 Jackie Healy-Rae grew up on a small farm, returned after emigrating to the United States, and developed building-supply and retail businesses.He was a member of Kerry County Council in the Killarney local electoral area (LEA) from 1973 until 2003, as a Fianna Fáil member until the 1997 general election; the party did not select him as a candidate in Kerry South so he ran as an independent and unexpectedly won a seat in the 28th Dáil.At the 1999 local elections his son Michael joined Jackie on the council, representing Killorglin LEA.