Jackie Healy Rae has died

DazMarz · 05-12-2014 07:25PM

The problem with politics everywhere (barring a few exceptions) is that it is not the national populace that elects you. It is a few thousand local people who "know" you and like you and who will vote for you.

For sure, some T.D.'s could focus totally on the national agenda, improvements to the "greater good", rule in the interests of the national interest and not really do much for their local area.

Watch how many of those T.D.'s get elected/re-elected...

It is, sadly, the man who fixed the road, the man who got Mary her medical card, the man who opened the local bookshop, the man who smiles, kisses babies, has the gift of the gab and who looks out for the local area who will get elected and re-elected.

Many successful local politicians run solely on platforms by promising to "look after" the local area. Some T.D.'s get in with this promise too.

T.D.'s don't need to keep the whole country happy; they just need to keep a few thousand in their constituency happy. 4 million people could hate the guts of the man, but once he has done enough to keep about 9 or 10 thousand people happy in his own little fiefdom... he will continue to be a T.D. It is quite as simple as that.

An added problem is that county councillors are pretty much powerless in this day and age; most of the stuff they should have power to do (the parish pump shít), they don't. Meaning that the T.D. needs to enter the fray over a bus pass, a medical card, etc. when it should really be left to the councillor to do it. But that's a discussion for another day.

Parish pump T.D.'s may irritate the living life out of the nation as a whole, but for said T.D.'s constituents, he is the Father, Son and Holy Ghost. He does it all, goes to the funerals and fixes the roads. And everyone gives him the number 1 at the next election.

Gael23 · 05-12-2014 07:27PM

VinLieger wrote: »

Anyone outside of Kerry who fondly remembers him is deluded, the man held up numerous National issues to further his own local political agenda, yes I am sorry to his family for the loss but for everyone complaining about how politicians only look after themselves and care about getting reelected here is one of the prime examples and ignoring this fact due his death is hypocrisy of the highest order

This.
I hope that such a self serving individual never again sits in Dail Eireann. He had one item on his agenda: his own gain, which he achieved by any means necessary. I hope that his type of politics has died with him.
As with the quoted poster, I'm sorry for his family, not a nice time of year to lose someone, but I don't see him being widely mourned.

lukin · 05-12-2014 07:40PM

The hypocrisy that's going on at the moment on the national airwaves is truly sickening. It's like when Ian Paisley died, everyone falling over themselves to express their sorrow at the passing of an unrepentant bigot (I'm not comparing Jackie Healy-Rae with Ian Paisley mind).
He was a typical example of the kind of TD that is ruining this country. Only caring about his own constituency and letting the rest of the country go to hell.
As for people praising him for "doing so much for the people of South Kerry" well it's easy to get things done when you have the Taoiseach by the short and curlies. If only every TD had that luxury. As others have said I feel sorry for his family but I'm not going to pretend I liked him 'cause I didn't.

DellyBelly · 05-12-2014 07:46PM

For me one of the finest politicsns of his time. Took no crap and stood up for the people of Kerry against the Dublin 4 types. A sad loss but at least his sons can keep the dynsasty going. Healy rae will always get my no. 1

anncoates · 05-12-2014 07:49PM

DellyBelly wrote: »

and stood up for the people of Kerry against the Dublin 4 types.

Always a vital prerequisite in national politics alright.

crockholm · 05-12-2014 07:51PM

anncoates wrote: »

Actually the parish pump is what ultimately drags back the whole country.

Have you ever actually been in Kilgarvan? Please do explain how well surfaced roads are the ruin of Ireland?

DellyBelly · 05-12-2014 07:55PM

anncoates wrote: »

Always a vital prerequisite in national politics alright.

It sure is if you live down here

anncoates · 05-12-2014 08:01PM

crockholm wrote: »

Have you ever actually been in Kilgarvan? Please do explain how well surfaced roads are the ruin of Ireland?

Actually I have. More than once

National politics shouldn't be about trying to gouge as much money as possible for Your Parish and publicly embodying, even glorifying, cute hoorism and cronyism.

Healy Rae, and many others, not just rural obviously, embody the Irish virus of Getting Away With It. All micro, no macro.

That said, another poster made the valid point that politics is skew whiff here: parish pump matters should be solely the sphere of the local authorities not the Oirechtas.

