Brothers at odds over sale of field

Councillor Danny Healy-Rae has rejected an indication from his TD brother Michael that he was a bidder for a controversial property in his home village.

A row has flared up over the sale of 15 acres by the Catholic Church, in Kilgarvan, Co Kerry, with the local GAA club demanding it should be allowed buy the land.

However, a number of individuals are also reported to have eyes on the property, which includes an old presbytery, reckoned to be worth over €250,000.

Interviewed on TG4 News this week, Michael Healy-Rae said Danny was “interested” in the property.

But Danny said he did not know how his brother came to say that, adding they had not discussed the issue.

“I have no interest in purchasing the land. I never spoke to Michael about it. He never asked me that question,” he told the Irish Examiner.

“The next piece of land I’ll be looking for will be a six-by-three plot and I’m sure some of these fellas are hoping I’ll be needing that sooner rather than later. But, I can tell them they’ll have to wait another while.”

He said land was also needed in Kilgarvan for a community hall, a children’s playground and for the annual agricultural show. “I’ve nothing against the GAA bid and I’d like to see the GAA getting the amount of land it required but I hope the other groups will be accommodated as well.”

Meanwhile, Kilgarvan GAA club has said the community would “not be happy” if the land was sold to anyone else.

But the Kerry diocese is emphasising it has a moral and legal requirement to secure the best possible price.