Some international media reaction to general election outcome:
Much of the work now facing Kenny will be thankless. Rarely has an incoming government been handed a country in worse shape. The economy is shrinking, the budget deficit is the highest in Europe, unemployment is at 13 per cent, and many Irish are seeking better opportunities abroad. Kenny's wife Fionnuala describes her husband as having a "sunny disposition", and he will need it. Ireland could use a hefty dose of optimism to stop itself sliding into despair - Der Spiegel
Fine Gael rode to power on voter anger at Ireland's economic crash and the country's huge debts, while the right-leaning Fianna Fáil bore the full force of voters' wrath, punished for failing to rein in Ireland's banks as they indulged in reckless real-estate lending - Wall Street Journal
Far, far worse than John Major's trouncing, the punishment voters have meted out on Fianna Fáil has one thing in common with it. The people have mastered the rules of the electoral game to redouble the force of their rejection. Just as Liberal Democrats and Labour people lent each other support in 1997, in line with the tactical requirements of ousting the Tories under first past the post, Ireland's voters made full use of the multiple preferences allowed under their system to shrink the representation of Micheál Martin's ruling party – The Guardian
Ireland ousted its discredited government on Saturday, electing new leaders who pledged to restore faith in the country after the trauma of a calamitous economic collapse – New York Times
The Irish people seem resigned to a long period of economic austerity. But they are not, rightly, resigned to endless bondage. The present bailout deal is not in the interests of the Irish people. Nor is it in the interest of Europe to impose such onerous demands on Ireland. Mr Kenny has his democratic mandate to force a fairer deal for the broad mass of the Irish people than his predecessors delivered. He should not be afraid to use it – The Independent
Kenny is the longest-serving lawmaker in the Dail and viewed as a steady pair of hands, but he has a tough task to fulfil his pledge on the bailout - Sydney Morning Herald
The unprecedented and historic defeat, Fianna Fail's worst result in 85 years, makes the Irish government the first eurozone administration to be punished by voters in the aftermath of the EU's debt crisis. Voter turn-out was exceptionally high at more than 70 per cent, indicating public anger at the government and the EU - Daily Telegraph