicians will actually stand up against their party when it comes in conflict with their own personal beliefs...what will it cost them if they do a nomination in the next election, alienation from the group, A T.Ds' loyalty should be frist to his constituency...i.e to the people that put their trust in the T.D to represent them in the Dail
if the people of S. Kerry believe this to be true of Healy Rae then he will be elected, our opinion that we post here is the only say we'll get in the matter..posters that call them thick...well, thats the pot calling Kettle black

I'm not sure why your bringing up the area of personal beliefs of a TD - I don't see the connection relationship to this topic.
We talking about his chances and how he comes across in relation to those chances.

A TD's loyalty should be to the people of the state - not just his own - but all of them.
By looking after ALL of them, he is in turn looking after his own.
I know at present its the other way around and for sure thats why we have the phrase "parish-pump politics" - which needs to change.
(I won't hold out much hope!)

He is what he is and for the rest of us looking on, observing and hearing him, its the opinion of a lot of people that he's a waste of space, besides a national embarrassment.
Feel free to disagree - at least we have that free liberty still (before thats taxed too!)

4gun

Podge_irl wrote: »

Yes, except he's not a local politician - he's a member of the national legislature. A concept he seems to fail spectacularly to grasp.

take it this way.. A T.D who does little to bring in investment to his local constituency will not get re-elected Bertie looked after his own..who else feathered their own nest,
Healy Rae was representing his local community he did not get elected citing a national agenda ..so he put his own local agenda before the national one should he vote against the bail out...our country would have run out of money by mid summer, we were no longer able to borrow then where would we be ..he just used his support as leverage...thats politics

ejmaztec

4gun wrote: »

take it this way.. A T.D who does little to bring in investment to his local constituency will not get re-elected Bertie looked after his own..who else feathered their own nest,
Healy Rae was representing his local community he did not get elected citing a national agenda ..so he put his own local agenda before the national one should he vote against the bail out...our country would have run out of money by mid summer, we were no longer able to borrow then where would we be ..he just used his support as leverage...thats politics

So, to prevent the country from running out of money, he put the squeeze on the government for funds? That's logical.

4gun

ejmaztec wrote: »

So, to prevent the country from running out of money, he put the squeeze on the government for funds? That's logical.

|In a nut shell, yeah...Not to be quoting FF but the opposition didn't come up with any othe solution to our finance problems for all we know he might of had to support the bill any way..he just used a weak government to his advantage...cowen and co just couldn't affort to call his bluff

St._Andalou

4gun wrote: »

so he put his own local agenda before the national one should he vote against the bail out...our country would have run out of money by mid summer, we were no longer able to borrow then where would we be ..he just used his support as leverage...thats politics

That's not politics -- or if it is, it's not politics as it should be.

You remember those weeks leading up the bailout. It's not an exaggeration to say that people were terrified. The country was literally slouching towards Bethlehem; it was farcical and that was picked up by news outlets around the world. We were humiliated.

How can you defend someone who took advantage of that situation for his own benefit? One of his criterion for supporting the bailout was a reassurance that the price of alcohol would not be increased to protect business in the family pub.

We won't even go into the ridiculous expenses he and his two sons have claimed in their time as politicians. If this were Britain, all hell would've broken loose, but we seem to put up with it.

He is elected to serve the country as well as his constituents.

michael999999

These two gombeens have now parked up there top of the range cars and jeeps now that the canvassing has started.

They are now driving a 98 reg berlingo and a clapped out early 90s reg corolla. They actually think this is going to fool people!

4gun

St._Andalou wrote: »

That's not politics -- or if it is, it's not politics as it should be.


I agree 100% with you


You remember those weeks leading up the bailout. It's not an exaggeration to say that people were terrified. The country was literally slouching towards Bethlehem; it was farcical and that was picked up by news outlets around the world. We were humiliated.

How can you defend someone who took advantage of that situation for his own benefit? One of his criterion for supporting the bailout was a reassurance that the price of alcohol would not be increased to protect business in the family pub.


would you give out if he owned a petol station and got a freeze on the price of fuel. a lot of rural pubs are struggling as it is
any politician that fails to take advantage of a situation for the good of his local constituants is any good, unfortunately..Had the negotiators with the ECB and IMF been as Machiavellian Irish tax payers might have got a better deal on the interest rate


We won't even go into the ridiculous expenses he and his two sons have claimed in their time as politicians. If this were Britain, all hell would've broken loose, but we seem to put up with it.

He is elected to serve the country as well as his constituents.

personally I dont think they should be allow any expenses( no more than ordinary worker) so I agree with you there again

To clarify my position on Healy Rae..yes I think he has been good for his local constituants ( I'm not one)..The main reason why I took up this stance on him is because the people whoo voted for him were being bashed by posters on this thread, had anyone ever called the Dubs that voted for bertie "thick"
and secondly was because some people (not all) seemed to be more concerned about his appearance on international media than any thing else clod capped country bumpkin to quote one poster...so one should conform to the ideals of what a urbanite thinks a politician should look like

ejmaztec

4gun wrote: »

[/B]


personally I dont think they should be allow any expenses( no more than ordinary worker) so I agree with you there again

To clarify my position on Healy Rae..yes I think he has been good for his local constituants ( I'm not one)..The main reason why I took up this stance on him is because the people whoo voted for him were being bashed by posters on this thread, had anyone ever called the Dubs that voted for bertie "thick"
and secondly was because some people (not all) seemed to be more concerned about his appearance on international media than any thing else clod capped country bumpkin to quote one poster...so one should conform to the ideals of what a urbanite thinks a politician should look like

They've been called a lot worse than that.

St._Andalou

His father is playing up again: http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2011/0126/breaking6.html

There are no details on what he was unhappy with, or what concessions were made.

I will not be voting for any independents in February. It's ridiculous that two men have so much influence over something as important as the Finance Bill.

Pedro K

michael999999 wrote: »

These two gombeens have now parked up there top of the range cars and jeeps now that the canvassing has started.

They are now driving a 98 reg berlingo and a clapped out early 90s reg corolla. They actually think this is going to fool people!

Unfortunately, it probably will fool a lot of people. They are the personification of all that is wrong* with Irish politics!


*ok, maybe not allthatis wrong with Irish politics, but a lot of it!

Fr Tod Umptious

I live in the constituency and to be honest I don't think Healy Rae is a dead cert to get in by any means.

I'ts a three seater with the sitting TD being John O' Donoughe (FF), Tom Sheehan (FG) and Jackie Healy-Rae (Ind)

Because of the poor poll showings FF decided to only select O' Donoughe to run this time to avoid splitting the vote.
However a FF councillor Tom Flemming, who ran with O' Donoughe in 2002 and 2007, has decided to go as an independent because he could not run as FF.

On the other side you have Sheehan running again and a first time counsellor Breandan Griffin aslo running for FG.
Griffin is seen as a very energetic young politician that was very popular in the local elections and has already been very active on the ground canvassing for this one.

On the Labour side you have Marie Moloney. There was a Labour TD in South Kerry up to 2007.

With O' Donoughe, Flemming and Healy-Rae you now actually have three 'gene pool' FF candidates in the race, and a lot of bad feeling between Flemmings grounp and the FF party.

What may happen is that you get two out of Sheehan, Griffin and Maloney in (there will be a lot of transfers between them I can imaging) and the last seat would be left to a dog fight between O' Donoughe, Flemming and Healy-Rae.

Well that is what I am hoping for, or even better get all of Sheehan, Griffin and Maloney elected.