Danny Healy Rae takes eye off the sliotar... forafewminutesandnotduringseniorgame!
DEPUTY Danny Healy-Rae has hit back at suggestions he did not deserve a ticket to last Sunday’s All-Ireland Hurling Final after a picture on social media showed him fast asleep in Croke Park.
The Kilgarvan deputy said he is an avid hurling supporter and while he accepts as a public figure he is a ‘sitting target’ he does not accept he is unworthy of a ticket, as some have suggested having seen Danny snoozing during hurling’s biggest day.
“I believe some people are saying I shouldn’t have been at the match at all when the truth is I haven’t missed an All-Ireland Hurling Final in 25-years, he said, adding: “The evening before I was at the Crokes’ pitch in Killarney to see Kilgarvan win the Intermediate Hurling Championship – I love hurling”.
Danny claimed that those who shared the photo are only trying to oust him from his Dáil seat. He admits he was feeling tired on Sunday as he was up at 5.45am to travel to Belfast the day before and was off to Dublin at 6am on Sunday. He also insists he does not get a ticket because he is a TD, but must look for one the same as everyone else.
“There is no doubt about it but I’m burning the candle at both ends. I nodded off for a few minutes during the break in the minor match. I did no harm to no one and I assure you I didn’t nod off during the senior match. People said I got a ticket because I’m a TD. But I didn’t get one through pull, I assure you. What’s going on in social media now is just ridiculous.”
Danny said he was cheering for Limerick on Sunday and recalls that when the Treaty County won the All-Ireland in 1973, five Limerick men were working in the co-op in Kilgarvan.
“I was working in the bar back then and they kept the village going for three weeks. They sang ‘Sean South of Garryowen’ and I have that song off in my head since that time.
They were so happy and they lit up
Kilgarvan.
I’m delighted Limerick have finally won again.”
Danny’s father, the late Jackie
Healy-Rae, was a keen hurler in his day with Kilgarvan winning senior hurling championship medals in 1956 and ’58.
“I keep these medals safe. He always told me to mind them as there was a lot of blood, sweat and tears lost in getting them. In Kilgarvan they only ever play football when it gets too dark to see the sliotar! I don’t ever go on a holiday but I feel I’m entitled to go to the All-Ireland Hurling Final once a year.
“That’s my story.”
WHAT’S GOING ON IN SOCIAL MEDIA NOW IS JUST RIDICULOUS