Fianna Fáil reaction: An adviser to the Minister for the Environment, Mr Cullen, who lost his city council seat in Waterford, said Fianna Fáil's poor performance in the elections was "a wake-up call".
Mr Seán Dower said Fianna Fáil candidates knew they were going to get their "knuckles rapped" from the reception they had received on the doorsteps.
According to Mr Dower, voters, particularly the elderly, indicated they would vote for Fianna Fáil in the general election because it was the party that best represented their interests, but felt the Government had become too complacent.
Results in Waterford mirrored the nationwide backlash against Government parties. Fianna Fáil lost six seats - two on Waterford City Council and four on Waterford County Council. There is now only one Fianna Fáil councillor on the city council, and the party's representation on the county council has dropped from 11 to seven.
The Progressive Democrats lost both their seats on the county's local authorities.
Sinn Féin gained a firm foothold on Waterford City Council winning two seats.
One of the winning Sinn Féin candidates in the city, Mr David Cullinane, also ran as the party's European Parliament candidate in the South Constituency and secured the fifth-highest first preference vote ahead of Labour's Mr Brendan Ryan.
The Sinn Féin candidate in Dungarvan, Mr Brendan Mansfield, won a seat on both Waterford County Council and Dungarvan Town Council.
Fine Gael secured significant gains across the county, gaining a seat on Waterford City Council and on the county council and two seats on Tramore Town Council. Labour gained a seat on Waterford City Council and on the county council.
The Progressive Democrats lost their only seat on Waterford City Council and their only seat on Tramore Town Council.