Healy-Rae's and funerals

duchalla

http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/healy-raes-defend-their-high-attendance-rate-at-funerals-in-kerry-411452.html

What do ye make of this story? I reckon Cahill is just p!ssed off that that they had the gaul to send his sister a berevement pack!
When my own Dad died a few years ago, Michael and his nephew, Johnny, turned up at the funeral. A few of my first cousins would know both fairly well, so I didnt think anything of it.
The next day, we got a letter in the post, with a mass card and information on things that my widowed mother would be entitled to. To be honest, I wouldnt be the greatest fan of the Healy-Raes, but I was fairly impressed with the information pack. Times like that, you wouldnt be in the right head space to go looking for that kind of info . (I know it wouldnt take a big effort to find out, but it definitely made things a bit easier to have it land on your lap).
As for them going to funerals of people they dont know, so what? I've gone to plenty of funerals where I dont know the deseased, but I'd know one (or more) of the mourners, maybe its a Kerry thing, but I dont see anything wrong with it. Again from my own personal experience, I had work colleagues travel over 200 miles round trip to come to my Dads funeral, most of these people never even met my father, but it was still very much appreciated.

wonga77

I guess people will read into it whatever way they want. Some will just use it as a stick to beat the Healy Rae's and others will find that there is useful information in the pack and appreciate it. As you say yourself, your not a big fan but were impressed by the effort, that says alot.

McDermotX

Gowls

DEFTLEFTHAND

The bereavement pack sounds like a nice idea tbf.

eviltwin

The information pack is a great idea but I don't think anyone should go to a funeral unless they know the deceased or a member of their family. A public figure attracts attention and even if their motives are genuine it can look self serving. The focus should be on the bereaved not political figures.

runawaybishop

Its chugging for votes, how could you think its anything but that Its disgusting behavior and they should be ran right the **** out.

DEFTLEFTHAND

eviltwin wrote: »

The information pack is a great idea but I don't think anyone should go to a funeral unless they know the deceased or a member of their family. A public figure attracts attention and even if their motives are genuine it can look self serving. The focus should be on the bereaved not political figures.

There's this old attitude in rural Ireland that you have to be seen at a funeral.

Personally I wouldn't give a hoot whether the local TD attended a family funeral of mine or not.

The Backwards Man

I've been at more then one graveside when a politician has sidled up beside me to inquire who is dead before the approach the chief mourners.

It might not be the most subtle thing in the world for a politician to be doing, but as they are supposed to be public representatives after all, there's far worse things they could be spending their time doing, such as interfering in the running of the country.

The Backwards Man

eviltwin wrote: »

The information pack is a great idea but I don't think anyone should go to a funeral unless they know the deceased or a member of their family. A public figure attracts attention and even if their motives are genuine it can look self serving. The focus should be on the bereaved not political figures.

Anybody who finds their attention drawn to the politicians shouldn't really be at the funeral either in my opinion.

The_Valeyard

The Healy-Raes are clever lads when it comes to getting out there and seen.


But,


isnt it very common for rural people to attend funerals of people you barely even know, just out of respect for the family?

whisky_galore

The_Valeyard wrote: »

The Healy-Raes are clever lads when it comes to getting out there and seen.


But,


isnt it very common for rural people to attend funerals of people you barely even know, just out of respect for the family?

This is it, people will whinge that it's cynical vote-buying if they turn up and people will also whinge that they didn't care about their community if they didn't bother going.

A rural funeral is a social event, not just dig a hole and fire him (or her) into the ground asap. Townies and city slickers will never understand this.

Lollipops23

It's a bit ghoulish to regularly attend funerals of perfect strangers, and I have NOTHING good to say about the Healy-Rae's. However, those packs sound like a great idea. Why would anyone be annoyed to receive one?

skywanderer

I wonder if Politicians can claim mileage expenses, I was at a funeral a few years ago I noticed a TD from 100+ miles away and when chatting briefly after the burial with a few others and I was told they can claim mileage expenses and effectively get paid to attend funerals at around €2 - €3 per mile.

