Dana Rosemary Scallon congratulated Michael D Higgins on his success and said she was glad she had been part of the campaign.
Arriving at Dublin Castle at about 9.30pm, after the result of the first count had been declared in the presence of the other six candidates, Ms Scallon said it had been a “challenging” campaign, but she was glad to have been part of it.
She took 51,220 first preference votes, or 2.9 per cent of the total.
Asked whether the controversy surrounding her campaign had damaged her for the future, she said it had been challenging for all the candidates. “But I'm here. I'm here at the end of it. I'm glad to be here and I'm glad for Michael D Higgins - all the best to him.”
Ms Scallon said she never did things because it was a stepping stone or part of a future plan. She had stood up for what she believed in, she said, and had “stuck with it”.
On whether she would consider running for president again, she said she did not know what the future would bring.
“I think I might be too old to run for president again. Oh no, maybe not, because I'd still be younger than Michael D. But however, I think, it's really great to have come through a campaign. I think all of the candidates...we all face different challenges.”
She said it had been an “extraordinary” experience.
“I really wouldn't have missed it and I don't regret standing up for what I believe and speaking out on what I think I have to speak out on and that's how I live my life and I'm just glad to be here,” she said.