The extraordinary performance of the Healy-Rae siblings was the story of the weekend at the count centre in Killarney, where Johnny headed up Kenmare and Maura won Killarney minutes later.

A full garda investigation is underway now into allegations surrounding registration forms for the supplementary electoral register in County Kerry.

Two súgán chairs, a súgán egg basket, and other straw-made items are on their way to the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall after a visit to Muckross traditional farms in Killarney last week.

Up to 400 people, most of them women, turned out in the Square in Tralee yesterday evening in a show of support for Emma Mhic Mhathúna, the 37-year-old mother of five whose smear test failed to detect cancer warning signs and who now has terminal cancer.

Seven serious cases, all involving cancer, were missed or misdiagnosed by a staff member at University Hospital Kerry, a review of more than 46,000 files has found.

Concerns have been raised that personal data, including mobile phone numbers, of successful housing applicants have been emerging from Kerry County Council.

Kerry County Council voted by majority to bring in a dress code for local politicians — and to push for this to be extended to the Dáil.

A teenager who was at the centre of a national campaign to secure her a bed in intensive care and a life- saving operation has passed away, aged just 19.

Six cameras are to be placed in illegal dumping blackspots in top tourism areas in Kerry.

Despite protestations by some public representatives, county council management in Kerry has declined to reveal details of settlement of a major cost overrun on two bypass roads.

A row over the removal of thousands of tonnes of sand from one of the south-west’s most popular beaches has led to calls for a prohibition on its removal from the area.

A road in Kenmare, Co Kerry, is to be dedicated to ex-Fine Gael TD and county councillor Pat O’Connor-Scarteen, a native of the area.

Despite warnings from senior management, members of Kerry County Council yesterday unanimously voted to include what are claimed to be two long-established rights-of-way in a county development plan.

A thousand euro has been collected for St Vincent de Paul in Tralee this weekend after the town’s leading citizens took part in office chair racing.

Finding money to carry out necessary dredging at an essential port will be a "significant challenge" for Kerry County Council.

Residents in a housing estate with excessive lead levels in their water supply have been advised by a local authority not to drink the water.

Councillors in Kerry have rejected a call by Sinn Féin to reduce next year’s property tax bill by the maximum 15% allowable following a plea by management that the council coffers would be under huge strain and services would have to be reduced.

A local authority is taking a lead in trying to end the "scourge" of many church-goers being intimidated by some political parties taking up annual cash collections.

Kerry County Council is to "endeavour" to reduce the local property tax, but only if its financial position next year allows.

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.

By Anne Lucey

Sinn Féin could double its representation on Kerry Co Council from two seats to four, party strategists are predicting.

Killarney might regard itself as the "tourist capital’’, but the rest of the county does not revolve around it, Kerry county manager Tom Curran stated yesterday.

Upwards of 300 people yesterday protested outside a meeting of Kerry County Council over plans to set up local community development committees to replace county development boards.

A Fianna Fáil councillor, who is also an engineer, has supported new Government regulations to improve building standards.

The repair bill for storm damage in Kerry will be considerably more than the €21m already applied for in a Kerry County Council submission to the OPW.

A “laughing stock" of a rule which bans telecommunications masts from being erected within 1km of houses and other residential buildings in Kerry is to be retained.

The true grit of the men from Currow is legendary in rugby circles.

The road system in Kerry is unlikely to be maintained to an acceptable level this year, due to council funds being slashed by €22m.

A Fine Gael and a Labour councillor yesterday broke ranks by opposing a motion calling for support for gay marriage at a meeting of Kerry County Council.

A motion passed by Kerry County Council aimed at permitting people to drink and drive has been criticised today for dragging the country back to "darker days".

With constituencies in general growing larger, parties will find it easier to implement gender quotas. But some areas will see unprecedented competition, writes Adrian Kavanagh

A new energy strategy for Kerry will see whole swathes of the county earmarked for windfarms — but not in top scenic areas.

Kerry County Council paid up to €800,000 to acquire an acre of land on a Listowel floodplain for social housing as recently as 2008.

A senior garda has warned of the impact “massive” Garda retirements will have on policing in Tralee.

FISHERMEN and tourism operators along the Kerry coast have claimed new harbour regulations would hinder their activities and endanger their livelihoods.

HUNDREDS of people took part in a protest march to assert what they say is a traditional right of way on Fenit Island, a scenic and historic island off the coast of Kerry, yesterday.

INDEPENDENT presidential candidate Mary Davis looks guaranteed to make it to the ballot paper this autumn after securing the support of two more councils, Kerry and north Tipperary.

A NUMBER of Fine Gael members are poised to resign from the HSE South Forum unless Health Minister Dr James Reilly carries out a radical overhaul of the body and makes its officials more accountable to public representatives.

COUNCILLORS in the Tralee electoral area are asking the Government to ensure that local authorities in Kerry be allowed to purchase sites and houses directly from NAMA and to be allowed avail of any loan schemes attached to the body.

A FATHER and son yesterday sat side-by-side in a council chamber, ensuring the continuation of the Healy-Rae political dynasty into a third generation.

ONLY winners take all in Kerry, when it comes to garnering official honours for sporting achievements.

UNIONIST representatives will join other guest speakers, including hurling legend Donal Óg Cusack and musician Peadar O Riada, at a special forum to discuss building a better Ireland.

A HEATED row yesterday flared up at yet another controversial “dezoning” meeting of Kerry County Council, which adopted a draft area plan for Killorglin.