There is talk in Kilgarvan that a marquee will be erected for the days of celebrations that will follow the historic victories of Michael and Danny Healy-Rae,
the first time two brothers have been elected to represent the same constituency.
However, the celebrations have started even without a marquee. Last night, Killarney band Truly Diverse played live on the main street of Kilgarvan, the Healy-Raes’ home village in south Kerry.
In the count centre in Killarney’s sports hall – a monument to the time in office of former Kerry political heavyweight John O’Donoghue – the brothers had already “danced a bit of a shtep”, as the counting of votes told of a remarkable win.
Highest number
Outgoing TD
Michael Healy-Rae
topped the poll with 20,378 first preference votes, the highest number received by any candidate in the election. He was elected on the first count, and his surplus brought Danny in on the second count.
Unlike Michael, Danny Healy-Rae does not wear a cap. The eldest son of the late Jackie Healy-Rae, he is a father of six, a publican and a director of the biggest plant hire contractor to Kerry County Council in 2015.
He loves singing and music but does not like telling his age. Extremely close to his late father, he used his father’s mobile phone and number during the campaign. His decision to run was announced only a few minutes before nominations closed on February 11th.
During his father's time in Leinster House, he waited each night wait in the family's bar in Kilgarvan for a call from his father at about 11pm. Inevitably, it was known to the pub's customers as "the call from the Dáil".
Transfers
Even before the first count was declared on Saturday, Michael Healy-Rae took a lift in an open-top double-decker bus in to Killarney’s town centre, wearing a tie with two stickers: “Vote No 1 Michael” and “Vote No 1 Danny Healy-Rae”.
Asked if he was celebrating in advance, Michael responded: “No. But I’m starved with the hunger.”
Back in the count centre, "Danny Boy, the Dáil, the Dáil is calling!" rang out as Danny Healy-Rae was elected with the help of a transfer of more than 3,800 votes from his brother in the new five-seater Kerry constituency.
Thanking his wife Eileen, he paid tribute to neighbours and friends for creating Irish political history. “Up the Kingdom!” he said. Soon afterwards, his daughter Maura played the accordion and some of the supporters danced a set.