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Updated at 4.30pm
FORMER KERRY TD Jackie Healy-Rae has died this afternoon. He was 83.
The former Kerry South deputy passed away just after 1.30pm this afternoon at Kerry General Hospital in Tralee.
His son Michael Healy-Rae, who succeeded him in the Dáil in 2011, told TheJournal.ie that the family were “devastated” at the loss and that he had been ill for a “good length” of time.
It was reported in November that Healy-Rae was “fighting the mother of all battles” against serious illness.
He was the founder of one of the country’s best-known political dynasties and served as an independent TD for Kerry South from 1997 to 2011.
Born just outside Kilgarvan on 9 March 1931, John Patrick Healy acquired the ‘Rae’ part of his surname from the local townland where he born.
He was educated locally before emigrating to the US in the 1950s. He returned later in the decade and played hurling and football with local teams.
In the 1960s he established a plant hire business and also acquired a local pub in Kilgarvan which is still going today and is run by his son, Danny.
Healy-Rae’s political involvement dates back to the 1960s when he headed several by-election campaigns for Fianna Fáil, most notably the election of John O’Leary in 1966.
He was co-opted onto Kerry County Council as a Fianna Fáil member in 1973 and was the party’s director of elections in Kerry South for much of the 1970s and 1980s.
However, Healy-Rae quit Fianna Fáil in controversial circumstances prior to the 1997 general election when the party failed to nominate him as its candidate in Kerry South.
Though few backed him to win as an independent candidate he was elected and denied his former party a second seat in the constituency in the ’97 general election.
He was one of four independent TDs to back the Fianna Fáil-Progressive Democrat coalition during its five-year term, securing funding for various public services in his constituency such as schools and roads.
He did a similar deal with Bertie Ahern after the 2007 general election, signing a ‘confidence and supply’ agreement where he said he would support the government in return for investment in Kerry South.
The deal was kept secret and only emerged after Healy-Rae retired in 2011.
The patriarch of the Healy Rae dynasty had been in poor health recently. He was rushed to the facility in Tralee last month suffering from pneumonia – but had been in and out of hospital since the start of the year for various treatments.
He was given special dispensation to leave hospital back in May to vote for his grandson Johnny in the council elections.
Johnny and his father Danny – whose joint-campaign, famously, included the placing of an election poster on top of Carrantuohill – were both elected in the 24 May ballot.
Speaking to Radio Kerry from his hospital bed in the wake of the council elections, the 83-year-old slipped back into electioneering mode for a few moments as he talked-up the Healy-Rae clan’s achievements in the area.
“You can see yourself the massive improvements that I made. The things that I’ve done and the money that I brought down will never again be brought down.
“There were things that were owed to the people of this county back over the years and they were left undone – and it was high time that some fella came along… And I was very glad that I came along to do it.”
Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin said Healy Rae had been a unique politician “who captured the imagination of the people of Kerry and across Ireland with his story telling and his sheer determination to improve services in South Kerry”.
“I know his close knit family will be devastated with their loss,” Martin said.
Fine Gael Kerry TD Jimmy Deenihan said the county had lost a “committed and a passionate public servant”.
“Jackie Healy-Rae was passionate about politics and passionate about Kerry.”
- additional reporting from Daragh Brophy
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Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam
R.I.P. Jackie
He fixed de roooad! !
When i think of him i smile, R.I.P Jackie.
People complain about his parish pump ways but our entire system is set up as parish pump, When Des O ‘ Malley was first elected a constituent gave him a TV license bill to pay.
Every time I look at the Wicklow Times I see Junior Minister for ‘other’ himself photographed at every lunchon, GAA party, graduation, envelope opening because sadly, stupidly, that’s the kind of nonsense the constituents want you to do.
I’ve never understood it, I want my TD working changing things, but most want local this paid for and to see him around and talk to him…that’s it..
