A KERRY politician aiming to be re-elected into government has taken a unique step to garner votes from his constituents.
Michael Healy-Rae, who has been an Independent TD since 2011, launched his General Election campaign with his own take on the Irish rebvel song Come Out Ye Black and Tans.
The song has been firmly under the spotlight in recent weeks after a proposed Government commemoration of the Royal Irish Constabulary (RIC) and Dublin Metropolitan Police (DMP) descended into a row about the Black and Tans, until eventually the severe public backlash and intended boycotting of the event by numerous politicians resulted in the commemorations being cancelled.
As the news spread that the event had been deferred, Come Out Ye Black and Tans by The Wolfe Tones began creeping steadily up the iTunes charts of Ireland, the UK and even Australia, eventually securing the #1 spot in the UK and holding both the first and second spot in the Irish charts.
Now Michael Healy-Rae, running for re-election in the Kerry constituency, has capitalised on the song's renewed popularity by making it his official 'election song'.
With clips of Healy-Rae in his trademark cap, shouting in the Dáil and posing for photos with dogs, and lyrics such as Come out any way ye can and vote for the main man!, the song is fairly bizarre but undeniably catchy-- you can view it below.
Despite the humorous nature of the song, though, it is still a election campaign, as the comments below the video were quick to remind viewers.
One person wrote: "Presume being one of the Dáil's biggest landlords, voting against marriage equality, campaigning against Repeal, other politicians in the family advocating for drink driving permits or being guilty of assault etc. will be in the second verse."
