Séamus Healy said it was a “blessing in disguise” when he lost his Dáil seat in 2007, because shortly after he underwent a triple heart bypass. However, the trade union and community activist won back his seat in the 2011 general election. Healy first got a seat in the Dáil after a byelection 15 years ago. He was born in Old Bridge in Clonmel in 1950. He continues to live with his wife Kit O’Grady in the town. As chairman of Save Our Hospital committee, he was involved in organising protests to stop services being moved out of the area. The former president of the Clonmel Trades Council said the Workers and Unemployed Action (WUA) group, which he set up in 1985, was a way to empower ordinary people. He has been strongly involved in the Right2water campaign.