Forget about 'culchie' jibes and let's put rural neglect back in spotlight

Michael and Danny Healy-Rae’s resounding electoral success (30,000-plus votes) proves that all politics is local and dismissing them is to denigrate the people of Kerry, despite that county’s great diversity, writes Clodagh Finn

THANK heaven for the distraction of Caitriona Perry’s stunning dress at the Oscar ceremony last Sunday. RTÉ’s Washington correspondent wore an exquisite, hand-embroidered gown, designed by Kerryman, Don O’Neill. That gave us a reason to shout ‘Up the Kingdom’ without having a Healy-Rae — or indeed a flat cap — in the frame.

Not that there’s anything wrong with a Healy-Rae, flat-capped or otherwise, but it’s nice to show the world that Kerry has many different faces.