Its ok for politicians to attend funerals in their locality or of people they know or are friends with; but turning up at strangers funerals is quite frankly wrong.

The_Valeyard

whisky_galore wrote: »

This is it, people will whinge that it's cynical vote-buying if they turn up and people will also whinge that they didn't care about their community if they didn't bother going.

A rural funeral is a social event, not just dig a hole and fire him (or her) into the ground asap. Townies and city slickers will never understand this.

Its kind of like the auld Irish mammy, "you'll never guess who died' thinge.

Harry Palmr

Exploiting people at their weakest moment....

jam_mac_jam

I think its really tacky.. they should be doing their jobs not using death as a way to get more votes. They aren't the only ones who do it so I mean TDs in general.

pcuser

I used to live in Limerick City, Im now living in a small village in Kerry, Country funerals are completely different.. People that are barely known to the family turn up to pay their respects.

Since moving to Kerry in the last 6 years ive got to know Danny and Michael on a first name basis. Ive met Maura twice. Its not that I have went out of my way to meet them. Its the fact that they are the only TDs that are constantly canvassing. They also make it their business to call to the bar I work in once a month.

Ive had no other TDs or Councillors at my house in the 6 years I have being here. Its very easy to criticize the Healy Raes when you are not living here, When I was younger I would see Jackie Healy Rae on tv and think he was a joke, But if you live here you will see how hard they work and how successful they are at getting things done.

Truckermal

Jesus Christ dammed if you do and dammed if you don't definitely applies here and I have nothing to do with them..

longshanks

Are these information packs not usually given to the family of the dead person by the undertaker, or in some cases the family solicitor?
It's vote buying from the Healy Rae boys, disguised as concern, goodwill etc.

kneemos

Always thought politicians at funerals was a pretty disgusting stunt.The bereavement package seems to be a further step in using the dead to gain votes.

andekwarhola

I read recently that they deliberately sign funeral condolence books in a different colour biro to make their contribution stand out.

If true, it's one of the funniest yet profoundly depressing things I've ever read.

pragmatic1

The bearded Healy-Rae is what I'd imagine a village idiot to look like. His views on global warming are well out there.

Congrats to the people of Kerry, you've outdone yourselves.

The Rape of Lucretia

The_Valeyard wrote: »

isnt it very common for rural people to attend funerals of people you barely even know, just out of respect for the family?

Its not really for the respect. Its more for the social outing. Bit of grub thrown in sometimes as well does no harm.

McDermotX

The Rape of Lucretia wrote: »

Its not really for the respect. Its more for the social outing. Bit of grub thrown in sometimes as well does no harm.

This.

Buried my Grandfather in Wexford a few year back, with the funeral cortege from Dublin. Was in December......very cold, very bleak and yet the turnout to the graveyard was massive from people around the area.
Family eventually made our way back to a function room in the village local for food and drink.............low and behold, almost all the food gone before we had a chance to get some ourselves.
They hang around the graveyard to be seen, leave within 10mins and then they swarm down to wherever there may be free food and drink and gorge themselves without so much as a by your leave.

Savages. The lot of 'em.

baaba maal

They're meant to be TDs- why aren't they putting forward a costed proposal to the relevant minister for these packs to be made available to all bereaved?
I think people will fundamentally disagree about the role of TDs in this country- some think they are servants exclusively of their constituents, so showing up to every local event, or your place of work, or home, is somehow productive. I don't. I think TDs should be legislating and/or taking the government of the day to task on matters of at least regional and mainly national interest. How many days a year are the Healy Raes spending at funerals for people they don't know? This is time spent networking and working towards re-election, not working as TDs ofr which they are paid (they are obviously not the only ones at this, but they are the subject of the thread).

Del2005

pcuser wrote: »

I used to live in Limerick City, Im now living in a small village in Kerry, Country funerals are completely different.. People that are barely known to the family turn up to pay their respects.

