A disappointed Ms Kathy Sinnott refused to rule out running for political office in the future after being pipped at the post in the second recount in Cork South Central, losing to Fianna Fáil TD, Mr John Dennehy, by just six votes.
The 51-year-old disability rights campaigner, who took the State to court for failing to provide an education for her autistic son, threw her arms around Mr Dennehy when he entered the count centre and wished him luck whatever the result.
She said she was not stunned at losing in the second recount as she was aware the momentum could go either way.
"You just don't know with these things. You have to keep hoping. But John is a nice man and I wish him the best.
"I don't know if I will ever run again - we will have to wait and see as time goes on."
Both candidates have coped admirably with the tension which has continued to mount since the first recount started last Sunday morning.
Ms Sinnott pipped Mr Dennehy at the post in the first count beating him by three votes only to see the sitting TD go ahead of her by two votes in the recount.
A second recount was granted to the Sinnott camp on Monday evening with each of the rivals continuing to declare they were confident of winning the seat.
Mr Dennehy edged ahead of his rival last night with a vote of 8,789 to Ms Sinnott's 8,783.
An elated John Dennehy said he felt as if he had lost a least half a stone in the last few days.
"It has been gruelling. We have had highs and lows - it is a huge pressure mentally; as I said earlier I watched cricket to take my mind off things.
"This is my job and my livelihood so obviously it is very important to me."
Mr Dennehy commended Ms Sinnott for being so supportive to him adding that he had really come to respect his rival for the fifth seat in the highly-competitive constituency.
"She has impressed me enormously over the last few days. We always knew one of us was going to lose tonight and I feel very humbled and privileged that I have won."
The Minister for Health, Mr Martin, said he was delighted to see a conclusion to what has been a dramatic week for all involved in the recount.
He told a packed City Hall it was a great pity that the constituency only had five seats describing Kathy Sinnott as an "extraordinary woman" who highlighted important issues during her campaign.
The last word went to John Dennehy who summed up the mood of weary legal experts, count volunteers and television crews by saying he is now a great fan of electronic voting.
"I am totally converted to electronic voting. This has been an incredible few days and I have learned a lot about myself. At times it was hard to be positive. But as I said from the start 'nobody is dead'."