Former Kerry-South TD Jackie Healy-Rae has returned to his family pub this evening to lie in wake.

The Independent TD passed away yesterday afternoon, at the age of 83, following several months of illness.

This evening he will lie in wake at the family pub in Kilgarvan.

He was wearing his famous cap, which he was rarely seen without throughout his time in public life.

He was first elected to the Dáil in 1997 and to Kerry County Council in 1973.

Traditionally a Fianna Fáil man, serving as councillor and election organiser for close to three decades, he chose to break from the party in 1997, when he failed in his bid to get a party nomination to stand for a Dáil seat.

He chose to stand as an Independent, won the seat and held it for the next 14 years.

During that time his vote would prove a weighted bargaining chip for his constituency, securing funding for a range of projects - from roads to schools and agricultural assistance programmes - from governments looking for his backing in the Dáil.

Politicians including Micheál Martin have paid tribute to Mr Healy-Rae.

Independent TD Michael Lowry worked closely with Healy-Rae in the last Dáil. He joined Sarah Carey on Talking Point to discuss the passing of the veteran politician:

Originally posted at 18.37