Hard work and serving the local people was the Healy-Rae way

There is an old saying in rural Ireland that the only place where success comes before work is in the dictionary. These are wise words that were never lost on the Healy-Rae political dynasty from Kilgarvan in Co Kerry.

Indeed, the family’s work ethic is reflected in the fact that it has never been defeated in a county council or Dail election over the last 42 years.

Donal Hickey, author of a new 200-page book, The Healy-Raes — A Twenty-Four Seven Political Legacy, says the family attributes that success in politics to hard work, service to the people and the efforts of a loyal network of supporters.