@Ryan, yes parish pump all the way, how come we are not more like Dublin, fair minded.!! We are all in this together, the nudge and a wink only serves those doing it not a collective, which is what we all need now. Dublin is certainly more democratic and accepting. You wouldnt find a Dublin politician gtting in rural areas, whereby its the opposite in Dublin. Maybe thats the problem electing gombeens, maybe we need more Dubs in power!
@patrick, like Bertie you mean?
This Dublin V country mindset is the most made up crap i’ve ever heard in politics for so many reasons…
The answer to parish pump (which is as strong in Dublin as it is outside Dublin) is very simple, we could, if people insist on having a second house (though I should point out my prediction they’d not give you reform has come true, but nobody will admit that) then we could have the Senate be PR-National list along with separate constituencies for NI, and say northern voters etc
Then have the Dail be PRSTV still, but with only national issues there, all GEs be on national issues, give local issues and local govt to elected mayors (who wil have county managers as chiefs of staff not their superiors)
If local mayors are dealing with pot holes then TDs wont have to .
I guess he was not liked with the amount of red thumbs.
Colm just say what you wanna say don’t read too much into the thumbs.
Half the people here have change their opinions with the wind anyway look at the Ebola story for example on how quickly people went from total panic to mocking people who panicked. Just say what you wanna say and ignore the thumbs.
And charlie .liam lawler and ray burke
@Jason, are you a product of your parents? most people would say so! Now, these are facts; there were very few Dubs rared in Drumcondra, (essentially the houses were bought by people from the country). That is a fact.
@Ryan, Please believe me I am not trying t put a divide between Dublin and the rest, I really wish it could and hopefully one day be the complete opposite. However, you cannot for one second believe that generally it is all counties against Dublin. You see it in the GAA constantly. I totally disagree regarding parish pump politics, it is a 100% in the rural communities as opposed to Dublin. I moved to Dublin many years ago and abslutely the Dublin people and community has changed my mindset.. I got slagged one day; one guy asked me whats the difference between a Dub and countryman?…a Dub would give ya the last penny in his pocket and a countryman would take it. Kind of knocked me for 6 to be honest, but over the past few years I have seen that Dubs are so extremely generous and giving. They have a more social conscience I believe and its because they actually dont have parish ideology of “he or she is not from this parish so I dont care” attitude.
I am generalizing of course and know that there are many fantastic communities in all areas I am just giving you a snippet of my experience. I just think they are more democratic. The first part of recovery is realising there is a problem.
I see the FG red thumb shower have been busy today…
Gas man, good for his constituents, proper old school, R.I.P.
Good for his constituents which ironically meant he was bad for his constituents. What a pack of short sighted wallies down there.
Improper old-school, more like
With a name like Peter Pan, you’ll never be old enough to understand!!!!
Love him or hate him, he was a intelligent man and a colourful character who had the best interests of his community and constituents at heart in the decisions he made. RIP
r.i.p.
The people of Kerry and Ireland would have been a lot better off to have proper politicials who do their jobs instead of the likes of this mad brush.
RIP he was some character
A man of the people, he’ll be sorely missed, especially down the kingdom this Christmas. RIP Jackie. Hope there’s a flat cap with your name on it on the other side
Rip. Not my kind of td perhaps but I notice that some Dublin contributors are a bit sniffy about him. Coming from the town that gave us liam Lawlor, Ray Burke and Charles j. Haughey, this is a little hard to stomach.
..do you actually believe this stuff? Are you really naive enough to think that political corruption is based on geography?
Dont forget berte
Yea right,So there’s no corruption outside Dublin. Just look at the flat tax.
RIP . A man who worked for his constituents and didn’t hide the fact. Cute hoor.
One of 4 independents that supported the FF/PD government when they drove the country of a cliff
A great Irish Statesman
Whatyya talkin about!! He fixed the road.
Actually Wits before 2001 it was an export led boom and quite stable, it was only later it turned into a bubblenomics exercise.
Besides which don’t kid yourself all the big 3 parties had the same economic agenda, the IDA even used to brag about this to foreign investors saying it was a sign of stability. Don’t let that get in the way of the partisan axe you have to grind though, tribe before facts eh?