Since moving to Kerry in the last 6 years ive got to know Danny and Michael on a first name basis. Ive met Maura twice. Its not that I have went out of my way to meet them. Its the fact that they are the only TDs that are constantly canvassing. They also make it their business to call to the bar I work in once a month.

Ive had no other TDs or Councillors at my house in the 6 years I have being here. Its very easy to criticize the Healy Raes when you are not living here, When I was younger I would see Jackie Healy Rae on tv and think he was a joke, But if you live here you will see how hard they work and how successful they are at getting things done.

Would it not be better for your public representative to be doing their job than turning up at funerals and pubs?

The Rape of Lucretia

Del2005 wrote: »

Would it not be better for your public representative to be doing their job than turning up at funerals and pubs?

In the case of those two clients, I think I would be happier with them touring pubs and funerals than trying to do anything for the people of Ireland or its governance. Safest place for them.

Earthhorse

If they sign the condolences book using a different coloured pen then that's a very cynical and calculated move.

andekwarhola

andekwarhola wrote: »

I read recently that they deliberately sign funeral condolence books in a different colour biro to make their contribution stand out.

If true, it's one of the funniest yet profoundly depressing things I've ever read.

That's so calculated and self-serving. Ugh.

Fleawuss

A bereavement pack? Have we sunk so low that we need TD's to do this? No. Some of them have sunk that low to think we are incapable of managing our own affairs and that when we elect someone to the legislature that we really want a counselling service from them. What's next? The Healy Rae arse wiping service?

kneemos

What are your entitlements as a matter of interest?

maudgonner

Fleawuss wrote: »

A bereavement pack? Have we sunk so low that we need TD's to do this? No. Some of them have sunk that low to think we are incapable of managing our own affairs and that when we elect someone to the legislature that we really want a counselling service from them. What's next? The Healy Rae arse wiping service?

With the exception of the arse wiping, that's exactly what TDs are expected to do in many cases. You should go along to a constituency clinic sometime and see the kind of trivial queries that people go in with. And they vote for the politicians that help them.

Don't blame the guys that exploit the gap in the political market, why shouldn't they?

Icemancometh

People want politicians that look after them, and the national interest a distance second. We get exactly the political class we deserve.

Ronald Wilson Reagan

It's nothing short of creepy to be giving mass cards to people you don't know. To say they're providing a service is a nonsense argument, people are all-ready entitled to this through the citizens information service and anyway any decent undertaker would mention your entitlements as a matter of course.

The H-R's are running a political machine that would make Tammany Hall blush combined some with some sort of personality cult that appeals to culchies, it's all about visibility and presence, there's no such thing as bad publicity their world.

My parents local FF TD had a letter of condolence sent to my mother after my father passed 2 years ago in FF headed paper and FF stamped envelope. There was a mistake on the letter. I'd understand a simple spelling mistake or something but they put the completely wrong first name for my mother. Not even close. It was quickly balled up and fcuked into the bin.

Tin Foil Hat

The Backwards Man wrote: »

I've been at more then one graveside when a politician has sidled up beside me to inquire who is dead before the approach the chief mourners.

If anyone approached me like that, I'd give the knut a fake name.

lazybones32

longshanks wrote: »

Are these information packs not usually given to the family of the dead person by the undertaker, or in some cases the family solicitor?
It's vote buying from the Healy Rae boys, disguised as concern, goodwill etc.

No, the undertaker deals with the body (taking from hospital, embalming, coffin, burial, etc) but if you want information or entitlements, you have to go looking for it yourself. We had a relatively-recent bereavement and the only information offered was in a card sent by a TD.

andekwarhola wrote: »

I read recently that they deliberately sign funeral condolence books in a different colour biro to make their contribution stand out.

If true, it's one of the funniest yet profoundly depressing things I've ever read.

