Mayor of Killarney Cllr. Maura Healy Rae has issued invitations to a plaque unveiling dedication to the memory of her grandfather, Jackie Healy Rae, TD and member of Kerry County Council.
The unveiling will take place at Barrafuff Bridge on this Thursday evening, June 19th at 6pm.
A loyal and solid member of Fianna Fáil and an astute election organiser for many years up to a very public falling out at the selection time ahead of the 1997 general election, Cllr. Jackie Healy Rae (9-3-1931 – 5-12-2014) struck out on his own from then and won a seat in Dáil Éireann in that summer’s election.
His win in the South Kerry constituency in 1997 was sensational news and was seen as a major blunder and downright bad form by Fianna Fáil in not selecting him on the back of so many years of loyalty.
Staunch Party Man and Strategist
Cllr. Healy Rae was one of the staunch party men the strategists turned to when that extra push was needed in marginal constituencies and especially in by-elections in various parts of the country.
Teaming up with the likes of government minister, Donegal TD and party heavyweight, Neil Blaney they blazed many a trail and always got their man in – because it was almost all men at that time.
With my Kingdom Newspaper colleague and reporter, John O’Mahony, I was at the convention in the Gleneagle Hotel when the powers that be in Fianna Fáil in South Kerry failed to see the election winning potential of the Kilgarvan man – or maybe they did.
A Vow Made in Anger
He vowed then in anger that they’d remember the night they black-guarded him. They hadn’t long to wait.
I was sent down by The Kingdom Newspaper to Kilgarvan to get a picture of Jackie voting for himself in his first Dáil election. There was a feeling in the air that morning that told you there was something afoot.
Teams of men and women were being organised on the road outside the school / polling booth and sent in all directions with specific tasks.
Shoulder High Through Killarney
A handful remained and clustered around the man they would carry shoulder high through the streets of Killarney the following evening. That was the start of the nationwide courtship and curiosity with the phenomenon that was Jackie Healy Rae.
It was in the government formation days that followed that he told Taoiseach Bertie Ahern that he ‘could whistle for ducks’ if he wanted Jackie’s vote to prop up his minority government.
This will be a big event in Barraduff on Thursday evening. Don’t be surprised if you can’t draw a leg there and don’t be surprised either if the event will be organised down to the finest detail.
That was another component of the late Jackie Healy Rae’s legacy.
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