Tributes have been pouring in for Michael D Higgins who - barring a disaster - is set to become the ninth president of Ireland.
His main competitor, Independent Seán Gallagher, conceded defeat this evening and congratulated Mr Higgins on his success in the election.
“He will have my full support as president and I sincerely thank him for a positive campaign. His slogan stated that he would be a president to be proud of and I believe he will be that president," Mr Gallagher added.
Senator David Norris was the first of the seven presidential candidates to offer their congratulations to Mr Higgins.
“I’m quite the certain the next president will be Michael D Higgins and I’d like to send my love and congratulations to Michael D, to Sabina and the rest of the family,” he said this morning.
“It must be a very, very happy day for them and I also think it’s a good day for Ireland because, although he is a Labour Party member, Michael D, like myself, is a little bit of a maverick and when you have such a concentration of power in the hands of the coalition I think it’s good to have somebody who will be in a position morally and intellectually to speak out on behalf of the marginalised," he said.
“I know that Michael D will do that. So I’ll be very happy to be an Irish man under the presidency of Michael D Higgins.”
Independent Mary Davis tweeted this afternoon: "Congratulations Michael and wishing him success for the next 7 years in the Áras."
Fine Gael’s Gay Mitchell also congratulated his Labour rival, saying Mr Higgins will make “an excellent president and his wife, Sabina, will be an excellent first lady”.
He added: “My loyal support is with them and I wish them every blessing for the years ahead."
Sinn Féin’s Martin McGuinness said he telephoned Mr Higgins to offer him his congratulations, adding that he will make a “fine president” and wishing him well for his seven years in the Áras.
Dana Rosemary Scallon said the Labour candidate's wife Sabina and family are "a great support to him", adding she hopes their time in Áras an Uachtaráin "will be happy and successful".
She added: "I'm sure the supporters in Galway are particularly proud of him at this time."
Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore said he is “absolutely thrilled” that Mr Higgins will be the next president of Ireland.
The Labour Party leader said the response to Mr Higgins from people on the campaign trail was the “warmest I have ever seen for any person in an election”.
Mr Gilmore said RTÉ's Frontline programme on Monday night had a "huge bearing" on the outcome but Mr Higgins "didn't engage in any name calling and ran a campaign that was based on ideas".
Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin said today was an “exceptionally proud day for Michael D, his wife Sabina and their family”. Mr Martin said Mr Higgins will make an excellent president and ambassador for Ireland and pledged his full support.
“His command of global issues and commitment to human rights was significant and I have no doubt that human rights and humanitarian issues will be a significant part of his presidency,” Mr Martin added.
Fine Gael’s Leo Varadkar said he is “delighted and consoled” by the result. “I think that’s a wonderful result for him and I’m really delighted about that,” Mr Varadkar said.
Green Party leader Eamon Ryan said Mr Higgins will “do us proud" both at home and abroad. “We hope he will use his presidency to highlight the urgent environmental challenges that face us and the social and economic benefits that will come if we rise to meet those challenges," he said.
Mr Ryan also commended the other six candidates for having survived “with dignity, what was a very difficult campaign”.
Former president Mary Robinson sent her congratulations to Mr Higgins.
"I wish him 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," she said. "He will be enormously supported by the very strong mandate he has received in the election."