I can 100% verify that as true, in our experience anyway. Black and blue biros were on the condolence book but M Healy-Rae's name was signed in red. This happened on two occasions and neither of the women were known to him.

biko

Some gombeens attend funerals, this triggers other gombeens.
Probably because the latter gombeens didn't think of it first.

Hologram

The Backwards Man wrote: »

Anybody who finds their attention drawn to the politicians shouldn't really be at the funeral either in my opinion.

Just because of noticing a known face?

Anyway, a few Really Hays turned up at the funeral of one of my relatives and were firmly instructed to leave. Disgusting opportunism. I can't believe people are defending such tack, or seeing good in it - and I am not usually a cynical person.

I don't understand the "damned do, damned don't" argument either: which critics of this kind of stunt are simultaneously saying it would be bad form for them not to show up at funerals? I know in the case of my relative's funeral, their presence was certainly not wanted.

Sir Osis of Liver.

Mattie turned up at both my grandparents funerals.
Don't know if anyone knew or invited him,or if he personally knew my grandparents.Doubt it.

I ended up giving him a vote because I hadn't seen any of the other candidates in the flesh,so something works.

gormdubhgorm

They put the fun in funeral....

Riddle101

They go to them for the free food and to hook up with women. They're like Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson from the Wedding Crashers, or perhaps they're more like Will Farrell's character from the movie.

pragmatic1

Snotaul Goodman wrote: »

My parents local FF TD had a letter of condolence sent to my mother after my father passed 2 years ago in FF headed paper and FF stamped envelope. There was a mistake on the letter. I'd understand a simple spelling mistake or something but they put the completely wrong first name for my mother. Not even close. It was quickly balled up and fcuked into the bin.

That's such a thoughtless thing to do. I hate FF type politics with a passion.

NIMAN

Don't they get paid for attending? I thought I heard this recently.

andekwarhola

Earthhorse wrote: »

If they sign the condolences book using a different coloured pen then that's a very cynical and calculated move.

Candie wrote: »

That's so calculated and self-serving. Ugh.

http://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/people/michael-and-danny-healy-rae-gombeen-men-or-political-geniuses-1.2715207

Another man in Castleisland tells me that the brothers are known for never using the pen that is provided to sign the book of condolence at funerals. “They bring their own pens, maybe green or red, but it’ll always be a different colour, so their names stand out on the page, and even when they’ve gone people will see they’ve been there,” he says. “That’s how smart they are.

diomed

I think the bereavement pack is a very good and thoughtful idea.
There are many things that have to be dealt with at times of change.

My father died and my mother is now living in a nursing home. I and my brother have Power of Attorney to handle her finances.
Tiny thing crop up like the OAP living alone allowance of about €7 a week should be cancelled when someone moves to a nursing home. When I found out I refunded about €1,500 to Social Welfare that was received in error over about four years.

Instead of bickering about the bereavement pack it would be nice if people enhanced the pack by forwarding suggestions to the Healy-Raes to improve it.

bop1977

It's not just the Healy-rea's that are doing this. A few years ago at my uncles funeral in Mayo P Flynn showed up at the mass. He wasn't a td at the time.

whisky_galore

Fleawuss wrote: »

A bereavement pack? Have we sunk so low that we need TD's to do this? No. Some of them have sunk that low to think we are incapable of managing our own affairs and that when we elect someone to the legislature that we really want a counselling service from them. What's next? The Healy Rae arse wiping service?

A lot of younger people won't discuss death until it actually arrives on the doorstep, then they're totally unprepared for what to do with wills, bank accounts, bills, solicitors, etc etc.

Hologram

bop1977 wrote: »

It's not just the Healy-rea's that are doing this. A few years ago at my uncles funeral in Mayo P Flynn showed up at the mass. He wasn't a td at the time.

Why am I not surprised.

The bereavement pack is a very valuable resource but the turning up at funerals for brownie points is what I find so objectionable, and the underlying motive for sending the bereavement pack.