Ryan, want other might have done is unknown, did he not support Bertie and FF between 2002 and 2007. and then again after 2007.
To paraphrase Jackie a while ago- “the people i represent are decent god fearing people who eat their dinners in the middle of the day” .
RIP Jackie you may not have been the darling of the south Dublin media but a political giant of rural Ireland has sadly passed away.
So that rules out Dublin so ?
Those Free Staters, they don’t appreciate a good ol’ road fixing.
funny guy , said more about the system and amadans that voted for him
Your name Dee4 reflects your statement……………….It is you that is the fool !!
This article portrays Irish politics pretty well. Plenty of people praising Healy-Rae because he was a “colourful character,” this it seems is more important than actually being good at your job. Again the parish mentality comes to the fore, so many warring clans in a country smaller than a lot of the States of America. And then of course, “succeeded” by his son Michael, in a supposedly democratic government. As Christopher Hitchens put it (not talking specifically about Ireland), “what we need is not better politicians but a better electorate.”
This is one of those occasions where my mother taught me to say nothing.
Your mother’s teachings are not legally binding, you know. You’re allowed to develop opinions of your own in adulthood.
RIP Jackie Healy-Rae, a colourful figure in Irish Politics. Condolences to his family
RIP. He did great work for his community.
RIP
A true character of politics if ever there was one. RIP Jackie!
Cant believe the red thumbs ignorant people
Thoughts and prayers are with the family
A Great Man for Building Bridges and Roads.
Safe Journey Jackie.
RIP Jackie Healy-Rae, a colourful figure in Irish Politics. Condolences to his family
Rip
I hated him and all he stood for, gombeenism at its finest, his overriding concern was the pursuit of money I hope he can take it with him.
I hear he’s to be buried in a pothole. Sur’ it’s what he would have wanted….
Have a bit of Respect for his family rip jackie
It seems like there is nothing sacred to comment makers any more. No respect for the dead. He isent even cold and yer all backstabing, red thumbing condolances etc. For f#ck sake this family need to grieve and get on with burying their father, save all yer comments for something else. Let the man rest in peace. He actually worked for his constituents. RIP
Correct the spelling and the punctuation ………, it’s what he would have wanted.
You know the song, you say it best, when you say nothing at all…….
You better bookmark this one Colm http://www.its-not-its.info/
My sentiments exactly. The man is dead. May he rest in peace. Anyone who red thumbs this comment is a b@@lix.’
A good man that looked after his own and made no qualms about saying it either unlike most of his sliabheen political peers
One of the greatest men to ever lead the kingdom.he was some character,a great fella and would help anyone,the kingdom has lost a legend today,rip jackie
May he rest in peace. A great character who will be sadly missed by many. Such a sad time for his family!
RIP
That’s another 100 000 € us tax payers can save
What a gentleman, it was a pleasure to serve with you Jackie. He was a great character and always in good form. A great stalwart for the Kingdom and delivered many great projects for his constituency, not to mention the many personal issues he delivered on behind the scenes over his political career. Farewell and rest in peace
The most local of local tds
He played the politics game and he won.
RIP Jackie. Thanks for your loyalty to your constituents. You were a good man.
So many red thumbs! What is wrong with you folks..
Why all the red thumbs for paying respect? #RIP
A real constituency politician voted in by his constituents to represent them. He did exactly that. RIP Jackie.
One less pension to be paid.
For all that was said about him he was one of those politicians that every constituency would love a real man of the people
A man that will not be forgotton any time soon. Slan Abhaile.
Who
Exactly one year on from the death of Nelson Mandela, another political colossus, one built bridges metaphorically, the other built bridges in South Kerry
Your a very sad man Richard Cynical It’s simply very Distasteful, at this sad time when his family are mourning his death just hours ago. And I must add I am not nor never was a Healy Rae supporter. He was after all a human being. May he rest in peace
RIP. Jackie, – a great character with an abundance of charisma, who not only took care of his constituents, but stood with the people against tyranny.
