THERE were more than 200 people from all parties in Ballinteer Community School after the result of the eighth and final count in Dublin South was announced and four of the successful candidates made their speeches.
However, it was for the defeated Labour candidate, Eithne Fitzgerald - a junior minister in the Government - that the crowd broke into sustained and unanimous applause.
She was both gracious and combative in defeat. "We must remember the exercise we are engaged in is democracy and accept the decision of the electorate," she said.
"I have often taken unpopular decisions. If I got another 700 votes by opposing travellers sites . . . I would prefer not to be elected than to get votes by opposing those particular stands. It is important we stand for what we believe in.
"I hope I have left my mark in terms of legislation. I always said I would die happy if I got the Ethics in Government and Freedom of Information Bills through. I now look forward to a bit of leisure before looking for a job." The man who headed the poll and was elected on the first count, Fianna Fail's Mr Tom Kilt, paid tribute to Ms Fitzgerald and said he favoured future cooperation with her party.
"I value the work we have done together over the years, work on social partnership, on workers' rights. Your party and mine did a lot of very good work in relation to the peace process.
"I think it was a mistake to make narrow choices in relation to the Irish people. We want to have an inclusive society representing social partnership, representing workers' rights, we want to restore the peace process in Northern Ireland." Earlier, Mr Kilt had been the first candidate to arrive at the counting centre at 3 p.m. surrounded by family and supporters, including his sister Maura and brother Eamon.
Fine Gael's Ms Olivia Mitchell, who had a higher first preference vote than party colleague Mr Alan Shatter, was the second candidate in the hall.
The Labour and PD camps sat in worried huddles on opposite sides of the hall. It would be five hours before their agony would end.