Rifles and pitchforks: family politics in Irish election

If all goes to plan for the Healy Rae family of County Kerry, they will hold more seats in parliament than some small political parties after Ireland's parliamentary elections on Friday.

Colourful campaigners once memorably pictured leading a procession of burning pitchforks, the Healy Raes are independent politicians not attached to a party but elected with strong local support -- a quirk facilitated by Ireland's electoral system.

Brothers Michael and Danny Healy Rae are campaigning to win two of the five seats available in their rural constituency, following in the footsteps of their late father Jackie Healy Rae.

They illustrate two unusual features in Irish politics: a tendency for parliamentary seats to pass down the generations, and a force of non-party affiliated politicians expected to be one of the biggest groups in parliament following the Friday election.

Frequently kingmakers in Irish coalitions, independents are often accused of clientelism -- prioritising roads and hospitals for their constituency in return for supporting the government.

But Danny Healy Rae, who entered the election campaign at the last minute declaring that the family's "political service" was expanding, is unapologetic about seeking the best for Kerry.

"My father was castigated for being local about his requests or his interests," he told AFP.

"If we're representing the people close to us I don't see anything wrong in that," he said.

Coming from a family of pub owners, the Healy Raes are known for pushing for drink driving rules to be relaxed in rural areas to allow people to visit pubs more easily and combat social isolation.

Michael Healy Rae, who was first elected to parliament in 2011, kicked off his campaign with a toe-tapping election song video showing him brandishing a rifle and calling him a "rural man for national problems".

The "Rae" in their surname refers to the townland their father Jackie was originally from, a way of distinguishing them from other local Healys.

It is a family operation, with Danny's daughters manning his phones and his son Johnny already following in his steps as a member of Kerry County Council.

- 'Not for faint hearted' -

The list of political dynasties to pass through Ireland's parliament is long. Prime Minister Enda Kenny took over his father's seat at the age of 24, and the Healy Raes are not even the only family politicians in Kerry.

Also running for a seat in the constituency is Labour politician Arthur Spring, grandson of Dan Spring and nephew of one-time party leader Dick Spring.

Gail McElroy, a professor of political science at Trinity College Dublin, described family dynasties as a "startling element of Irish politics".

"The electoral system facilitates it. You don't need a huge number of votes to get elected in Ireland," McElroy said, adding that being "socialised" into the political system from a young age helps candidates.

Dara Calleary, the third in his line to represent Mayo for centre-right party Fianna Fail, stressed that even if politics is the family trade, hard work was still required.

"Certainly there is respect for the family name no doubt, but it's a respect based on delivery and based on we try to get things done," Calleary told AFP.

Support for independents is at historically high levels in polls -- something that is a reflection of popular disillusionment, according to politics lecturer Maura Adshead of the University of Limerick.

"When Irish people are disgruntled or fed up with the main political parties, it's often quite normal that they would vote for somebody who stands as an independent," Adshead said.

With the outgoing administration led by Kenny likely to struggle to win enough seats for a second term, independents may play a stronger role than ever.

The Healy Raes of Kerry say they are well prepared for the elections to the Dail Eireann, the lower house of parliament.

"We're a formidable outfit and with Michael in the Dail already and my son Johnny in the council we're in tune with what's needed," Danny Healy Rae said.