Fianna Fáil reaction: Supporters of Áine Brady are blaming her defeat on elements of the local Fianna Fáil organisation who they say failed to make a proper effort during the campaign.
The failure was attributed to bitterness among some activists over the treatment of former minister for finance Charlie McCreevy, whose departure to Brussels as EU commissioner created the vacancy.
Amid claims that there were some deliberate attempts by elements of the local organisation to undermine Ms Brady's campaign by leaving swathes of the constituency uncanvassed, her brother, Government Chief Whip Tom Kitt, said he believed there had been "gaps" in the way the local campaign was organised.
Mr Kitt and his brother, Senator Michael Kitt, brought in large canvass teams from their own areas of Dublin South and Galway East in an effort to bolster the campaign.
Ms Brady headed the poll with 6,201 votes, or 24.5 per cent, which was viewed as a strong personal performance.
She described her result as "a foundation stone" for the next general election and said she "absolutely" intended to stand.
Senior figures involved in the campaign said that had the local organisation given its full support, she could have polled more than 30 per cent of the vote, which could have seen her elected.
The lack of effort was blamed on the fact that some supporters of Mr McCreevy believe he was forced by Taoiseach Bertie Ahern to take the commissioner post in the European Union.
"Most of the canvass was done by outsiders," said one Brady supporter. "Many in the local organisation here didn't lift a finger, or if they did, put in very little effort."
One senior figure involved in the campaign said:
"It was a disgrace. There were entire areas that hadn't been canvassed, and it did make a difference.
"A few of us got out and canvassed one area on the day before polling, and you could see the effect when the boxes were opened."
One Fianna Fáil TD who arrived with a fellow Dáil colleague to canvass one town in the constituency told how he was informed by Fianna Fáil canvassers that the largest estate in the town had been canvassed.
"We decided to knock on a few doors anyway," he said. "And it turned out nobody had been to the houses at all. It was a farce."
Tom Kitt, who spent a considerable part of the last three weeks organising the canvass in the McCreevy stronghold of Naas, acknowledged there had been problems, but said his sister was in a very strong position to win a seat in two years.
"There were gaps, but she's built up a good team, and I think she can keep that team with her," he said.
Minister for Finance Brian Cowen, who acted as director of elections in Kildare North, refused to be drawn on reports of a lack of effort by the local Fianna Fáil organisation, saying there was "no point in me second-guessing that effort".
"I mean as director of elections, we had a very competitive convention; we had plenty of good people looking for the position," he said. "Áine Brady came through, and we asked everybody to come out and do their bit . . . everybody has done the very best they can. And I'm sorry that it hasn't worked out because I think we had a very good candidate."