Michael Healy-Rae bids for father’s seat

ONE of the country’s most colourful TDs, Independent Jackie Healy-Rae, is to step down from public life – but his county councillor son Michael has been put forward to contest the next general election in Kerry South.

As expected, Kilgarvan businessman and father-of-five Michael was unanimously given the green light at a convention in Killarney, attended by 280 members of the Healy- Rae organisation.

Jackie Healy-Rae, now in his late 70s, was first elected to Dáil Éireann in 1997 as an Independent candidate, after splitting from the Fianna Fáil party.

He has continued to hold the seat and has consistently supported FF-led governments in return for delivery on a ‘shopping list’ for his constituency.

The well-oiled Healy- Rae political machine also strengthened its base with the election of brothers Danny and Michael to Kerry County Council.

Both headed polls, in the Killorglin and Killarney electoral areas respectively, in the last local elections.

Michael Healy-Rae, also his father’s constituency secretary, has been building up a high media profile and has taken part in reality television programmes with celebrities such as the late model Katie French.

Observers feel he is in with a big chance of retaining the Healy-Rae seat in the next general election, but yesterday he declined to speculate on his prospects. “It will be a no-nonsense, no-frills campaign – all about honest-to-God hard work for the people,” he said.

The Healy-Raes were challenged recently for claiming credit for the Castleisland bypass and the go-ahead for Kenmare’s new community hospital.

But Michael said his opponents were talking “rubbish” and “trying to claim credit for getting things they had nothing in the world to do with”.