No one will fix South Kerry’s roads like TD Jackie Healy-Rae ever again. An chuid eile i síocháin.
I disagree.
We need many more like him and I hope to see Independents copying his style of bargaining on behalf of his constituents.
@paul roach no way do i want independents thinking like Jackie Healy-Ray. We need to get this COUNTRY back on its feet not a County . I will vote for an independent not a party.
I’m baffled you think he was any different from Tony Gregory. Why is one a gombeen and the other a hero? This makes no sense at all.
It’s a clear Dublin bias and a condescending attitude to rural communities and people.
@Dublin living. I agree with you,whether these people are from Dublin or anywhere else in Ireland. I want honesty and that they look after our Country as a whole not a County, i hate the way this Country is run and if there is anyone listening above, let the people of Ireland come out on the 10th Dec. and show this government what we think of them and let the next government thats voted in take note.
Pontius,
I think we do need parish pump politics. We need more like Healy-Rae & Tony Gregory and like Dublin Living, I don’t see why you make a distinction.
They cut very successful deals on behalf of their constituents but did not lose their voices in a sell out. This contrasts sharply with the “representation” achieved by the whip system.
R.i.p
Margaret Thatcher did more for this country…its true.
Rip
Some female news reporter from across the pond asked him why do you,scratch your head with your cap is on, his reply was would you pull down your knickers to scratch your a@se.
That obviously never happened
Change women from across the pond,to Miriam O Callahan, then it happened.
:(
I’ll remember him fondly… like Margaret Thatcher… Except she probably did more for the country.
God rest his soul. Politics aside – a man had died and the family are grieving. Best wishes to family and friends
A Legend
I certainly wouldn’t have been a fan of Healy-Rae, as to me he was symptomatic of the politicians that we vote into power in this country, local politicians who have no interest in national politics, and are only there for their constituents, parish pump politics as it is better known. His son of course has taken up the mantle and appears to be a mirror image of his father, will we ever learn. However he is somebody’s father, husband etc, so RIP Jackie.
Colourful character was Jackie Healy Rae. R.I.P.
I’ll remember him fondly…like Margarat Thatcher.
I wasn’t a supporter of his, but I couldn’t stand the patronising attitude that he was some gombeen politician for getting deals for his constituency.
First off, he was no gombeen, he was very smart. His act fooled a lot of people.
Secondly, what is his job if not to advocate for his voters?
Why is a country politician a gombeen and not Tony Gregory, for instance, who did exactly the same thing but is hailed as a hero of the inner-city? All he did was strike a deal, Bertie could have refused it. Healy-Rae just did his job.
Hope St Peter has the cheque ready for travelling expenses
RIP.
Bertie is right he was a laugh a minute sic but we have junior to continue the circus RIP
Sure isn’t parish pump politics great. ..won’t all of us be going back to it… when Irish Water takes over ….
He was one cunning boyo, and Kerry has more of them than most counties.!
No doubt he is presently negotiating one of the best places in the Heavenly spheres-for himself.!
We need more TD’s for the urban areas, to represent the actual number of voters living in the big cities.
The current gerrymander which leaves Dublin under represented creates Healy Raes.
He did exactly what he was elected to do and that was look after the people!!! RIP Jackie…
RIP Jackie, different but very effective for your constituency. We won’t see your likes again.
He’ll be remembered fondly…like Margaret Thatcher.
Another good man gone who used to ate the dinner In the middle a da day. God bless you Jackie.
R.I.P. Jackie,
Rip Jackie
Please red thumb this comment.
A wheeler dealer – a manipulator , no good for the Country only the Kerry region, local politics supremo – RIP of course – can I have the cap please !
Rip Jackie Healy Ray; you have gone to join another great irish man from Kilgarvan Mike Quill
RIP Jackie,
You were a great man for looking after the needs of your constituents.
Some other T.D’s could take a leaf out of Jackie’s book and look for basic amenities like a decent public transport system so that people are not left standing at bus stops in the morning because there are not enough buses available when they are trying to make their way into work especially in the Lucan Co.Dublin area.
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