Fine Gael was trounced in the general election, but did the defeated TDs lose heart as well, or will they be back? Michael O'Regan, Parliamentary Reporter, traces their fortunes
Although there was a consensus that Fine Gael would take a hammering in the May general election, the scale of the party's losses still caused shock. Several senior figures lost their seats, as 22 of the party's outgoing TDs failed to get re-elected.
Some have retired from politics, others were elected to the Seanad and a number of the remainder are undecided on whether to run for the Dáil again. The 22 included the party's outgoing deputy leader, Mr Jim Mitchell, who died recently.
Mr Alan Dukes, a former party leader and senior minister in a number of coalition governments, lost his seat in Kildare South.
Mr Dukes was first elected to the Dáil in 1981 and in every subsequent election. On his first day in the Dáil, he was made minister for agriculture.
Mr Dukes has announced his retirement from politics. He is director-general of the State's leading EU think-tank, the Institute of European Affairs (IEA), and will undertake some consultancy work.
Mr Paul Bradford, the party's outgoing chief whip, lost his seat in Cork East. He was subsequently elected to the Seanad and continues to nurse the constituency - "a TD in everything but name and not receiving the salary". There is speculation that he may run for the party in Munster in the 2004 European elections.
Following the redrawing of constituencies, Mr Austin Currie decided to move from Dublin West to contest the new Dublin Mid-West three-seater. His vote slumped and he polled just 2,008 first preferences. First elected to the Dáil in 1989, he previously had a long career in Northern politics. He has retired from politics - going through a period of "deconditioning" - and is writing his memoirs.
Ms Deirdre Clune's defeat in Cork South-Central brought an end to the long-serving Barry dynasty in that constituency. She is now working in the home, is a member of Cork City Council and has made it known that she will be happy to serve Fine Gael in the future in electoral terms.
Mr John Farrelly, who lost his seat in Meath, has not concealed his intense disappointment in media interviews. He is now running his auctioneering business in Navan. Asked if he would run for the Dáil again, he replied: "You never know."
Mr Michael Joe Cosgrave, who lost out in Dublin North-East, is now a full-time Fingal county councillor. He will not be seeking re-election to the Dáil, but his daughter, Ms Niamh Cosgrave, a member of Dublin City Council, will seek a nomination.
The defeat of Ms Frances Fitzgerald in the one-time Fine Gael stronghold of Dublin South-East was a major surprise. She was an unsuccessful candidate for the Seanad. She is a member of Dublin City Council and of the Forum for Peace and Reconciliation and has worked in recent times for the Washington-based National Democratic Institution in Eastern Europe. Although disappointed that more Fine Gael women candidates were not elected to the Seanad, she is expected to remain active in politics.
Mr Ulick Burke's obvious distress in an RTÉ interview following his defeat in Galway East will be remembered by many. He was subsequently elected to the Seanad and intends to seek a nomination to contest the next Dáil election.
The defeat of Mr Donal Carey in Clare brought an end to a political career which saw him serve in the Seanad and Dáil and as a minister of state. He says that if the Government serves a full term he will not be seeking a Dáil nomination the next time. He is currently involved in voluntary social and community activities in Clare.
Ms Nora Owen was an early casualty in Dublin North, one of the constituencies where there was electronic voting. A former deputy leader and minister for justice, she has ruled out running for the Dáil again. However, there is speculation that she may seek a nomination to run for Europe in 2004.
Since her defeat, she has been sifting through a mound of political files and working in the local party organisation.
Mr Louis J. Belton, who was defeated in Longford/Roscommon, says that he is currently retired.
Mr Jim Higgins lost more than his Dáil seat in May. He would have been a strong candidate for the party leadership had he managed to hold on. He is now in the Seanad and has confirmed that he will seek a nomination to contest Connacht/Ulster in the European elections if the party's current MEP, Mr Joe McCartin, decides to stand down.
Mr Higgins is currently in the news, as the Morris tribunal is seeking access to his telephone records to ascertain the source of allegations regarding Garda corruption.
Mr Charles Flanagan, who lost his seat in Laois/Offaly, would also have been a serious contender for the leadership. He is back working as a solicitor in Portlaoise and remains undecided about his future electoral intentions. "But you never say never," he adds.
Mr Alan Shatter, who lost out in Dublin South, is working in his extensive legal practice. He has declined to say if he will run for the Dáil again, but party sources believe he will not.
Mr P.J. Sheehan, who was first elected to the Dáil for Cork South-West in 1981, is now a full-time member of Cork County Council. He is unlikely to run for the Dáil again.
Mr Michael D'Arcy was first elected to the Dáil for Wexford in 1977. He later lost his seat and won it back again. For a time, he was one of three Fine Gael TDs representing the constituency. A farmer, he is not expected to contest a Dáil election again.
Mr Michael Creed, who was a casualty in Cork North-West, is currently on an extended foreign trip. A farmer and member of Cork County Council, he is expected to remain active in politics and to seek to regain his Dáil seat.
Mr Brian Hayes continues to nurse his Dublin South-West constituency, where he lost out, having been a star performer for the party there in 1997. He is a member of the Seanad.
Mr Gerry Reynolds has returned to work in the family's hardware business in Carrick-on-Shannon, Co Leitrim, having lost his seat in Sligo/Leitrim. He is undecided about his future political plans.
Mr Michael Finucane had, arguably, the cruellest fate of all in Limerick West, where he lost out by just one vote to party colleague Mr Dan Neville after a recount.
He is a member of the Seanad and intends contesting the next Dáil election.
Fine Gael's vote in the Cavan/Monaghan constituency slumped by 5,000 first preferences, with Cavan-based Mr Andrew Boylan becoming a casualty. A farmer, Mr Boylan is not expected to run for a seat in the Dáil again.