Healy-Rae's and funerals

maudgonner · 21-07-2016 08:29PM

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 · 21-07-2016 08:51PM

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 · 21-07-2016 09:23PM

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.

21-07-2016 10:07PM

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 · 21-07-2016 10:17PM

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 · 21-07-2016 10:31PM

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 · 21-07-2016 10:37PM

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

Hologram · 22-07-2016 01:26AM

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. · 22-07-2016 01:41AM

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 · 22-07-2016 02:04AM

They put the fun in funeral....

Riddle101 · 22-07-2016 02:21AM

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 · 22-07-2016 02:46AM

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 · 22-07-2016 04:07AM

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

andekwarhola · 22-07-2016 06:48AM

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 · 22-07-2016 07:03AM

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 · 22-07-2016 08:29AM

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 · 22-07-2016 08:31AM

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 · 22-07-2016 08:36AM

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.

Healy-Rae's and funerals

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