PRESIDENT-ELECT:INDEPENDENT CANDIDATE Seán Gallagher said last night the presidential election had been "a wonderful adventure".
Arriving at Dublin Castle just before the first count was announced shortly after 9pm last night, Mr Gallagher congratulated Michael D Higgins.
“I want to wish him every success and congratulate him and indeed wish his wife Sabrina and family every success and health and happiness for his seven years, I truly wish him well.”
He said he had no regrets about running for the position: “None whatsoever, it’s a great thing in Ireland that anybody, an ordinary person like me, can step forward and run for president of Ireland.”
“One of the things I set out to do from the very beginning was to run a positive campaign, focused on the future, focused on the message of rebuilding confidence, and I think Michael D did that also, and I salute him for that.
“...I built, over a very short period of time, a small but very committed, dynamic and fresh team, going from two people, three months ago in a campaign office, to 2,000 volunteers working in every part of this country, from every sector and every community group.
“It was a tremendous achievement and I salute them for their commitment and their willingness to get involved in a new type of politics,” Mr Gallagher said.
Independent candidate Mary Davis has said she had no regrets about contesting the presidential election.
Ms Davis, who finished last in the poll with 48,657 first preference votes, said the campaign had at times been “dirty” and was more challenging than she expected.
“I knew going into the campaign that it was going to be difficult,” she said.
“I didn’t go into the campaign with my eyes closed for sure. It was more challenging at times than I expected. It was a dirty campaign, there’s no doubt about that, you can see that yourselves.”
Ms Davis said she was disappointed with the outcome of the election but was not disheartened or discouraged by the experience.
“I’m very proud of the fact I put my name forward,” she said. “I’m an ordinary citizen and was totally independent in standing and I am proud of that.”
She also said that she hoped her involvement might encourage more women to step into public life. “Hopefully I have led the way for others to be courageous enough to stand up and go forward.”
Asked if she would consider running for the presidency again, Ms Davis said she was not going to make any decision yet. “It’s far too early . . . I’m going to have a good rest. I’m on leave of absence from my job.”
Martin McGuinness said Mr Higgins “will make a fine president and I wish him well for his seven years in the Áras”.
Dana Rosemary Scallon also congratulated him and expressed the hope that the time that Mr Higgins and his family spend in Áras an Uachtaráin “will be happy and successful”.
Former president Mary Robinson wished Mr Higgins “every good health and happiness as he sets out to fulfil his vision for the presidency and builds on the excellent work he has undertaken in his time as a public representative and teacher”.