Today’s report about efforts by Kerry County Council to use the Sheen River to supply Kenmare with water describes in microcosm the problems around matching an ever-growing demand for water with finite resources.

Not even the rise of Sinn Féin, which took the last seat in South and West Kerry and out-polled Labour in the Killarney area, could dwarf the gigantic performance of the Healy-Rae organisation.