Greens get ready to take on Healy-Raes on dynasty’s home turf
GREEN Party leader Eamon Ryan has vowed to face down Ireland’s most prominent climate change sceptics – the Healy-Rae brothers – on their own Kerry turf in the local elections.
The Independent sibling TDs have been the most vociferous opponents of Green policies on turf and climate change.
And Michael and Danny HealyRae show no sign of loosening their electoral grip on the Kingdom.
But the Green leader boldly predicted the party will capture council seats in Kerry in the local elections – and declared they will ‘absolutely be taking on’ the Healy-Rae dynasty, currently the dominant power in Kerry with two TDs and two councillors.
In the 2020 general election, the Healy-Raes secured a third of the popular vote, with the Greens trailing down the field at 5%
Despite the modest poll figures, Mr Ryan insisted he is optimistic about the local elections.
‘The tide is rising – I am very confident,’ he told reporters during a pre-Christmas briefing.
‘We have 106 candidates. It’s divided 50-50 in terms of gender, with 21 minority candidates.’
Mr Ryan also dismissed claims that the Greens are disconnected from rural Ireland.
‘I spent most of my working life in rural Ireland,’ he said. ‘I used to run a cycle holiday business where I literally spent my entire year wandering up and down the west coast of Ireland.
‘I’ve never found in that period of time that there was a disconnect. I found it is home from home for me. I don’t accept the premise.’
Asked how many seats he expects the Greens can hope to win in rural Ireland, the Green leader responded with a Churchillian-style declaration, saying: ‘We will win in Kerry, we will win in Mayo, we will win in Donegal.’
He continued: ‘I’m absolutely convinced of it. You look at the strength of our party across rural Ireland at the moment. We have superb candidates in every county, and I am absolutely confident that will translate into seats.’
But others were sceptical of the Greens’ chance of rural success, especially in the Kingdom.
One Kerry political source told the Irish Mail on Sunday: ‘He [Ryan] is a brave man. The Healy-Raes have seen off Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, Sinn Féin and the Spring dynasty.
‘To borrow a phrase, it will be interesting to see how Ryan goes about knocking them off their f***ing perch.’