It was a “bloody marvellous feeling” to top the poll in Dublin, newly elected MEP Regina Doherty has said.
She finished ahead of Fianna Fail’s Barry Andrews, Sinn Fein’s Lynn Boylan and Labour’s Aodhan O Riordain as the four were announced as the next European representatives for the constituency.
After her election at the RDS count centre in Dublin, Ms Doherty said: “We’ve had a really renewed sense of energy in the last couple of months.
Speaking at her side, party leader and Taoiseach Simon Harris said he was “absolutely delighted”, and added: “She has worked so hard, she deserves this, I’m so proud of her and of course she’s going to continue an incredible tradition of Fine Gael people representing Dublin in the European Parliament.”
Also “absolutely delighted” was Fianna Fail leader and Tanaiste Micheal Martin, who commented: “Tremendous performance by Barry (Andrews), he led from the front, a very positive campaign.”
For his part, Mr Andrews said he was “hugely relieved” as the results came in after 10pm on Tuesday.
“I am very excited to start the work in Brussels. I have a very positive mandate now from the people of Dublin to do the work.”
Ms Boylan admitted that she was “exhausted” but added that she was “absolutely overwhelmed” by the support she received.
While Sinn Fein leadership has acknowledged the elections went worse than expected, Ms Boylan was insistent that the party had a “positive” result – after electing an MEP in Dublin and increasing its representation in local government.
“They decreased their number of councillors. We’ve increased our vote, we’ve increased our number of councillors.”
Mr O Riordain said the result shows that the Labour Party is “back”.
Speaking to reporters at the RDS, he said: “We’re back and we’re going to win even more when the general election comes into focus.”
Mr O Riordain overtook radio presenter and Independent Ireland candidate Niall Boylan in the final count which saw the redistribution of Ciaran Cuffe’s votes, after the Green Party candidate became the second MEP in Dublin to lose their seat.
Mr Cuffe’s elimination after the 18th count came one stage after Independents 4 Change candidate Clare Daly exited the race.
He said: “I think we have seen the rise of those voices who don’t feel the state should be involved in helping the most vulnerable and I think I certainly have campaigned all my life to help the most vulnerable in society. I’ll continue to do that and my party will continue to do that.”
Several reporters asked Ms Daly to comment as she left the RDS count centre after being eliminated. She declined.
When approached by RTE, she said: “You had no interest in talking to me for five years, so I’ve no interest in talking to you.”
