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Trump could learn from Healy-Raes

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US REPUBLICAN presidential hopeful Donald Trump has been urged to take a leaf out of the Healy-Rae book.

The fame of the Kerry political dynasty has spread to America where the Irish Voice newspaper, read widely by the diaspora, has devoted column inches and website space on IrishCentral.com to the Healy-Rae phenomenon.

Writer Cormac MacConnell, who has been penning a popular column in the New York-published paper for 25 years, says Trump could learn a lot from the Healy-Rae style of politics.

Devoting a recent column to Donal Hickey’s new book, The Healy-Raes – A Twenty-four Seven Political Legacy, he tells Irish-American readers they might think they have a very colourful and flamboyant character in Trump, but he doesn’t match the late Jackie Healy-Rae.

"Jackie Healy-Rae, born in poverty in hard times on a tiny Kerry mountain farm, beats Donald Trump into a cocked hat on every point of the scale," writes MacConnell.

"If Donald Trump wants some tips on how to captivate the grass roots of your states he should lay hands as quickly as possible on Donal Hickey's highly entertaining history of the dynasty.

"Trump will pick up a lot of folklore and you will get a good belly laugh as you turn every richly rascally page."

Recounting Jackie’s 38-year political career, his days on Kerry County Council and Dáil Éireann, he says Trump "is only trotting after him".

And Trump might also do well to shun the suits and spin doctors in Washington, notes author Donal Hickey.

"MacConnell says Jackie Healy-Rae’s rural sayings and style were the stuff of amusement for many of the slickly-suited young politicians of the era (when he was in the Dáil), but the reality was he achieved far more for his local people than any of them," he added.

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Contactless payments launched on Local Link services

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Passengers using TFI Local Link Kerry services in Killarney and across the county can now pay for their journeys using contactless card payments.

The National Transport Authority (NTA) confirmed the rollout this week, allowing commuters to simply tap their debit card, credit card, or mobile devices, such as Apple Pay and Google Pa, when boarding.

The move is designed to offer more convenience for those using high-frequency rural and regional routes.

In Killarney, the new payment option will be available on the TFI Anseo town services, which have seen a significant increase in passenger numbers since their introduction.

The contactless system is currently available for single journey fares, while those using daily or weekly passes can continue to use the Leap website or the TFI Leap Top Up App.
Alan O’Connell, General Manager of TFI Local Link Kerry, welcomed the modernisation of the fleet.

“The introduction of contactless payments is another welcome step forward for public transport in Kerry,” he said. “It complements other major projects in the county, including the expansion of TFI Local Link services and the delivery of TFI Anseo in Killarney, which is proving to be another great initiative.”

While the new technology offers a modern alternative, traditional payment methods are not being phased out. Cash payments, TFI Leap cards, and Free Travel Cards all remains fully valid across the network.

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How will our Kerry TDs vote tomorrow?

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Tomorrow, Sinn Féin will be tabling a motion of no confidence against the Government after the protests that took place nationwide during the week.

Earlier today we asked our readers how would they vote in a no confidence motion against the Government?

Most of our readers said they would vote no confidence, while some said, yes they do have confidence in the Government.

One reader said: “Vote confidence. The only proper leadership over the last few days came from government. Courage came when needed despite how unpopular it looked in the moment. By contrast, opposition politicians wanted the country to burn to suit themselves”.

Another reader stated: “No confidence. Shambolic and heavy handed handling of protests this past week”.

However, some people didn’t have any confidence in either side with a reader saying: “No confidence in the no confidence! Different wings of the same bird! We need a complete overhaul of the political system”.

We asked the question to our 5 Kerry TDs before lunch-time today, asking them what their vote will be tomorrow.

We received one reply from Sinn Féin’s Kerry TD Pa Daly.

He will be voting no confidence in the Government tomorrow along with his party.

Other media outlets are reporting that Independent TD Danny Healy-Rae is undecided at the moment.

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