Venus In Furs · 05-12-2014 08:02PM

The fawning is nauseating IMO. I don't believe in a full-on assault of a person's character just because they have died, but sycophancy (and outright lies - e.g. "grace and dignity") much of which smacks of insincerity, is just going too much in the opposite direction.

Nice one on what he did for the people of South Kerry, whose bias I understand - but focusing solely on local interests is hardly the mark of integrity. Cronyism is not ok - and doesn't suddenly become ok because it's your local representative.

The "He socked it to the jackeens" stuff is hilarious. Bitter and simple-minded.

Venus In Furs · 05-12-2014 08:05PM

My grandmother is from south Kerry and my father was born there, so I am very familiar with the area, and my gran thinks he's a legend (:o) but my dad wasn't a fan.

anncoates · 05-12-2014 08:07PM

Also as a postscript to my last post, I didn't notice the road in Kilgarvan being particularly better than the surrounding roads. Must check next time I'm in Kenmare.

05-12-2014 08:09PM

I'm from Killarney and he was a great help my Mother, myself and my brother when we needed help. My Father left my Mother when I was very young and we had to move home to Killarney from abroad, with nothing but ourselves. We were completely broke and needed help getting set up. He helped us get a council house, helped my Mother with getting a job. I don't have anything bad to say about him. Bit of an odd family, but they are fantastic to the community. RIP.

melted_face · 05-12-2014 08:13PM

politics should be all about the greater good. he never got that. still , he was a great character / stereotype

crockholm · 05-12-2014 08:21PM

anncoates wrote: »

Actually I have. More than once

National politics shouldn't be about trying to gouge as much money as possible for Your Parish and publicly embodying, even glorifying, cute hoorism and cronyism.

Healy Rae, and many others, not just rural obviously, embody the Irish virus of Getting Away With It. All micro, no macro.

That said, another poster made the valid point that politics is skew whiff here: parish pump matters should be solely the sphere of the local authorities not the Oirechtas.

Ideally,it shouldn't be-it should be a forum where the reps discuss national issues,but in reality,local issues get shoehorned into the discussions.Incumbents who don't seem to take their constituents issues to the dail don't get returned-that is not unique to Ireland.

Judging by some of the comments here,you would Think that he had IBM or Google relocated to Kilgarvan.Truth is,he brought Little to the village,and most of that Went back into his own family coffers in plant hire.I Think we give him too much credit for "cute-hoorism"

crockholm · 05-12-2014 08:23PM

anncoates wrote: »

Also as a postscript to my last post, I didn't notice the road in Kilgarvan being particularly better than the surrounding roads. Must check next time I'm in Kenmare.

Only the best with Healy-Rae plant hire;)

DeadHand · 05-12-2014 09:36PM

ClovenHoof wrote: »

Don't care and no reason why I should either.

Why would you post then?

05-12-2014 09:53PM

I have little time for the type of politics he was engaged in but it was only because he was such an outlandish individual that people really noticed it. Cronyism is alive and well in all politics, it mightn't be of the parish pump variety but a large number of the politicians land their buddies into plum jobs etc.

At least he was in touch with his electorate. It might only have been a small pocket of the country but he knew the issues people had and worked to get the best for his constituents. At some point in time a large proportion of people in this country need to go to their local politician for something and all they are interested in at that point in time is getting what they need, it might not be in the greater good but at that point in time its the only thing that matters in their world. Politicians like Healy-Rae could get that done.

Most people (me included) think its the wrong way to do things but to be fair at least he has left something concrete (pun intended) behind him. Billions have been frittered away in this country over the last few years with nothing to show for it in a lot of cases and I'm not just talking about the banks. Money was thrown at problems in the good times hoping to solve it without any underlying strategy behind it. At least Healy Rae knew exactly what he wanted the money for and the roads that were built will serve the community down there for decades to come.

I have backed Enda Kenny for most of his term and felt he was doing as best he could to steady the ship (of course working within the IMF constraints) but when he now isn't being lauded everywhere he goes the arrogance he has shown over a number of issues in the last couple of months and amongst other things the casual way he dismisses the €100 million extra to install water metres has really got my back up.

gormdubhgorm · 05-12-2014 10:04PM

I remember years ago as a young fella on a family holiday from Dublin we happened to pass by his pub (signage was very stylish).
We decided to go in have a gawk.

