Former Fine Gael TD Jimmy Deenihan is bowing out of politics and will not run in the next election.
Mr Deenihan served as a TD both for Kerry North and for Kerry North-West Limerick since his election to the Dáil in 1987.
The 64-year-old had previously won a number of All Ireland titles as a member of Mick O'Dwyer's all-conquering Kerry football team of the late 1970s and early 1980s.
"I will not be running in the next general election, but I will continue to work for the people of Kerry for the rest of my life," he said on Radio Kerry this morning.
Mr Deenihan surprisingly lost his seat in last year’s general election.
