Michael Healy-Rae (57), was first elected to Kerry County Council in 1999.

He was elected to the Dáil in 2011 after the death of his father, Jackie Healy-Rae, who left the Fianna Fáil family in 1997 after failing to secure a nomination to run as an Independent.

The Healy-Raes have held the seat as Independents since.

Married to Eileen, the father-of-five is a postmaster and shopkeeper in Kilgarvan. He is also a plant hire contractor and farmer, and is believed to be the biggest landlord in Dáil Éireann.

His son Jackie is a councillor on Kerry County Council for the Castleisland area.

Michael’s election literature was accompanied by a map of the constituency, introduced in 2016 when older brother Danny threw his hat into the ring at the eleventh hour and won a seat, becoming the first brothers ever elected to the Dáil.

Michael holds several weekly clinics across the county.