There was a room extension to the pub with a pool table, a light blub dangling from a wire and a lawnmower beside it!

Sums him up nothing fancy no airs and graces. Good humor about him anyway and was not afraid of the Dublin mejia!!!

michael999999 · 05-12-2014 10:09PM

Never liked him. But I'd prefer he's type of politics of looking after he's own county and being up front about it, rather than the personal enrichment and cronyism politics of Bertie ahern and he's ilk!

martingriff · 05-12-2014 10:22PM

Aidric wrote: »

Condolences to his family but he represented everything that is wrong with Irish politics. Never pretended to be interested in anything other then his local concerns.

And the thing is we all want a TD like that. To do things for us we may say we do not want parish pump politics and for them to deal with national things. But in the end if we need anything done quick a letter to whoever for our own good its a TD we ring. At election time if someone goes for reelection we will ask what did they do for us.

First Up · 05-12-2014 10:24PM

He epitomised much of what can go wrong with the Irish system. The fact that he was good at it doesn't alter that fact. He had no interest in, nor ever contributed anything that added to national wealth. His sole agenda was to get as big a slice of whatever was there for his "tribe".
Primitive stuff but no worse and even slightly more honourable than the populist chancers we are currently suffering.

Rezident · 05-12-2014 10:39PM

em, Kerry people must love him (surely?) but he was bad for Ireland in general. And people in general. I don't think you should say people were great if they weren't just because they're dead. How else will we learn?

He sums up a lot of what I think is wrong with politics i.e. shortsighted-selfishness.

05-12-2014 11:06PM

Very mixed legacy he'll leave. On a national scale, he typifies everything wrong with Irish politics. For his local constituents, however, he was undeniably a very hard worker. He was a ruthless operator and that's why he was so successful. I'd hate to see the Dáil full with TDs from the Healy-Rae school of politics but if he was my local TD I can't say for certain I wouldn't have given him a preference.

Condolences to his family.

Mongfinder General · 05-12-2014 11:13PM

Another seat for the Shinners...

liam7831 · 05-12-2014 11:15PM

Borders no.2 wrote: »

I have little time for the type of politics he was engaged in but it was only because he was such an outlandish individual that people really noticed it. Cronyism is alive and well in all politics, it mightn't be of the parish pump variety but a large number of the politicians land their buddies into plum jobs etc.

At least he was in touch with his electorate. It might only have been a small pocket of the country but he knew the issues people had and worked to get the best for his constituents. At some point in time a large proportion of people in this country need to go to their local politician for something and all they are interested in at that point in time is getting what they need, it might not be in the greater good but at that point in time its the only thing that matters in their world. Politicians like Healy-Rae could get that done.

Most people (me included) think its the wrong way to do things but to be fair at least he has left something concrete (pun intended) behind him. Billions have been frittered away in this country over the last few years with nothing to show for it in a lot of cases and I'm not just talking about the banks. Money was thrown at problems in the good times hoping to solve it without any underlying strategy behind it. At least Healy Rae knew exactly what he wanted the money for and the roads that were built will serve the community down there for decades to come.

I have backed Enda Kenny for most of his term and felt he was doing as best he could to steady the ship (of course working within the IMF constraints) but when he now isn't being lauded everywhere he goes the arrogance he has shown over a number of issues in the last couple of months and amongst other things the casual way he dismisses the €100 million extra to install water metres has really got my back up.

Why does everyone feel the need to use that silly phrase "Parish Pump" every 5 mins, never heard it til a few yrs ago.

First Up · 05-12-2014 11:17PM

Mongfinder General wrote: »

Another seat for the Shinners...

And they are welcome to it.

Diabhal Beag · 05-12-2014 11:17PM

I never need to see a pic of his hair ever again though RIP

liam7831 · 05-12-2014 11:18PM

Mongfinder General wrote: »

Another seat for the Shinners...

Yes good point....seeing as his son has the seat since the last general election

Mongfinder General · 05-12-2014 11:37PM

His son is no nowhere near as cute wh0re as his Dad. He won't hold onto it.

reprise · 06-12-2014 12:56AM

I will miss little, bar seeing something like this on the Irish Times:

www.dinglename.com/graphics/jackie-healy-rae_large.jpg

Jackie Healy Rae has died

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