Even in death, Jackie Healy-Rae looked like a man on the campaign trail.

"I missed you all," Mary Hanafin gushed to reporters in the manner of a faded film star who had just glimpsed the limelight once more thanks to a cameo role in a B movie.

In the first of two articles marking the 70th anniversary of the infamous American Note, Ryle Dwyer examines the bogus issues surrounding the controversy

Former Kerry Fianna Fáil TD Tom McEllistrim last night took a key step towards relaunching his political career by winning a nomination to contest the forthcoming local elections for the party.

A former Fianna Fáil TD has denied any wrongdoing by using prepaid Oireachtas envelopes to send out notices of local party meetings.

In the first of two articles, Ryle Dwyer explains the truth behind the distorted machinations of David Gray, the wartime US minister to Ireland

Former ceann comhairle John O’Donoghue has dismissed reports that Kerry footballers are being targeted as candidates to run for Fianna Fáil in the new five-seater Kerry constituency.

A meeting of Fianna Fáil in Tralee last night saw former ceann comhairle John O’Donoghue elected to one of the key positions in the new all-county organisation.

Seán Haughey witnessed the end of his family’s political presence in Dublin going back some 54 years, while the Andrews brothers, Chris and Barry, both lost their seats in their respective constituencies.

A MEMBER of one of Kerry’s old political dynasties, outgoing FF TD Tom McEllistrim, lost his seat to a member of the Spring dynasty, Arthur John Spring in Kerry North/West Limerick.

FIANNA Fáil and Fine Gael could be standing together outside the GPO for the centenary of the Easter Rebellion in little over five years time, according to Leo Varadkar.

THERE is considerable interest around the personalities in Kerry in the forthcoming election. Will John O’Donoghue get re-elected, will Michael Healy-Rae succeed his father, and will another Spring swap places with a McEllistrim?

THERE is considerable interest around the personalities in Kerry in the forthcoming election. Will John O’Donoghue get re-elected, will Michael Healy-Rae succeed his father, and will another Spring swap places with a McEllistrim?

SINN FÉIN deputy leader Martin McGuinness went to the dogs in Kerry at the weekend with local TD Martin Ferris by his side, as they stole the show at the Kingdom Greyhound Stadium.

KERRY Fianna Fáil TD Tom McEllistrim is back on the election campaign trail a little over an hour after being involved in a car crash which resulted in two people being brought to hospital.

FEBRUARY 25 is election day and, as we say in relation to December 25, there’s only 20 shopping days left. During that period we’ll decide, if we haven’t done so already, the recipient of our coveted support to form the next government.

FORMER Ceann Comhairle and sitting Fianna Fáil TD for Kerry South John O’Donoghue last night held off a strong challenge from a party councillor to win a nomination to fight the next general election.

POLITICIANS have lobbied for prisoners convicted of a range of serious crimes, including murder, drug-dealing and assault, documentation has shown.

A number of serving cabinet ministers reportedly made representations to the Department of Justice on behalf of convicted criminals in 2006 and 2007.

THE death occurred yesterday of former Fianna Fáil TD for Kerry North, Kit Ahern (née Liston).

GARDAÍ in Kerry have issued 15 behaviour warnings to adults and children since new laws governing antisocial behaviour took effect at the beginning of the year.

LIMERICK’S three electoral constituencies have been radically revised with 13,146 voters being transferred to the constituency of Kerry North under controversial recommendations made to the Government yesterday.

AN election poll in Kerry North has suggested Sinn Féin’s Martin Ferris could lose a sizeable amount of his 2002 vote.

A PLAN by Marks and Spencer to move to Kerry has become an election issue in the county.

FEARS are being expressed in Kerry that the county will not get its fair share of the National Development Plan (NDP) 2007-2013.

IT may be relaxation time for Fianna Fáil chiefs at Galway Races, this week, but the party’s campaign for the next general election is underway in Kerry.

BACKBENCH TDs and senators spent €500,000 last year on foreign travel, including a number of fact-finding trips to exotic long-haul destinations.

Every primary school in Ireland should be given a Tricolour and flag to mark the 90th anniversary of the Easter 1916 Rising next month, Government TD Tom McEllistrim said tonight.

WHEN Denis Foley’s name appeared in Revenue’s list of settlements made by tax defaulters there was an air of inevitability to it; almost weariness.

DURING the week, Joe Duffy’s radio programme highlighted Justin O’Brien’s biographical sketch of Charles Haughey in the new Encyclopedia of Ireland.

HEALTH MINISTER Mícheál Martin is facing increasing opposition from TDs within his own party over plans to ban smoking in pubs.

POWER and money mingle with ease in Galway. Where else would you see the Taoiseach having a laugh with billionaires like Michael Smurfit and JP McManus?

Former Labour leader Dick Spring has lost his seat in Kerry North.

A new MRBI poll shows a three-way fight for the last two North Kerry seats, between Fine Gael, Labour and Fianna Fail.

An opinion poll in Kerry North suggests Fianna Fáil will lose its only seat in the constituency to Sinn Féin’s Martin Ferris.