Kerry’s Healy-Raes have become the era’s biggest political dynasty, with a third generation of the family now preparing to enter national politics.
Their brand of politics mixes a homespun rural image with a conservative disposition and a reputation for shoe-leather work around the county.
Jackie Healy-Rae snr
With his flat cap, colourful turn of phrase and organisation skills, the Kilgarvan politician became a well-known Fianna Fáil personality in Kerry, serving for 30 years on the council. When the party refused to allow him to stand for a Dáil seat in 1997, he broke away and ran as an Independent. Elected to the Dáil for Kerry South, he became one of four Independent TDs supporting the Fianna Fáil government. The price he extracted was plenty of funding for projects in Kerry. He retired from the Dáil in 2011 and died three years later at the age of 83.
Michael Healy-Rae (59)
Michael was elected to Kerry County Council in 1999 and became his father’s assistant in the Dáil. He wears the trademark flat cap, and has the same facility with language as his father, but is a more intense and driven politician, seldom seen without a mobile phone to his ear.
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He was the mastermind of the famous map in 2016 that carved up Kerry into Michael and Danny areas, a strategy that got both brothers elected.
[ Michael Healy-Rae: What does ‘Ireland’s wealthiest TD’ own and what is it worth?Opens in new window ]
Independently wealthy, he is probably the Dáil’s largest landlord with more than 30 properties, some of which have been used to house Ukrainian refugees. He and Danny have argued against tougher rules on drink driving. He was active and high profile during his 16 months as minister of state for agriculture.
Danny Healy-Rae (71)
A farmer, plant-hire contractor and teetotal publican, Danny is sometimes seen as a throwback to another era with his language and often non-PC views. Danny was co-opted to the council in 2003 and became a TD in 2016.
He holds contrarian views on climate change. “God above is in charge of the weather and we can’t do anything about it,” he famously said in the Dáil.
He is deeply conservative on the issues of abortion and same-sex marriage and has expressed reservations about gay couples raising children. He never looked at ease as part of the arrangement that elevated Michael to a ministerial position.
Johnny Healy-Rae (40)
The eldest of Danny’s children, Johnny was first elected as councillor for the Kenmare area in 2011. Easy-going with a bluff communication style, Healy-Rae farms and runs the family plant hire business. He was prominent during the fuel protests. His comments were telling. “We are in politics for to represent people. We are in politics to represent Kerry whether it [is] inside or outside the Government,” he said, a portent of what was to come.
Maura Healy-Rae (35)
Maura is the eldest of Danny’s three daughters, all of whom are teachers. She was co-opted to the council in 2016 and has topped the poll in Killarney ever since. She was its mayor in 2025. Very much in the family mould in how she does her politics, she is an excellent communicator. Responding to criticism of the Healy-Rae brand by a Dublin politician, she retorted: “They have not always elected superstars up in Dublin either.” Seen as Danny’s probable successor.
Jackie Healy-Rae jnr (31)
Michael’s son was elected to the council in 2018 and is seen as a canny political strategist. A blot on his record is a conviction for an assault which occurred outside a chip van in Kenmare in 2017. He became his father’s special adviser upon his appointment as a minister and was said to be crestfallen after his resignation. It has led to a cooling of relationships with his cousins. Now expected to stand for the Dáil alongside his father.
