Field-style fracas for Healy-Raes

KERRY faces a Brexit-style dispute of its own over the division of the constituency between the Healy-Rae brothers. Prior to election 2016 the brothers produced a constituency map with colours denoting which part of the constituency belonged to which brother.

Intriguingly, the Killarney electoral area was Danny’s while Michael was given control over the not inconsiderable remainder.

Speaking on the divide in 2016, Michael Healy-Rae said: ‘We have to have a boundary which we will respectfully be asking everybody to adhere to rigidly, because if they don’t, instead of being order, there’ll be chaos in the vote.’

Sadly, amid a tightening of the vote for Independents, order may be under pressure. Sources in Kerry told the Irish Mail on Sunday: ‘There is a bit of tension between the brothers; a real disputation is about to break out over the map.

‘It is believed that Danny is feeling a little hemmed in. It is a bit of an East Berlin-West Berlin situation. Tensions are high.’

The Healy-Raes are still expected to retain the two seats, but all parties feel Danny is vulnerable. Both FF and FG sources believe Danny is there for the taking if they could source a good Killarney candidate.

One constituency rival gleefully predicted: ‘That’s the problem with boundaries, they’re always trouble, be it Brexit or Healy-Rae country… If this kicks off, it will make The Field look like Ballykissangel.’